DX4WIN.CTY #122 was released on 6 May 2013.
Click on this link to go to the download page.
The country file has been verified to work with DX4WIN versions 4.0x and later.
It has also been tested with 3.05, but the information in the distance/bearing
field in the upper-right of the QSO window will be blank.
The country file contains version information. If you try to log the callsign
"VERSION" (without the quotes) and
hit the tab or space key, look at the "QSL Mgr" field in the logbook. This will
be the release date of the QSL manager database, and will usually match the release date
of the country file, unless you have imported a different QSL manager database.
To see the actual revision date of the country file, go to Files | Databases
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Countries. The entry for 1A0, Sov. Military Order of Malta should appear.
Click on the Callsigns tab, and the callsign "VERSION" should appear in the
window. The "Start date" is the date the country file was created/released.
- What's in the country file?
- Installation instructions
- Merging a new country file with an existing one
- Importing QSL manager data
- Analyzing country file differences
The country file unifies many smaller databases that are essential for DX4WIN:
- DXCC entities
- DXCC prefix to entity mapping
- DXCC callsign to entity mapping
- QSL managers
- QSL manager addresses
- Islands on the Air (IOTA)
- US States (latitude/longitude)
- CT state abbreviation to US state mapping
- US Counties
The country file updates are cumulative, not incremental. Each
new version has all of the previous version's data (plus/minus any
corrections), plus the new data for that particular release.
The new country file can be used "as-is". First, exit DX4WIN (File
| Exit); you may be prompted to save your log. Download the ZIP file by clicking
on this link to get to the Revision History, then
click on the dated release number to start the download. Copy your existing DX4WIN.CTY file
(from your DX4W###\SAVE) directory to a safe place (like your DX4W###\BACKUP
directory, see #3 below, under the section Analyzing
country file differences). Using a utility like WinZip, open the ZIP file you
just downloaded, and save (extract) the new DX4WIN.CTY file into your DX4W###\SAVE directory.
The ZIP file contains another file, ADIF.PMP. This file is used to map QSOs in
imported and exported ADIF files to the correct country (this includes eQSL and
ARRL Logbook of the World). This file must be updated any time that DX4WIN.CTY
is updated - the files have to be in-sync with each other. Assuming the ZIP file
is still open from the step above, save (extract) the ADIF.PMP file to your
DX4W###\IMPORT directory.
By far, the easiest way to update is to use the
DX4WIN Data Updater. This updates
all DX4WIN data files, including the country file.
Please see the section below Importing QSL manager data.
You may want to save your old QSL manager file before installing the new country
file.
If you want to keep a customized country file, but still get the latest
updates, then merging might be the best solution. Using the new country file
"as-is" usually results in the fewest problems, however.
Only the following components of the country file can/will be merged:
- Exception calls
- IOTAs
- QSL managers
- QSL addresses
This means entities and prefixes are NOT merged. Therefore,
it is almost always necessary to merge your old DX4WIN.CTY file into the new
one, not the other way around. This gets your the prefixes and entities that may
have been added to the new country file.
First, exit DX4WIN. Then move your existing DX4WIN.CTY file to a safe place,
preferably somewhere like DX4W###\BACKUP. If you don't have a BACKUP directory,
then create one. See this note.
Next, download the new country file and extract DX4WIN.CTY to your
SAVE directory. Start DX4WIN, and ensure you have the new country file
by trying to log the callsign VERSION and checking the date in the
"QSL Mgr" field. Close your log using File | Close. If you have made no
changes (expected) it should not prompt you to save the file.
To merge, choose Files | Databases | Countries from the main DX4WIN
menu bar. When the Country Editor window comes up, choose File | Merge
Other Country File. Navigate to the BACKUP directory, or to wherever you
moved your old DX4WIN.CTY file. Select the file named DX4WIN.CTY,
then click on the Open button.
You will be prompted before merging each of the four components listed above.
When the merge is complete, check for errors by choosing File | Check for Errors
in the Country Editor window. When the merging is done and there are no errors, choose File | Save Changes and Exit in the Country Editor window.
After the country database is saved, you can re-open your logbook. Do
whatever test(s) you need to ensure the merge succeeded.
If you decide you want to use this new file, you may want to import your QSL
manager data from your old DX4WIN.CTY file into it.
Using your old country file, go to File | Databases | QSL
Managers. Then File | Export QSL manager data. Pick a file name and
save it. Do the same thing for File | Databases | Manager Addresses.
Then you can exit from the QSL database manager.
After installing the new DX4WIN.CTY file, go to File | Databases | QSL
Managers. Then File | Import QSL manager data. Use the same name as
you saved before. When it asks you if you want to delete the existing
data, answer Yes. Do the same thing for File | Databases | Manager Addresses.
Then you can exit from the QSL database manager.
NOTE: Importing QSL manager data into version 6.02 causes unusual
dates. This is fixed in version 6.03.
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