Writelog Multiple Window Setups  by Dick Stevens, N1RCT

   If you use Writelog with multiple setups such as RTTY and CW or 1-Rig, 2-Rig RTTY, etc, it is a pain to get the windows rearranged to your favorite setup for each mode. Here are two basic ways to save setups, based on the fact that all the window arrangements are saved in WRITELOG.INI in your C:\Windows directory.

    The simplest is to set up WL with the first arrangement, do a FILE SAVE to capture the arrangement in WRITELOG.INI, then exit WL. Lets say the arrangement was for 2-Rigs which we code as "2R". Start a DOS window and copy WRITELOG.INI as WRITELOG.2R (or use your file manager program.)    Now restart WL and arrange the windows differently, say as a one-rig with visible DXcluster; we will call this 1R. When arranged, again do a File Save, Exit WL, start a DOS box, and copy WRITELOG.INI as WRITELOG.1R. Repeat for as many setups as you find useful.

     In order to go back to the 2-Rig, go to a DOS box and erase WRITELOG.INI, then
" COPY WRITELOG.2R WRITELOG.INI ".  Restarting WL will put you back in the 2-Rig window arrangement. Any time you improve an arrangement, you must go through the save routine again.

    The second way is exactly the same except .bat files and Icons are used to semi-automate the process after you have initialized the .1R, .2R, etc files using the first procedure.

    For each configuration, two .bat files will be needed, one to recall a configuration and one to save any updates. Lets refer to them as 1Rig1.bat, 1Rig2.bat. 2Rig1.bat, and 2Rig2.bat for our simple arrangement. Here is the text to be put into each bat file:

;; 1RIG1.bat contents:
copy c:\windows\writelog.ini c:\windows\writelog.old
copy c:\windows\writelog.1r c:\windows\writelog.ini
pause

;; 1RIG2.bat contents:
copy c:\windows\writelog.ini c:\windows\writelog.1r
pause

;; 2RIG1.bat contents:
copy c:\windows\writelog.ini c:\windows\writelog.old
copy c:\windows\writelog.2r c:\windows\writelog.ini
pause

;; 2RIG2.bat contents:
copy c:\windows\writelog.ini c:\windows\writelog.2r
pause

       A .bat file is created by using the WIN95 Wordpad, typing in the contents, and saving it as c:\windows\1RIG1.BAT, etc, using the plain DOS "TEXT" document option:



     Each setup file (***1.bat) starts with a line that saves the current .ini file as "writelog.old". This gives you a chance to recover if you realize you have clicked the wrong button. The second line does the dirty work and replaces the current writelog.ini with your previously saved 1-Rig configuration. The 3rd line "Pause", lets you see that all went well and there are no error messages.

      The "Save" routines ( ***2.bat) saves the current Writelog setup into the special configuration for later use. You only need to do this if you have made an improvement that you want to keep.

     The next step is to get the programs onto the WIN95 screen as convenient Icons needing only a click. When we are done, it will look like this:

      This will work by pressing the "INITialize" Icon for the setup desired if was left in another state, then WL Start, and "Save" upon exiting if you made changes to the arrangement you want to save. If you mess up a change, exit WL and do the INIT icon again; this gets you back to your old setup.
     

   But first, we have to get the icons on the screen.   Use the existing Writelog Folder or start a new one by using Windows Explorer. Use Windows Explorer to find the 2Rig1.bat file in c:\windows and RIGHT click on it with the mouse and select "Create Shortcut". Then left click on the created shortcut, hold, and drag to the Writelog Folder, creating the first icon in the picture above. Then Right-click on the icon, select RENAME and type in a name such as Init 2-Rigs. Lastly, Right-click the icon again and select "Properties" then "Program". Near the bottom, check "Close on exit" then "OK". This is also the place where you can change the Icon if desired.

      Repeat this procedure until you have the 4 or more bat file icons in place. Lastly, add a shortcut to Writelog itself if needed. I also add some more icons to access items I normally use with WL such as access to the screen colors, DOS prompt, Macro Express, and to edit my Friend.ini file. I also leave a "hole" in my Writelog screen setup so that the Icon for this folder is visible when operating for easy access. One caveat ... if you do some change to Writelog.ini by hand (such as changing polling interval, etc), you need to make the change to each one of the saved writelog.1r, etc files it will apply to.       ... 73 de Dick, N1RCT

added 15 April 99 ... this is how my menu looks today: