Vesian

I find that the notification from players, either losing connection or just leaving (for whatever reason) very useful to enable good tournament continuity. However - in my experience - if the players' link is lost only for a second I still get a notification - which in many cases is not necessary. A built-in delay would prove very useful for 'false' calls. A 5-second delay would solve this problem.

I find that the notification from players, either losing connection or just leaving very useful to enable good tournament continuity. However - in my experience - if the players' link is lost only for a second I still get a notification - which in many cases is not necessary. A built-in delay would prove very useful for 'false' calls. A 5-second delay would solve this problem.

Hello, Several weeks ago I wrote a short article about the difficulties all TD's have in monitoring tournaments. Adjusting scores is far to complicated at the present time; have to trace the player first, play the hand and only then make a (possible) change to the score. There appears to be little correlation between the played hands and the displayed hands - this is in urgent need of correcting\synchronising. It is not possible compare how other tables played the hands - this will help a great deal to compare scores before attempting any corrections - should they be needed. The RESET seems to perform no function that I can see. There would be a great deal of value in this button re-synchronising hands. The played hands screen (bottom right) is of little value as it is not possible to use it to replay hands to check if adjustment is required. Tony (Vesian)

To the software engineers at BBO, At the beginning of August I submitted an article concerning the 'History' screen when a TD. As an ex-programmer I do understand that changes to existing software can be a major undertaking. However there has been no conclusion to my original article - "Making Sense of the TD's screen". Rather than re-issue the same missive I would like to know if my constructive criticism is being investigated at the present time. It concerns the differences in the History screen a player see and the History screen that a TD sees. There is no reference to how "Other Tables" scored. I feel the whole of the History screen needs a careful rethink. Whilst managing a tournament there is no need to access "Recent Hands" or "Recent Tournaments" The "Refresh" button does not do anything and the "Hand' screen needs an overhaul to make it useful. It is quite daunting at the present time to make 'live' changes to scores. I do have a method of changing the scores but I am very reticent to use it.

Hi, The conversations have - in the main - gone off topic. It would be good to think BBO staff have taken this subject on board and will eventually solve the problems.

Hi Gerado, Thank you for your text message - some details have helped. You ask - what am I hoping to achieve ? - I'll try to answer that using a different method. From the 'HISTORY' tab - Recent Hands and Recent tournaments have little or no relevance to the tourney being played. I would prefer to see full synchronisation of the results of the hands played and be able to cross reference a result against other tables that have played that hand. Another subscriber to this topic (bjacobs) has hit the nail on the head. There is a glaring problem with how the results are displayed. Maybe another label is required ? (Say) 'Other Tables'. (showing how others have fared with the same hand?). Deciding an adjustment. I find this aspect very difficult - without playing the hand through as TD. I can only do that via 'Players Results' which is extremely clumsy. This is why I mentioned the 'hand' box - bottom left on main screen. The 'REFRESH' apparently performs no function that I can see - which is a real drawback. When changing tables - if the hand is not complete - then surely there should be no result showing ? What did I mean by 'players screen' ? I meant as opposed to the TD screen. (The screen presented to the players in that tournament). I tend to have only one section at the present time. I truly appreciate you (trying!) understanding the issues I feel would better solved. Thank you. Tony (Vesian)

Hi Gerardo, My discussion is concerning the Results screen and the playing a previous hand screen both of which are on the right hand half of the main TD screen. I wish to draw your attention to both of these areas of the screen discussed in my original article. The 'results', as such are meaningless and the 'play' screen does not work properly! The reset tab also does not work. The results for each hand do not stay in sync with each table - a prerequisite for all TD's (This feature works fine in the 'players' screen). The labels mentioned, 'Recent Hands' and 'Recent Tournaments' are of little value whilst a tournament is is play. For a TD to fully understand, all references need to be to focused on the current tournament. As a fully experienced member of the BBO Support Team I would like to see a fuller explanation of these difficulties from you. This would settle my frustration!! (smiles) Tony (Vesian)

Thanks for the reply - I feel you have misunderstood. I made no reference to the tabs. Please re-read - thank you Tony (vesian)

AS a long-standing player on BBO I've not really felt the need to use the BBO forums. But now I feel very strongly about the plight of fellow TD's I've been more involved as a TD since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, seeing a definite need for players. Running a weekday tournament since March has been quite a challenge - but - very worthwhile for many reasons. I started from scratch and now have over 300 members. I have been using V3 of the BBO software all this time and am pleased see a few pertinent changes for the better. The 'players' screen does the job quite convincingly. Sad to say this is definitely NOT the case when running club tournies!!! The TD's screen is very difficult to understand with little or no apparent logic - constantly having to use 'workarounds' to solve problems. It would be a great to see the programmers prioritised these issues. The main 'monitor' section of the screen works flawlessly. BUT - all the information on the right hand side is nonsensical - seeming to follow no real reference to the played hands! at least two of the titles - Recent results and Recent Tournaments are completely unnecessary! Surely all references should be focused on the tourney running at the time which is being monitored\managed by the TD ?? The 'Reset' button performs no actual function, at present, but could put to good use - options are many-fold. Bottom right-hand corner is - in principal - a great idea where a 'contested' hand could be played without leaving the table that is in play. This is quite impossible without using a workaround via Players Results. So that area of the screen is totally unusable in it's present form. Placing 'prompt' screens in the corners seems reasonable initially. But, using large screen these prompts outside the field of vision. As an example any prompt in the bottom right could be moved into the right-hand side of the chat box (where very little text appears). Centring this 'box' upwards would make it more practicable to see. Moving from one table to another - if the hand is in play - surely there should be no result on display- as an ex-programmer this should be an easy fix! I've been a member of BBO for a great many years longer and have seen many changes. The present version has the opportunity to exceed,and excel, all other on-line bridge clubs. I would like to see that happen. Not using flash is on of many bonuses we all enjoy - long overdue. My comments are designed to be constructive. I'm sure we'll see a more user-friendly edition - for TD's - in the near future. Can you guys step up to the plate and excel? I'm sure the answer is yes!! Tony (Vesian) - a very frustrated TD. Kind regards Tony (Vesian) TD for the English Acol Club.

It's always a good plan to have regular updates of all software - long overdue on BBO. But - as a regular user of BBO I now find I do not like the colours on the home screen. Plus - gaining access to the various parts of the website is now counter intuitive..