Fencing Score Keeper for iPhone

[garyhayenga]

Oh yeah, I completly forgot about Ad Hoc. However, that is a seperate licence which I must also purchase. I do this as a hobby and I am passionate about it but I am currently in no position to purchase another license. If the app gets to the point where I am in a better position and I need to beta test I will definatly do that. For now, I have given it to a couple friends at my club to test it.

Hey Gary just curious. What is gonna be in your update?

If you have the ability to submit apps to the App Store then you must have paid the $99 developer fee, and thus you also have the capacity to create ad hoc builds.

The new features I've added, as opposed to the new features I've intended to add but never gotten the time to do, are:

The ability to keep track of an entire pool, up to 10 fencers.

The ability to page back and forth between bouts.

A pool results list view.

With an iPhone it now vibrates when stopping and starting the clock.

On an iPhone it now vibrates each second when it gets down to 10 seconds left in a period.

You can double-tap the competitors name on the score view screen to assign warning cards. The entire screen will turn the appropriate color until you tap it again. Indicators will show up next to the name.

Double-tapping the time counter fills the screen with it so you can easily display the time remaining competitors or spectators.

Double-tapping a score fills the screen with the current score so you can easily display it to the competitors or spectators.

It will automatically figure out who won a bout, but in the case of overtime period expiration and a victory on priority, i.e. the score is still tied, you can set a victor by double-tapping their name.

If you've set the bout length to more than 5 touches you can double-tap the period indicator to increment it. This is in the Pool/DE tab Manage Pools. Nothing else in that tab is implemented yet.

Eventually I wanted settings to allow people to adjust various preferences, like vibration. And the ability to export results. And the ability to call up previous pools for review or export (it does save all the previous pools). But I haven't had the time to do those things yet, or rip them out and submit it to the app store with it's current functionality.

[M.J.]

If you have the ability to submit apps to the App Store then you must have paid the $99 developer fee, and thus you also have the capacity to create ad hoc builds.

O rite, I was thinking of in-house distribution. So yeah, I could also hold a beta for anyone who would like to. I'll elaborate on this more when I get back from the OTC.

[klauver]

I just downloaded your app, great job.
When you get ready for your next update I would find it handy to add the ability to switch scores for fencers in the pool results editing mode like you can do while the bout is happening. The same idea applies, if during the review you noticed that you didn't adjust for the lefty fencer hooking up to the "wrong" side it would be nice to be able to swap the score during editing. Also, if you could please build in a drop down list of penalties so that we could actually record the specific penalty and the app would apply the correct card and penalty touch if applicable.
Now I'm dreaming, but you started the suggestion. When you are building the download fuctionality, could we please WiFi it to the bout committe using Fencing Time or other app. and then once you have figured that out how about loading the pool info. to my iPod from the bout committee?

I would pay "real" money for an app that would do 2-way communication like that!

Thanks,
Ken

[M.J.]

I just downloaded your app, great job.
When you get ready for your next update I would find it handy to add the ability to switch scores for fencers in the pool results editing mode like you can do while the bout is happening. The same idea applies, if during the review you noticed that you didn't adjust for the lefty fencer hooking up to the "wrong" side it would be nice to be able to swap the score during editing. Also, if you could please build in a drop down list of penalties so that we could actually record the specific penalty and the app would apply the correct card and penalty touch if applicable.
Now I'm dreaming, but you started the suggestion. When you are building the download fuctionality, could we please WiFi it to the bout committe using Fencing Time or other app. and then once you have figured that out how about loading the pool info. to my iPod from the bout committee?

I would pay "real" money for an app that would do 2-way communication like that!

Thanks,
Ken

Thanks. My next update I am making great progress on so that is right around the corner. My current update I have submitted about 3 weeks ago and still no reply. I have no idea what is going on with it but it is out of my hands. I like the swap scores in edit mode idea. The penalty idea I have already started on. So you will see that soon. For the transfer between the bout committee with wifi there are a couple different things I could do. One is that you could have a direct transfer from the iPod to the computer through wi-fi or usb. The thing is for the wi-fi that you and the bout committee have to be on the same network to do this transfer(if the event has wi-fi at all). Another thing you could do is have it so you can attach the data to a file and e-mail it to them or receive an email from them. This would probably be good for iPhone users because they can just use 3g.

MJ

[jdavies]

I just downloaded this today on my iPhone. I haven't used it in a real match yet, but I do have a very small feature request already. Please add a button at the bottom (with the buttons that allow you to look at Pool Sheet, Bouts and Scores) or somewhere handy that allows you to start the next pool. Currently, you have to exit that app and restart it to begin the next pool.

Granted, its minor, but it makes sense to stay "in the app". Great job on the app. Good luck wrestling with Apple.

- Jeff

[M.J.]

I just downloaded this today on my iPhone. I haven't used it in a real match yet, but I do have a very small feature request already. Please add a button at the bottom (with the buttons that allow you to look at Pool Sheet, Bouts and Scores) or somewhere handy that allows you to start the next pool. Currently, you have to exit that app and restart it to begin the next pool.

Granted, its minor, but it makes sense to stay "in the app". Great job on the app. Good luck wrestling with Apple.

- Jeff

Yeah, I know what you mean. The thing is the way I have the app structured it makes it nearly impossible for me to do that. Seeing how there are a growing number of complaints for that I will probably restructure that so you can go back to them menu without restarting the app.

On another note, a couple hours Apple approved my app(bout time). Anyways so if you haven't done so already go ahead and download the patch.

MJ

[M.J.]

So I have been working for a while on the latest patch and it got me thinking about putting a team score keeper in along with the individual one. Along with that, a DE mode along with the pool sheet. So I have been planning how I am going to do this but I want to know what everyone else thinks.

What would you like to see and/or not see?

How would you like the data to be presented?

For DEs do you want the whole darn tree(errrr not the best idea if you ask me) or would you like the score keeper?

If you want the score keeper would it be any different from the current quick match mode?


MJ

[rsy]

M.J.

Got your update and I was playing with it a bit. You are doing a fantastic job trying to put in all the bells and whistles, but I noticed that there are two problems with the penalty cards in the pool mode.

In the pool mode you have the yellow cards carring over to the next bout. So if Fencer 1 gets a yellow card in his first bout, the yellow card option for Fencer 1 is grayed out and unavailable for the remainder of the bout. Excellent! But in his next bout, the yellow card for Fencer 1 remains greyed out and unavailable.

Bigger problem, when Fencer 1 gets a red card the point should go to Fencer 2, but your program awards the point to Fencer 1.

Minor problem that can be worked around. Sometimes fencers get a 2nd Group penalty which starts with a red card and then all subsequent cards are red. If there are no cards and you give Fencer 1 a 2nd Group red, the yellow card should become greyed and unavailable. Work around, just hit the yellow card first, then "Done", then reenter the penalty screen to enter the 2nd Group red.

Also, there is a work around for skipping a bout. Just enter it as 0-0 with a V for one of the fencers and the program goes to the next bout. When you are ready to run the skipped bout, do it on the quick match function. When the bout is over, re-open and continue the pool and then edit the 0-0 score with the correct score.

-r

[M.J.]

M.J.

Got your update and I was playing with it a bit. You are doing a fantastic job trying to put in all the bells and whistles, but I noticed that there are two problems with the penalty cards in the pool mode.

In the pool mode you have the yellow cards carring over to the next bout. So if Fencer 1 gets a yellow card in his first bout, the yellow card option for Fencer 1 is grayed out and unavailable for the remainder of the bout. Excellent! But in his next bout, the yellow card for Fencer 1 remains greyed out and unavailable.

Bigger problem, when Fencer 1 gets a red card the point should go to Fencer 2, but your program awards the point to Fencer 1.

Minor problem that can be worked around. Sometimes fencers get a 2nd Group penalty which starts with a red card and then all subsequent cards are red. If there are no cards and you give Fencer 1 a 2nd Group red, the yellow card should become greyed and unavailable. Work around, just hit the yellow card first, then "Done", then reenter the penalty screen to enter the 2nd Group red.

Also, there is a work around for skipping a bout. Just enter it as 0-0 with a V for one of the fencers and the program goes to the next bout. When you are ready to run the skipped bout, do it on the quick match function. When the bout is over, re-open and continue the pool and then edit the 0-0 score with the correct score.

-r

Hey thanks man. First off for the yellow card staying grayed out. I thought I got it so it worked. Would you mind elaborating a bit on what happened. I basically just need to know how many people were in the pool. Like I said I thought I got it so that didn't happen. Oh well.

For the red card adding a point to the wrong side......wow......i cannot believe I did that. I mustive had a massive brain fart when that happened. Anyways I fix that.

The 2nd degree red is something I just forgot to put in. Along those lines, I am also adding it so there will be a forth button that brings up a list of all of the penalties. Press the penalty and it will tell you and apply the appropriate card.

Good Idea for a work around. I think everybody will be happy to know that I have finished the rearranging of the bout order for the app. So that will defiantly be in the next patch.

MJ

[flechewounds]

I don't know if this is possible, but if you could piggyback the clock start/stop onto the volume up/down switch, it would make it a lot easier to use without looking at it - especially with a single vibration for start, a double for stop, and a series for end of time.

[rsy]

First off for the yellow card staying grayed out. I thought I got it so it worked. Would you mind elaborating a bit on what happened.MJ

I tried this in pools of 4, 5 & 6. If a yellow card is given to any fencer in any bout, in every subsequent bouts for that fencer, when the penalty button is selected and that fencer is selected to receive the penalty, the button for the yellow card is greyed out and unavailable. I did observe that if you exit and then re-enter the program and then continue the pool, the yellow card function is reset and available, but only for one bout. It is then back to being greyed out in all subsequent bouts for that fencer.

-r

[M.J.]

I don't know if this is possible, but if you could piggyback the clock start/stop onto the volume up/down switch, it would make it a lot easier to use without looking at it - especially with a single vibration for start, a double for stop, and a series for end of time.

Nope, that sadly isn't possible.

I tried this in pools of 4, 5 & 6. If a yellow card is given to any fencer in any bout, in every subsequent bouts for that fencer, when the penalty button is selected and that fencer is selected to receive the penalty, the button for the yellow card is greyed out and unavailable. I did observe that if you exit and then re-enter the program and then continue the pool, the yellow card function is reset and available, but only for one bout. It is then back to being greyed out in all subsequent bouts for that fencer.

-r

Thanks rsy!

MJ

[Archren]

Hi! I just got an iPhone a couple weeks ago, and last weekend was my first opportunity to use this app. It was great! I reffed pools of foil and epee and a bunch of DEs using it. I ended up using it solely on Quick Match mode, because I was often double-stripping pools with another referee and didn't want to get things confused.

I loved just about everything about it, and my single complaint is not being able to record which side got a penalty in Quick Match mode. Other than that, many kudos! I'll be using this program rather frequently from here on out.

[Insipiens]

This may seem like "sacrilege" on an iPhone related thread, but has anyone written an equivalent app for Android phones? Both this and Gary's sound really useful but I couldn't bring myself to own an iPhone

[M.J.]

Hi! I just got an iPhone a couple weeks ago, and last weekend was my first opportunity to use this app. It was great! I reffed pools of foil and epee and a bunch of DEs using it. I ended up using it solely on Quick Match mode, because I was often double-stripping pools with another referee and didn't want to get things confused.

I loved just about everything about it, and my single complaint is not being able to record which side got a penalty in Quick Match mode. Other than that, many kudos! I'll be using this program rather frequently from here on out.

Thanks. I always love to hear stories like that. Like some of my friends said they saw one of the coaches at the mission fencing camp using it.

[Gav]

This may seem like "sacrilege" on an iPhone related thread, but has anyone written an equivalent app for Android phones? Both this and Gary's sound really useful but I couldn't bring myself to own an iPhone

I am going to derail the thread for a second.

What do you have?

I quite fancy the HTC hero but reviews say that it's underpowered for the latest iteration of Android. I am currently wanting to ditch my current windows mobile for soemthing better...

[Insipiens]

I have the Samsung Galaxy on 02 and I think I have to decide today to keep it or not on the 14day money back thing. It's the first touch screen phone I have had and I am not sure whether it is these screens in general or the Galaxy that means I keep hitting the wrong letter typing text messages etc.

The battery life is not brilliant - probably not up to iPhone standards but I do have the GPS and push email on all the time at the moment.

I was thinking of getting the G2 Touch (which I know is just T-Mobile branding of the HTC Hero) but in the end 02 offered me a deal to stay.

[dsteinschneider]

I've often mused about a scenario where the bout committee has connected their tournament software to a website/webservice. We could follow the pools and DE's on our handhelds.

Last quarter over 5 million iphones were sold. I estimate at least 50% of the attendees at tournaments have handheld broadband access. I think this would be a great opportunity for those running the tournament to help spectators understand what's happening at the tournament. Also, they might be able to generate some revenue with ads which conversely could help attendees find restaurants, nearby stores etc.

If ref use of handhelds becomes prevalent we could achieve realtime results where an attendee could type in a competitors name from one end of the venue and see they're on deck in their pool and how the pool is going (unofficial of course until ref posts the pool to the bout committee).

I think this will come to pass sooner than you'd think thanks to the efforts of developers like M.J. and garyhayenga.

[dberke]

I've often mused about a scenario where the bout committee has connected their tournament software to a website/webservice. We could follow the pools and DE's on our handhelds.

Last quarter over 5 million iphones were sold. I estimate at least 50% of the attendees at tournaments have handheld broadband access. I think this would be a great opportunity for those running the tournament to help spectators understand what's happening at the tournament. Also, they might be able to generate some revenue with ads which conversely could help attendees find restaurants, nearby stores etc.

If ref use of handhelds becomes prevalent we could achieve realtime results where an attendee could type in a competitors name from one end of the venue and see they're on deck in their pool and how the pool is going (unofficial of course until ref posts the pool to the bout committee).

I think this will come to pass sooner than you'd think thanks to the efforts of developers like M.J. and garyhayenga.

We're much closer to that than you realize (or at least parts of that vision.)

I'm not quite ready to announce anything, but... stay tuned.

Dan

[M.J.]

Hey Guys, I know it has been a while sense anyone has posted anything but I was just wondering something. I sometimes find myself telling things multiple times to people about the app. I was thinking of either creating a blog or a forum to help organize it. I am wondering, would you guys use it? If so what would you rather have(most useful), a fourm or blog.....or maybe both.