Program Window
The main Program Window is split into three parts:
1/ The left-hand side 'Central Tab Control' has a collection of Tab-Pages, each of which is identified by the text on its Tab. Click on the desired tab to access that Tab-Page and its associated controls. For more information, see 'Setup', 'Plot', 'Callsign', 'Country', 'Beam', 'Range', 'Widgets', 'Solar', and 'Help'.
2/ The right-hand side Map Area, shows the currently selected and re-projected map.
3/ A lower 'Status Bar', has useful messages, map feedback, and other program data.
The main Program Window also contains the 'Hide Tab Pages' button, in the top-right of the window: a small square with three horizontal lines in it. This button will put the program into 'Condensed Mode' by hiding the 'Central Tab Control', and so creating extra space on your desktop. The current map will then be re-sized to use all available space, whilst maintaining the correct aspect-ratio. This feature is very useful for Contesters or DXers with many other program-windows open on their desktop.
The 'Hide Tab Pages' button is also used to show some extra controls that are useful when operating with the Central Tab Control hidden. Its logic is:
a/ The program starts by showing the Central Tab Control and the Map.
b/ Click the 'Hide Tab Pages' button to hide the Central Tab Control, and fill the screen with the Map.
c/ Click the 'Hide Tab Pages' button again to show extra controls in the bottom-left corner of the map: an upper Text-Box, marked 'ENTER CALLSIGN..', and a lower drop-down control.
You can enter any Amateur Radio callsign in the upper box, then press the 'Enter' key on your keyboard. If the callsign can be correctly parsed, the map will add a colored line from the map-center to the identified ham-country. Also, the ham country-name will be selected in the lower drop-down control, and the ham country flag will show above it.
You can also click the arrow to the right of the drop-down control and select any ham country from the list that appears. As before, the map will add a colored line from the map-center to the identified ham-country, and the ham country flag will show above.
When in 'Condensed Mode' with the callsign and country boxes showing, you might find it useful to also display the 'Country Bearing Widget' which will show the short-path bearing for the country selected, or identified from the callsign.
d/ Click the 'Hide Tab Pages' button once again, and the program-layout will return to its default settings, as in 'a'.
If you go to the 'Plot' Tab-Page and click 'Plot Points > Beacons, an additional control appears on the main Program Window: a small panel marked 'Beacon Band'. This is used to select the band that identifies which NCDXF Beacon is currently transmitting. See the 'Plot' Tab-Page for more information.
The program window can be minimized, maximised, or closed with the usual windows-controls in the top right of the program window. You can also resize the window by clicking and dragging the program-window sises and corners. The current map will then be re-sized to use all available space, whilst maintaining the correct aspect-ratio.
When the program is closed, it will remember the size and position of the window, and the status of the various controls. When the program restarts, these values will be applied to the window, so you will be looking at the program as it was when it was last closed.