Your First Look: Launching RunScore
With RunScore successfully installed, it's time to open the program and get oriented. This page covers the two desktop icons you'll see, which one to use, and how RunScore organizes its files on your computer.
The two desktop icons
After installation, you'll notice two new icons on your main computer's desktop:
| Icon | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| RSServer | RunScore Server | The full scoring engine — your central hub for managing races |
| RSClient | RunScore Client | A connection tool for other computers on your network |
On your main scoring computer, always launch RSServer. The RSClient icon on this machine can be safely ignored — it's only relevant on the other computers (announcer station, registration desk, etc.) that connect to your server over the network.
Double-click the RunScore Server (RSServer) icon to get started. You can create a taskbar shortcut to it for even faster access on race day.
Understanding your RunScore files
Knowing where RunScore keeps its files will save you time and help you troubleshoot if something ever seems out of place.
The main RunScore folder: C:\RunScore
All of RunScore's essential program files live in C:\RunScore (unless you chose a different location during installation). Think of this as RunScore's home base.
Inside this folder you'll find:
C:\RunScore\
├── Common\ System files for TAC timing and Age Graded calculations
│ └── zipcodes.dbf Zip code database for automatic city/state lookup
├── SampleRaces\ Pre-built sample races to help you learn RunScore
└── AdvancedSampleRaces\ More complex sample races for advanced scenarios
The Common subfolder
The Common subfolder holds two important supporting resources:
- TAC and Age Graded files — These enable specialized scoring calculations used in certain race categories. You don't need to configure them directly; RunScore uses them automatically when needed.
- Zip code database — When you enter a participant's zip code during registration, RunScore can automatically fill in their city and state. This small database makes data entry noticeably faster, especially for large events.
Sample race folders
The SampleRaces and AdvancedSampleRaces folders contain pre-configured race setups. These are invaluable for learning — you can open them, experiment freely, and see exactly how RunScore is configured for real events without any risk of affecting actual race data.
If you chose Compact Installation, the sample race folders won't be present. You can re-run the installer at any time and select Custom Installation to add them.
Before you can dive into scoring a real race, you'll want to understand the evaluation period and how to register your software. Head to Evaluation & Registration.