WDC recommended status
scrutelle is recommended by the World Dance Council and has been used recently at:
WDC AL Swiss Open
WDC AL Autumn Star 2011 (Moscow)
The 1st Singapore Open Dance Championship 2011
WDC AL Assen
WDC AL Paris Disney
ABOUT scrutelle Version 8
In March 2011, Estelle decided to implement the WDC method for 10-dance. At the same time we also took the opportunity to improve the ranking information for import into the WDC ranking system
The result was scrutelle-RM, which carries out the following functions
(1) SDC (10-dance) calculations (previously in scrutelle.exe)
(2) Placing and ranking output
(3) Results upload (previously in scrutelle.exe)
This also has the advantage of moving the post-processing functions out of scrutelle itself. Further enhancements to these functions can thus be carried out without the danger of unwanted side effects on the main scrutelle engine
For SDC calculations under the old system as required by BDC, scrutelle V7 has to be used
As the judges see it
Scrutelle provides the adjudicators with a wonderful fail-safe system. The adjudicators' marking sheets for all rounds can be printed with only the numbers dancing in that round in separated heats. This allows the adjudicators the luxury of only having to find the numbers in the heat on the floor and not have to search all over a numbered card to find the number
The Final round simply requires the adjudicators to put a place mark by the side of each number dancing in the final
We love scrutelle!
Marcus Hilton MBE - Chairman Blackpool Dance Festival
Note: In scrutelle-CM this is referred to as the Dynamic Format. The mark sheets are printed after the recalls have been processed and then distributed to the judges before the next round. It requires a 100% reliable printer with backup (and a scrutineer with nerves of steel!)
If you want to use this function, please contact us and we will upgrade your licence file
Ranking Calculations
These are now created in both the Results Module RM and the Competition Management Module CM5.12.5
We now differentiate between placings (which are announced by the compère
after the final of the event and also shown on the scrutelle results pages)
and ranking values
For example
if there is a tie for 5th place in an event, they both have placings of =5
but their ranking value is 5.5
if there is a 3-way tie, all 3 have placings of =5, but their ranking value is 6
In RM they are calculated for the current scrutelle data file
In CM they are calculated for all the events in the current competition
Furthermore the CM version shows the competitors names in the same format as supplied in the competitor file(s) - See details
If Format 4 is used then the output is compatible with WDC requirements
Some Installation problems
All 3 scrutelle programs require updates to the standard system routines as supplied with Windows. This is quite normal with Visual Basic software and up until recently this update process took place behind the scenes. But unfortunately it no longer functions correctly with more recent Windows versions. We therefore now use a different installation procedure
SEE NEW DOWNLOAD PAGE and FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Both CM & RM read and write Excel files, using bought-in software routines. Unfortunately these routines fail if there is an embedded blank in the folder name or filename
It seems that many existing customers were putting their data into My Documents. So when they started using CM & RM they have encountered problems. (CM & RM now check for embedded blanks)
Also storing programs in C:\Program Files under Vista causes problems with the INI file
For these reasons we have now changed the installation configuration so that both programs & data are stored under C:\scrutelle. This also makes it easier to maintain different versions of scrutelle on the same machine (eg version 7 for SDC calculation to BDC rules)
People also had difficulty getting the licence file scrutelle.ini (delivered by email) into the right place, (particularly when they had their file extensions hidden!)
There are also language problems with customers in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Russia, Ireland - as well as Coventry!
So we now use automatic ZIP self-extraction files for both installation and updates
Program Updates
It is not our normal policy to inform customers whenever a new revision is available, because they happen quite often as a result of feedback on very specific issues and constant emails from software suppliers can become irritating
We will inform you of significant updates
If you get a problem running scrutelle programs it is a good idea to download and install the latest version in order to check whether this problem has already been reported and fixed
Also before reporting a problem , please check first under FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When you have got used to a particular version of scrutelle, it is a good idea to save a copy (eg in C:\scrutelle\program\v8.5) So that if the new version works slightly differently, you can go back to known territory
Every effort is made to ensure that new versions are backwards compatible. We will let you know if that is not the case
User Support
scrutelle Version 8.8 now has two new options in the top toolbar menu
PROGRAM DOWNLOAD takes you to the download page on the scrutelle website
SUPPORT can be used to open an on-line support ticket. The SCT/SCX files are uploaded to the support directory on the website. If you have been using CM, then the master XLS file is also uploaded
MY TICKETS lets you view your existing tickets (both open & closed)
A web page is then opened automatically, where you can enter details of the problem you have encountered. You can also use this facility to ask questions about the operation of the programs see example
100% testing of all the software, before release, is not practical as different users use it in so many different ways and the size & complexity of different competitions and the requirements of their promoters vary hugely
So that is why we recommend that you keep a previous and trusted version of the program as a backup, so that you can switch back in the heat of the battle, if you find that a new version does not behave in exactly the same way as before
Work in progress
Current enhancements in hand are
Simplifying data import from promoters. With competitions becoming ever larger and more complex arrangements for judges panels etc this is becoming increasingly important. Sometimes promoters pass information to the scrutineer just a day or so before a comp. This creates a huge mountain for the scrutrineer to climb in such a short time
We are working on a new module scrutelle-PR, which can accept customised plug-ins which will handle competition data from different promoters
We are trying to get promoters to send preliminary data to the scrutineer as early as possible after booking opens, so that the transfer process can be tested in advance
