CDE Software: From the desk of Lance Rasmussen

That old trusty computer still works.  It has Windows 98, which is simple and seems to do the job.  Not much is really used on the computer, except for checking some emails and running your leagues.  Life is good, right?

Well…  Unfortunately technology is progressing and along with that, many software companies are now faced with decisions on trying to spend resources on keeping the applications workable on older systems or cut them loose and make things easier to develop new features with more freedom.

Microsoft, in 2005, finally phased out all support, security updates and patches and the majority of technical documentation for Windows NT, which was primarily used in the corporate world.  This was long replaced by Windows 2000, which was replaced by Windows XP Pro.   Now, the current major operating system for businesses is Windows Vista Business.

In 2006, Microsoft finally threw out Windows 98 out with the bath water as well as Windows Me (to which many in the support fields nicknamed Multiple Exception fault).  Windows 98 and Me were geared more towards regular individuals and home users.  While Windows 2000 was a choice, Windows XP Home edition became the logical replacement for Windows 98/Me.   Now with Vista out, you have several choices to choose from.

One of the biggest improvements with XP and Vista is the core is built on a very solid foundation that is universal.  Windows 98/Me had a major different core than Windows Windows NT and Windows 2000.  Whats this mean to the average Joe?  Reliability and more applications that are compatible.

Should you go run out and buy Windows Vista?  No.  You don’t need to shirk away from Windows Vista either, but Windows XP should be the bare minimum you are using at this point.

With new viruses coming out and the imfamous loads of security holes found daily in prior Windows versions, Microsoft essentially is now devoting time to patching up XP and the new Vista, to which there are many fewer “holes” (at least so far).

Some of the technology used now by software developers have now phased out Windows 98, Me and NT.  Windows Installer technology, which has become the leading technology used to install software on computers has come out with newer versions, at the expense of incompatability with older systems.  Internet Explorer technology now is at version 7.0, which can only go so far back.  .NET technology programs now are using version 2.0 or 3.0, which can not be installed on older Windows.

Speed of computers have changed so much now that you can easily go out and spend a small amount on a new computer that may have last years technology that is good enough. 

 Hows this relate to CDE Software products?  For the past couple years the tools and code design of our products allowed us to install and operate close enough to the intended design.  While we don’t support the older operating systems, it may work.  As new products roll out, support for Windows installations prior to Windows 2000 will be discontinued.  We’ve finally reached a point where we can no longer hold back features just for the few (less than 1% of our survey base that used Windows 98 or Me).

If you are an individual league secretary, then its time to go shopping.  If you are a bowling center with an automatic scoring system, you should contact your scoring company and research options in obtaining another networked computer with XP Pro or Vista Business on it.  In most situations, if the scoring system computer that the CDE products are on (or other modern Windows applications) can not be upgraded to Windows 2000 or newer, then usually they can stay as they are and you just network a new computer in.

Usually once or twice a month, I get asked if a league secretary can bring their league to the center so that you can send the rosters to the lanes.  The answer, generally is yes, but I thought I would explain a bit more on how to let league secretaries help make your job as center league processor easier.

First off, its important that both you as the center and the secretaries are using the most recent major version of BLS.  Each year, around August, we release a new major version of BLS that integrates various new features, improvements and support for that season’s USBC, CTF and TNBA rules, membership applications, certification application and award detection and printing.  Whenever possible, make sure that the program has been updated to the most recent minor version (update) available as well, so that you program has any issues or changes resolved since the program was released.

The center will normally have the A/S Edition (automatic scoring) of the software, whereas secretaries will have either the Standard or Pro editions.  The data from the same major version of BLS can go between these three editions very easily and there is no need for secretaries to purchase the A/S edition to interact with the center.

To exchange data from one location, to the other involves a simple process.  From the origin computer (secretary) use the backup league feature.  Save the backup onto removable media, such as a floppy disk or USB memory device.  On the destination computer (center), do the opposite and use the restore league feature.

This whole process can be done in reverse if the center has a league and you want to give it to the secretary.

A couple things to keep in mind.  If you are just making this a “one way” trip, then generally, thats all there is to it.  But if you plan on making a round trip, such as importing scores from the scoring system and then bringing that back to the secretary, then you need to “play ball”.  What do I mean by that?  When you hand the ball off, which in this case is the center, then the secretary should not make any further changes to the league, or they will become lost when the league is restored back from the center.  Normally this isn’t a problem, but if you have some last minute financials to enter, then you need to hold off until the league comes back.

Microsoft Office, face it, is one of the top tools needed for most day to day business when using the computer.  While Office provides a great set of tools (depending on the particular edition of Office you purchase), what if your pocketbook has some other plans?

Sun Microsystems, who is the main company behind the Java computer language, has backed a product called Open Office, which is… FREE.   It is very robust and continues to get code contributions from Sun and others. 

Visit OpenOffice.org and download the software.

One of the features that CDE has had for a few years now, is remote technical support.  This feature allows us to view and control your desktop to see what you see and help assist you.  This requires that the computer with the CDE product be connected to the Internet.  Due to slow speeds, we prefer that your connection be broadband or faster.

cnet recently posted a great article talking about the importance of remote support at http://tinyurl.com/2qc8a8

We have found this tool to be really usefull when sometimes things can not be duplicated or hammered out over the phone.

Most, if not all autoscoring manufacturers prohibit the connection of their scoring system network to the Internet.  Why, you may ask, are they that picky?

 Well…  really it’s a simple reason.  Viruses.  Can you really blame the manufacturers?  Do you really expect them to fix the problems (on their dime, not yours) because you or an employee checked their personal email at the center and clicked on a file attachment called “Ha Ha Ha”?

For the most part, there is little reason why a scoring system network needs to have access to the Internet.  However, there are some things beneficial to having the Internet, such as remote technical support or uploading league standings to LeagueSecretary.com (for free and sanctioned/unsanctioned leagues) or Bowl.com.  Also getting program updates is handy as well.

To upload leagues, we have an alternate solution available in the form of a special licensed copy of BLS.  As always, each computer a CDE product is installed on must have a unique license and serial number (and for the most part, most other programs from other companies do too).  This special license can be used to install BLS on a computer that is outside of the computer scoring network, but still in the bowling center.  A league is simply backed up from the scoring network version of our product and transported via USB Memory or other removable media and then restored on the Internet computer.  From there… upload the league.

This does give you an advantage of having another computer with a backup of your league in case of a hardware failure. 

Also, the Internet enabled computer can download updates to the CDE (or other) products and saved to USB Memory or other removable media and installed on the scoring network computer.

 Some centers who are savvy enough and have invested in technology and anti-virus protection have connected their systems directly to the Internet.  Should you do the same?  I would strongly encourage you to contact your scoring system and find out the ins and outs of warranty and other things that could be effected by that decision.  These centers understand the risk and have taken the appropriate precautions to justify paying for a support incidence related to viruses.  In the mean time, this workaround generally will make the scoring manufacture happy and still allows you to connect your center to the information super highway.

Did you know you can make a copy of your league to begin preperation for next season, while keeping the previous league for reference and history purposes?

This can be done two ways.

• From inside of the league, select menu K10 (Mid-Season, End-Season > Make Copy of League For Next Season), select the options that apply for your league and click OK.  Enter a file name for the copy of the league and give it a different name than the original. 
• From outside of the league, select menu B11 (League and File Maintenance > Copy BLS-2007 League To Somewhere Else), select the league and click Copy A League.  Enter a file name for the copy of the league and give it a different name than the original. 

Generally I recommend naming league files something logical.  So if if the league is for the Sunday Mixed, I would call it SUNMX08 for the 2008 season.

As fall leagues have come to a close, it is a good time to take the opportunity to do some spring cleaning.

Your front desk typically will display a list of all the leagues available to send out to the lanes for that week.  Once the season is over, it is nice to remove the leagues so that only current leagues display.

While each scoring system may differ, the principle is generally the same.

1. Check to see if you have a Delete League feature in your front desk software to remove the league from the list.  Don’t confuse this with your CDE product’s Delete League feature. 
2. If not, try clearing out all the export files from the directory your CDE product is pointing to on the front desk / server and then re-exporting the leagues that are still currently bowling.

Another important thing to do is to insure you have made backups of your leagues / tournaments in the CDE products you use.  They should be saved onto removable media in case a hardware of operating system failure occurs.  Its always a good idea to periodically make a second major backup that can be stored off premise in case of theft, fire or other damage.