DX4WIN Country File

The ZIP file named DX4WCTY_20090702.zip was released on 2 July 2009. Follow this link to the complete revision history. The country file has been verified to work with DX4WIN versions 4.0x, 5.0x, 6.0x and 7.0x. Older versions may work, but they are untested; please let me know if they do.

The country file contains version information. If you type in 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 -> 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.

1. What's in the country file?
2. Installation instructions
3. Merging a new country file with an existing one
4. Importing QSL manager data
5. Analyzing country file differences

What's in the Country File?

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

Installation instructions

The new country file can be used "as-is". First, exit DX4WIN (File -> Exit); you may be prompted to save your log. Then copy your existing DX4WIN.CTY file (from your DX4W###\SAVE) directory to a safe place (like your DX4W###\BACKUP directory, see #3 below). Finally, unzip the archive and save the new DX4WIN.CTY file into your DX4W###\SAVE directory.

The archive contains another file, ADIF.PMP. This file is used to map QSOs in imported ADIF files to the correct country. Extract the ADIF.PMP file from the archive and save it into the IMPORT directory.

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.

Merging country files

If you want to keep a customized country file, but still get the latest updates, then merging might be the best solution. Note that 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.

To begin the merge, download the country file and extract DX4WIN.CTY someplace that you can remember (don't let it overwrite the DX4WIN.CTY file in your DX4WIN SAVE directory).

Next close your logbook, then go to Files -> Databases -> Countries. When the Country Editor window comes up, go to File -> Merge Other Country File. Navigate to the directory into which you extracted the new country file, select the file named DX4WIN.CTY, then click on the Open button.

You will be prompted before merging each of the components listed above. When the merging is done, in the Country Editor window, go to File -> Save Changes and Exit.

After the country database is saved, you can re-open your logbook.

Importing QSL manager data

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 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.

Analyzing country file differences

If you want to check the database (or your log) for errors, you'll need to follow the following steps, described in more detail below:

• Export your log
• Download and install the file
• Import your log
• Generate logbook of errors

Note that this procedure described below is for analyzing country file differences only. There is no need to export/import when installing a new country file.

Flam, OZ1AXG wrote a utility to identify logbook differences between two country files by exporting your log in ADIF format. You can download his program by following this link.

Detailed Instructions

1. Export your log using your old country file. This will maintain a record of all your country mappings. Go to File->Export and select DX4WIN6 format (if available, otherwise select DX4WIN4 format), then EXPORT. Save the log under any name (I use my callsign). Note this log is a different format than the .DXL file (with a different extension), so it's OK to use the same name as your log.
    
2. Exit DX4WIN
    
3. Copy your existing DX4WIN.CTY file from the SAVE directory to your ..\BACKUP directory. Newer installations of DX4WIN may not create this directory. If it doesn't already exist, create it yourself.
    
4. Download the new file by clicking here
    
5. Start DX4WIN.
    
6. In your preferences, check the Import tab, make sure that "Accept DX4WIN values" is selected, and all three boxes are checked. If you made any changes, be sure to save them!
    
7. Then File -> New to create a new log. Pick a different (unused) name than before. You will probably not want to keep this log.
    
8. File -> Import and select DX4WIN6 format (if available, otherwise select DX4WIN4 format). Import the file you exported in step #1 - it should have a .DXQ extension. Note how many import errors were detected.
    
9. Now in your new log, search the "Notes for this QSO" field for the word Error (use the F8 key, then type Error into this field). You will probably see some differences. In my own log, I had 3 differences out of 65K QSOs. Your mileage may vary. Check the differences against your QSL card collection. If you think they are real errors, please let me know. Many errors will be Zone errors, but the ones I'm most interested are the Pfx errors.
    
10. Bring up the Logbook Editor (Window->Logbook). This will already be filtered to show only the error QSOs. Right-click on the logbook window and use the Report Editor to display only the following columns:

    Callsign
    Date
    Country
    Zone
    Conf
    QSO Notes

11. Right-click on the report and select "Write to File". Give it a name (like your callsign).
     
12. Using a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel (you can also use a plain text editor, but the fields are harder to see), examine the file for differences. The "Country" column reflects the entity in the new database, and "OtherPFX" errors in the "QSO Notes" column reflect the entity in the old database. In most cases, the new database will be correct. If you think it is not correct, verify the QSO with a QSL. If the QSL does not match the new database, please send me the details: callsign (as printed on the QSL), date, entity or island name (from the QSL card) and any other supporting information like CQ zone, IOTA, oblast, etc. Please don't send me the entire .CSV file, I do not have time to re-verify all the changes.

If you want to restore your old country file when you are done, exit DX4WIN, copy the DX4WIN.CTY file from your ..\BACKUP directory (see #3 above) back to your SAVE directory, restart DX4WIN and open your original log.