SpotCollector Download and Installation

Important Note
The DXLab Launcher automates the process of downloading and installing DXLab applications like SpotCollector:

If you prefer to manually download and install DXKeeper, follow this process:

 

Step Directions
1

Create the application folder in which SpotCollector will reside, such as:

C:\DXLab\SpotCollector

If you choose a folder within C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) on  Windows 7 or Vista,

  • If your PC is running Windows 7, login to an account with Administrator privileges to install or run DXLab applications
  • If your PC is running Vista, login to the account named Administrator  to install or run DXLab applications
   
2 In the application folder, create an installation subfolder in which the downloaded and extracted files will reside, such as:

C:\DXLab\SpotCollector\Install
   
3 Click here to download SpotCollector342Archive.exe, a 6.6 MB self-extracting executable file that contains SpotCollector and its associated files. When prompted, direct your browser to store this file into the installation subfolder you created in step 2. 
   
4 Run SpotCollector342Archive.exe - in its WinZip Self-Extractor dialog box, direct it to place the unzipped files into the installation subfolder you created in step 2, and click the Unzip button. After extraction completes, click the Close button. The following files should now be present in the installation subfolder:
  • SpotCollector342Archive.exe
  • SpotCo1.cab
  • SpotCo2.cab
  • SpotCo3.cab
  • SpotCo4.cab
  • SpotCo5.cab
  • setup.exe
  • Setup.lst
   
5 To install SpotCollector, run the setup.exe program in the installation subfolder. Ignoring the setup program's request to close all running applications may result in error messages during the installation process, and possibly a faulty installation.

After copying several system files, the setup program may ask that you reboot your PC before continuing with the setup. If, after rebooting, your PC does not run setup.exe on its own, direct it to do so.

The setup program may report that the files being installed are older than files already installed on your system, and ask whether you want to over-write the existing newer files with the older files -- you should decline.
   
6 SpotCollector requires access to a DXCC database; step 5 above installs one, but DXCC databases are typically updated monthly.  If you've installed, or are planning to install DXView, then SpotCollector will automatically use DXView's DXCC database; updating DXView's DXCC database will automatically give SpotCollector access to the most up-to-date DXCC data.

If you are not planning to use DXView, however, you should click here to download the most recent DXCC database update; when you run this self-extracting executable, be sure to set its "unzip to folder" to SpotCollector's Databases folder.
7 SpotCollector has the ability to audibly announce needed DX Spots via your soundcard's audio output. To use this capability,

  • create a subfolder named Sounds in which the downloaded and extracted sound files will reside, such as C:\Program Files\SpotCollector\Sounds

  • click here to download a self-extracting executable named Announcements.exe ; when asked, direct Windows to save this file in SpotCollector's Sounds subfolder

  • run Announcements.exe and extract its contents into the Sounds subfolder
8 SpotCollector has the ability to audibly introduce itself on startup your soundcard's audio output. To use this capability,

  • if you did not create one in step 7, create a subfolder named Sounds in which the downloaded and extracted sound files will reside, such as C:\Program Files\SpotCollector\Sounds

  • click here to download a self-extracting executable named Introductions.exe ; when asked, direct Windows to save this file in SpotCollector's Sounds subfolder

  • run Introductions.exe and extract its contents into the Sounds subfolder
9 To execute SpotCollector, run the program SpotCollector.exe in the application folder.
10 After SpotCollector is installed and you've verified that it works, you may delete the installation subfolder and the files it contains.
11 Check http://www.dxlabsuite.com/download.htm for access to the most recent Incremental Release

You can uninstall SpotCollector by running the Add/Remove Programs applet on the Windows control panel.

If you have questions or suggestions, please post them on the DXLab reflector; if you're not a member, you can sign up.