VEX Tournament Manager Top Ten Tools Brad Lauer REC Foundation
TM Design Be usable by wide range of users & experience levels Minimize required equipment list Run on most computers/hardware Make the basics simple Advanced functionality optional, out of the way Maintain maximum flexibility Flexibility: # of fields, field usage, match scheduling, etc Same software for small scrimmages with 12 teams to the World Championship
1. Field Displays in Elims Added last year for Field Timer Monitor Scorekeeper assigns matches to fields Tools Elimination Match Queue
Field display showing QF 3-1 queued on Field 2
2. Awards Configure awards during setup with Wizard or later with Tools Options Awards Must match awards list configured on RobotEvents 1-to-1 Enter award winners on Awards tab Upload award information to RobotEvents after event Must select Finalize Results and Publish Awards checkbox in upload dialog
Awards setup in Wizard; Tools Options Awards interface is identical
Awards panel - awards list on left; select winning team on right; use Auto Fill Winners button to fill in Champion & Finalist when tournament is done
Upload Event Results dialog: must select Finalize Results and Publish Awards checkbox when event is complete
3. Slides Show speakers & award winners on audience display during awards ceremony Used at World Championship for all overlay graphics Create slides ahead of time, automatically populated with award winners when they re entered
Slides interface tab
4. Certificates & Signs Signs (Reports Signs) o o o Team Pit Signs (team number, name, location, etc) Field Signs Alliance Selection Signs (rank, team number, name) Certificates (Reports Team Certificates) o o Award Winners Participation Can use PDF Printer (e.g. PDFCreator, PrimoPDF, CutePDF) to save to PDF & print on another computer
Sample signs (clockwise from left): Pit, Field, Alliance Selection
Award Winner & Participation Certificates
5. VEX TEXT Sends text messages to teams for upcoming matches Two reminders per match - 10 & 20 minutes before match adjusted for delay Internet access required for TM computer Must fill in RobotEvents code in TM Setup Wizard http://text.vexscores.com Login: RobotEvents Event Code Password: Configured during TM setup Must enable using Tools Text Messages dialog
TM wizard - fill in RobotEvents Event Code & TM Code; password is used to log into website
Dialog to enable text messaging; accessed via Tools Text Messages
Login using RobotEvents Event Code and the password that was configured in the TM setup wizard
Team Signup - Add up to three phone numbers per team
Enter confirmation code if user cannot confirm from their phone
List of subscribed phone numbers, status, number of messages sent, team number, and team name
List of sent text messages: phone number, message, and time sent
6. VEX via Provides team list, match schedule, results, rankings, skills rankings, upcoming match notices, and match score notices for event on Android & ios Only need to configure Event Code & enable publishing in Wizard Requires internet connection during event
VEX via screenshots: event list, team list, match results, rankings
7. Check-In & Inspection Accessible from tools menu of TM application or TM web server (see User Guide for more info) Check-In o o Check teams in as they arrive Can exclude missing teams when generating matches Inspection o o Keep track of teams inspection status Show status on Inspection pit display and field display (yellow means uninspected)
Check-In TM application interface
Check-In web interface
Inspection TM application interface
Inspection web interface
Inspection pit display - Green Strikethrough = complete; Brown Underline = partial; Grey Italics = not checked in; Red = not started
Field Display showing inspection status - Yellow = not fully inspected
8. Reducing Qualification Matches If event cannot complete all scheduled matches Do not just skip the last matches Tools Options Qual. Matches Appendix A - FAQ
9. Automatic DB Backups Database automatically backed up to all connected clients (TM application, pit / audience / field displays, field controller) every 15 minutes C:/Users/<user name>/appdata/local/vex Tournament Manager/Backup Copy DB to new computer and select it when starting TM Saves 15 most recent backups
10. Multiple Fields & Field Sets Field o One USB field controller Field Set o o o o Logical grouping of fields Only one can run at a time Share a field control window Share an audience display Most events only need one field set with one or more fields Multiple field sets only required to run simultaneous matches
Bonus 1: Sponsor Images Can add logos of local sponsors to corner of inmatch and scrolling rankings screens Cannot remove default sponsor images Tools Options Sponsors PNG images look the best
Bonus 2: Event Manager App Download the Event Manager User Guide Create a 5ghz wireless network Sync Android mobile devices and tablets Score your matches!