Orienteering for the next decade

[Angry Haggis]

... A full results data base which doesn't disapear 6 months after the race...

The problem with this is that there are several results software applications in use.

The output format of each is different so would not fit into a central database format very easily.

In some countries only one event management package and one electronic punching system (SPORTident or Emit) is used. It is very easy then to have central data storage and presentation. We missed out on that by not officially endorsing a single system at the beginning (I'm not saying that was wrong).

if SPORTident/EMIT results systems outputted the results in the IOF XML Data Standard (maybe they do already?) and event organisers made this available, then would this go some way to addressing the problem?

Details on the standard are at http://www.soenniksen.dk/iof-datastandard/index.shtml although it doesn't look like it's been updated for a long time.

[Paul Frost]

That's the problem, they don't.
Auto-O-Download does but OE2003 doesn't.

There can be problems with the IOF XML standard as well. I seem to remember having an issue with using an XML output from Aut-O-Download into RouteGadget and the way the date/time was defined didn't match.

As you say the IOF XML standard website looks a bit old.

[EddieH]

If my memory serves me correctly BOF spent vast amounts of money tendering for and ordering a major events results service. This went to an outside company and was so poor that hardly anyone wanted to use it. I believe that Mike Napier tendered for this and didn't get it - however he went ahead anyway and now provides his services at most major events.

If this is complete rubbish please reply.

As similar thing happened in my local education authority where over £1m was invested in a schools computer system which turned out so slow and unfriendly that the schools voted with their brains? and didn't use it!

[Big Jon]

I had to chuckle when I read this:
"Mapping can now be done by clubs on computers"

well - I've yet to find a computer programme that can map an area - maybe they can help in the cartographic stage but mapping is much,much more than merely cartography (nice though it can make a map look). The real guts of an orienteering map is the survey - and despite great advances in computing nothing does this quite as well as Joe Blogs Orienteer plodding around in the sun, rain and mud, getting sweaty, cold, pestered by flies etc