Excessively long final details...

[Big Jon]

Not wanting to criticise the Northern Champs, more a general comment.


Why are orienteering event instructions so long- the NorthernChamps (for a 2 day event is 11 pages long). Surely standardised information could cover a vast amount of this rather than every event re-inventing the wheel?

[Karen]

And it's worse when final details are in .pdf. In a doc I can just delete all the stuff I don't need and print the important bits. I can't do that with a pdf - unless anyone can tell me how to do it? And yes, I am too old to just read it off the screen and remember it!
Again, this is a general comment, not aimed at the N Champs.

[andypat]

That might be somthing to speak to the guys on oentries (other online entry systems are avaialble). It cant be beyond their IT capacity to create a standard final details section for the organiser to input details such as registration/start/maps etc that might help with standardising this. Easier for the organiser too!

[Scott]

I'm a big fan of having a "key info" box on the first page of the final details for the if-you-read-nothing-else-read-this stuff, such as an exceptionally long walk to the start, no toilets available, high fences must not be crossed, etc.

[GML]

And it's worse when final details are in .pdf. In a doc I can just delete all the stuff I don't need and print the important bits. I can't do that with a pdf - unless anyone can tell me how to do it? And yes, I am too old to just read it off the screen and remember it!

Copy and paste into a new Word document and then delete the bits you don't want in there?

[roadrunner]

Or print 2 pages per sheet (if your eyesight's good enough!)?

[mappingmum]

Hmmmmmm, I'm the opposite. I like as much information as possible so I can be fully prepared and there are no surprises on the day.

[awk]

I like as much information as possible so I can be fully prepared and there are no surprises on the day.

But most of the 'final' details should be standard information which doesn't need repeating.
I must admit, I can never understand how I have been able to go to major events all over Europe, and see, at most, a side of info, but when going to even fairly standard events in this country, we get overwhelmed with (virtual) paper.

[RS]

...and I hate it when final details change after I've printed them off (mentionng no names)

[Karen]

Copy and paste into a new Word document and then delete the bits you don't want in there?

That is what I do, but it does seem to take a long time

[frog]

I prefer them on word so I can cut out the large amount of waffle and just keep travel directions, times and distances and weird terrain / planning stuff.

[seabird]

I only ever look at assembly location and the length of the walk to the start. Both easily consigned to memory. No need for paper. Virtually all other information is surplus to requirements, unless you are new to the sport.

Information about what is out of bounds should always be on the map - and, if remotely ambiguous, also in the start lanes.

[Nimby]

...and I hate it when final details change after I've printed them off (mentionng no names)

I made a similar point in the Southern Champs thread. It wouldn't matter too much if the changes were marked with revision bars or itemised somewhere.

[pyrat]

I prefer events where you can get by without having to read any final details.

[Paul Frost]

I prefer them on word...

Not everyone has Microsoft Word, or the correct version, so PDF's are more universally readable on all computers and mobile devices. Even Word running on an Apple Mac may render the layout differently.

For the Scottish 6 Days we are planning to have the entire programme on 2 sides of A3.