Log management

Note 1: All the operations described below assume that a logbook is already open.

Note 2: Any modifications made to the logs are permanent. Users should make sure they keep up-to-date backups.

Creating a new log

To create a new log, click New Log in the Logbook menu and enter the desired name of the log in the dialog window that appears (e.g. repeater_contacts, dx, mobile_log). Alternatively, use the shortcut key combination Ctrl + N.

The log name must be unique (i.e. it cannot already exist in the logbook). Furthermore, it can only be composed of alphanumeric characters and the underscore character, and the first character in the name must not be a number.

Note: When logs are stored in the database file, field/column names from the ADIF standard are used. However, please note that only the following subset of all the ADIF fields is considered: CALL, QSO_DATE, TIME_ON, FREQ, BAND, MODE, SUBMODE, PROP_MODE, TX_PWR, RST_SENT, RST_RCVD, QSL_SENT, QSL_RCVD, NOTES, NAME, ADDRESS, STATE, COUNTRY, DXCC, CQZ, ITUZ, IOTA, GRIDSQUARE, SAT_NAME, SAT_MODE. Visit the ADIF website for more information about these fields.

Renaming a log

To rename the currently selected log, click Rename Selected Log... in the Logbook menu. Remember that the log’s new name cannot be the same as another log in the logbook.

Deleting a log

To delete the currently selected log, click Delete Selected Log in the Logbook menu. As with all database operations in PyQSO, this is permanent and cannot be undone.

Exporting a log

While PyQSO stores logbooks in SQL format, it is possible to export individual logs in the well-known ADIF and Cabrillo formats. Select the log to export, and click Export Log as ADIF... or Export Log as Cabrillo... in the Logbook menu.

Note for contesters: Cabrillo records typically require contest QSO information in the form CALL RST EXCH, where EXCH denotes exchange information (e.g. a serial number or US state). No dedicated field exists in PyQSO to store exchange information so the RST fields should be used to store both the RST report and exchange information, separated by a space. The RST Sent field should therefore contain the RST and exchange information that you give to the other station (e.g. 59 001), and the RST Received field should contain the RST and exchange information that the other station gives you (e.g. 57 029). The export process asks for your callsign (this should be the callsign used during the contest) and the contest’s name which can be selected from a drop-down list. If the contest name does not appear in this list, you may enter its name manually.

Importing a log

Records can be imported from an ADIF file. Upon importing, users can choose to store the records in a new log, or append them to an existing log in the logbook. To import, click Import Log... in the Logbook menu.

Note that each QSO record being imported must conform to the ADIF standard, otherwise the record will be ignored.

Printing a log

The log that is currently selected can be printed out on paper or printed to a PDF file by clicking Print Log... in the Logbook menu. Each page uses a landscape orientation to maximise the amount of QSO information per line. The following data is included: Index, Callsign, Date, Time, Frequency, Mode, RST Sent, and RST Received.

Filtering by callsign

Entering an expression such as xyz into the Filter by callsign box will instantly filter out all records whose callsign field does not contain xyz.

Sorting by field

To sort a log by a particular field name, click the column header that contains that field name. By default, it is the Index field that is sorted in ascending order.