Printing from ADIF

Recently I have been getting more and more questions about printing QSL cards directly from ADIF file. To avoid having to answer these questions separately, here is a basic guide on how to do this.

What is it all about?

It is printing of full QSL cards on which all connection data is printed (ie call, via, time, mode, band, RST, or other). See, for example, the OK1VK or other cards in the gallery.

Thus, there is no need to manually print the QSL card, print to the printer, or stick adhesive labels. There can be more connections to one station on one card (number of QSOs is not limited, optimally 3-5 depending on the location on the ticket).

After printing, you will receive QSL cards sorted by the opposite station mark (alphabetically). You only need to sign such a card

Color cards

It can range from monochromatic to full-color. One-sided or two-sided. Here you have to think that if you want to have a photo or picture as a background, so when printing one-sided with the amount of data that is on the card much of the photo or picture will not be visible.

For QSL cards from the ADIF file, all information as for ordinary card printing applies.

What is ADIF?

ADIF is an open standard for data exchange between different amateur radio programs. So far, the most used is ADIF v2.x (* .ADI) or ADIF v3.x (* .ADX).

A description of this standard can be found at www.adif.org.

How to create an ADIF file?

Each Log program can export an ADIF file. The procedure for each program is different, see your logging program manual.

There is more possibility to create ADIF file for QSL cards printing.

1. Create an ADIF file with all QSOs from-to (date). QSL tickets will be for all connections.

2. Create ADIF file only with connections for which you want QSL tickets. Manually it is quite laborious but some programs (eg Logger32, HRD...) have their functions.

3. Create an ADIF file with all QSOs from-to (date), but where the QSO for which you want to print the card will be marked specifically in the QSL_SENT or QSL_RCVD field. Possible values are only "Y" or "N"

4. There are several possibilities how to achieve the desired result (eg using a filter in HRD, etc.) you have to play with it a little.

How to continue?

Send the ADIF file to my email address. I'll check to see if everything's OK, and I'll send you any bad records back for repair. If everything is OK and you write me how many connections to one station you want on one card I will tell you the resulting number of QSL cards.

This is followed by the creation of the graphic itself for the QSL ticket. The information is in the HOW TO DO IT tab. After you have approved the graphics correction, I will send you a preview of a few tickets with completed QSO in PDF format for final approval.

This is followed by printing itself. Printed QSL cards are shipped within 3-5 working days of the last approval.

At the end

It may seem complicated, but it's not. This saves a lot of time, avoids mistakes when manually typing tickets, the tickets are sorted alphabetically to make your QSL service easier for you.

I will be happy to answer any other questions.

I apologize to those who know ADIF well and have no problem with this tutorial, but it may help many.