2 PROGRAM GUIDE

2.1	Installation Location
2.2	What is needed
2.3	Single Match Summary
2.4	Double Match Summary
2.5	Observations

2.1Installation Location

The program and support files, identified later, should reside in one directory/floder regardless of the drive. A typical location is C:\MEET. The program will create a structure below that which should not be changed. By maintaining this structure all match files created for all leagues and divisions can be stored safely without being accidentally deleted. See www.resultsbox.co.uk Download page for specific file names.

2.2What is needed

Things the user should bring to a meeting are:

A long mains extension lead to run the computer and printer.
The computer and printer(s).
The downloaded or supplied disk with the program on it.
This document or relevant sections.
Printer paper, 200 A4 sheets is more than sufficient for a meeting.
A pen, scissors, sellotape/blutac for posting results.
Extra sandwiches?

2.3Single Match Summary

OVERVIEW ======== The program is intended to hold up to date copies of all team declaration sheets. These copies are used whenever a list of competitors, event results and full results are displayed or printed.If any team changes occur during the meeting, these changes should be entered as soon as possible to ensure the correct details are available for remaining printouts and final results. SINGLE MATCH ============ STARTING THE PROGRAM 1 Start the program. 2 Enter the password. SETTING UP 3 Select Set-up, Number of teams and click the number of teams in the match. 4 Select Set-up, Competition name, click the name for the division, if required click the Index. 5 Select Set-up, Venue, enter the venue name and save it. 6 Select Set-up, Team names, enter details for each of the competing teams in the match and save them. 7 Select Set-up, Team declarations, click one team, then the part of the team and enter the paper team declaration. 8 Repeat step 7 for all remaining teams. ENTERING RESULTS 9 Select Enter Results, Event Results, choose the result you have, enter the result and save it. 10 Repeat step 9 for all event results as they are received. 11 Make any changes to team declarations throughout the meeting as required. PRINTING RESULT 12 During the match the program will print each result automatically when it is entered. 13 During the match the program will notify you when a complete page of results are ready to print, if desired print the pages at that point in time. 14 At the end of the match additional full results can be printed by selecting Print, Full Results, All Pages. 15 Generate a file of results for AW, Select Sent To AW, Create AW results file, note the location where the file is created. ENDING THE PROGRAM 16 Select Exit, End Meeting.

2.4Double Match Summary

DOUBLE MATCH ============ STARTING THE PROGRAM 1 Start the program. 2 Enter the password. SETTING UP 3 Select Set-up, Double Match, Number of teams and click the number of teams in the match 1. The menu will be displayed for match 2, click the number of teams in match 2. 4 Select Set-up, Competition name, click the name for the division for match 1, if required click the Index. Press F5, select Set-up, Competition name, click the name for the division for match 2, if required click the Index. Note, if indexes are required they must be different. Press F5 5 Select Set-up, Venue, enter the venue name and save it. This name is used for match 2 also. 6 Select Set-up, Team names, enter details for each of the competing teams in match 1 and save them. Press F5, select Set-up, Team names, enter details for each of the competing teams in match 2 and save them. 7 Select Set-up, Team declarations, click one team, then the part of the team and enter the paper team declaration. 8 Press F5, repeat step 7 for all remaining teams. When all Match 2 team declarations are entered, press F5. ENTERING RESULTS 9 When entering match 1 results the match number must be displayed in the top right corner. Press Shift F1 to display the number, then select Enter Results, Event Results, choose the result you have, enter the result and save it. When entering match 2 results the match number must be displayed in the top right corner. Press Shift F2 to display the number, then select Enter Results, Event Results, choose the result you have, enter the result and save it. Pressing F5 will switch between the matches. 10 Repeat step 9 for all event results in both matches as they are received. 11 Make any changes to team declarations throughout the meeting as required. PRINTING RESULT 12 During the match the program will print each result automatically when it is entered for regardless of the match. 13 During the match the program will notify you when a complete page of results are ready to print, if desired print the pages at that point in time. 14 At the end of the match additional full results can be printed. You must switch to that match required before selecting the print option. Then select Print, Full Results, All Pages. 15 Generate a file of results for AW by switching to match 1, Select Send To AW, Create AW results file, note the location where the file is created. Press F5 and repeat the selection for match 2. ENDING THE PROGRAM 16 Select Exit, End Meeting.

2.5Observations

These observations were made at various stages of development and maybe helpful to users in avoiding potential problems.

The user should be one of the first people to arrive at the venue. The computer and printer should be set up 1 hour before the first event. For an user with basic typing skills it will take about 10-15 minutes to enter a full team declaration. Remember that for the program to run successfully all the team declarations should be entered before the first event start.

Entering the team declarations will be the most demanding task for the user. It will be made more difficult by everybody else around talking loudly as they arrive in the officials box. If entering information becomes difficult kick the noisy people out. If concentration fades take a break or let someone else have a go.

Officials boxes are cold places even on boiling hot days. Make sure you bring warm clothing.

Typing itself will be made easier if the correct posture is adopted. Unfortunately furniture at venues is not ideal for typing. As a good rule is to have the keyboard just abovet hip height so that when sat normally your forearms should be level or tilt slightly down and away. This will prevent your fingers getting cold because blood will flow easier downward than up. The top of the VDU should be at eye level, creating a slight downward view.

The practice of posting results immediately after being printed is strongly advised. This keeps athletes and team managers up to date with the current match position without them having to come and hassle you. It can also give feedback from athletes or team managers should an incorrect name have been entered or A and B-strings been crossed. In higher profile meetings the announcing of event results after being printed and then being posted is probably more appropriate. These two step however may mean that track events are interrupted due to the continual announcements. A rule of thumb is only announce all result/start lists if the meeting is a single match or double match with one string.

Team managers have a tendency to enter any age group etc. indication as they work down the sheet and not repeat the indication even though an athlete may be repeated. It is the choice of the user whether or not to ask for clarification, copy the team sheet exactly or to use common sense and enter the indication anyway.

If you can get the team managers to submit declarations on the day in the file created by the associated team manager program, Appendix F, You will find that the entire task becomes very easy allowing you to watch many events.

Entering a field series is more time consuming than entering just the final result. The suggestion is to only use this feature at high profile meetings where there is 8 or less teams of one gender and age group. Remember the more age groups the more work. Indeed there may not be sufficient time to enter all series for all events without causing a delay in production of final results. If you do use this feature, setting the draw order will help fluency in entering performances because the athlete menu will be ordered the same as the judges filed card. Here too peace and quiet will help speedy and accurate entry. An assistant reading the series aloud may also help. A ruler may assist you to follow a line on the result card itself.

Printing of individual event results during the day is best done on a tough rugged grade printer, typically a dot matrix. While the final results should be printed on a high grade printer, ideally a Laser type. This means the operating costs in terms of printing are minimised. An ink-jet type printer offers a good compromise.

The user should be prepared for a burst of activity centred around entering relay team names shortly before the events are due.

The final results are printed as fast as the printer can print or as fast a photocopier can copy the first set of printed results. In the case of dot-matrix and ink-jet printers these will probably be slower than a photocopier. For Laser printers there is likely to be little difference.

The user is also one of the last to leave, 30-45 minutes after the last event. This situation arises because the user is the person in charge of printing results and must make sure all teams, press etc have copies of the final results, hence the user leaves after just about everybody else. The user should be prepared for a long day. Obviously with experience this time will reduce.

Some computers may interfere when in close proximity, 1-2 metres, to the public address or walkie talkie systems used at venues. Move the computer further away from the P.A. and or use a different mains sockets if this becomes a major problem.