ComToFile.exe

Brian,
Can you be more specific on "What menus" and I'll try to translate. I've used Com to File fairly often with S4 and timy's for data dumps. Some of the commands are for sending "dump All" memory.

Jim

The COM to File program will basically "record" the net times coming from the TDC 8001's display board output at 2400,n,8,1

The bibs and times are dumped in an excel file that can then be cut and pasted.

PST also markets an excellent "time trial" software package called TT*ware for this purpose.

I am sure there are several ways to accomplish your goal. The one that we have been using with fairly good success is as follows.

We receive the runtime input via cable from timer to serial port on the computer as each skier receives a runtime. That time goes into an "input" page in our excel spreadsheet and then is automatically fed over into the timing spreadsheet with skiers information. Information such as class, name, team, posted start time. The nice thing about excel is that you can tailor it to meet your needs with respect to information required. The comtofile may work for this, we havent tried it. We use a winwedge file, software by Taltech.

Just on my lunch break so this will be quick.

Jim - The S4 commands are numbered 80 to 9A and are in German. I can translate them using an applet I found on the internet but I was hoping there was a file/list ?? that I could plug into the program or just print off as a reference that lists the english equivalents. (the applet conversions are literal and sometimes confusing. ex: from the TDC_Menue_DUE.txt file it converts "PT Strafzeit" to "PT Term in prison")

FKP - I was able to record the bibnos and start/stop times from the display as we (tried to) simulate a race. However, I was also recording a lot of extra info such as times with no bibno and basically any key that was pressed. I would like to just read the bibnos-start-(lap)-finish times. I believe this is stored in the 8001 memory and I thought that would be the best place to access it. I was hoping to then simply write a macro (or VB script) that would organize the results on the spreadsheet.

rmcquade - Yes, that would work for me also. Do you automatically post the timing spreadsheet to a display monitor? I will check winwedge later this weekend.

Thanks for the quick responses. They are VERY much appreciated. I will keep you posted as to how this works out.

Brian

quote:

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by: Jim Karnes

Brian,
Can you be more specific on "What menus" and I'll try to translate. I've used Com to File fairly often with S4 and timy's for data dumps. Some of the commands are for sending "dump All" memory.

Jim

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Hi Jim

Is there a command that will read intermediate times? I want to run programm(1)-SPLIT with groups in the Alge 8001. I am using two photocells, one for finish and one for intermediate (actually lap times). The times for the second photocell are displayed on the timer as they occur but I cannot retrieve them either from timer keyboard or the laptop. (runtimes are retrieved ok) Do you know which command with S4? Or even if these times are stored in memory on the 8001?

Thanks

Brian

Brian,
The way I figured out the Com settings was to look at the manual for the S4 where it lists the Control Codes in the back (page 56 in version E94-12-12). From here I could see the number codes but don't need to understand the german discription.

85= Output of memory
84=memory output in blocks
95= clear memory

I'm not sure how the 8000 handles the Intermediate times, but should store them in at least a TOD/Channel impulse (probably not useful for you). I think it might be addressed if you select "klassement" but I don't have an 8000 here to try. This would be a question for The Fred or Alge directly.

Don't be sure the 8000 stores intermediate TODs. If the BIB number is set to the finsh, and you are using the 8000 to time intermediate times in a ski race. Elapsed intermediate times are printed and recorded, and sent as output, not TODs.
Jordan

Hi

Busy week but I managed to spend some time last night with the 8001 and I believe I have everything I need. ComToFile works great but I do wish they would translate the sub-menus. I was able to find a translation for the main menus by simply replacing the text files TDC_Menue_DEU.txt and TDC_Classemnet_DEU.txt with English conversions. One other nag about the program! It saves the data to both an Excel file and a txt file. The data in the Excel file is stored in a single column so I normally edit the text file ( by removing the Alge logo etc.) and then import it into Excel. This way I can order the data into columns (bibno, run time, group). Again, a small complaint.

I found the easiest way to acquire the data was to input the commands directly through the 8001 keypad and use ComToFile to capture the output as it goes to the 8001 display. I have start times (group), finish times (TOD), run times as well as intermediate times. (I can still request the info from my laptop but since it is connected to the timer with a 6 ft cable I can reach the timer's keypad without even leaving my seat.)

Jordan: You are right in that the intermediate times are stored as elapsed times, not TODs.

Thank you all for your helpful replies.

Brian