For Vugraph operators

[david_c]

It would be extremely useful, when operating vugraph, to be able to change the bidding without having to undo all the way back to the relevant point. Ideally, a right-click on a bid could bring up options:

 

- Insert a pass at this point.

- Change this call.

- Delete this call.

 

The first one seems particularly important. It's so easy to miss out a pass somewhere, then later lose track of the play because you had to redo a huge chunk of the auction in order to put it right. Most broadcasts seem to feature this happening at least once, and it's really painful to watch.

[barmar]

Yeah, the missing Pass is the most common mistake we make when operating. Luckily the commentators usually notice. But that doesn't help with getting caught up if it was a couple of rounds earlier.

[ahollan1]

A similar use of 'insert' 'change' would also work very well with play of the cards. One caveat for vugraph operator would be manually set or better yet - force all vugraph operator accounts to automatically "Show played cards".

 

The arguments for these editing features rather than UNDO are many, including but not limited to:

 

a) fewer chances for error rather than multiple undo & hope to insert correction then all of the info that was already correct

 

:D along with "a" - not only is it harder to make things worse, it is also easier to make the correct adjustment

 

c) UNDO is not just a click -- there is an associated/varying time delay also. The time factor is huge during the play of the cards, where it is often difficult to keep up even when selecting the correct plays

 

d) feature could be expanded to add alerts/explanations at any time

[current implementation has restrictions on when operator can make these updates]

 

e) if operator has finalized contract - this fix could be expanded to not only correct the auction but also allow opening lead from correct player without going through the hack of just editing final contract in movie

 

Things to consider in the implementation beyond just the original write-up

 

1) insert single call here [add] and shift remaining bids to the right

2) start here and replace multiple calls [overwrite]

3) delete single call [del] and shift all bids to the left

4) delete this call and overwrite remaining

 

 

It should be easy to extrapolate these options into analogous behavior for play of the cards

 

 

A very far reaching extension would be operator being able to click on a card played to provide explanation of lead/signal/discard that is given at the table. Then moving cursor over the card played would display explanation in similar fashion to highlighting an alerted bid.