Auto-copy of Vugraph lin files

[ahollan1]

Watching a vugraph match while logged into BBO automatically gets you a copy of the .lin file in Bridge Base Online\hands\<bboname>

 

But it really isn't that easy and it would be nice to expand ability to automatically get a copy of vugraph .lin files and/or e-mail notification of when and where a particular file is avaliable.

 

When the room I'm in closes, I often jump over to other match hoping I'll be in time to get that .lin file, but it is wrong to say that's a reliable workaround and very right to say it is inconvenient.

 

Use Cases include but aren't limited to:

 

01) option to get final .lin if you leave room before match is over

02) option to get .lin files for all matches of a particular event + session

03) option to get .lin files even if not watching [i'm told some BBOers will play cards instead of watching vugraph matches - go figure]

 

04) option/mechanism to get .lin file when watching thru BBOTV [i.e. NOT logged into BBO, so no default location.

 

 

I can envision mechanisms where end-user subscribes for .lin files [or email notification with link] of:

 

a) Select from entry in Vugraph Schedule [covers case where person is not even going to be able to logon while any vugraph table available]

:P selecting one or more tables from list of open V.G. tables

c) hook that lets you select all matches from any open match for a particular event + session

[perhaps choices should ask this session or all sessions beginning with current]

d) attaching to a vugraph operator account [operator may be logged in but either vg room not open yet or already closed]

 

"d" is potentially problematic because you may not know

* which match/event vg account is associated with at any given time

* which COUNTRY vg account is associated with [yes, some setup info in Profile and some vg account names use convention that identifies 'owning' country, but that is neither consistent nor obvious to decipher

 

e) a new web page with form that allows 'subscription'

f) mechanism inside BBO User Profile that says "i automatically want vugraph .lin from <criteria>. Yes, i know that is a huge stretch.

 

Key point for the solution -- If possible to implement so that there is option of email OR auto download of file - that's great, but shouldn't be stated as a requirement. I suspect most if not all users would be satisfied with e-mail notification that says .lin is available at a particular link.

 

Al

[Mariner1]

Al having the LIN files available from within the Vugraph Rooms or on the Room Selections menu would be good, or even from the Useful Links and OnLine menu. Until then these are available.

 

http://www.sarantakos.com/bridge/vugraph.html - The Vugraph Project

 

http://web04.bridgebase.com/vug/?C=M;O=D - Past Vugraphs (also see BBO Bridge Library)

 

http://www.bridgehandpro.com/ for a searchable database of hands played on BBO vugraph. It is a free site. Thanks to James Heneghan of Ireland

 

Another Kludge option would be to get someone that was in that room to send you the file.

 

Hope these help.

[ahollan1]

Yes, you have described kluges Rob - well workarounds most of which I'm already aware. Key issue is that spectators do not have access to the information

 

But, this does bring to mind another stop-gap.

 

From the BBO pages where Vugraph Table, if any are open, are listed -- include a permanent link to the BBO owned location.

 

The end-user still needs to check the site to see when/if files are available, but it much better than most not having any clue.

 

 

I hate to bring it up, but something that has been mentioned in other threads comes to surface with using the link -- the file naming convention is extremely user UNfriendly.

 

Surely the most common case would be satisfied if filenames were such that they were sorted first by Event Name. I'm not sure if 2nd sort field should be Session name, date or other -- but that's really outside the scope of the current thread.