Bobby's R/C Aerobatics Scorekeeping Site
Last
update: 4/29/04
If you have been stuck with the job of
scorekeeper at your club's next scale or precision aerobatics contest (IMAC,
Pattern, SPA or SCAT) I hope this web site can be of some help...Some of the
information may be out of date but i don't have time to mess with it
INDEX:
You
can contact me at:
BASICS
Actually, there are a
number of different ways to handle the scorekeeping job at an R/C Aerobatics
contest and you will have to choose the method that works best for you. There
are at least two stand alone DOS programs and at least three Excel spreadsheets
that have been written to handle scorekeeping. There is (was) even a person
working on a web based scoring program.. Each does the same thing but goes about
it differently.
One difference is the stand alone programs can
work on just about any computer that will run MS-DOS programs. So, unless you
are using a MAC they will probably run. To run an Excel spreadsheet you will
need to have a computer with Microsoft Windows and Excel on it. This means your
computer must be a bit newer and you must have later versions of the proper
software on the computer.
One of the stand alone DOS programs was
written by Mike Lauman. (I hope I have that right) but as far as I can tell, it
hasn't been updated in years and no one uses it any more. The other stand alone
DOS program was written by Derek Koopowitz and is called P.A.S.S. it is a pretty
good program.
I set up one of the EXCEL spreadsheets used
for scorekeeping, Mike Stoner has set up another.. Both are good. In some ways
Mike's program is better than mine. I find mine easier to use, but then, I'm
prejudiced.
There is/was a third
spreadsheet set up by Tal Clark. I can't tell you too much about it though, I've
never used it. The last version I looked at had not been updated to reflect the
latest rules changes and a couple of years ago I checked into getting a newer
version of his spreadsheet. At the time he was charging $25 for copies of his
program...This is not overpriced but since I have something that works OK in my
opinion I didn't buy it (OK, so I can be a bit cheep at times). Since I have
never owned a copy of the program and have never used it, I cannot tell you any
more about it...If you are interested in it, you will have to contact Tal and
ask about it...sorry
Actually If you are going to be the score
keeper at a pattern contest, in my opinion the best thing you can do is contact
Derek Koopowitz at derekkoopowitz@earthlink.net and purchase his program "P.A.S.S."
(Precision Aerobatics Scoring System). This is a program that runs on just about
any computer that will run a MS-DOS program. It was written specifically for
scoring pattern contests and is the program used at the Pattern Nationals, the
TOC, and at dozens, if not at hundred's, of local Pattern contests (and some
IMAC Contests).....While you do have to pay for it, it is not too expensive
($40) and it works very well.
I think Derek's Program (P.A.S.S.) is also the
best program to use if you are going to be the score keeper at a SPA (Senior
Pattern Association) contest....I don't really know, I planned to keep score at
the Terre Haute In. SPA contest in June using P.A.S.S but the contest was
cancelled. However I see no reason it would not work well.
I think Derek's P.A.S.S has been used at IMAC
and other Aerobatics contests as well but, I don't like using it for IMAC
contests. This is because in the IMAC contests around here we fly two sequences
per round and I haven't found a good way to enter two sequences per round in his
program. You can use his program but in my opinion there are better
alternatives. One is the Excel spreadsheet that I had set up. (See My
spreadsheet ). Another is the Excel
spreadsheet set up by Mike Stoner at mlstoner@value.net. This is the program on
the IMAC website
Anna Maria Wood also has a scoring program
that can be used for IMAC but, I haven't used it. I believe it is "Web
Based" By that I mean it is written using Java language or one of the other
systems the Internet uses.... Like I said I'm no expert on this programming
stuff so I don't really know much about... I've looked at her program and it
looks OK but there are some things I don't like about it... But I haven't used
it so I don't really know....
I have used Mike Stoners program. ..... I have
even scored a contest using both his program and mine at the same time as a
test...I got the same results with both (I expected this but you never know!).
In general the big difference is that Mike's program is a bit more "idiot
proof". On mine you can screw things up by trying to cut and paste.
On his you cannot. But, as long as you don't fat-finger something, I think mine
is easier to use (better "user interface") and, when you print out the
standings, the results are easier to understand...but, as I said, I'm prejudiced
There are some other differences as
well...Here is a comparison of the features:
Mike Stoners Spreadsheet:
* Uses pilot's names to track scores.
* Low scores are automatically thrown out
based on number of rounds flown per AMA 2002-2004 Competition Regulations, Scale
Aerobatics section, part 15 "Determining the Winner".
* Standings can be updated and printed after
every round.
* Summary sheet for each pilot can be printed
(if desired) for each score entry.
* Rounds are automatically incremented after
all the pilots in a class have been recorded.
* Standings can be updated and printed after
every round.
* Summary sheet for each pilot can be printed
(if desired) for each score entry.
* Rounds are automatically incremented after
all the pilots in a class have been recorded.
* Penalty of 1% per flight score can be
assessed for no scale cockpit per AMA Competition Regulations.
My Program has most of the same features
but:
* It uses a "Contestant Number" to
track scores instead of the pilots name.
* There is no provision for a Summary sheet
for each pilot (but I haven't found the need for one)
* When entering scores, the rounds are not
"automatically" incremented after all the pilots in a class have been
recorded as they are in Mikes spreadsheet. However my spreadsheet does
automatically increment and throw out rounds based on AMA Competition
regulations after the scores have been entered.
I suggest you get them both and see which you
like best...
SCAT
Unfortunately.... I cannot give you a lot of
help if you are going to be keeping score at a SCAT contest...I don't have any
experience with scoring one of their contests. I've never used my spreadsheet
for a SCAT contest but I don't see why it couldn't be used by changing the
"knowns" to the SCAT "knowns"
Fortunately.... Mike Stoner (mlstoner@value.net) does have a version of his spreadsheet that will work for SCAT contests. I think P.A.S.S. by Derek Koopowitz could be used for SCAT contests but no one has done it. I have been told that all current SCAT contests use Mikes' program. The SCAT version of Mike's program can be downloaded from the SCAT website: http://www.scaleaerobatics.org/cdresources.html
My Spreadsheet
My Spreadsheet is an Excel spreadsheet that I
set up specifically for use at IMAC contests. I have not charged anyone for this
use of this spreadsheet and do not intend to do so. Therefore, I also do not
guarantee it in any way. Support is only available if and when I feel like it
(or at least have time to mess with it). If you want to make any changes to this
spreadsheet that make it more user friendly or fix a problem I have overlooked,
go right ahead
Note: to use this spreadsheet you must have MS Excel 97 or later.
Click here to Download the latest version of
my IMAC scoring spreadsheet
http://rlstout.mystarband.net/IMAC/IMAC_Scoreing_Program_V8.xls
Version 8 is the latest version of my
spreadsheet. This Version is good for up to 40 pilots per class in Sportsman,
Advanced, and Unlimited 25 pilots in Basic and has the "knowns" for
2004 already entered. The only known "problem" with it is if you try
to "cut and paste" something you will screw up the formulas.
For what it's worth: I've found that 90% of
the time, when someone calls me about a problem with they had with my program it
is because they used "Cut" and "Paste" and when they did it
screwed up a formula. Mike Stoner's spreadsheet doesn't have this problem...He
has disabled it in his spreadsheet. He has also offered to let me use the code
needed to do this in my spreadsheet but I haven't had the time to implement
it...This might get done in a later version but I doubt is so....... DO NOT USE
"CUT" AND "PASTE" !!!
Click here to
download score sheets such as the ones used at last years IMAC nationals.
http://rlstout.mystarband.net/IMAC/2004_scoresheets.xls
They are different from the ones on the IMAC
web site but I find them MUCH easier to use. For other score sheets, go to the
web site dedicated to that type of contest (such as www.nsrca.org for pattern)
and check their "download" section.
Note: to use these spreadsheets
you must have MS Excel 97 or later.
This part is new.....The only question asked
recently is:
Q: Can I download the scoring program in Excel 2000? I have 97 on another
computer but I did not know if it would work on 2000 or not.
A: I can't think of any reason the version currently on my website would
not work under Excel 2000... I don't really know though, I haven't tried it yet.
I'll update this "Answer" when after someone gives it a try.