RI Strip Response Creator

Summary

This Request for Information Strip Reader and Response Creator form is designed to accept Requests for Information (RI) strips with multiple elements in a slant-separated format. The form parses the fields into individual elements, each with a corresponding response field. Once filled out, the form creates a Response to the Request for Information (RRI) in strip format.

Installation

The form consists of 2 files, an HTML file and a TXT file. When used with Winlink Express, they are installed in the Templates folder. The form also works outside of Winlink Express with any browser. Simply place the two files in a convenient location (e.g. a thumb drive).

Overview

The Request for Information (RI) message strip format gathers information in a compact and concise manner. The strip is a single row in a spreadsheet — a slant-separated set of values. The RI serves as the header line; responses form the data cells.

RI strips are transmission mode agnostic. They can be sent by any digital radio mode, voice, CW, or incorporated into a radiogram.

Using the Form

In the RI entry field, directly enter or paste the RI strip. Click "Parse Strip" to build a two-column table with each element and a corresponding answer field. Fill in your responses and click "Create Response Strip."

If using Winlink Express, click "Submit" to load the strips into the message pane. Otherwise, click "Copy Strip to Clipboard" or use "Save Strip to File" to save directly to your hard drive.

To edit a previously created strip, paste it in the "Load Existing Response Strip" field and click "Populate Table", or use "Browse Saved Response Strips to Edit or Export" to select from saved files. Standard strip types are auto-detected; for custom strips you will be prompted to load the RI strip definition file.

Creating Custom RI Strips

You can create a custom RI Strip using the "Create New RI Strip" button on the main page. The builder lets you enter a strip name and question fields. When saved, the RI Strip is downloaded as a text file to your computer.

To reuse a saved RI Strip, click "Load RI Strip from File" on the main page to load it into the Request field, then click "Parse Strip" to build the Q&A table.

RI Example

ROSTER/HAM CALL SIGN/FIRST NAME/TOWN/COUNTY/STATE (2 LETTERS)/LAT (e.g. 44.123N)/LON (e.g. 069.123W)/MGRS (9 CHARACTERS)/WINLINK (Y,N)/HF NBEMS (Y,N)/VHF NBEMS (Y,N)/BRIEF COMMENTS//

Example response:

ROSTER/KB1TCE/STEVE/OWLS HEAD/KNOX/ME/44.048N/069.103W/19TDJ9172/Y/Y/Y/NEED PRACTICE WITH HF NBEMS//

MARS Mask Characters

# — Numerical character (no spaces)
A — Alphabetic character (no spaces)
N — Alpha-numeric character (no spaces)
X — Free text (accepts special characters and blanks)
Y, M, D, H — Year, Month, Day, Hour (translate to #)
, — Comma-separated list of acceptable choices
: — Colon, used for labeled fields (e.g. ASOF:)
[ ] — Ignore masking between brackets (e.g. [MST])
( ) — Reserved characters, cannot be used as masks

For questions or comments please contact KB1TCE via Winlink.

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Select a new RI Strip from the list. This will replace the current Request text.

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Create New RI Strip

Create a new RI Strip by entering the strip name and the Question fields. When finished, click "Save RI Strip". Two files will be saved: the RI Strip definition (.txt) and a spreadsheet header file (.csv) with the column headings extracted from the strip fields.

Strip Name: This becomes the first field in the strip and should be descriptive.

Strip Question Fields:

See RI Formatting Guidelines below for assistance.

#Question / Field DescriptionActions

         

RI Formatting Guidelines

Each Question consists of the FIELD NAME and, in parenthesis, how the Answer should be formatted. The former should be in upper case, the latter in mixed case as appropriate.

Examples: DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)
LOCATION (Road Name and Town)
CALL SIGN (N)
COMMENTS (X, Be Brief)

For reference, the Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS) uses the following for Answer Formatting. For example MGRS (N) would specify a continuous string of letters and numerals e.g. 19TDJ93238788. # — Numerical character (no spaces)
A — Alphabetic character (no spaces)
N — Alpha-numeric character (no spaces)
X — Free text (accepts special characters and blanks)
Y, M, D, H — Year, Month, Day, Hour (translate to #)
, — Comma-separated list of acceptable choices
: — Colon, used for labeled fields (e.g. ASOF:)
[ ] — Ignore masking between brackets (e.g. [MST])
( ) — Reserved characters, cannot be used as masks
Do not use a slant (/) within a field. The slant is reserved as a divider (delimiter) for the strip.

Note: When you save an RI Strip, two files will be downloaded: the strip definition (.txt) and a spreadsheet header (.csv). You can load the strip file later using the "Load RI Strip from File" button on the main page.

Tips: To choose where files are saved, enable "Ask where to save each file before downloading" in your browser's download settings (Chrome: Settings → Downloads; Edge: Settings → Downloads). For more information on RIs and formatting see https://ne-interop-emcomm.org/request.html

Close
Request for Information Strip Reader and Response Creator
Operator Info - Read Please

    Request    Character count:  of      Insert a Standard Information Strip       Instructions for Standard RI Strips


  Display/Refresh RI Table

Strip Question   Answer

 

      

          

Load Existing Response Strip for Editing
Paste a previously created Response strip below for editing, then click "Populate Table". Standard strip types (e.g. GYX CAR SKYWARN, HURRICANE REPORT) are auto-detected. For custom strips, you will be prompted to load the RI strip definition file so the questions display correctly.


  

Create or Load RI Strip
Create a new RI Strip or load a previously saved one. The RI Strip will be placed in the Request field above.

  
Based on a concept by the SHARES Region 1 Interoperability Group — Version 1.6.3.19
Home

Welcome

Select an action to get started.

Choose from the Standard RI strip templates
Paste in or load from file a custom RI strip template to fill out
Load a previously saved response strip for editing
Design a custom RI strip by entering the strip name and question fields
Manage your profile and preferences

Select a Strip Template

Select an custom Request for Information Strip

Option 1: Paste from Clipboard

Paste an RI strip (request) into the box below. Fields are separated by slashes (/).

Option 2: Load RI Strip from File

Questions & Answers

Strip QuestionAnswer

Response Strip Created

Edit an Existing Response Strip

Option 1: Paste from Clipboard

Option 2: Load from File

Option 3: Browse Saved Response Strips

Select multiple response strip files from your Downloads folder to review and choose from. Use Ctrl+A to select all files, or Shift+click to select a range.

Saved Strips

Select one strip to edit, or multiple strips to view together. Organized by call sign, then date.

Selected Strips

Copy the text below to paste into an email or other document.

To capture a single strip, highlight any part of it in the text above, then click "Capture Highlighted Strip".

Create or Load RI Strip

Create a new RI strip template or load a previously saved one. The RI strip defines the questions that responders will fill in.

Create a new custom Request for Information Strip

Create a new custom Request for Information Strip by entering the strip name and the question fields. Text outside parentheses is automatically capitalized. Text inside parentheses preserves its original case for formatting hints.

Strip Name:This becomes the first field in the strip.
Strip Question Fields:

Enter each question on a separate row. Use parentheses for formatting hints, e.g. WIND SPEED (in miles per hour)

#Question / Field DescriptionActions

RI Formatting Guidelines

Each Question consists of the FIELD NAME and, in parenthesis, how the Answer should be formatted. The former should be in upper case, the latter in mixed case as appropriate.

Examples:

DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)
LOCATION (Road Name and Town)
CALL SIGN (N)
COMMENTS (X, Be Brief)

For reference, the Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS) uses the following for Answer Formatting. For example MGRS (N) would specify a continuous string of letters and numerals e.g. 19TDJ93238788.

# — Numerical character (no spaces)
A — Alphabetic character (no spaces)
N — Alpha-numeric character (no spaces)
X — Free text (accepts special characters and blanks)
Y, M, D, H — Year, Month, Day, Hour (translate to #)
, — Comma-separated list of acceptable choices
: — Colon, used for labeled fields (e.g. ASOF:)
[ ] — Ignore masking between brackets (e.g. [MST])
( ) — Reserved characters, cannot be used as masks

Do not use a slant (/) within a field. The slant is reserved as a divider (delimiter) for the strip.

Note: When you save an RI Strip, two files will be downloaded: the strip definition (.txt) and a spreadsheet header (.csv). You can load the strip file later using the custom options.

Settings

User Profile

Auto-fill answers from profile
Import profile from file
Export profile to file

Instructions for Standard RI Strips

This describes the Standard RI strips with instructions for properly responding to these strips. The first group is the SKYWARN weather observation strip developed for the Gray (GYX) and Caribou (CAR) Maine weather services, covering all of Maine and New Hampshire. The second group consists of strips developed by Radio Relay International for broader use.

GYX CAR SKYWARN RI Strip

Responses are designed to load directly into the GYX Google Sheets database. Here is the RI strip followed by an example response:

GYX CAR SKYWARN/DATE (MM-DD-YYYY)/TIME (HHMML)/CALL SIGN/SPOTTER ID (or NA) /SOURCE (Amateur Radio, Trained Spotter, Media, Public Service Radio, Other 3rd Party, Direct Messaging)/LOCATION (Road, Town; MGRS or USNG optional)/STATE & CWA (e.g. NH GYX, ME CAR, MA OA)/CURRENT WEATHER (Relevant info such as Temp, Barometer, Cloud Cover or Type. Be brief.)/SNOW, SLEET (inches or NA; if storm total add ST e.g. 2.6 or 3.5ST)/ICE ACCRETION (inches or NA)/RAINFALL (inches or NA, if storm total add ST e.g. 2.6 or 3.5ST)/HAIL SIZE (Inches or NA)/WIND DIRECTION & SPEED (AAA MPH - if applicable add the gust value e.g. NNE 7 21G) /STORM DAMAGE (Wind, flooding, ice jams, other details)/MODE(Personal Observation, FM Repeater, Winlink, DMR, Direct Messaging. For others leave blank)/NET (Name of radio net or other e.g. email, Slack)//

Example:
GYX CAR SKYWARN/01-02-2026/1720L/WO1J/CU330/Amateur Radio/314 POPE RD, WINDHAM/ME GYX/CLEAR & COLD/1.4ST/NA/0.01ST/NA/WNW 2/NONE/Personal Observation/REPEATER 147.045//

Formatting is important — follow the example answers exactly.

The DATE uses hyphens (MM-DD-YYYY). STATE & CWA primary options are: NH GYX, ME GYX, and ME CAR. For locations outside ME/NH, use STATE and OA (e.g. MA OA).

SOURCE requires one of the specific responses (case sensitive).

LOCATION: road name and town. MGRS/USNG coordinates are desired but optional.

CURRENT WEATHER: brief synopsis (cloud cover, type, humidity, barometer, etc.). Activation instructions may request specific information for this field.

SNOW, SLEET: inches or NA. Append ST for storm totals (e.g. 3.5ST). No need to include units.

ICE ACCRETION: inches or NA.

RAINFALL: same format as SNOW, SLEET.

HAIL SIZE: inches or NA.

WIND DIRECTION & SPEED: direction in up to 3 letters (N, NW, ESE), speed in MPH (units understood). Add gust value if applicable (e.g. NNE 7 21G).

STORM DAMAGE: free text. Examples include damage to structures, vehicles, trees/limbs down, power lines, road damage, flooding, coastal inundation or erosion.

MODE: how the observation was transmitted (case sensitive). Options: Personal Observation, FM Repeater, Winlink, DMR, Direct Messaging.

NET: name of the radio net or other channel (e.g. email, Slack).

Radiogram formatting note: If sent via standard radiogram, dashes become DASH, decimal points become R, commas become COMMA, periods become X, and email addresses are spelled out (e.g. SKYWARN ATSIGN WX1GYX DOT NET).

WXOBS (Radio Relay International)

Example Response:
WXOBS/KB1TCE/KN83/OWLS HEAD/ME/19TDJ9172/GYX/ /301438Z/ /SSW/3/8/ /OVC/ /71/ /1020.20/F/ /RA/ /0.40/0.40/0.40/NA/ /NO DAMAGE//

Use NA where not applicable. Leave blank if information is unavailable.

Cloud choices: CLR, FEW, SKT (Scattered), CB (Cumulonimbus), OVC (Overcast), TCU (Towering Cumulus).

Precipitation choices: RA (Rain), SN (Snow), SL (Sleet), PL (Ice Pellets), GR (Hail), FZRA (Freezing Rain).

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