Uploading Hand Records

Dealer Program And Options

You can upload hand records in the following file formats:

  • DUP file format. Many dealing programs produce files in this format for use with Duplimate dealing machines and many who use compatible interface.
  • BRI file format. Similar to DUP file format. Some dealing machines and programs provide this format instead of DUP.
  • Dealmaster Pro text file. At the moment, we support version 2.7 or higher. Visit the site www.dealmaster.com for version information. If you have an older version, some upgrades are for free.
  • PBN file. Some programs can export generated hands in this format. The support is somewhat limited, ie. only mandatory tags are recognized, and an optional tag that describes best possible contracts for each side.

The main difference between the formats is that DUP and BRI formats do not have Deep Finesse analysis of maximum possible contracts for each side.

The remaining instructions are specific to Dealmaster Pro, as creation of text files suitable for upload must follow certain steps. To create the file for upload you need to pay attention to the following details:

  • On the screen where you specify output options make sure that in section C you tick Print North, South, East and West hands.
  • On the screen titled Hand Record For All Four Hands,when trying to print make sure you tick Prepare Output TXT file.
  • And finally, when asked about output options for the text file, make sure you select Makeable Contracts for each deal.

Linking Hand Records And Results

Using Web Admin Interface

This is a simple procedure and it is available to EVERYONE, regardless of the scoring program used. Just visit the web admin interface and click on Upload Hand Record on the menu on the left. Choose the type of the event for which the hand record is to be uploaded, single- or multi-session, and then follow the instructions on the screen.

If you make a mistake and upload the wrong hand record file, don't worry. Simply upload the correct one, and everything will be sorted out. However, if you selected the wrong result, then you will have the upload another hand record file that corresponds to that result. So, be careful! Click on the event name first preview the result and to avoid any confusion about which results you are dealing with.

Scorebridge Users Special

Scorebridge users now have an option to upload the hand record alongside the result by simply attaching the hand record file to the SAME email that carries the results. The fact that both result and the hand record are in the same email message is the thing that allows the server to automatically link them together.

The main benefit of this is that it's a very simple procedure, with less work required to deal with the hand record, compared to web admin upload method.

ShipResults Users Special

This method currently works for ACBLscore users and ASE 8 users. If you want ShipResults to handle hand record files as well, you need to place the hand record file BEFORE the upload in the same directory where the result files are and follow this naming convention:

  1. retain the original file extension of the hand record file (eg. .DUP, .BRI, .PBN or .TXT).
  2. ACBLscore: the name should be the game file name, preceded by the session letter (ie. one of A, E, B, M, L).
  3. ASE 8: the name should be the same as the base name of the event file, followed by the session number.

ACBLscore Example

Let's say you normally upload hand records in Dealmaster Pro format, where hand record files have extension .TXT. And let's say that you name gamefiles using the default ACBLscore scheme, which uses the date YYMMDD and you also specify session, like M for morning, A for afternoon etc.

So, let's say you dealt hands for the evening session on 20th of September 2011. You need to:

  1. create the hand record file from Dealmaster Pro AND NAME IT E110920.TXT
  2. place this file in the directory where game files are, normally C:\ACBLSCOR\GAMEFILE

Then, when you actually score the event and ACBLscore creates the game file 110920.ACE, ShipResults will pick it up, AND ALSO with it the hand record file you placed there beforehand. When you check the web site, you should see not only the result but also the hand record with it.

ASE 8 Example

If you have an event, let's say "Mary Thomas Pairs" and you prepared a DUP file for a predealt hands for session 2, then you need to name the hand record file:

"Mary Thomas Pairs02.DUP"

and place it in the same directory you configured ASE 8 to create result files in. That's all. If the event has only one session, or the hand record is for the first session, the file name should be:

"Mary Thomas Pairs01.DUP"

A Reminder

At all times, the web admin upload methods for hand record uploads is still there, so you'll always have a different method to fall back on, in case things don't work for some reason.