Code Practice Utility

Version 2.22c

--
Property of
G.G.Rajendra Kumar VU2ZAP

Dedicated to all the OLD TIMERS of Bangalore


IMPORTANT :

This program may not run perfectly on some Graphic
adaptors. This utility requires the keyboard to be configured
as US type. All features except keyboard send will function on
other keyboard formats. If you wish to run Code Practice from
a floppy make sure the write protect is removed from diskette.

NEW VERSION 2.00 :

This version of Code Practice incorporates new features
with larger menus. Shell feature and capability of running dos
commands from within the utility adds more versatality. Run
parameters can be changed and hide can be toggled during send.
EGA/VGA users can set 50/43/35 lines per screen. Colors can be
changed to suit your taste.

ABOUT CODE PRACTICE :

This utility (CP) generates code for skill enhancement
of the radio amateur. Not intended for the beginner as we feel
that the initial character learning should be done under under
the guidance of an experienced amateur. We must add that NEVER
learn morse in graphic DOT and DASH format. Improperly learnt
code is very difficult to correct later. However a seperate
menu is provided for the beginner, this format is the way we
teach morse here.

The program comes with the following files

1. CP.EXE
2. CP.DOC (This file)

If the diskette contains a file CP.INI, please delete
the file. The program will create its own file on calibration
and installation.

If any file is missing write to the Author for the
complete diskette of the latest version. Please enclose a 48 TPI
5.25" diskette, a return disk mailer packet and sufficient post-
age for its return.

CP is a user friendly utility. Its screen is menu-driven
with a help line.

The MAIN MENU functions

1. Alphabets < A to Z >
2. Numbers < 0 to 9 >
3. Punctuation marks < .,;)/-?= >
4. Mixed All listed above
5. Words at random < English text >
6. Words encountered in CW
7. Code ( for beginners )
8. Keyboard send < send code from your keyboard >
9. File send < ASCII text file >
10. Utilities ( Second menu )
11. QUIT ( Exit from program )

The UTILITY MENU functions

1. Hide / show text being sent
2. Colour / monochrome display
3. Bright / dim display
4. Toggle display right / left
5. Toggle display up /down
6. Automatic calibration
7. Dos command
8. Dos shell
9. Back to main menu
10. Save settings to file
11. QUIT program

The FUNCTION keys

F1. Help
F3. Speed increase
F4. Speed decrease
F5. Spacing speed increase
F6. Spacing speed decrease
F7. Weight increase
F8. Weight decrease
F9. Frequency increase
F10. Frequency decrease

Select any item from menu by using the UP or DOWN arrow keys or
use U for up and D for down on the keyboard and press ENTER to
execute. Use Page Up for top or Page Down for bottom of menu.

Main menu :

1. Alphabet sent in random groups of 5. Any key to EXIT
2. Numbers sent as in (1).
3. Punctuation marks sent as in (1).
4. Alphabets,numbers and punctuations sent mixed as in (1).
5. Words from English language sent at random. The program file
contains 1490 words ! of 5 characters each. Smaller words are
easy to read and increases the ability to copy without writing.
Any key to EXIT.
6. Words from a QSO and abbreviations in CW sent at random.
Improve your `on air' copy. Any key to EXIT.
Note: some characters seen on the screen are not the actual
character that is being sent, i.e ! @ # $ % & *.
7. Send code from your keyboard, useful for teaching others.
Press ESC to EXIT.
8. Send code from a ASCII text file, give the full path, name
and extension. All unknown characters will not be sent, but

replaced with a word space. Press any key to EXIT.
In addition to the standard characters the following may be
used in any ASCII text file for Test or Teaching :

$ = SK ...-.-* = AS .-...
! = BK -...-.-& = ES ....
@ = AR .-.-.# = KN -.--.
^ = AA .-.-

9. Takes you to Code ( menu ) study groups for the beginner.
10. Takes you to utilities ( menu ).
11. Quits program ( Remember to save current settings before
you exit ) Press ESC or Q to QUIT.

Utility menu :

Note: - use alpha/numeric key for this command in the main
menu.

1. Toggle between Hide or show the text being sent. A tick mark
appears when hide is set ON. As the page ends HIDE will be
reset to show the text already sent.( Hide )
2. Toggle between Colour or mono chrome display. A tick mark
appears when colour is set ON. ( Colour )
3. Toggle between Bright and Dim display. A tick mark appears
when the display is set to Bright. ( Bright )
4. Toggle the menu on the display from left to right or back
to suit your taste !
5. Toggle the text window on the display to the top or bottom of
the display.
6. CP measures the time it takes to send the standard word PARIS
5 times at 20 WPM and then computes the appropriate value of
calibration constant for your machine. Run this till you can
no further improve the calibration. The display will show the
time it took in ( Seconds X one hundred ) value, and also the
calibration constant. Time should be 1500/100 secs. After the
calibration process SAVE the settings. Some resident programs
will slow down the machine, recalibrate if you make any major
changes to your Config.sys or Autoexec.bat.
7. Run a dos command from within the code practice utility
All valid dos commands or utilities can be used. Press
any key to return to code practice screen.
8. Dos command shell from within the code practice utility
Any other program can be run without changes to this
utilty. Type EXIT to return to the program.
9. Go back to main menu.
10. Saves all speed, weight, frequency, calibration and display
settings to a file CP.INI, which set these values again when
the program is restarted again.
11. Quit program ( remember to save settings if you need them
again ) Press ESC or to QUIT.

Code menu

1. EISH51st group of characters to learn
2. TMO02nd group of characters to learn
3. AUV43rd group of characters to learn
4. NDB64th group of characters to learn
5. KX=-RP5th group of characters to learn
6. FLYQC6th group of characters to learn
7. WJ1GZ7th group of characters to learn
8. 237898th group of characters to learn
9. ,?.;)/9th group of characters to learn
10. Return to main menu
11. QUIT - exit code practice

The groups of characters are sent at random 5 in a group.

Characters are learnt by watching the groups appear on the screen
and associating the sounds with each character. Start at the top
with EISH5 group and progress downwards as you master each group
We suggest you start with the CODE SPEED at 15 and SPACING at 4
or 5, this way you will learn the characters at a faster speed
with enough time between characters and words to interpret the
sound heard. As you progress, increase the spacing values. When
you are through with the nine groups, graduate to the main menu
and use the ALL mode. If you are weak with any characters, go
back to CODE menu and repeat that group till you have mastered
your difficulty.

Press ESC to go to Main menu.


Function Keys

NOTE : Since calibration is referenced to the standard word
"PARIS", actual speed may vary depending on the type
of characters present in a set of groups being sent.
Always be prepared to copy at a higher speed if you
are upgrading or working towards a new license.

F1. Help on menu.

F3.F4. Increase or decrease speed from a minimum of 4 to a
maximum of 50 WPM (scale displayed will be relevant
only after calibration). Speed and spacings will be
changed together.

F5.F6. Increase or Decrease the spacing between characters
and words. You can increase the space between
characters by decreasing the character spacing speed.
Useful in improving your speed by giving you more time
to write the characters down on paper.

F7.F8 Increase or Decrease the weight. The figure displayed
is the ratio of DAH to DIT. Old timers might find it
nostalgic to set a ratio of 5. The code will sound like
it is being sent on a ` BUG ' key !. Standard = 3.
Minimum is 1 and maximum is 6.

F9.F10. Increase or Decrease the frequency of the tone being
sent. The default value is 700 and the value displayed
is in Hertz. Minimum is 400 and maximum is 1200 Hertz.
Change to suit your taste and SAVE setting before you
QUIT the program.


COLORS

And if you use a color monitor and want to change the colors
Use only keyboard number keys. If you use a monochrome monitor
try the colors and see if you like inverted black on white.

Colors - Black,Blue,Cyan,Green,Brown/Yellow,Red and Magenta.

( Dim yellow is brown, looks almost red on some monitors)

<1> Change box colors
<2> Change box type (not available on some versions)
<3> Menu foreground
<4> Menu background
<5> Text foreground
<6> Text background

Functions available in all menu windows :

1. KeyboardV - for program update details
2.S - for save settings to CP.INI file
3.U - menu up
4.D - menu down
5.B - bright/dim display toggle
6.C - color/mono display toggle
7.O - OS Shell
8.E - Execute OS command
9.H - Toggle Hide
10.F - Flip display Left / right
11.T - Text dispaly Top / Bottom

Functions available during send :

F2 to F10 ( change any of the send parameters )
Key - H ( toggle hide text )

NOTE :

Display routines are written directly to Video memory and may
cause snow on older CGA adaptors. ( maybe time to upgrade ? ;-))

CP creates a file named CP.INI, CP.INI can be placed in the PATH
or in any directory defined by SET INIT=c:\[directory] in the
autoexec.bat file.

CP.EXE searches the environment first for INIT defined directory
and if unsuccessful searches the path for CP.INI. If this fails
it will create a new CP.INI file in the current directory after
calibration.

Program written and compiled in QuickC 2.0 and MASM 5.1

If you have any problems write to me :

G.G.Rajendra Kumar VU2ZAP
44/10 Race Course road,
Fair field layout,
Bangalore 560 001,
I N D I A

[email protected]
VU2RSB MSYS BBS is ON 29.22 & 144.6 MHz FM 1200 bd

[email protected]
VU2DPG APLINK is on 14.079/21.079 MHz AMTOR
and 29.22 Mhz FM 1200 bd

Telephone : (0812) 265668, 266787

Special thanks to VS6XBN & DJ7CD for comments that influenced
this version.

Feedback can also be sent on the INTERNET to "[email protected]".