APPENDIX E

PHOTO TIMING

E1 Lynx Photo Timing
E2 Connecting Computers
E3 Photo Timing End
E4 Results Program End
E5 Synchronising
E6 Running the match
E7 Assigning an IP address

General Description
When the results computer is connected to the photo timing system, the results computer will search the photo timing computer for results on a regular basis. When a track result is found it will be entered into the results program (including any wind reading) by the program itself and saved. After being saved, automatically or manually, the result will be printed out as if it had been entered manually.

Restictions
A maximum of 16 athtetes are allowed per race photo.
Guest athletes will be removed automatically and held as seperate race(s).

Advice
Only experienced users of the results program AND photo timing should use this feature at an understanding of underlying files is required.
Where possible ensure that the timetable is correct and valid lane draws exist for ALL track events.

E1
Photo Timing Detail

When using the Lynx system, use of LYNX.EVT file is crucial as it is the only common source of information between the timing system and the results computer. The results program has the ability to read the file if it is created by the photo judges. Alternatively, the results program has the ability to create and send this file to the Lynx photo timing computer. The photo judges should be made aware that the results program can create and maintain this file. This may ultimately save them the task of manually creating the file.

The Lynx system is assumes that all events are known by an event number, round number and heat number. The practice suggested by Lynx for league matches is to give each track event its own event number in timetable order e.g. 



  
 Timetabled event   Lynx  

  
 Event name String name Event no round number  heat number  

  
 400mh      A           1        Always 1      1            

  
            B           1        Always 1      2            

  
 800m       A           2        Always 1      1            

  
            B           2        Always 1      2            

  
 3000m SC   A&B         3        Always 1      1            

  
 100m       A           4        Always 1      1            

  
            B           4        Always 1      2            

  
 .....      .....       ....     Always 1      .....        

  
 .....      .....       ....     Always 1      .....
Where 2 or 3 matches run the same event together, e.g. 5000m, the event number is same and the heat number is also 1.

From the results programs point of view when creating the lynx.evt file, it is assumed that all events up to and including 800m are treated as the same event with two heats, ie they have an A and B string. Longer events, steeplechase etc, are treated as one heat. Where longer events, 3000m, 5000m and 10,000m, in a 2 or 3 match meeting of the same gender that occur at the same time are teated as one event with one heat.

The athlete number being worn and athlete names, if available, will be used in the file created. In cases where two or three match occur at a venue and athlete numbers are the same in each match these results should be processed by hand not using this feature.

E2
Connecting Computers

In order to use this timing feature you must have the following on your PC:
1. A 10/100 network card.
2. A 100m (or suitable length) Cat 5 cable that allows connection to a hub, not to another PC.

E3
Photo Timing End

Reading Machine
In order to get the photo results from the timing system the IP address of the pc (reading machine) must be found along with where the race photos will be held. To do this perfrom the following on the reading PC.
  1. Ensure the timing equipment is set up and switched on.
  2. Start the FinishLynx program.
  3. On the top menu click Scoreboard, select the options page, then database tab
  4. Click "Write LIF" ON.
  5. Write down the location where the LIF files will be stored.
  6. Save the change.
  7. Start explorer in C:\
  8. Select Tools, Folder options, View
  9. Go to the bottom of the scroll box and tick "Use Simple File Sharing"
  10. Click Apply, Apply to all Folders, click yes, click OK
  11. Using explorer, navigate to the LIF files location
  12. Right click the folder/dir and select Sharing and Security.
  13. Tick "Share this folder on the network", click apply, click ok.
  14. Close explorer
  15. Start a cmd window.
  16. Use ipconfig to obtain the IP address of the reading machine, write this down.
  17. Close the cmd window.

E4
Results Program End

On the results program computer
Connect the Cat 5 cable from the results PC to the timing equipment hub.
  1. Click on the Network icon, the LAN connection should show the network connection for the reading machine.
  2. Start a cmd window.
  3. Use ipconfig to obtain the IP address of the reading machine, write this down. It should NOT be the same as the one noted earlier, if it is or no address exist see assining an IP address.
  4. Close the cmd window.
  5. Start Explorer.
  6. Select Tools, Map Network drive.
  7. Select a drive letter, eg Z:
  8. Click the Browse button.
  9. Click Entire network, MS Windows network
  10. Click MSHome and wait a few seconds for the machines to be detected.
  11. Click the name of the reading machine.
  12. Navigate to the directory that will hold the lif files, as noted earlier.
  13. Click Finish.
  14. Confirm that the new mapped drive (Z:\) is showing in Explorer.
In some cases it may be necessary to allow your PC access through your firewall, typically the timing end does not have restrictions as it is not on the internet.

E5
Synchronising

In the results program.
  1. Start the results program and set the number of teams,
  2. Set the Competition name.
  3. Ensure the timetable is correct.
  4. Set the Venue name.
  5. Set the Team names.
  6. Ensure the correct draw is in use.
  7. Select Utilities, Photo Timing.
  8. Select LIF Location and enter the path mapped earlier, eg Z:
    This will create the Lynx.evt file for all track events.
  9. Set the Mode desired.
  10. Select Start.
  11. Select "Status" and confirm the status is started and file and event details can be seen.
If the program is to create and maintain the Lynx data files perform the following.
  1. Create and send the lynx.evt file.
  2. Create and send the lynx.sch file.
  3. Create and send the lynx.ppl file.
If the photo judges create and maintain the Lynx data files perform the following.
  1. Read lynx.evt file.
  2. Read lynx.sch file.
  3. Read lynx.ppl file.
Then in all cases, enter team declarations etc. as normal meeting.
Ending the program will stop the photo timing feature. Alternatively, select Utilities, Photo Timing, Stop.

E6
Running the match

Manual Result Entry

Although all track events can be automatically entered without the need for the results operator to enter the results, it is possible perform a manual verification or modification of the result when it is detected and before it is saved. In order to do this select Auto/Manual. This will cause the result to be shown on screen as if it was being enterd manually. This requires the user to save the result in the same way as a normal result.

E7
Assigning an IP address

This is a brief guide to assigning an IP address. This is your responsibility and has nothing to do with the results program. If no IP exists or it conflicts with the photo timing IP address(es), perform the following.
  1. Select control panel.
  2. Select Network Connections.
  3. Click Local Area Network.
  4. Select TCP/IP.
  5. Click Properties.
  6. Click 'Use the following IP address'.
  7. Enter use an IP address this must be different to the capture and reading machines, eg 192,164,090,100, write down this chosen IP.
  8. Enter the subnet mask, typically 255.255.255.0
  9. Click OK.
  10. Click OK, an Icon should show in the LAN connection section.