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Announce

Syntax​

Announce [keypad | Headers | Header | No squeeze]
Announce Event      event_name
Announce Update Sec seconds
Announce Use Last
Font Size           points
Full Screen
Logo                filepath

Parameters​

  • keypad: Displays a large on-screen numeric keypad for touch-screen use instead of the small text entry box. To exit Announce in keypad mode, enter bib number 987654 and press Enter.
  • Headers: Displays column headers at the top of the screen with data aligned in columns underneath.
  • Header: Displays the header of each field to the left of its data, with each field on a separate line.
  • No squeeze: Prevents fields from being packed together with only one space between them. Use for column-aligned output.
  • Announce Event event_name: Polls the specified event for new finishers and automatically displays them. Checks once per second.
  • Announce Update Sec seconds: Controls how often the screen refreshes. Prevents a new finisher from replacing the current display too quickly.
  • Announce Use Last: When used with Announce Update Sec, shows the most recent finisher at the next refresh instead of the next one in the queue.
  • Font Size points: Sets the character size in points. The default is approximately 32 points.
  • Full Screen: Forces the Announce window to maximize automatically.
  • Logo filepath: A PNG image file to print on labels. The first Logo command places the image at the top of the label; the second places it at the bottom. Use ~ prefix for files in the race directory. The logo does not display on screen.

Description​

Activates the Announcer Screen, which displays entrant information as bib numbers are entered manually or received automatically from a timing point.

warning

Do not use the vertical bar | character in a listing. That character is used to separate fields when formatting an Announce request.

Remarks​

Usage modes​

  1. Manual: Set up a computer near the finish line. As a runner approaches, type the bib number and press Enter.
  2. Automatic: A chip/tag mat is set up before the finish. Use Announce Event to poll for new finishers.
  3. After the Finish: The computer is just beyond the finish line with a large screen or projector. Use Chip to Keyboard AND to Results mode to display results and record them simultaneously.
  4. Tied to an event: Use Announce Event to feed finishers from a specific event.

Announce Event​

Use Announce Event to automatically display new finishers as they are recorded:

Announce Event      TIME

The Announce screen checks once per second for new results. Supported on both RSServer and RSClient.

warning

When you designate an Announce Event, you still need to include an Event line if you want to display event information such as time or place.

Display formatting​

  • Use Background Color and Text Color to set display colors. Available colors: Black, Blue, Green, Cyan, Red, Magenta, Yellow, White. Specify the color after the field or item it applies to.
  • Use Records/Page to control how many entries appear on screen at once.
  • Use Message to add labels (e.g., Bib:, Age:) next to fields.
  • Use Field Length to control the width of displayed fields.
  • Press Enter without a bib number to insert a blank line for readability.

Races with wave starts​

Be aware that Division Place may not be accurate with wave starts since runners still on the course may finish with a faster time. Division Total is similarly affected.

Label printing​

To print individual results on a label printer (e.g., Dymo):

Destination         Label Printer
Font Name           Arial Black
Font Size           16
Orientation         Landscape

Set up the label printer as the default Windows printer and turn off the Printer Dialog Box in Preferences.

Lap race commands​

For lap races, display runner progress using these additional commands:

Lap Distance        distance
Laps Completed
Laps Left           total_laps
Distance Completed
Average Lap Time
Last Lap Time
Lap Distance Field  field_name
Laps Left Field     field_name
  • Lap Distance distance: The distance of each lap (e.g., 0.25 for quarter-mile laps).
  • Laps Completed: Displays the number of laps each runner has completed.
  • Laps Left total_laps: Displays remaining laps. The argument is the total number of laps required.
  • Distance Completed: Displays total distance covered.
  • Average Lap Time: Displays each runner's average lap time.
  • Last Lap Time: Displays each runner's most recent lap time.
  • Lap Distance Field field_name: Use when lap distance varies per runner. The named field contains each runner's lap distance.
  • Laps Left Field field_name: Use when total laps vary per runner. The named field contains each runner's required lap count.
warning

Place in a lap race is not meaningful if runners started at different times, since you cannot determine final place until everyone finishes. This also applies to Division Place unless everyone in a division starts at the same time.

Examples​

Basic announcer screen:

Announce
Font Size           30
Font Name           Arial
Text Color          black
Announce            Header
Background Color    White
Event               TIME
Text Color          green
Place
Text Color          red
Division Place      DIV
Text Color          blue
Field               NO.
Text Color          black
Field               FIRST NAME
Field               LAST NAME
Field               SEX
Field               AGE
Records/Page        3

Column-aligned output with custom headers:

Announce
Announce            Headers
Header
                                Div            Sex
NO.   Name               S Age  Plc    TIME    Plc
===== ================== = ==== ====== ======= =====
.End Of Header
Announce            No squeeze
Destination         Label Printer
Font Name           Courier New
Records/Page        6
Font Size           15
Field               NO.
Field               NAME
Field               SEX
Field               AGE
Field Length        4
Line Feed
Event               TIME
Time Format         mm:ss
Division Place      DIV
Division Total
Event               TIME
Time Format         NONE
Division Place      SEX

Announce with label printing, logo, and full details:

Announce
Font Name           Arial
Records/Page        1
Font Size           15
Message             Bib:
Logo                ~runscore.png
Field               NO.
Line Feed
Message             Name:
Field               NAME
Line Feed
Message             Time:
Event               TIME
Time Format         h:mm:ss.1
Line Feed
Message             Pace:
Event               TIME
Time Format         NONE
Pace                10K
Line Feed
Message             Place:
Event               TIME
Time Format         NONE
Place
Line Feed
Message             Division Place/Total:
Event               TIME
Time Format         NONE
Division Place      DIV
Division Total
Logo                ~runsignup.png

Lap race announce screen:

Announce
Field               NO.
.Include            FIELDLST
Line Feed
Event               FINISH
Place
Lap Distance        0.25
Laps Completed
Laps Left           20
Distance Completed
Average Lap Time
Last Lap Time