Installation is fairly simple.
For example, "VEWDINST A: C: \VEWD" will install into the VEWD directory on hard drive C from floppy drive A.
To start VEWD, change to the VEWD directory and type VEWD at the DOS prompt. VEWD supports the command line options specified in Table 2-1.
Option | Description |
/B=NO | Inhibits the beep on errors |
/V=n | Sets the screen saver to n minutes. Zero disables the screen save option. |
/L | Disables setting of keyboard locks. |
/E | Specifies that an enhanced keyboard is being used. |
Although VEWD fits entirely in the lower 640 KB of DOS memory, it is somewhat of a memory hog. If you run with many Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs, you may find yourself running short of memory. At bottom right corner of the screen, below the date and time, is the number of bytes of free memory remaining. If there is less than 32000 bytes free at the top level menu, you need to make more room. Each pop-up menu or form causes the portion of the screen that it covers to be saved for later restoration. By default this is in the low 640 KB memory. You can specify five alternate locations by including Virtual Memory environment variables in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Each variable is of the form:
SET CLAVMx=path,size[,ramindicator]
Where,
For example, the line:
SET CLAVM0=D:\,1024,M
defines the first virtual memory region as the root directory of a 1 megabyte RAM disk. Another example is the line:
SET CLAVM1=C:\TEMP,768
specifies the second virtual memory region as a 768 KB area in the TEMP subdirectory of drive C.
If you have the memory, setting up a RAM disk is highly recommended. The RAM disk should be at least 64 KB in size (preferably 128 KB). To create a RAM disk you need to include a line in your CONFIG.SYS file similar to:
DEVICE=C:\DOS\RAMDRIVE.SYS 1024 128 /E
This defines a 1024 KB RAM disk using extended memory.
The install process created a complete set of startup database files. The VECLIST and ELEMSTAT files are pre-initialized with fixed data and don't change. The DEFAULTS file is initialized with a sample record that should be modified for the particular VE team(s). The remaining files are empty. The file EMPTYDB.ZIP is an archive containing these startup files. If it is ever desired to return to a fresh state, simply extract the files from this archive.
To prevent the loss of valuable session information, it is important that you make backup copies of all the data files. The minimum set of files to backup are those with the DAT and MEM extensions. VEWD will regenerate the key files at startup if they do not exist. However, if incorrect key files are used, the database files may become corrupted beyond recovery. Therefore you should backup the DAT, MEM and Knn files to insure a complete database. If you customize or create any printer control files (.DEV files) you should also make save copies of those.
A reasonable method of archiving the database files is to compress them into a single zip file. The archive can be named in form YYMMDDx. YYMMDD is the reference date of the archive. This is usually the date of a session. The x is one of the following:
O | Original. This is the archive made at the end of the session. |
U | Updated. This is the archive made after post processing the session, making any corrections, adding candidate phone numbers but before merging the session candidate data into the global database. This is normally done by the VE preparing the paperwork for the VEC |
blank | This is the archive made immediately after merging a session into the global database. |
In case you're wondering what all those files are, Table 2-2 lists each of the database files. Table 2-3 lists optional files associated with the FCC data lookup function. Table 2-4 lists the sample Candidate and VE form letters, Table 2-5 lists the documentation files, and Table 2-6 describes the remaining files.
Each database consists of multiple files, each with the same name, and a different extension. Files with the extension .DAT contain the actual data, except for the free form memo fields. The .MEM files contain the memo fields. Files with the extension .Knn, where nn is a two digit number, are index files, used to speed access to the data.
Table 2-2 Database Files
Filename | Extensions | Description |
ATTVE | DAT K01 K02 | The current session's attending VE database. Callsign key file Date/ID key file |
DEFAULTS | DAT K01 | Session, Printer, and Miscellaneous defaults Configuration name key file |
ELEMSTAT | DAT K01 | Element status choices Status key file |
LOCATION | DAT K01 K02 | The City, State, Zip Code database. Zip Code key file City key file |
SESSION | DAT K01 | The Session list database. Date/ID key file |
VECLIST | DAT K01 |
The VEC choice lists. VEC Name key file |
VEINFO | DAT MEM K01 K02 |
VE personal information VE Notes files Callsign key file Last Name key file |
VICTIMG | DAT MEM K01 K02 K03 | The global (historical) candidate database. Candidate Notes file Last Name key file Callsign key file Date/ID key file |
VICTIMS | DAT MEM K01 K02 K03 | The current session's candidate database. Candidate Notes file Last Name key file Callsign key file Date/ID key file |
Filename | Extensions | Description |
CALLSIGN | DAT, K01 | Callsign index into FCCDATA.TXT. |
FCCDATA | TXT | FCC database information |
Filename | Formats | Description |
VECARDB | Word 7.0, and RTF | Session notification postcard back |
VECARDF | Word 7.0, and RTF | Session notification postcard front |
VEENV | Word 7.0, and RTF | VE thank you form envelope |
VEHEADER | Word 7.0, and RTF | Word Merge file header line |
VELTR | Word 7.0, and RTF | VE thank you form letter |
VESAMP | Word 7.0, and RTF | Sample VE merge file |
VICENV | Word 7.0, and RTF | Candidate thank you form envelope |
VICLTR | Word 7.0, and RTF | Candidate thank you form letter |
VICSAMP | Word 7.0, and RTF | Sample Candidate merge file |
VIHEADER | Word 7.0, and RTF | Word Merge file header line |
FORMRTF.ZIP | Zip archive file | Rich Format Text files |
FORMWD70.ZIP | Zip archive file | Word 7.0 files |
Filename | Description |
VEWD.DIC | Word 7.0 Custom Dictionary file for VEWD manual |
VEWDMAN.DOT | Word 7.0 document template for VEWD manual |
VEWDMAN.PPT | PowerPoint Document with audio schematic and convention layout |
VEWDMAN1.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 1 -Introduction |
VEWDMAN2.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 2 -Installation |
VEWDMAN3.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 3 -Overview |
VEWDMAN4.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 4 -Detailed Description |
VEWDMAN5.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 5 -Pre-Session Activities |
VEWDMAN6.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 6 -Session Activities |
VEWDMAN7.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 7 -Post-Session Activities |
VEWDMAN8.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 8 -Maintenance |
VEWDMAN9.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 9 -Import/Export/Sort |
VEWDMANA.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 10 -FCC Database Lookups |
VEWDMANB.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 11 -An Audio System for CW Testing |
VEWDMANC.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 12 -An Integrated Examination Session |
VEWDMAND.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 13 -Troubleshooting |
VEWDMANE.DOC, HTM | VEWD Chapter 14 -Database Definitions |
VEWDMSTR.DOC,
VEWDMAN.HTM | VEWD Master Document - Cover page, Copyright, trademark and license information, Table of Contents |
VEWDMAN.ZIP | Zip archive of all the documentation files |
Filename | Description |
CPRO.DMP | Not provided on the install disk. Generated on occasion when the VEWD program abnormally terminates. |
EMPTYDB.ZIP | A zip file containing empty database files. If you ever want to start fresh, use these files. |
EPSON.DEV | Printer control file for a standard Epson compatible |
FCC2VEWD.EXE | A Windows 3.1/95/NT program that will convert FCC data to VEWD format |
GENERIC.DEV | Printer control file for a Generic printer |
HPLASER .DEV | Printer control file for a HP LaserJet Series II |
HPLASR4P.DEV | Printer control file for a HP LaserJet 4P |
IBMPROXL.DEV | Printer control file for an IBM Proprinter XL |
PS240.DEV | Printer control file for a Centronics PS240 |
README.VE | Last minute notes. |
SAMPLE.DEV | Sample Printer control file |
VEWD.EXE | The application program. |
VEWD.HLP | The on-line help file |
VEWD.ICO | A Windows 3.1 Icon file for use with VEWD. |
VEWD.PIF | A Windows Program Information File for VEWD |
VEWDBACK.BAT | Sample session backup batch file. |
VEWDFCC.EXE | An program to lookup VEWD format FCC data. |
VEWDSORT.BAT | Batch file used to sort database files from within VEWD |
VXT022.BAT | Batch file used to convert Version 2.0 database files to Version 2.2 |
Between Version 2.0/2.01 and Version 2.2 changes
were made to the DEFAULTS, VEINFO, VICTIMG, and VICTIMS databases.
Attempting to start Version 2.2 using a prior version will result
in the error display shown in Figure 2-1.
Database Version Mismatch Error
A conversion program called VXT022.EXE is available to convert the older database format to the newer format. To convert your older databases:
The DOS batch command file VXT022.BAT will automatically perform steps 5 through 7.
Figure 2-2 shows the "Main Menu" for the VXT022 program. The following paragraphs describe each of the Choices on the menu.
"Convert All Files" performs the function of the "Convert DEFAULTS", "Convert VICTIMG", "Convert VEINFO", and "Update VECLIST" choices.
"Convert DEFAULTS" creates a new DEFAULTS database in the VEWD directory and copies the records in the ODEFAULT database to the new format.
"Convert VICTIMG" creates a new VICTIMG database in the VEWD directory and copies the records in the OVICTIMG database to the new format.
"Convert VEINFO" creates a new VEINFO database in the VEWD directory and copies the records in the OVEINFO database to the new format.
"Update VECLIST" reloads the VECLIST database to reflect the current active and defunct VEC’s.
"Exit" does just what you think it does. It terminates the program.
With the changed FCC form 610, additional alignment
fields were added to the printer control .DEV files to provide
additional flexibility. The HPLASER .DEV and HPLASR4P.DEV have
been updated with the additional control fields. Verify proper
printing of form 610's with your session printer, updating the
.DEV file as necessary, before your session.
Figure 2-2 VXT022 Main Menu