Tuesday 9 August 2016

CWCOM - Editing the Morse Library

The Morse Library is the set of letters, figures, and prosigns, that appear on screen when you send or receive morse on CWCOM.

You can modify this to suit your own needs, but it needs some careful thinking about the process you are doing.

WARNING.... IF YOU CORRUPT YOUR morse.lib FILE THEN YOU SHOULD TRY THE FOLLOWING...

 

A recent problem, that I have not personally encountered, was the corruption by a user, when editing the Morse Library, of the  morse.lib file.
It seems that when he tried to download a new copy of CWCOM, somehow this did not replace the old corrupt copy of the morse.lib file. Having deleted his mrx folder and cwcom folder, it still would bring up the corrupted copy on a new install. 

 

To get around this problem l suggest that you rename the original folder(s) as OLD MRX software, and OLD cwcom

 
Then download, and install a new copy of cwcom...
Once it has been "proved" as a good copy, then you should be able to delete to OLD versions and run CCLEANER to clear out any odd bits... then run a REGistry CLEANER ( from CCLEANER ) or WISE REGISTRY CLEANER ( free to download and use )  to remove any excess registry items.  (REG CLEANER not applicable to Linux or MAC Machines! ! ) .( but is useful when using WINE for Windows apps ! )

 

 

 
Continuing with EDITING THE Morse.lib File.


You cannot just "change"  things...  e.g. if you want to change IMI  on screen to ?  you cannot do this as a "change".. first you must locate the symbol IMI... and delete that line,  

 

Then you must replace it with the NEW version of IMI so that it prints the question mark on the screen.

Edit Morse Definition

Text     Symbol     WavFile     Response     Type

IMI       113311      imi                ?             Punct

Many operators on CWCOM have removed the UPPER CASE/CAPITAL letters as they prefer to see the "normal" lower case text on screen..

Of course, there are many operators, who, over the years, have been trained to type, and use capital letters/upper case when writing the messages, so that they can be easily read, rather than having to decipher "doctors writing" type "long hand" ....  

Again, there are those who have difficulty reading small print text on a computer screen, and there is a facility for making the print size ( font size ) larger...   if you so desire.. ( this kind of change will only happen on your screen... it does not change the distant operators screen font size )... See the end of this page.....

So, here is how to go about modifying or 

 

editing the Morse Library.

the process generally follows this route.... 

1.edit the original Morse.lib file

2.rename it  ORIGINAL Morse.lib

3. save the modified version as   NEW Morse.lib

4 close down cwcom. and restart for the changes to take effect. 

 


Instructions for modifying the Morse Library......  Or....
 How to remove the upper case letters ...

> 1. click on the yellow A next to QRV

> 2.at the bottom of the window that opens... click on "open"

> 3. another window opens... showing "Morse.lib" folder ...... select/highlight that and then click "open" on that window. 

(see NOTE! below... regarding "save" ).... 

> 4. you will now be presented with yet another window.. with a grid showing the UPPER CASE/CAPITAL letters down the left side..

> 5. the top one A,  should be "selected/highlighted"

> 6. at the bottom of that window click on "X Delete" and keep doing that until all the CAPITAL letters have been deleted.

> 7.be careful not to delete any more ! ! ! ...

(If you do... just close the window... do not "save" , and then reboot cwcom and start again) 

 IMPORTANT...
8. You now need to find the lower case `z`  

and delete that line also, this is because the symbols are wrong  and will print ? instead of z  because the Symbol is wrong.. it should be 3311.


ADDING NEW SYMBOLS TO THE LIBRARY 
 (see note at end of this section for adding accentuated letters) 

The following  instructions apply to any "new" additions, or changes you want to do ( e.g. change IMI to show  ?  or BT to show =   or AR to show +  etc ).,.


9.  Replace the lower case `z` as follows

10. click on "New" at the bottom of the library .
 
                  then under Edit Morse Definitions, in the first box{column heading TEXT}  (already `selected` ),  enter the lower case z   
        
                  next box along, (column heading Symbol 3311  {these the symbols for dashes and dots.. 3 = dash and 1 = dot} . 
               ..
                  next box (column heading  WAV file)  enter lower case z ....    
      
                  next box ( column heading Response) lower case z     
    
     and finally make sure it show  "letter"....( in the column headed Type)


If that is the only change... then you MUST follow this .....
     . Click on the "Add" (with green tick)... 

      then "save"

       then "Exit...

WARNING!... When you "save" your changes, it replaces the original morselib file.... therefore, if you are not sure what you are doing is going to be right.... it would be best to "save" with a new title for the file....e.g.  NEW Morse   or   NEW Morse.lib ... 
.. 
( Go to PART Two -further down this page to continue)

  

Follow the same procedure for changing other items....i.e  BT   ...... IMI....  . AR..  ..  etc..  ( change the last box from "letter" to "prosign" though....)


You can either delete them first... or do the changes, then delete them,...but you must delete the old ones before you "save & exit" and re start CWCOM.


You can make up your own "prosigns"   so long as you remember the morse symbols that you used..  I use CT to make  ~~ on my screen... and I have changed the layout of SK or VA for ( See You Later) and also AS from WAIT to Pse Wait....  
 
Remember... You can`t "just change " what is already in the library... you must add a new prosign and delete the old one.
 
IMPORTANT 
 
To continue.... go to "Part Two"   below this next bit 
 
 


How to add "non-english" accentuated letters 
       to a standard english keyboard . 

e.g.  Germany uses  ä   Ö   ü    and  ß  which do not appear on a standard english language keyboard...  to add these to the morse lib is a little different to adding new letters/symbols...  so read this carefully....

first "copy" the letter  ä  (or whichever you want to do next) from this page... by highlighting/selecting the letter, and then right click and "copy"...  

Open up the MorseLib... as above...

 then proceed as for "new"... 

Select NEW from the bottom row menu..... and then in the frame follow this example... 

Text  Symbol  WavFile     Response      Type

 aa     1313        aa                ä            Special

***  (here you must select       "special"   instead of Letter) in the TYPE column,  then click the space under RESPONSE,   and you should be able to paste in the accentuated letter     ä     ......     Go to the bottom row, and click ADD ... then click "save"....  and save it as detailed above...  

You can add the rest of the accentuated letters, in the same operation following the above procedure... don`t forget to "ADD" them.... and finally "Save"   save as a new title "Morselib accentuated"  and then exit.... and restart cwcom.  ( and going through the "Rename" proecedure to make the new version "Morse.lib" otherwise you may find a message Can`t find Morse.lib


  ä  = 1313        (aa) (no brackets in Text and Wavfile columns)
  Ö  = 3331       (oe)
   ü = 1133        (im) 
   ß = 1113311   (sz)
 
 
 
 PART TWO of Editing the Morse.lib file
 
After doing the changes/editing, and saving and exit.. You now need to find the "saved" NEW Morse.lib file.
Originally, it was saved in the Program Files (x86) folder, MRX Software>CWCOM....
 
 but something has changed in Windows 
 
and it is now saved in somewhere called "Virtual Store" as follows 
 
On your Computer - Locate
 
Local Disc(C:) 
       Users
           (your username folder)  
                 App Data
                       Local  
( scroll down the list in "Local"  until you get to )
                          Virtual Store
                              Program Files (X86)
                                   MRX Software
                                         CWCOM 
 
In the cwcom folder,
       you should have listed your NEW Morse.lib file.
                          Right click and "Copy" it 
 
close that page. 
 
Now find your 
Computer > 
         Local Disc (C:) > 
                Program Files (X86) > 
                              MRX Software > 
                                               CWCOM 
 
and then "Paste" your NEW Morse.lib copy into the CWCOM folder
 
It will now have two "morse.lib" files... but will only run on one... so you must now rename them as follows 
 
Locate  and Select the "Morse.lib" file   ( the original one ) and rename it ORIGINAL Morse.lib   
 

Select the new morse.lib file 

NEW Morse.lib   and rename it Morse.lib 

Close the windows.


This will now be the "default" Morse.lib library with all your changes effective the next time you start CWCOM 

When you restart CWCOM, it should show your edited version, and will be "default" until you change it again. !


Any problems....... (hope not ! ! )  email me, and I will try to help....
 







To Change the FONT SIZE  .....
(this is only effective on YOUR screen -not the remote users screen(s) ) 

                     Just click on the A and you will be presented with a pop out message box, with the current Font and Style and Size already highlighted... just use the up and down slider on the Size column, to change to a larger size as required.


Here are a couple of suggestions for "telegram" type fonts... which you can download.

TO ADD NEW FONTS TO CWCOM..

You need to locate and download them from the internet... 
 Try this site... 

 http://fontzone.net/font-details/telegram-hplhs

Or this one....

http://www.fontsplace.com/ld-telegram-free-font-download.html



Here is an "authentic" type font.....   

"Cablegram"...  

 http://ufonts.com/q108316

You need to scroll down the page until you see a very small " download" folder type icon...  click that, and the page changes...you have to type in the "code" into a box before it will download the font for you....


Once downloaded... locate it in your "downloads" folder... and then copy and paste it into your Fonts Folder, as  mentioned below...

 To add NEW FONTS to your computer, ( so you can use them in cwcom)...

In WINDOWS......
Go to....   START   button at bottom left,........., then type into the box above   FONTS ..

 you should be presented with a "folder"   then... right click on it and look for  File Location...

click that and you can then go to your downloads folder and copy and paste the font into your Fonts Folder... .

It will then be available for you to use on your cwcom screen....

If you make a real hash of it... you can always uninstall cwcom and re-install it, which will give you the original Morse Library again on the fresh copy. .. 



Scaling down the Font list
to a manageabale size ....


As a matter of interest... there are hundreds of fonts in the FONTS folder on computers... and many of them will never ever ever ever be used... 
So... if you have nothing to do for an hour or so... you can locate the Fonts Folder... open it up and just delete all those that are "not relevant" to your language... 




CWCOM - Working Procedures

CWCOM is an easy to use program,  although there are no "rules & regulations" stipulated, a common sense approach to "working procedures" works reasonably well.

In general, the procedure followed by existing operators, is very similar to that of Amateur Radio operations,..  using the same Q codes and "overs" system....  however, a few points need to be explained to make things work smoothly "on channel".

Unlike the HF radio frequencies. there is no fading, (QSB)... there is no low power section ( QRP ). and the only mode of operation is CW or Morse. with a modification that you can also TYPE your QSO, which is then sent across the internet in Morse to the receiving station. Because of this, it is pointless sending some kind of signal report,... such as  599 or 5nn... everything on cwcom is 100 percent 599 due to the nature of the internet.. !

Channel 1000 is the Primary or DEFAULT channel,.. and can be considered as the CALLING FREQUENCY.... (but can be used for chat if no other stations are showing on the "on channel" window)  once a QSO has been started, it is "common sense" to QSY or "shift"to another channel,... Especially if there are other stations showing on the "on channel" window....this is easily done.. no re-tuning of antenna !... just announce the new channel..."QSY 999" or whatever channel you want... the other station will probably agree,.. and you can both  send   Dit Dit,..or "UP"... and then click on the up or down arrow on the channel window at the bottom of the text screen... 

 

How to QSY on cwcom ?   

 

the channel number at the bottom of the screen is the channel "in use"... to qsy use the "up" or "down" arrows to the right of the number and that will qsy you.... the other station will have to do the same... ! .

This will then leave the "Default" or calling channel free for newer stations to be able to establish their own qso.

Using the "WebView" icon   this gives a new page called IONOSPHERE Current users list of channels .  ((The "monitor screen icon" at the top of the text screen)), you can find out what channels other stations are working on.

In the past few years, channel 1000 has become the "general chat channel".. because there has not been many users... and it seemed to be a bit pointless to QSY,.. in other words, it has become "habit" to continue qso`s... The  problem with this, is,    that if a number of other stations start CWCOM they will also, by default, be on channel 1000, and because a QSO is in progress, will, "hopefully" politely wait for  ........

A... the qso to end...
B... to be called into the qso...
C... try to "break in", causing a "collision".. and upsetting the QSO in progress. .

D... Give up and leave. 

 



It is therefore a good idea to re-size the main screen, so that the "On Channel" window, can be positioned below the main screen.. and when new user start up...they will be shown on that screen, and hopefully, those in the QSO, will call them, or arrange a QSY  to free up 1000 again.



CLICK ON THE PIC .... FOR A LARGER VIEW

 
 
 


Sometimes... a "collision" is unintentional, due to new users not knowing how cwcom actually works,.. other times it is deliberate, due to frustration of waiting, and being ignored.   

If everyone uses the "On Channel" window as described above, then it is possible to pass a message to other stations using the "message box" at the top of the screen, to the right of the QRX box.

 
Messages here, are displayed alongside the callsign on the "On Channel" window... therefore, it would be possible to ask another station ( not involved in the existing QSO) to QSY to 1001 and start a new QSO, without interrupting the existing one...

 e.g.  G4ABC wants to chat to YZ2ABC, but there is a QSO already running on 1000... G4ABC will put    YZ2ABC QSY 1001 K on the message box...    YZ2ABC sees the message, and responds in his message box   UP.. or SEE YOU THERE. or some acknowledgement.. then both stations move to 1001...   

NOTE>.. To remove messages ... delete by backspacing, or highlighting and backspace, then press SPACE BAR and then RETURN key... this.. in effect . puts  a  new message       ( the space ) on the message box.

A word about typing.... Some stations have removed all the CAPITAL LETTERS from their Morse Library ( tutorial  Editing the morse library... Page 15 of this blog )..  this means that whatever is typed in capital letters, does not have the morse sound when received.   Also.. when you type.. ( as an "over" )  you will not hear the sound of your typing in morse code.

As is common practice, it is "good manners" to use "lower case" when typing, as this is "not shouting".. although it is only an advisory matter. Some Australian  Post Office Telegraphists of the Landline era, still like to see the text in Upper Case, as that is what they used on their typewriters.

Also when typing... you should still follow the conventions of the HF Amateur Radio operations, and "be nice to each other"  ! ! !

 most importantly... end your "typed over" with the letter K or AR as you would if sending morse.. to let the distant station know you have finished typing.!!

 


Enjoy yourself,  73`s   Dit Dit ! ! .






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Text-to-speech function is limited to 200 characters