Documentation for SILICON SECRETARY From Allen Maroney (GEnie: A.MARONEY) Version 1.4 March 10, 1991 << FOR MORE HELP CLICK ON THE WINDOW IN QUESTION AND PRESS THE HELP KEY >> The SILICON SECRETARY (SS) program was written for my use and I therefore make no warranty, or promise that it will do anything useful for you. If you have any trouble with the program let me know - I really want it to be bug-free. Getting a copy of your data file to me is extremely helpful! **** GENERAL STUFF Although this program does everything by the book and thus multitasks well, it does eat up a considerable amount of memory. It will therefore not work on a 512K Amiga. Some memory is taken from the system as needed. If you attempt something and nothing happens you may be out of memory. Since windows require memory to open I cannot always display what's wrong. All of the testing was on an A1000 ('85 vintage) with 1.5 meg and a A500 with 1 meg. The program with a full team loaded (60 Bowlers) eats about 500K. Hard drive users should (but it isn't necessary) make a subdirectory for your league data files. Then use the ASSIGN command to assign it 'SS:'. This way the 'SS' button on the file requester will get you there fast. example: 'ASSIGN SS: DH0:BOWLING' if you have a BOWLING subdirectory on drive DH0: LIMITS: I have imposed the following limits: TEAMS......................... 100 BOWLERS PER TEAM.............. 50 This seems reasonable. The memory needed is dynamically allocated. Translated, You could run out of memory during a run. If this should happen the program should tell you. Try closing any windows or other programs that are running. If you still don't have enough memory reboot and CTRL-D to stop the startup-sequence from loading the workbench. Then type 'SS' from the CLI. If you STILL don't have enough memory, you need to buy some. Once a data file is created it's size shouldn't change unless you add or delete bowlers and/or teams. What will take up more disk space is the text files that SS creates. **** PURPOSE To help most bowling league secretaries keep league statistics. (Geez that sounds so easy!) **** SUMMARY Startup: Workbench users may click the SS icon or a data file icon created by SS. Clicking the data file will result in that data file being loaded, the TEAM EDITOR window opening and the next available week being displayed and awaiting scores. CLI users enter 'SS' or 'SS datafile' for the same results as workbench. Entering 'SS ?' will display a small template. The MENU choices are available except when another action is taking place (such as RUNNING the program). The main area you'll be working in is the TEAM EDITOR. This a window that allows you to enter and edit the individual scores of each team member. Creating new teams & bowlers is also done from this window. The LEAGUE INFORMATION window is where you need to enter information concerning the entire league. Usually this will remain constant throughout the season. The DISPLAY window allows you to see the final output with or without a copy going to the printer or a disk file. This text file may also be viewed in the DISPLAY window (or any word processor). Usually text that has scrolled out of view may be scrolled back with the mouse by clicking the Arrows or moving the proportional gadget on the DISPLAY window. If you see a row of number signs "#####..." that is where a page break will be. This prints as a form feed. The PERSONAL window allows you to keep addresses, phone numbers, league office (if any) and social security numbers for individual bowlers. This information may be used to generate a phone list, mailing labels and end-of-season reports for ABC/WIBC. In both the TEAM EDITOR window and the PERSONNEL window you may search for a bowler by entering a QUESTION MARK at the beginning of the name. The search string only needs enough characters to be unique. This is not a case sensitive search and the search string may be contained anywhere in the name. This search starts at team #0, bowler 1. If a match is found it will be displayed, otherwise the original bowler will be redisplayed. **** HELPFUL TIP After all of your league's scores and wins/loses are entered for the week and you have run the data check the following: - Compare the team totals from the bottom of the recap sheet against the team pin count at the bottom of the printout. If a score does not match check to make sure that you entered the scores correctly in the program and then re-add the team's recap sheet. If things still don't add up right make sure that the entering average was entered for the bowler. - Also check the number of wins/loses to make sure that you didn't triple-click a gadget in error. Usually (excluding forfeitures) if your league has 12 teams the WON columns will add up to 24. (This is assuming that a game = 1 point and there are 3 games and total) These checks are quick and can prevent an embarrassing situation later in the season. **** DETAILED EXPLANATION The MENU choices are: PROJECT - CLEAR This clears all of the teams (and bowlers) FOREVER. The program will ask you if you really want to carry out this action. PROJECT - RUN RUN ALL Once all data is in the program this begins the process of turning it into something useful. The program may warn you if it encounters an error or lack of data. This option calculates from week 1 through the last week. The last week is determined by the last week that has WINS/LOSES entered for team 1. The ESC key will ask you if you want to stop the run. RUN PARTIAL WEEKS Same as RUN ALL except that it runs from week 1 through the current week. The current week is determined by week number displayed at the top of the columns for entering scores in the TEAM EDITOR. You will be asked to verify this selection. The ESC key will ask you if you want to stop the run. PROJECT - OPEN This loads a SILICON SECRETARY data file that you have already saved. PROJECT - SAVE This will save the current data with the name you supply. If the data already has a name it will save it over the old data. You may also notice a disk gadget located at the upper left of the Team Editor & League Editor windows. If selected (dark) the program will save the current file every 50 entries. PROJECT - SAVE AS The same as SAVE except it will ALWAYS ask you for a file name. This allows you to save a file under two names. The most often use for this is backing up your data file (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!) PROJECT - IMPORT Imports personal data (addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers) from a previously saved data file into the current file. This is useful in leagues that carry over the same bowlers from season to season. The program will ask you if you want to import the old averages as entering averages for the current season. Respond YES to this ONLY if the data file that you're importing from was from the previous season of the same league. Only bowlers that had at least had as many games as are in the Qualifying Games fields of the League Editor will be used. This is usually 21 games. Any personal information already entered for a bowler will not be altered by this function. PROJECT - EXPORT EXPORT comes in two flavors (subitems). The first is RAW DATA which dumps all of your data to a file in ASCII (text) format. This can be useful if someone wants to see all of their scores. This format may also be used to import data into many popular spreadsheets. Once the data is in the spreadsheet you're on your own! The program will run the data to guarantee that it is current, although you will not see this happening except on the Team Editor Window. The second is BOWLMASTER format. BOWLMASTER will be a separate program that will calculate statistics for individual bowlers far beyond the level of SILICON SECRETARY. Although currently on the back burner, I plan on making it a reality. SS will run the data to guarantee that it is current, although you will not see this happening except on the Team Editor Window. PROJECT - ABOUT Tells you the Silicon Secretary revision that you are using and where to send your shareware fee. :-) PROJECT - HELP Displays this file. PROJECT - RULES This looks for a text file in the HELP subdirectory named 'SS.RULES'. If you have your league's rules as a text file stick it here for online help. The rules need to have a return at the end of every line and no more than 75 characters in a line for proper display. The current limit is 2000 lines, providing that you have the free memory. PROJECT - QUIT This should only be used when it's time to go bowling. OUTPUT - PRINTER Output except the online help (this) will be dumped to your printer if this is checked. The status (checked or not) is saved with the data file. OUTPUT - FILE Most Output except the online help (this) will be saved as text if this is checked. If a path is supplied in the LEAGUE EDITOR window it will go to the path specified. The status (checked or not) is saved with the data file. OUTPUT - ICON If you want your files to have icons check this. If you start SS from the workbench this will be checked. If you started it from the CLI it will not. There are currently five different icons created by SS, depending on the file. The status (checked or not) is saved with the data file. OUTPUT - OPTS - AWARDS If this is checked a list of individual awards will be printed after the program is run. This is printed by bowler and includes any awards earned in weeks prior to and including the current week. Only bowlers that have bowled AT LEAST 21* Games are counted. (*Actual weeks are set up in QUALIFY WEEKS gadget) Many of these awards are dependent on the bowler's average which follows the award in brackets. The following awards are checked for: --- ABC --- --- WIBC --- 300 Game 300 Game 299 Game 299 Game 298 Game 298 Game 75 Pins O.A. Game [-149] 250 Game [170+] 100 Pins O.A. Game 225 Game [146-169] Triplicate 200 Game [-145] 150 Pins O.A. Series 3-200 Games 550 Series [-149] Triplicate 700 Series 75 Pins O.A. Game 800 Series 150 Pins O.A. Series 2-300 Games 675 Series [170+] 650 Series [146-169] 500 Series [-145] Some awards can't be checked for, like a Dutch 200. So sorry. OUTPUT - OPTS - SCHEDULE If you are using ABC/WIBC schedules this will print the following week's schedule with the weekly team report. Currently leagues with between 3 and 20 teams may take advantage of this. If you have too few or too many teams this menu item will be disabled. OUTPUT - OPTS - SHORT FORM If this is checked a shorter version (with less information) will be printed when you RUN the data. OUTPUT - OPTS - SUB LIST This will display the floating subs' names, average and phone numbers after the main printout. This could be handy for teams that need a bowler at the last minute. As with most of the printout options, bowlers named 'BLIND' or with names beginning with '#' will not be displayed. OUTPUT - OPTS - RECAP FORM If checked this will append recap forms to the end of the RUN. The teams will be scheduled according to the ABC/WIBC schedule. If you have too few or too many teams this menu item will be disabled. OUTPUT - OPTS - RECAP LIST If checked this will append a list of teams that are bowling against each other (using the internal schedule). This is similar to the recap form without the grid and the teams are next to each other. If you have too few or too many teams this menu item will be disabled. OUTPUT - OPTS - NEWSLETTER Prints up a summary of the week's highlights suitable to turn in for a company or church newsletter. This is designed to be a starting point for a article, not the finished product. WINDOWS - LEAGUE EDITOR TEAM EDITOR VIEW DISPLAY PERSONAL DATA These menu options open the window named or, if it's already open, bring it to the front. All or no windows may be opened at any time. You are only limited by your Amiga's memory. For a more detailed description about the gadgets and abilities of LEAGUE EDITOR, TEAM EDITOR and PERSONAL DATA open that window and press the HELP key on your keyboard. There are two windows that you MUST close before doing anything else. They are the file requester and the error/info requester. VIEW DISPLAY The VIEW DISPLAY window allows you to view the output before or during printing. Most operations may be Stopped or Paused with with the 'S' or 'P' gadget on the lower right hand side of the window. Once the text has stopped scrolling up you may use the arrows or proportional gadget to look at any part of the display. The PRT gadget will cause the currents of the display to be dumped to the printer regardless of whether or not the printer option from the menu is selected. The Stop and Pause work during printing. If you close this window and reopen it the last text displayed will still be available. While new text is being displayed the ESC key will function the same as the 'S' gadget. PERSONAL- PRINT LABELS Displays an address list of all bowlers suitable for tractor feed mailing labels (1" labels). This may be printed either alphabetized or as-entered (by team). Only bowlers with an address entered will be printed PERSONAL- PRINT ADDRESSES List each bowler by name, address and phone on one line each across the page. Bowlers are alphabetized by last name. PERSONAL- PRINT PHONE LIST Displays an alphabetized (by last name) phone list. If PRINTER and/or FILE is selected it will go there also. The phone list will print in two columns. PERSONAL- PRINT EOS REPORT End-Of-Season Report. This will display a report containing Bowler's name, Social Security number, pincount, games bowled and final average. This report is acceptable to the ABC/WIBC as of 1989 season. The program will run the data to guarantee that it is current. OTHER - CLEAR WINS If you click the WIN/LOSS/TIE/FORFEIT gadget in the EDITOR WINDOW by mistake (ie- wrong week) this will reset it to the unselected QUESTION MARK. For more information press HELP while the TEAM EDITOR window is active. OTHER - CHG CASE Allows you to select either MAKE CLC or MAKE CAPS. MAKE CLC will make all team and bowler names Caps & lower case. MAKE CAPS will turn them into all caps. The routine was already in the program for internal use so I decided to make it available via a menu. OTHER - CHANGE COLOR It changes the screen's colors (supprise!). Currently you're stuck with the four color sets that I selected. I'm not crazy about the red either. The color that you select is saved with your data file. This may be handy if you're working with more than one league. The colors are Gray, Red, Blue, and Brown. OTHER - AVG. BEEP Some recap forms have the bowler's average next to the first game. It's easy to enter the average as the first game if you're not very careful (I've done it). If this is checked the screen will flash (DisplayBeep) whenever a bowler's average is entered as a score. This is only a reminder to be careful. Other than the flash nothing else happens.