courses without separate descriptions

[pyrat]

When running at for example a relay event when there is no separate control descriptions provided you have to unfold the map regularly to check your codes and spend time memorising control codes in advance.

The memorising game is good fun, and often people get it wrong and mispunch. But I dont think its necessary. Can we change the standards to print the control codes directly onto the map.

eg. for a control #1 code 138 reads 1-138. This is done substantially elsewhere but is not very common in UK.

Why is this? And can we change the standards for simplicity?

Cheers,
P

[redkite]

Sounds good to me.
downside - would it clutter the map?

[harry]

nah it doesnae really clutter the map, it's all in all a good thing. tiny kids courses might get a bit cluttered though.

i think that and also reflecs on controls at night events are two things that should become standard in the UK. they happen everywhere else, why not here?

[Guest]

Presumably at the moment this would have to be done manually. There is nothing built into OCAD or Condes software to do this automatically.

Touching on another thread - more room for mistakes to creep in, and what if the number on the front of the map was wrong but the control description on the back was correct. Would that be valid reason to void the course (or take the leg times out)?

[Nails]

I happen to know someone who had a problem at the test race -they were reading the code and not the control number and so navigated to the wrong control, but the code was right...
First time i saw this was at o-ringen.... at the time i thought it was good, but it means you look less at the descriptions..... personally i like to look at the description as well as the code.

[Ed]

I'm sure it was in the course-setting module of OCAD8, and I'm definitely sure it's in the OCAD9-beta. I'd be surprised if it wasn't in the latest CONDES as well, since I doubt everyone who does it is doing it manually!

Assuming it's all done automatically and everything generated from the same database at the same time then there's no reason for errors - and if there are any significant ones then of course the course should be voided!

[Guest]

Its standard in OCAD8 course setting - Courses - Options - then tick the "Print Control Codes" box. Its as easy to do it as not.

Tried it at an evening event a couple of weeks ago. Most people liked it, some weren't bothered but no-one was against it provided there is enough space on the map. There usually is - you just need the same attention to detail thats involved in cutting control circles for example.

[redkite]

just checked on OCAD 8 (happen to be doing a small course for tommorow) and you have an option - 'print control codes' that does the trick

Looks fine

[Stodgetta]

OCAD 8 does it fine. I use it all the time for Chasers training and have been doing so for the last 2 years or so. There have been no complaints, and it's something I would love to see in competition, especially for relays etc so you don't have to unfold your map to check descriptions every few controls (and every time you forget in between!).

[LostAgain]

Agree with putting the control number on the map.

Only reservation is whether on small areas with 20+ controls that it becomes cluttered. Many CC events using SI get the most out of the area by sending you around it 2 or 3 times, this would probably look a little cluttered, easily overcome with back to back maps, a marginal increase in cost.

[Rich]

I had thought of doing this for the JIRC relays but decided against it as the map was cluttered already. I like the idea and think this is something that should be used more.

[Guest]

Sounds like a great idea.
The cluttering could be a problem though, and this is likely to be worst on the junior's White and Yellow courses which is precisely where it would be of the biggest benefit.

Will OCAD let you print the control code in smaller text than the control number ? This would make it fit on the map easier, and make it obvious which was the control number and which the code.

[Rich]

No I don't think thats possible. It's Relays where it's needed most yet this will be where it's most likely to clutter the map due to spectator controls and loops.

[Guest]

junior's White and Yellow courses which is precisely where it would be of the biggest benefit.
.

at the o-ringen a couple of years back a junior of my acquaintance mis-punched on a control listed as 7 - 575. she was horrified and a very obliging official checked her card she had punched control 757 (an identical adjacent path junction) even he thought it rather unfortunate! but on the whole we liked the system - just needs a little care to avoid such a confusion!

[AndyO]

I just checked my version of Condes (version 7.4.21) and you can print number and code on the map.

Select print:courses, click on settings, then on course overprint tab, then number format. You can choose from a menu including number and code of control. The number appears in a smaller font size than the code, but I guess that may adjustable elsewhere.