228 [Apr 1993] Forcaster Version 2.01b ---------------------- Author: J.W.P Allison A Short Description: --------------------- Forcaster is a Horse Racing prediction program which uses statistical analysis of major factors including course/distance winner, past form weight, age, going etc, of a given race and uses data stored to evaluate each horses 'score'. Your own unique 'system' can be created by adjusting the analysis formulae under the 'customize' selection and providing a name for your formulae. There are two seperate programs making up the Racing Forcaster System, they are both similar in appearence and are controlled by a number of icons, the functions of which should be obvious. On the right of the screen is the info box, this will keep the user informed of what is happening at all times by providing information such as todays date, the current number of records held on the database and some of the key paths (used for disk access). -Please Note- Forcaster is Copyright 1993 by J.W.P Allison All Rights are Reserved Worldwide --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Setup Program ------------------- Configure --------- This section contains the locations of files which are essential to Forcaster and care must be taken when altering the locations. The locations which can be altered are; Race's - Specifies the location of the race's Data - '' '' '' Database file Special - '' '' various essential files such as the screens,data and help files The Data Input Sequence can be changed, this shows in what order the infomation required by Forcaster during the race creation/amendment will be entered by the user. The sequence must contain no more than seven characters chosen from those listed below; f = form , n = horses name , c = course/distance t = trainers name , a = age , w = weight , j = jockeys name The Maximum Data Size sets the maximum number of data records to be held in the Database file (must be equal too or lower than the current size). When the maximum is reached, the user will be informed and given the option of updating the Database file. The printer On/Off sets output of some information, when activated the user will be informed when the program is about to use the printer. If the Prediction Output On/Off is on then the file `Ram:Forcast.pred' will be created after a prediction has been given. This is a usefull way for the user to analyse how Forcaster worked out its prediction. Reset Configuration ------------------- Resets the configuration file to the origional settings. Check for Files on Disk ----------------------- Checks all Forcaster files that should be available and reports any that are missing. Signature --------- This allows the user to enter their own startup message, simply by clicking on the line to be entered and entering the required characters. Once done click on 'OK' to set or 'CANCEL' to forget. Customise --------- Here is the part of the program that lets you produce your own unique 'system'. Upon selection a number of values and corresponding descriptions are displayed , the descriptions show what effect each value has on the horses final score. Amend a value by clicking on it then click on either the '+1' icon or the '-1' icon and repeat for any other values to be amended, when finished click on 'EXIT'. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Main Forcaster Program ---------------------------- Create a Race ------------- You are presented with a file requester window here you must either enter or select a filename for the race. Next the 'Race Description' window will appear, enter the info requested, *Note all info should be entered as accurately as possible as mistakes will seriously affect Forcaster's performance. Once all the data has been entered clicking on 'AMEND' will allow you to alter any of the info. Click on 'OK' to continue. Now comes the 'Horse Details' window, once you have entered the info for all of the horses, by using the arrow icons and clicking on 'AMEND' any of the info can be altered. Clicking 'EXIT' takes you out of Amend mode. Click 'DEL' to delete the current horse (usefull for making a horse a non-runner). Once all the data has been entered and checked click on 'END' to continue, the horses will then be checked against those contained on the Database file and any possible errors will be reported which you will be given the oportunity to correct. Amend Race File --------------- In order that a race can be amended one should have either just been created or loaded. You will again see the 'Race Description' window click on 'AMEND' if you want to alter any of the info displayed pressing 'enter' to skip through info. Click on 'OK' when the data has been amended. Next comes the 'Horse Details' window this is used in exactly the same way remember to click 'DEL' if the current horse is a non-runner. After clicking 'END' you may be asked if you want to save the amendments. Show Prediction --------------- On selection of this Forcaster will calculate the scores for each horse using the analysis formulae. If the Prediction Output is 'ON', a file called 'ram:Forcast.pred' is created which serves to provide more usefull info on how the prediction was calculated. For more information on how the prediction was made click on 'DETAILS', this shows scores for each of the horses in each of the 21 catagories, for an description of a particular catagory simply click on the score in question and a brief description will be shown. Enter results ------------- This option should be selected after Forcaster has given a prediction and the race has been run. To enter the results for 1st 2nd and 3rd use the arrows to select the appropriate horse then select its position. If any mistakes have been made click on the 'DEL' icon to reset results. This info will then be saved to disk in the 'Forcast.DB' file in the form of a record. The maximum number of records held is defined in the configuration selection, once this number is reached Forcaster will inform you and ask if you want to 'UPDATE' the database file. Remember Update can take up a lot of Ram. Load Race file -------------- Allows user to call up a race file from anywhere on disk. A race must be loaded before it can be used. Erase File ---------- !Warning - be carefull - this can erase ANY file. Opens a file requester window, where files are selected in exactly the same way as loading or creating race files. View Horse Status ----------------- After entering the horses I-D (accurately), some very important info will be displayed from data gathered from the Database file and various Race files. Alter Current Database file --------------------------- Here the current Database file can be altered by clicking in the box and altering the location of the `Forcast.DB' file. List Database ------------- Displays some of the contents from the current Database file. Rewind Database --------------- Resets the database file. Care must be taken when selecting this icon as once the database is reset, the infomation it contained is lost forever! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A short note from the Author ---------------------------- This program is my second program for the Amiga, and was written using Hisoft Basic, on a half meg A500, then updated onto a one meg A600. My first program `Fruit Machine' was written using AmigaBasic and was published by Amiga Computing in Jan1989. I am now working on two more programs, which will be written using Amos (one of which is a Pascal Compiler - nearing completion) so if anyone would has any suggestions or ideas for Forcaster (or to find out about a possible Forcaster v3) or would like to offer any kind of programming work then please contact me at the following address: J.W.P Allison 12 Medway House The Green Billingham Cleveland TS23 1EX.