StageScore Manual

StageScore Manual

What is StageScore?

StageScore is a program that runs on any handheld PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) that operates with the Palm OS Operating System. The remainder of this document will refer to the PDA as simply “Palm”. The software is used in conjunction with EzWinScore, developed and maintained by the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA). Competitors for a match may be downloaded from EzWinScore to the Palm. All scoring is performed on the Palm, with extensive error checking. Stages and scores are uploaded from the Palm to EzWinScore, and the final match tabulations are performed in EzWinScore. USPSA has certified StageScore as being in compliance with its requirements for electronic scoring programs.

StageScore can handle pistol stages, up to 500 competitors in a match, up to 18 paper targets per stage and no practical limit to the number of steel targets.

Software Requirements

On the Palm, Palm OS version 3.5 or later will work.

For the PC that operates EzWinScore and the StageScore interface, either Microsoft Windows XP or Vista are required. Vista does require HotSync Manager version 6.01 or later. Earlier versions of Windows may function properly, but they have not been tested.

StageScore has been tested for 3.1 thru 6.01 of the Palm desktop software, which includes the HotSync Manager thru version 7. The details for using the HotSync Manager are below.

Hardware Requirements

For the PC, there really are no hardware requirements. If EzWinScore will run, then StageScore will run.

For the Palm, OS 3.5 or higher will work. Palm m500’s work well in the full sunlight, and they are readily available under $25.00 on the Internet, including shipping. Newer Palms will run faster than the m500, but they cost more and the screen may not as readable in sunlight. The Tungsten C is very quick, and very readable in sunlight, and has a “normal” keyboard. The m500 performs at an acceptable level. The Palm III xe or m100 models will work, but performance deteriorates on these older Palms.

Installation

StageScore contains a “StageScoreSetup.exe” program, much like any other software installation. It will install a program group named StageScore that has two menu items, StageScore Device Install, and this manual. Install StageScore on the PC. After installation, check the HotSync manager version and then run the StageScore Install Device program. There is a very important prompt in Install Device program related to HotSynch manager version 6 or higher. The higher versions are handled differently from the lower versions. The Install Device program will install the StageScore Conduit on the PC, and allow for the installation of StageScore on the Palms that have been previously “Hotsynced” with the Palm desktop. It may be run as many times as needed if more Palms are added to the processing.

The StageScore installation creates the folder StageScore and a sub-folder StageScore\PRC. The programs are stored in the PRC folder, and the StageScore folder only contains the file info.txt. That file is required for data transfers to EzWinScore. This folder will be the place used to transfer information between EzWinScore and StageScore. There is not an option of specifying a different folder name; the conduit will only work in the installed folder, and the data transfer will only work in the c:\StageScore.

StageScore may be installed without a Product Registration for a 90 day trial period. The evaluation version is fully functional with only three exceptions: The Lock that prevents HotSync downloads is disabled, the password protection on stage definitions is disabled, and only 50 scores from a match may be uploaded to EzWinScore. Other than that, it works exactly the same as the registered version.

StageScore Conduit

A conduit is much like a pipeline. It is how data is transferred from the PC to the Palm or from the Palm to the PC. The conduit is invoked by pressing the HotSync button on the Palm’s cradle, or using the HotSync program on the Palm.

Note that older Palm Palms use a serial cable connection. Newer ones use USB. Some laptop computers lack a serial cable connection. If needed, USB to DB 9 Serial Converter cables are available from computer supply stores that work just fine.

The HotSync process will perform many functions based upon the conduits installed in the HotSync Manager in addition to the StageScore Conduit.

The HotSync manager pops up the StageScore conduit window with several options:

Transfer Competitors from Desktop to Handheld, Erase Scores on Handheld

Erase Previous Stages and Scores from Handheld

Transfer Stages from Handheld to Desktop

Transfer Scores from Handheld to Desktop

Each of these options is used at different points, and will be covered below in “Match Management”. Operating the conduit becomes choosing which of the above processes to complete, and clicking the Process button. If no option needs to be performed (likely because the HotSync is being run for some purpose other than for StageScore), then just click the Exit button. Note that there is a 30 second timer on choosing to perform a process. That is so the conduit will end on its own if no choices are made. The HotSync Manager must be allowed to continue unattended.

Interaction with EzWinScore

EzWinScore’s Match Setup window controls the actual interface to the Palm. The entry for “Location of Palm transfer directory” accomplishes several things. It “tells” EzWinScore that there is a Palm transfer for this match, and it enables other functionality within EzWinScore. It also “tells” EzWinScore where to place transfer files, and where to expect transfer files that came from the handheld.. EzWinScore may give a warning when you choose c:\StageScore (use the PALM button to navigate to it) as the transfer directory. Ignore the warning as the specified folder is correct for StageScore.

The other option in the Match Setup window is “Palm Overrides EzWinScore”. The normal setting for this is “Yes”, as that is the intended purpose of the transfer. There may be occasions where it needs to be set to “No”, but that would be an exception to the overall processing.

Once the transfer directory has been established, access to the “Palm” menu item under the “Match” menu is enabled. The Palm menu item has four buttons of interest, plus a “Close” button.

Import Palm Scores

Import Stages

Export Registration

Add Walkins

Again, we’ll get to those items in the very next topic, Match Management

Palm Names

A Palm communicates with the PC through the HotSync Manager and its Palm name. HotSync Manager does not have a way of knowing if there is more than one Palm with the same name, but it sure can get confusing if there is more than one Palm with the same name!

Use unique names for each Palm, and attach labels. That will make the entire operation much easier. Palm names are limited to six characters, so “Master”, “Backup”, “Club01”, “Club02”, etc all make sense. The name doesn’t matter. Keeping the Palms managed does. Keep in mind the EzWinScore should interact with only one Palm (and that Palm, in turn, interacts with the other Palms in the match). It just makes sense to name the Master Palm “Master”, and the name the other Palms to have the last two characters as the stage number (or squad number). Whether one Palm is used, or a Palm per squad is used, or a Palm per stage is used becomes a preference for the match, and is outlined more below in match management and StageScore Operation.

Match Management

The first step is to set up the match as outlined above in “Interaction with EzWinScore”. Other match setup items would be entered as usual.

Next, add the competitors to the match, just as normally done for any other match.

Do NOT enter any stages in EzWinScore, they come from the master Palm!

Decide how the Palms will be managed:

There are three options. All of these options should include a backup Palm. Data from the master Palm should be Beamed (covered below in StageScore Operation) to the backup Palm on a regular basis. The purpose of this is to guard against data loss if the master Palm fails, and it has not yet HotSynced its data to the PC.

Option 1: Only one squad for the match. For small matches, this makes the most sense. All the stages will be on the Master Palm, and changing the currently locked stage for the Palm (covered below in StageScore Operation) is easy. Squad assignments just do not matter. Just remember to beam scores to a backup Palm regularly.

Option 2: One Palm per squad: For many club matches, squads are not entered into EzWinScore, but rather the competitors just use a squad sign up sheet or some other method to informally split up into squads. StageScore provides a way of defining who is on a squad independent of EzWinScore. Once the squad is defined in StageScore, using the same Palm on each stage is as easy as changing the currently locked stage for the Palm. Data should be beamed to the Master Palm regularly. Any beam to the Master Palm should be followed by processing to the Master’s database, and then a beam to the Backup Palm.

Option 3: One Palm per stage: Typically, this is best used for larger matches where the competitors for a squad are pre-defined in EzWinScore and passed to the Master Palm, and, in turn, to the stage Palms. The Palm stays on the stage, typically with the same RO staff. The RO staff can then just pick which squad they are currently scoring. Data should be beamed to the Master Palm regularly. Any beam to the Master Palm should be followed by processing to the Master’s database, and then a beam to the Backup Palm.

StageScore handles shoot thru’s as simply a change in squad assignment. That is, if a competitor is assigned to squad 6 and is shooting thru, and goes to a stage that is currently shooting squad 9, then the RO just changes the competitor from squad 6 to squad 9.

There is an option in the Stage Score Conduit to delete the stages and scores from the Palm prior to entering new ones. It is provided simply to get rid of the stages from a previous match, without the need to delete or redefine the existing stages. It requires a separate HotSync to just delete the old stages and scores. It, like Downloading Competitors (below) requires deleting all Scores. The process is optional, but it is a little quicker than modifying or deleting the existing stages on the Master Palm.

Next in Match Management, enter the stages for the match on the Master Palm. That’s covered in detail below in StageScore operation. NOTE: Stages defined on the Palm MUST be consecutively numbered. That is, stage 1 through 4, for example. Numbering stages 1, 2, 3, and 5 will result in an interface failure with EzWinScore when scores are posted.

After entering the competitors for the match in EzWinScore, use EzWinScore’s “Export Registration” option (above) to put the competitor list in the StageScore Transfer Folder. EzWinScore provides a way of adding “walkins” to the list, and it is a good idea to use it and have some “extra” names exported to the master Palm just in case. Late shooters can just understand that they are “WalkIn #xx” for the purpose of scoring on StageScore. Their actual name can be changed in EzWinScore later.

Execute a HotSync by placing the Master Palm in its cradle and pressing the HotSync button on the cradle, or by using the HotSynch software on the Palm. Choose “Transfer Competitors from Desktop to Handheld, Erase Scores on Handheld” and/or “Transfer Stages from Handheld to Desktop”. If the stages have been defined on the Master Palm, it is simpler to do both processes in one HotSync.

Note that “Transfer Competitors from Desktop to Handheld, Erase Scores on Handheld” WILL erase all scores on the Palm. There is a warning, but all scores must be deleted if the competitor list is downloaded. Be careful. Only match staff should have access to the PC in order to perform a HotSync. There is also a safety mechanism in StageScore to lock the Palm from potentially dangerous HotSyncs. That’s covered below.

If a “Transfer Stages from Handheld to Desktop” was performed in this HotSync (or a subsequent one), then use EzWinScore’s “Import Palm Stages” to get the stages defined into the match.

That’s it for initial match management. The only final step is to Transfer scores from the Handheld to Desktop.

Transferring scores is only performed from the Master Palm via a Hot Sync and the “Transfer Scores from Handheld to Desktop” option. All other Palms beam their scores to the Master Palm. The Master Palm processes them, and, in turn, HotSyncs them to the StageScore Transfer directory. Then EzWinScore’s Import Scores processing loads the scores into it database. Each HotSync of scores should be followed by an “Upload Scores” in EzWinScore.

Once all scores are imported, it is just a matter of checking for missing score sheets and calculating the final scores.

StageScore Operation

StageScore, like all Palm programs, consists of different “Forms”. Unlike Windows, these forms are accessed one at a time; there is no concept of having many forms active at the same time. StageScore consists of these forms:

StageScore (Main form)

StageScore Registration

Stage Password

Create Stages

Stage Setup for Targets

Stage List

View Competitors / Squad

Choose Competitor to Score

Score Detail

Target Scoring

Score Summary

Beam StageScore

StageScore (Main form)

This is the main form for StageScore, the first form that is displayed, and the access point to all the other forms. When StageScore first loads, there is a message displayed “Loading StageScore….” The program is performing needed chores such as confirming or creating the required database, checking for newly beamed items, and loading and sorting the competitors.

The Lock Device checkbox is a safety mechanism to help prevent accidents. A locked Palm will not accept any competitor download or stage erasing from the HotSync conduit. The conduit checks the lock, and will not send anything to the Palm if it is locked. A locked Palm will accept beamed items from other Palms, but it will not process them. The only time that beamed items are processed are at StageScore startup, and only if the Palm is not locked. If beamed data on an unlocked Palm is detected at startup, then there are three options available: loading the data to StageScore’s database, delete the beamed data, or simply doing nothing until the next startup.

Once the competitor list has been downloaded to the master Palm, and the master Palm has beamed competitors and stages to other Palms, then all Palms should be locked until the end of the match. The master Palm will need to be unlocked to process incoming scores from the other Palms. The backup Palm may remain locked. Each beam to the Palm will overwrite the previous data, so the net effect is cumulative scores being on the backup.

The Auto SD save checkbox is used to automatically save all scores to the external SD card with each save of a competitor’s score. There is also an Export button on the Competitor scoring list that does the same thing. This option just does it every time a score is entered.

StageScore Registration

The Registration form is where the club’s name and registration serial number are entered. StageScore will operate for 90 days on an evaluation basis. Once registered, the Stage Password will come into effect. The stage password is another safety mechanism to help prevent accidents. The password is required to access the Stage setup. Use the Palm keyboard (or the graffiti input) to enter needed text. Note that the registration form, the stage password form, and the create stage form are the only places within StageScore that require text input. Everything else is done with just taps on the touch screen.

The Disable Stage Password checkbox eliminates the need for the password to access the stage setup form. In a “Palm per squad” match, disabling the need to know the password is handy for the squad so that they may change the current “locked” stage without knowing the overall password.

When the Club Name and Serial Number is first entered, a stage password will also be needed. Tap Change Password. The initial password is blank, so just follow the prompts to enter the new password.

Score Sheet Copies specifies how many copies of the score sheet are actually printed. See Printing below.

Stage Password

The StagePassword form is only used to prompt for the password. Use the Palm keyboard (or the graffiti input) to type the password and then tap the Stages button.

Create Stages Stage Setup for Targets

The Create Stages form is used to define all of the stages for the match. They are set up on the master Palm, HotSynced back to the desktop for transfer to EzWinScore, and beamed to the other Palms. There is no practical limit to the number of stages.

To create a new stage, tap the New button and the form is displayed as above. Enter the Stage number and Name. As noted previously, stages must be numbered consecutively, starting with 1. The scoring type is a popup list of Comstock, Virginia, and Fixed. The default is Comstock.

Enter the number of targets and poppers / plates. Choose Yes/No from the popup lists for No Shoots and Classifier. The default for both is as displayed above. Enter the number of strings from the popup. Up to 5 strings are allowed.

For most stages, there are two hits required, and No Penalty Misses usually are not encountered. If there are just two hits required, and there are no NPM’s, then the Target button is not needed as it will fill in automatically.

However, if there are other than two hits per target, or there are NPM’s, then tap the Targets button. The Stage Setup for Targets 1-6 is displayed. Only the number of targets defined is listed. In this example, there were six targets. Fill in the number of Hits required for each Target, and also the maximum number of No Penalty Misses for each target. Tapping the Default button will return the hits per target to two, if needed.

If a target does require more than two hits (such as a standards course), then tap the hits required for the target to increment the count by one. Same for the NPM, tap the item to increment it.

To clear the counts for a given target, tap the target number (such as T5). That will reset the counts to zero for that target.

Depending upon how many targets are defined for the stage, up to three of the target forms will be available. Buttons at the bottom allow for moving from one set of six to another and back.

These target setup definitions are more extensive than normally encountered when setting up a stage in EzWinScore, but it is all required to have very complete error checking at the point of score entry in StageScore.

When all the definitions for the stage are completed, tap the Save button and StageScore will error check everything necessary. If errors are detected, messages will display for the needed corrections. Upon a successful save, the number of points, and the minimum rounds for the stage are displayed.

The Lock Stage checkbox has a very special meaning. Only one stage at a time may be scored, and it is the one that is locked. When setting up the stages on the master Palm, do not lock any. Lock the stage needed on the other Palms after beaming the stages to the Palms. The Save button does not need to be tapped in order to change the currently locked stage. The Lock Stage checkbox has no meaning to EzWinScore.

When this form is accessed, it will position to the locked stage automatically. The Next and Prev buttons allow for moving through the stages defined. The List button opens the next form.

Stage List

The Stage List displays all the stages currently defined, notes the locked stage, and highlights the current stage that is on the stage form. Selecting a different stage and tapping Back refreshes the Stage form with the chosen stage. It is an easy way to get through a match that has many stages.

Stage List (Choose Stage to Lock)

This Stage List (Choose Stage to Lock) is accessed from the main form’s “Lock Current Stage” button. It allows for a quick change of the currently locked stage, and is very useful in running a match on “Palm per squad” basis. It displays all the stages currently defined, notes the locked stage, and highlights the currently locked stage. Selecting a different stage and tapping Back refreshes the currently locked stage for the Palm.

View Competitors / Squad

The primary purpose of this form is to manage squad assignments if needed. Competitors downloaded from EzWinScore that are not assigned to a squad come in as Squad 99, as seen above. If squad assignments are needed, just tap the competitor, and choose the squad from the popup list. The example shows some competitors switched to squad 1. The maximum number of squads for a match is 50, plus the default squad 99. The list may be sorted by name or by competitor number.

The number in the top right is the total number of competitors for the match.

For a shoot through competitor, just add their name to the current squad. If a random shooting order has already been established for the stage, their name will be at the bottom so as to not disrupt the existing order. Shoot them as needed on the stage.

Choose Competitor to Score

This form is the primary point for score entry. The current stage is displayed in the upper right corner. The competitors are listed selected by squad. The initial selection is for All squads, but changing the squad in the popup list results in the form on the right. There is also an option to sort the squad by name (the default), by competitor number, or randomly.

Many clubs shuffle the score sheets and pick the first competitor randomly. The random sort option accomplishes the same thing. Some squads, particularly at major matches, have a set shooting order for the entire match, and rotate the first competitor on a stage to the bottom of the list for the next stage. For that type shooting order, the squad will need to provide the RO staff with the list. Use the name sorted order on this form and work from the squad’s list.

The competitor’s division is also displayed here. If a competitor has a re-entry in EzWinScore (usually for shooting more than one classier in different divisions) it is necessary to distinguish which score is being processed. The RO staff also needs to know which division for the enforcement of USPSA rules.

The competitor number is also displayed here, and on the competitor (squadding) list.

The Export button will save the current set of scores (all of them on the Palm) to an external storage card inserted into the Palm. It is a useful way of having a backup.

The Print button will print the current shooting order. It is very handy to just post on the stage so that competitors will know the rotation. See information below on optional printing from StageScore.

To enter a score, tap the competitor’s name, and then tap the Score button.

Score Detail

Target Scoring

The Score and Target forms are the primary point of interaction in StageScore. The forms are displayed according to the setup for the currently locked stage. For example, if there were multiple strings, a time for each one would be displayed rather than just the one displayed above. If steel is defined, then it shows as above. The number of steel for the stage is in parenthesis for assistance to the score keeper, and the number of steel hits default to the number defined as shown. If there is no steel defined, the items are not displayed. It is the same concept for No Shoots on the target forms. The number of targets to score, and the presence or absence of NPM hits on the target forms also coincides with the stage setup.

For the Score form, the default item to be entered is the first string time. Tap the keyboard displayed as needed to record the time. If a mistake is made, tapping the time itself will reset it to zero, or the backspace key can be tapped to erase the last digit entered. It is not required that the time be entered first, but it is good scoring practice to get that recorded at the very start of scoring.

Note that for fixed time scoring stages, no times are displayed, and misses are suppressed from display on the target forms. There is also a “Late Shots” button displayed.

The buttons for the other items behave the same as for the time. Decimal point is only used for entering times. For example, if there was a miss on one steel target, tap the steel score. It will reset to zero. Tap the 2 key. Then tap the steel missed, and tap the 1 key. For No Shoots and Procedurals, the same procedure is used. Tap the item to set it to zero, tap the needed key on the screen keypad to set it.

The Targets button opens the first target scoring form. If more target forms are needed (based on the stage setup) buttons to navigate will be displayed. Usage of the target forms is just like stage setup. Tap the score for the target to increment by one, tap the target label (such as T4) to reset the scores for that target.

There is no requirement to enter items in any specific order. If there is a need to go back to the primary score form, access is provided. Going back to the target scoring is just as easy, just tap the Targets button.

Which targets have NPM’s, and how many NPM’s are allowed for the target, are defined in stage setup. Only targets defined as allowing NPM’s will display the NPM scoring for that target. For that reason, consistent scoring of the same target as “the” NPM target is required.

After scoring is completed, tap the Check button. Extensive error checking is performed. In fact, all the error checking that the Stat’s officer may encounter in manually entering score sheets into EzWinScore is being performed by StageScore. Any errors are displayed for correction. Warnings are displayed for such things as Misses, No Shoots, and Procedurals.

When the scoring passes the error checking, the next form to display is the Score Summary.

Score Summary

The Score Summary form is just that, as displayed above. It shows the hits recorded, points earned, penalties applied, total time for the stage, and even the hit factor. Time of day is recorded, and both the RO and competitor can record their initials that are digitally saved.

If a scoring error is noted on the summary, correct it by tapping the Back to Score button.

Tapping the Save button records the score to the data base, and then goes back to the Choose Competitor to Score form, with the $ - notation on the competitor indicating that a score has been entered.

Any completed score on the Choose Competitor to Score form can be accessed again by tapping the Score button. If the score is already detected, the option to allow for a complete re-shoot is presented, with double confirmation required. If it is not a re-shoot, then an option to view the Detail or Summary is provided. The Summary option is just a “look only”. The detail option would display all of the detail, and allow for any corrections to be made.

There is also a Print button on the Score Summary form. See “Printing From StageScore” below for more information.

Beam StageScore

These two forms provide six different options for Beaming. Beaming is a concept in the Palm OS that uses infrared technology (IR) to send data from one Palm to another. The infrared port is on the front of the Palm. One Palm sends the IR signal, the other receives it. There is a limited distance involved in this transmission, and not exceeding 12 inches is a good idea. The angle between the two Palms should not be extreme, and just a straight line is also a good idea. Moving the Palms during transmission can result in an interrupted signal. So, just put them both on a table, point the Palms head to head, tap the button, and wait for the transmission to complete. Messages will be displayed as to the success. After each beam, the target Palm will display a message to confirm the acceptance of the new item.

Do not try to beam items from one to Palm to more than one other Palm at the same time. It just will not happen. The connection is made to one Palm only, the first one that the sending Palm connects with. The receiving Palm does need to be powered on, but does not need to have StageScore running. It is OK to Beam to a Palm that has StageScore running. For beaming the Registration, StageScore must not be running on the target Palm.

For any of the beamed items, if the data has already been beamed to the target Palm, and that Palm has yet to process the data (via a StageScore startup), then a message will be displayed indicating such, and the option to accept or reject the beamed data is provided. The data will always be cumulative. For example, if scores are beamed to the master Palm, and later they are beamed again, the second batch will contain all of the scores, NOT just the scores entered since the first beaming.

Beam Stages typically only happens once in a match, with the master Palm beaming the stages to each of the other Palms. A beam for each Palm is required.

Beam Competitors is the exact same concept as beaming stages. It is typically only performed once at the beginning of the match.

Beam Scores sends the current set of scores to the master Palm. It also tags the batch of scores with the Palm name sending it. The master Palm can accept scores from many Palms, and needs to know which Palm it came from. As with the other beams, if the scores from the Palm have not yet been processed by the master, then the option to accept or reject is displayed. In this case, accept is the correct response, as the newly beamed data will always contain at least the same scores as that on the master. It likely will have more scores, and certainly will have any scores that needed corrections entered.

When the master processes the beamed scores, it always does it the same way. If the score already exists on the master, then it is replaced with the new score. If it does not exist, it is added to the database. EzWinScore performs the same logical processing. This allows for corrected scores to get passed through from StageScore to EzWinScore without error.

Import Scores from Card retrieves the saved scores (see Choose Competitor to Score above) from the external memory card, and then updates the scores on the Palm.

Beam Registration is provided just so that the name and serial number do not need to be entered on each of your club’s Palms manually.

Beam StageScore (Update Only) can be used to beam maintenance updates without the need to beam the entire four components in the “Complete” (below). For regular updates, only the StageScore.prc file is changed.

Beam StageScore (Complete) sends the entire program to another Palm. There are four components to the program, and can only be processed one at a time. Screen prompts will allow for all four to be processed.

A note about abnormal termination:

Palm Palms and software applications do not normally “terminate”. Run any application, turn off the Palm, turn it back on, and the application will be just where it was before. However, if the main application button is tapped (or pressed on some Palms), or one of the physical buttons is pressed to go to a different application (such as MemoPad), the current application is, in fact, terminated.

StageScore and has been programmed to address the issue of an “abnormal termination”.

If an abnormal termination occurs during the course of scoring an individual competitor and the scoring has not been completed, a message to that effect will be displayed, indicating incomplete scoring, and the score to that point is saved. StageScore should then be restarted, and the scoring completed right away. StageScore will go back to the scoring form automatically for the incomplete score to be finished.

If an abnormal termination occurs, and the current squad has a random shooting order, then that random order will be retained when StageScore is restarted.

The physical buttons on the Palm can be set (via Preferences, Buttons on the menu) to run StageScore rather than the default application. This will make StageScore just “run” when any of the buttons is pressed. It may be appropriate for a Palm that is dedicated to match scoring. Nevertheless, pressing one of the buttons will result in StageScore ending and restarting, and the above error-trapping will occur.

Finally (and most important) StageScore has been programmed to ignore the four buttons to launch other applications, as well as to ignore the available launch icons at the bottom of the screen. An audible beep will be heard, but StageScore will ignore the request. Abnormal termination should not happen at all, other than deliberately exiting while a squad (with random shooting order) is still in process. Therefore, setting the buttons via preferences is simply not needed.

Printing From StageScore

The only printing operations that StageScore performs are to print the shooting order or the score sheet from the Stage Summary form. Level II and above USPSA matches require the ability to print score sheets. Level I matches do not require it. A printed score sheet is a way for the competitor to confirm that what was written on the manual score sheet was, in fact, correctly entered into EzWinScore. With on-stage data entry via a handheld Palm, the chance for a data entry problem into EzWinScore no longer exists, but the need to print score sheets may still exist for some competitors.

StageScore provides the printing interface to SCS PrintServer or PalmPrint, both available from www.StevensCreek.com. If there is a need to print score sheets, then either of the above two products will need to be purchased from Stevens Creek and installed on the Palm. Note that the printing software is priced on a per Palm basis. Either of the two products mentioned will work; SCS PrintServer is a scaled down version of PalmPrint. PalmPrint will function with other Palm OS products, while SCS PrintServer will only function with applications specifically programmed to use either product. A previously licensed product on a Palm (either of them) will automatically function with StageScore.

The score sheet prints like this:

If you do choose to print score sheets, then the interface with either Stevens Creek products will need to be adjusted for the model of printer, margins, height and width or lines, etc. The printing software documents the settings. The parameters are not difficult to get set up, but setting the correct printer is critical. The wrong printer may well result in nothing at all printing.

There are many printers available that are battery powered and IR capable. Some are out-of-production units that are very affordable.

Palm and Palm OS are registered trademarks of Palm, Inc., ACCESS Co. Ltd., or their subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are hereby recognized.