Hi Frode
I agree with you that in practice many
applications are tolerant and read non-compliant
ADIF files without errors. However, my report was
actually triggered by a practical problem.
Concretely, I tried to read the ADIF file created
by WSJT-X using the Python library "hamutils".
This did not work and resulted in errors. Upon
further investigation, I realized that (in certain
cases) WSJT-X strictly speaking generates ADIF
files that do not conform to the specifications.
After manually correcting the values of the tx_pwr
fields in the ADIF file, the processing using the
"hamutils" library works without issues. To
permanently fix this issue and prevent further
similar problems in combination with other
software I would therefore welcome it if the
WSJT-X software could be adapted such that the
generated ADIF file always complies with the
specifications.
Regards
Roman HB9HDN
On 19.10.22 15:05, Frode Igland via wsjt-devel wrote:
Hi, Roman.
My experience is that the ADIF format accepts
more than the ADIF specifications may indicate.
I have used the "Tx power" field in the WSJT-X
logging window for most of my tens of thousands
of WSJT-X QSOs. Whether I enter "40 W", "40W" or
"40", it hits my HRD Logbook as "40", i.e. a
clean number. Apparently, the ADIF protocol is
smart enough to find and understand the numbers,
leaving out the letters. However, that also
means that "1kW" or "1 kW" is transferred as
"1". In the practical world, this may be a
smaller problem for WSJT-X, as I cannot see any
good reason to use 1kW for the common WSJT-X
modes, except for EME QSOs. EME operators will
soon enough understand that they didn't make a
QSO with 1 W, and should be able to edit the Tx
Power in their logging software. Human
interaction and thoughtful discretion is still a
good value in ham radio. 😊
I guess the issue may be solved practically by
changing the field title in the logging window
from "Tx power" to "Tx power (W)" or "Tx power
(watt)", or possibly, like you suggest, make a
tooltip reminding the operator that a watt
_number_ is expected, however, I don't know if
the logging window is open for tooltips, as
there are none yet.
73, Frode LA6VQ
ons. 19. okt. 2022 kl. 00:53 skrev cirnod via
wsjt-devel <wsjt-devel@lists.sourceforge.net>:
Hi
I would like to report an issue with the
ADIF log
created by WSJT-X. I'm currently using
v2.5.4 on
macOS 12.6.
WSJT-X offers to log QSOs by filling in a form
prompt. One of the fields of the form allows to
log the "Tx power". Apparently, the form
accepts
any text string entered into this field.
Furthermore, the unmodified text string is
used to
create the ADIF log of WSJT-X. This behavior
potentially leads to invalid ADIF files as
they do
not conform with the ADIF specifications
[1]. For
example a user could enter "10W" or "1kW".
According to the specifications, the "TX_PWR"
field should contain "the logging station's
power
in Watts with a value greater than 0". In
addition, the data type of this ADIF field is
"Number", i.e. "a sequence of one or more
Digits
representing a decimal number, optionally
preceded
by a minus sign (ASCII code 45) and optionally
including a single decimal point (ASCII
code 46) ".
I see the following points that could help
fixing
the mentioned issue:
* Adding tooltip/instructions for the user to
clarify what data type and value (in what
units)
should be entered in the "Tx power" field.
* User input sanitation either for the "Tx
power"
field of the QSO log form prompt or before
writing
the value entered by the user to the ADIF log
file. One option would be to rejecting the
submission of the form and informing the
user in
case a wrong data type has been entered.
Regards
Roman HB9HDN
[1]
https://www.adif.org/313/ADIF_313.htm#QSO_Field_TX_PWR
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