TM Quick Reference Guide: Advanced Features – REC Library

Web Server

A quick reference guide to using the Web Server at an event.

Tournament Manager provides a built-in Web Server which can provide additional functionality at an event. The Web Server is started automatically when the tournament server computer is started. The main purpose of the Web Server is for administrative functions. It allows primary event staff to access event functions and data from devices which may or may not have Tournament Manager installed. Information entered while in the web server is automatically transferred to Tournament Manager. The Web Server primarily assists with the following functions:

Team Check In
- A computer or mobile device connected to the Web Server can be setup at Team Check In to mark teams present
Inspection
- Inspectors can enter inspection information while visiting a team's pit area or if doing inspection at fields.
Judging
- A computer or mobile device can be set up in the Judging room to allow Judges to enter awards from the room instead of writing this information on paper and delivering it.
  Data such as rankings, schedule, and team information for primary event staff.

To access Web Server:

Open a web browser
Enter the Server IP address in the address bar
- Computer or mobile device must be on the same network as the server computer to access
Find the person/arrow, select, and choose “Login”

Select the appropriate role
Enter the corresponding role password that was set up when the Tournament Manager file was created
- To access a role, it must have a password set up in Tournament Manager
- To recover or change a specific password in Tournament Manager, select Tools > Options > General
Based on the role, different menu options will be available on the left side of the screen.
Event Partner should be the only one connecting devices to the Web Server

Logos

A quick reference guide to using logos in Tournament Manager and at an event.

Tournament Manager has the ability to customize the Audience and Pit Display screens with graphics provided by an Event Administrator. This feature is commonly used to place the logos of event sponsors on the screens as a method of recognition for their support. The feature is not restricted to sponsor logos and could be used, for example, to place a custom event logo on the screen.

To access and use this feature:

Select Tools > Options > Sponsor Logos
The Sponsor Logos Setup screen will appear which has 2 sections,
- Large Sponsor Images
- Small Sponsor Images

Select “Add” under the appropriate section and browse to find image(s)
Entire folders can be uploaded using the “Add Folder” button
Select an image in the box to preview

Large Sponsor Images

The Large Sponsor Images section is used to load larger graphics and logos which will be shown on the Rankings, Schedule, and Logo screens. In each of these screens, the logo will be included in between the scrolling information. Graphics should be 1000 pixels wide. Graphics larger than 1000 pixels wide will be scaled to fit, however smaller graphics will not be enlarged. The graphics can be of any height, however 200 pixels tall or less will appear the best. Anything taller than this will be on-screen for a lengthy period of time which will interfere with viewers' ability to see the desired rankings or scheduling information. Images should have either a white or transparent background for best appearance.

Small Sponsor Images

The Small Sponsor Images section is used to load small graphics and logos which will be shown on most of the display screens in the upper-right corner. Graphics should have a size of 172 by 100 pixels. Anything larger than this will be scaled to fit, however smaller graphics will not be enlarged. These images should have a transparent background for the best appearance.

Multiple Divisions

A quick reference guide to running an event with multiple divisions.

Large events may wish to split the participating teams into multiple divisions. When an event is split into multiple divisions, each division plays a complete tournament including qualification matches, alliance selection, and the elimination tournament. After all divisions complete their elimination tournaments, the winning alliance from each division enters into another elimination tournament which will determine a winning alliance for the overall event.

Tournament Manager supports two methods for running multiple divisions:

The first method is to run all the divisions completely separately and import them into a single Tournament File once each division finishes its elimination tournament.
The second is to configure and run both divisions from a single Tournament File. With this method, all divisions must be networked together and they all connect to a single Tournament Server.

The first method is preferred because it reduces the networking complexity and isolates each division such that a problem with one does not affect the other.

Note: VIQRC divisions are handled differently than V5RC divisions. The rankings for all divisions are combined and a single set of Finals matches are created for the top teams in the combined rankings.

Using Multiple Tournament Files (Recommended)

To set up a tournament with multiple divisions each in their own Tournament File:

Create, configure, and run each division as if it were a standard single division event containing the teams for each division.
After finishing the elimination tournament for each division, determine which divisional Tournament File you will use for the event finals and copy the Tournament Files from each division to that computer.
Import each division's Tournament File using the File > Import Division menu option in the Main Window.
After importing each Tournament File, select the File > Create Playoff Tournament menu option in the Main Window; this option is used to create a playoff tournament from the winning alliances of multiple divisions.
Select "Create New Division" from the "Division for Playoff" dropdown and give a name for the new division.
Select each division in the dropdowns then click the "Create Bracket Playoff" button. Restart the Tournament Manager window and select the new division.
- The elimination matches for the new division will be automatically created and the elimination tournament can be played normally until a winning alliance for the full event is determined.
Tip: make a copy of all divisional Tournament Files before beginning the import process. If there is a problem with the import, it is important to have the original copies of the Tournament Files.

Using a Single Tournament File

To set up a tournament with multiple divisions in a single Tournament File:

Choose the Large Event/Expert option in the Tournament Setup Wizard. This will enable the Division Setup page later on in the wizard.
On the Division Setup page, use the dropdown to choose the number of divisions that will be present and provide a name for each division. Division names will be used throughout the tournament on Audience and Pit Displays as well as printed reports.

After the Division Setup page, the Team Setup page will be next. With multiple divisions enabled, the Team Setup page will look slightly different. Two new options: “use single list for all divisions” and “use separate lists for each division” will be present.
- If “use single list for all divisions is chosen”, provide one team list to Tournament Manager and Tournament Manager will randomly split that list into separate team lists for each division. Create individual team list .CSV files for each division if specific division assignments are desired and use the separate lists for each division option. On the next wizard page, provide the team list or lists required based on your choices.
Continuing through the Setup Wizard, you will eventually come to the Schedule Setup page. This page is the same page that is used for a single division tournament with an additional area to control which division is assigned to each field set for each schedule block. Configure your schedule block start, end, and cycle time just as you would for a single division tournament. Before clicking the Add button, make sure that the division assignments for each field set is correct. You can click on the division name underneath each field set to get a dropdown menu where you can choose any division. This feature can be used for a lot of flexibility when setting up an event. For example, if you have 2 divisions named Engineering and Science, and two field sets named Main Arena and Side Arena, you can have Science play on the Main Arena field set and Engineering play on the Side Arena field set in the morning and then schedule a different block for the afternoon where the divisions switch and Engineering will play on the Main Arena and Science will play on the Side Arena.

Once finished with the wizard, the main Tournament Manager will start. However, before the Main Window opens, you will see the Select Division dialog. Each Tournament Manager window can only access one division at a time, so you must select which division you wish to access here.

Use separate computers for each division, and when starting up Tournament Manager for the additional division make sure to connect them to the first division's Tournament Server by filling in the Remote IP and Password on the Connect dialog. There will only be one Tournament Data File and therefore only one Tournament Server for the whole event.

At this time each division should be set up and ready to begin. Play through each division just as you would for a single division tournament until winners (for V5RC) or final rankings (for VIQRC) for each division have been determined.

The steps to create the finals tournament differ between V5RC and VIQRC events.

For a V5RC or VURC event, select the Matches > Create Playoff Tournament menu option in the Main Window; this option is used to create a playoff tournament from the winning alliances of multiple divisions. Select "Create New Division'' from the "Division for Playoff" dropdown and give a name for the new division. Select each division in the dropdowns then click the "Create Bracket Playoff" button. Restart the Tournament Manager window and select the new division. The elimination matches for the new division will be automatically created and the elimination tournament can be played normally until a winning alliance for the full event is determined.
For a VIQRC event, select the Matches > Create Finals Matches menu option in the Main Window; this option is used to create the Finals matches using the combined rankings from all divisions. The Finals matches will be created in a new 'Finals' division. Restart the Tournament Manager window and select the new 'Finals' division. The matches will be under the 'Finals' folder in the match tree.

Using Tablets for Inspection

Initial Requirements

The tablet must be connected to the same wireless network as the Tournament Manager (TM) Server
The tablet must have a web browser installed
Whoever is operating the tablet must know the (TM) Server IP address
- Find it in TM by going to “Help > Get IP Address”

Create an Inspector Password

This can be done either:
- During the initial TM setup, or
- Tools > Options > General
If you do not enter a password, this will not work

Establish Connection on Tablet

On the tablet, ensure you are connected to the same wireless network as the TM Server (wifi settings)

Access via Web Browser on Tablet (Chrome recommended)

On the tablet, open a web browser and enter the TM Server IP Address

This image shows the resulting screen when you connect successfully

Inspector Log In on Tablet

Log in as Inspector by clicking the person with an arrow to the right pointing down, and select “Inspector” from the drop down list
Use the Inspector Password previously set up in Tournament Manager

Navigate to Inspection on Tablet

Once logged in, use the menu button in the upper right corner to bring up different options, then click on the “Inspection” button

Begin Inspection Process

You are now ready to start inspection! Use the drop down menu to select a team, and click the checkboxes for each rule the robot passes. A team can partially complete inspection and then pick up where they left off later.
The bottom of the list has a final drop down to indicate a team has passed and a place for the team and inspector to digitally sign the inspection form.
“Saving Changes” will save the form and return you to team selection.

Once inspection is done, log out, close the browser, and use the VEX TM Mobile app to repurpose the tablet for Skills Challenge or Qualification Match scoring!