ADIF to QSL Label from S53ZO

In the field of amateur radio it is QSL ticket by traditional confirmation of connection between two radio operators. In order to print these tickets efficiently and personalized, data in the format is often worked with ADIF (Amateur Data Interchange Format), which contains records QSO – date, time, call sign, report, modes, bands and QSL status. ADIF to QSL Label is a web-based tool that makes this job easier - it allows you to import ADIF files, set filters, format the appearance of QSL cards or labels, and generate a print-ready PDF. Its author is Simon S53ZO. You can use the web version or a Python script. The address for the web version is https://s53zo.github.io/ADIF-to-QSL-Label/make_qsl_labels.html

What ADIF does is QSL Label

After loading the page, you will find the section "Data", where you can upload your own ADIF file (or use sample data) and then apply filters:

• The date – you can enter a range (from … to …) to display only QSOs in a certain time period.

• Bands a Modes – filtering based on bands (eg 40 m, 80 m, VHF...) or operating mode (CW, SSB, digital, etc.).

• QSL field & QSL status – you can choose which QSL entries are already received, need to be sent, ignored, etc. This makes it easy to manage the status of your receipts.

You then have the option to choose whether you want to print label sheets (Label sheets) or directly separate QSL tickets.

Layout of pages and tickets

This tool offers detailed layout settings:

• Selection of paper size (A4, Letter), number of columns and rows, height of labels, margins (left, right, top), starting position (e.g. start in the first column / row, or somewhere in the middle), etc.

• With a QSL ticket, you can separately set ticket dimensions, label dimensions, offsets (displacements), orientation (rotation), which enables adaptation to specific printing needs or the type of paper or preprinted cards.

In the section Inside Label you can set the inner margins (padding), the text in the footer (left and right), and their offsets so that the text does not appear stuck to the edge or overlap other elements.

Typography and data table

The next part concerns the appearance of the text:

• Font selection for body text, callsign, headings, and mono font for cases where you want to use a fixed width font (e.g. to ensure that columns line up nicely).

• The option of dynamic or static column width, minimum column width, column specification via CSV values ​​- which means that if you have multiple items, you can define exactly how much space will be given, for example, date, time, call sign, name.

Advantages

1. Flexibility – almost everything can be customized: dimensions, orientation, fonts, number of columns, margins, etc.

2. Filter as needed – you can select only those QSOs that you need to confirm or that have a specific QSL status.

3. Live preview and PDF export – you see a preview of how the labels or tickets will look already during the settings, and then you export to PDF, which is laid out exactly according to these settings.

4. Useful for radio amateurs and similar hobbies – saves time compared to manually designing QSL tickets and layouts.

ADIF to QSL Label limitations and possible improvements

• Since everything runs in the browser, large ADIF files can cause slowdowns or memory limits - with hundreds or thousands of QSOs, performance can be limited.

• The layout items are very detailed, which is a plus, but can be confusing for users who just want to quickly print simple labels without setting up.

• Printing can be sensitive to the accuracy of papers and labels - if the printer does not fit the dimensions exactly, it may be necessary to adjust the offsets or margins manually.

Conclusion

ADIF to QSL Label is an excellent tool for radio amateurs when you need to create your own QSL cards or tag sheets from your list of connections in ADIF format. It offers a lot of customization options - from data filtering to detailed visual settings - and allows export to PDF, which is very practical. For those who frequently send QSL tickets, this can be one of the most effective ways to streamline the process.