Welcome!
Hello and thanks for using this software to plan and judge your Rally-O event.
Since this software is implemented using MicroSoft Excel , you'll need to know how to navigate
the way Excel does. If you're not familiar with Excel, some of the ways for editing text may seem
confusing to you. If so, seek out someone who understands Excel.
If you use Excel, but have never seen a workbook with the background grid and column/row markers
turned off, don't fear. The cells are all still there, you just don't see them as separate blocks.
Try using the arrow and Return keys to see how they behave.
What this software does:
It makes sure that you use the right signs for the course.
It makes sure that you don't use too many stationary exercises for your course.
It makes copies of the signs and connectors between them, so that you don't need to
spend time searching for the signs.
It makes sure your course begins with the Start sign and ends with the Finish sign.
Since most signs can be used only once and some signs may be used twice, it makes
sure that you don't use any sign more than allowed.
It allows you to easily Add, Change, Delete and Rotate individual signs.
It moves the signs into an approximate position. You need to fine tune from there.
It moves the numbers into position.
It creates a VRML file, so that you walk or fly thru your course in Virtual Reality .
What this software doesn't do:
It doesn't evaluate how easy or difficult your course is.
It doesn't make sure that your exercises have enough room between them.
Directions
1. Go to the Courses tab and press the button to add a new course.
2. Fill in the pop-up box with the information about the Rally-O event.
This will create a new Course Map tab in the workbook.
If you select the checkboxes at the bottom, the software will also create tabs for individual
scoresheets (the JudgeSheet tab) and a summary score sheet (the JudgesBook tab).
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4. Press the Get Signs button on the course tab.
- This will validate that you used the proper number of stations, you used the
proper number of stationary exercises, and that you didn't use too many
or the wrong kind of signs for your event.
- The software will then copy in each of the signs for
your course, along with connectors between each sign.
- The Editing Tools will appear. This will
give you the tools you need to Add, Change,
Delete and Rotate individual signs.
5. Move the Start sign onto the course, in the position you want your
course to begin. Then, rotate it the Start sign into the direction you want
the course to begin.
Right
- To rotate any sign by 90 degrees, select the sign and press one of the two Rotate
buttons on the Editing Tools. For example, let's say we have a sign that
looks like this. We want to rotate it left by 90 degrees.
Right
Turn
To do so, click on the sign. This will highlight the sign by drawing a series of
circles around the outside edge of the sign.
Then, click on the button with the
counterclockwise arrow on the Editing Tools.
Right
Turn
Note how the arrows stay stuck to the circles
on the sides of the sign.
- To rotate a sign by something other than 90 degrees, you need
a recent version of Excel . Early versions don't have this. When
you select a sign and highlight it with circles around it, the top
Right
circle on the figure is always colored in green. Position the Turn
cursor over the green circle and hold down the left mouse
button. Then drag the green circle to make the sign rotate.
gh
t In doing so, you could end up with a sign looking like this.
Ri rn
Tu
6. Once the Start sign is in position, press the Adjust button on the Editing Tools.
Notice what happens here.
- One at a time, each sign is postioned in the direction that the previous sign
points.
- The connectors are positioned onto the signs consistent with the flow of the
course and the way the sign is set up. The connectors for most signs will
exit from the top, others from the side or the bottom of the sign.
Pushing this button does not guarantee that you'll end up with exactly the course you intended.
But, much of the mundane work is done by the button. What's left is a course that has the signs
lined up in the relative position that you need them.
7. Fine Tune - move each sign into the exact position you want.
- When grabbing a sign, be careful not to select a connector. If you accidentally grab
and remove an arrow from its signs, just drop it and hit the Undo button.
- You can hold down the Shift key, grab several signs at once and move,
say, an entire line of igns at once.
- Pressing the Adjust button may leave some signs on top of each other. You may
need to move some signs to get at others.
8. Rotate any signs that aren't lined up in the same direction as the rest of the signs.
Note:
Some people like the signs to all align in the same direction. Others like to turn the page around
as they imagine themselves going through the course. It's up to you to decide whether to rotate
the signs or not.
9. Most signs should be connected at the correct side. However, a few signs (like the Spirals )
Spiral Spiral
Left Left
Dog Inside Dog Inside
alow you to leave the exercise in more than one direction. You may need to adjust those signs.
For example, change this: Spiral into this: Spiral
Left Left
Dog Inside Dog Inside
How do I do that? (you may want to zoom in on the pictures when working on this detailed stuff.)
Spiral
Left Click on the left arrow and note the color of the circle that
Dog Inside appears on the end of the arrow closest to the sign. If the circle
is red, it is stuck to the side of the sign. When you place the
cursor over the red circle and move the red end of the arrow
close to the sign, 4 blue dots will appear around the sign,
one on each edge. This means the arrow wants .
Spiral
to stick to the edge of the sign. Move the tail of this . Left .
arrow to stick to the bottom of this picture. Dog Inside
Then move the head to the direction that the
course will flow from here.
Spiral
This will give you a sign that looks like this: Left
Dog Inside
10. Use the Add , Change and Delete buttons to edit signs one at a time.For each of these,
start by selecting either a sign or a line in the table to work on, then press one of the buttons.
The Add button inserts a sign before the one you have selected.
The Change replaces the sign you have selected with a new one.
The Delete button removes the selected sign.
11. Once the signs are in position, select the Adjust Numbers button on the Editing Tools.
Note that you can select between either Ovals or Squares around the numbers.
12. Fine Tune - Move each number that may be in the way of other signs.
13. Selecting the Reset All button clears the signs listed in the table and deletes all of the
figures and connectors. Use this to start your course all over from scratch.
14. Copy your club's logo onto the bottom-left region of the page.
15. Press the button to Create VR File. You will be prompted to choose a file in which to store
the course. Open the .wrl file in your browser and use your mouse or the arrow keys to
navigate around the course. Note: To view a Virtual Reality file, you must have installed a
viewer or a browser plug-in on your computer. See
http://www.web3d.org/x3d/vrml/tools/viewers_and_browsers/
for links to viewers and browsers.
16. Print the course map to use for setting up your course and make copies for the competitors!
Or, select File -> Save As HTML… to create a web page of your course.
Chuck Shultz
All material contained within is Copyright, 2003, 2004 & 2005, Charles E. Shultz Jr.
Feel free to copy it and use it for your events. The author can not guarantee the behavior
of the software, and is not liable for any costs associated with errors or problems that it
may create. Use it at your own risk.
If you have any problems, or suggestions on improvements or features, please send me
an email at chuckles@chuckles.net
Useful web sites for Rally:
http://www.akc.org/dic/events/rally/index_rally.cfm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rally-obed/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rally-Course-Design/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rally-chucklescoursedesignsoftware-excel/
Macros
What are macros, anyway?
In Excel, macros are software written in Visual Basic that allow the program to provide automated
features. In this workbook, macros are responsible for everything that happens when you press
a button (sheets get copied, pictures get copied, courses are validated, etc). Some people out in
the cruel world write macros that do very bad things, like email themselves to other people and
destroy all the files on those people's PCs.
Bad hacker-Stay!
This workbook has nothing like it written into it.
Excel provides a security featutre that allows you to stop macros from running. When it does so,
it stops all macros, including the safe ones. Your copy of Excel may be set up to do just that. If
so, you need to reset your security, so that the safe macros in this workbook can run.
Here's how…
Go to the menu bar at the top and click on Tools->Macros->Security. A box will pop up that
has two tabs on it. The tab for Security Level should be showing. It has 3 selections for your
security level (high, medium and low ). You probably have it set to High .
High security means that Excel will disable all macros automatically. Low security doesn't
disable any macros, they are always free to run. In my book, nneither of those are desirable.
Medium security is a compromise. When this setting is selected, then each time you open an
Excel file, it'll ask you whether you want to enable the macros. When you open this workbook,
say Yes, so that the features you need to create Rally courses will work. When you open
an Excel workbook that you're just not sure about, then say No and you won't have to worry about
it infecting your PC.
Please keep in mind that you must set the security level in Excel and then open up this workbook.
If you set the security level after you've opened this workbook, simply close this workbook, open
it back up again and say that you want to Enable Macros . It's quite simple…
Things to Bring When Judging
Course Equipment
(Either You Bring These, or Make Sure that the Sponsoring Club Supplies Them)
-Cones
-Stopwatch, maybe a spare, or a spare battery
-Food bowls, treats or toys, tape to keep the bowls shut
-Signs, including extras of those that can be used more than once
-Sign numbers (1-20)
-Sign holders (22)
-Jumps
-A stand for posting scores
Paperwork
-Paperwork: copies of the Course Map, Judge's Sheets, Judge's Book
-Directions to the Show
-Rule books (Rally and Obedience) and judge's guidelines
-A copy of your contract and any other paperwork you've exchanged with the club
-A tape measure, ruler, and/or a rolling wheel for measuring distances longer than the tape measure
For Outdoor Trials
-Sunscreen and bug repellant
-A hat or sweater, depending on the weather
-Rain gear, if necessary
-Talcum powder or golf tees for marking cone positions
For Indoor Trials
-Nature's Miracle or disinfectant spray (for ring "accidents")
-Chalk, for marking cone positions
Extras
-Extra rubber bands, paper clips, binder clips
-A couple of pens and pencils
-Post-it notes
-Calculator
-Small stapler
-Paperweights
-Kleenex
-Band aids or a small First Aid kit
-Handwipes
-Poop bags
Courses in this Workbook
Version 2,008.02
Number of Stationary
Number of Signs
Signs
Date Event Location Class Level Class Type Judge Event Type Event Number Event Type Level Class Type Signs Min Max Min Max Jumps? Required Signs
Trial Novice A N, A, E 10, 12, 15 15, 17, 20 3, 3, 3 5, 7, 8 A, E
Match Advanced B N, A, E 10, 12, 15 15, 17, 20 3, 3, 3 5, 7, 8 A, E
Show and Go Excellent Rally Pairs N, A, E 10, 12, 15 15, 17, 20 3, 3, 3 5, 7, 8 No
Class Rally T Challenge N, A, E, NR 10, 12, 15 15, 17, 20 3, 3, 3 5, 7, 8 A, E
Clinic Rally T Challenge Team A 12 17 3, 3, 3 7 Yes
Seminar Rally Team A 12 17 3, 3, 3 7 Yes
Rally Plus N, A, E 20 25 3, 3, 3 7 A, E 36