RDSS non-responsive workaround

[Ted Craven]

Several people have written me today that RDSS is often slow or non-responsive today, or intermittently responsive. This is because TwinSpires tote servers are slow today (from time to time) in processing responses when RDSS hits them for data (tote, scratches, changes).

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EDIT July 25, 2020 - This information has evolved and the best and apparently always successful workaround is discussed in this post later in this Thread. Feel free to read through this thread if you like, OR -- go immediately to the END and find a proven solution.

HERE: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=128942&postcount=71

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(Following, is the original post.)


The best solution right now is to disable tote data within RDSS. This issue has been discussed many times before. The following is from an email and Private Message I just sent to a few people today:

---------------

If Tote is Enabled in RDSS, TwinSpires being sluggish today is slowing RDSS down.

Disable Tote access within RDSS: http://www.paceandcap.com/forums/sho...&postcount=251 (http://www.paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=121829&postcount=251) To summarize:


1. In the Configue Tab, open the Config Editor by clicking the Edit Configure File button.

2. Find the [General] section. Look for the following line somewhere BELOW the line beginning [General]

Tote_enabled=0

3. If that line already exists and perhaps reads Tote_enabled=1 (because you did this before), make sure it ends with =0 If the Tote_enabled= line does not exist, please add it: Tote_enabled=0 This setting DISABLES tote flow from Twinspires within RDSS. (=1 or absent means Tote Enabled, =0 means Tote Disabled).

4. Save the Config File, then close it, then restart RDSS.

5. Processing will then be peppy.

We know this is due to TwinSpires because even with Tote Enabled (Tote_enabled=1, or when that line is absent) often RDSS responds smoothly because TwinSpires tote servers are normally and speedily accessible.

Please remember to reset Tote to Enabled (Tote_enabled=1) if you want to get tote data within RDSS. There will be a checkbox on the Configure screen for this next update.

Sorry about that ...

Ted

[57viking]

Ted, any other suggestions? This did not fix it for me.

[carl153]

RDSS stoped working at around 10am pac. time.
Already had the Tote_enabled=0 in.

carl

[Ted Craven]

I am stumped. I hope it is temporary.

I tried this solution on 4 separate computers where I have RDSS installed (all Windows 10). With Tote enabled, response was sluggish to unusable on each one. With Tote disabled, responsiveness was normal.:confused:

One person wrote me that disabling tote did nothing, but when he refreshed his Registration (on Registration Tab, clicked on Update Registration Info button) then restarted RDSS, the non-responsiveness went away. I can't see why that would do ANYTHING. But last I heard he was happy :confused:

2 other people wrote me that disabling tote did nothing for them. Then again, last month, someone tried a solution like that but it turned out they had mis-typed the Tote_enabled=0 instructions, while another person put it not in the [General] section.

If you have tried the above recommended solution and it didn't work, please email me as an email attachment your Configure File to support@sartinmethodology.com. The file is named c:\rdss2.1\Configure\Configure.ini in your Windows File Explorer. I will check any files I receive to make sure the Tote_enabled instructions are entered correctly.

I would like to hear from anyone who is NOT experiencing this problem today, either with Tote enabled or Disabled. This would prove that the problem is NOT just a RDSS problem, but something else (Windows update, internet connection, intermittent TwinSpires server problem, regional access to TwinSpires :confused:, moonbeams ...)

Ted

[carl153]

Thanks Ted,
Moved Tote_enabled=0 to General section and works find now.

carl

[Ted Craven]

Thanks Ted,
Moved Tote_enabled=0 to General section and works find now.

carl


:thumb: That's great Carl, thanks for reporting on that!


Ted

[bet2windo]

Ted,
update registration seems to make rdss more responsive

[Ted Craven]

Thanks Bet. Several other people have written me reporting that refreshing the RDSS Registration solves this issue.

I admit I don't yet understand why doing this would have any effect, but then I don't understand why the problem occurs anyway and also why - for some people - turning off the Tote system also does not work .

To refresh the RDSS Registration on your computer(s) - on the RDSS Registration Tab, click the Update Registration Info button. For good measure, then restart RDSS.

Ted

[Ted Craven]

To summarize possible steps to take to solve the 'non-responsive message' in RDSS.

1. Refresh your RDSS Registration by clicking the Update Registration Info button in the RDSS Registration Tab. Then restart RDSS. If this solves the 'non-responsive' message, you don't have to try the 2nd point below.

2. If the above did not work, turn off the tote system in RDSS by the steps described in the 1st post above (http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=128333&postcount=1).

3. Though it probably does not affect things UNLESS your computer is getting quite low on disk space, you can also clean out the Tote Cache of stored tote data by going to the following Folder, then deleting it:

c:\Rdss2.1\Data\Tote\

In other words, in your Windows File Explorer, navigate to Drive C, then the Rdss2.1 Folder, then the Data Folder. In the Data Folder, see the Tote Folder. Delete this Tote folder. DO NOT DELETE THE WHOLE DATA FOLDER!

DO NOT DELETE THE WHOLE DATA FOLDER!! Only delete the Tote Folder within the Data Folder.

This will free up sometimes a LOT of disk space. If you were quite low on disk space, it may have been affecting how speedily Windows reads and writes files to this area and other areas RDSS uses. If you have only been using RDSS for a short while, this will not really be an issue. (RDSS will recreate a new empty Tote Folder when you restart RDSS)

Ted

[elocutionist]

Ted, I have done all your fixes and still have the problem on both my desktop and laptop.
The tote has been disabled on my laptop for over a month, this new problem started yesterday.
Phil

[royal]

All the above effort are still not solving my problems.

[Bill Lyster]

same with my setup on this side of the continent.

[Blueken555]

I'm afraid I am in the same boat. Unresponsive

Best
Ken

[Bill Lyster]

I deleted all the Tote info and restarted the program only to lose all the BPP info! I added back the tote line to =1 in the hope of redownloading the BPP info, etc.

fun day

[Bill Lyster]

Was able to get the PL and BPP info back by reinstituting the tote. Still takes for ever to move from horse to horse or screen to screen.

[ignacio todoberto bernal]

just for the record,RDSS is not responding! i will proceed with fixing instructions.,,,,,lets see what happens..................ignacio

[Ted Craven]

Thanks for all the feedback folks.

Here is a (not really satisfying) workaround I have tested, suggested by new user 57viking (thanks!):

- set RDSS for Tote access OFF (Tote_enabled=0) per instructions above

- except for Downloading data from TrackMaster, use RDSS with your computer's connection to the Internet switched OFF. To do this, if you have Windows 10 or 8, click the Windows Notification area lower-right of your screen, find the Network tile, then identify your wired or wireless internet connection. If your internet connection is over a wireless network, click that connection then click Disconnect. If the connection is a wired connection (network cable connected to a router), just unplug it from your computer. If you are using an older version of Windows, try the Network and Sharing Center, via the Control Panel. (OR - turn your internet router OFF and ON, though that seems like a 'brute force' solution.)

- make sure you are connected to the internet to Download then Convert data in the Data Centre (TrackMaster and also TwinSpires data if you use it).

- if you make use of TwinSpires data (Profit Line / Prime Power), assemble races while connected to the Internet. If you don't use TwinSpires figs in RDSS, close RDSS before assembling your races to handicap.

- disconnect from the Internet, then start RDSS.

- assemble your races or if already assembled, proceed to handicap your races.

To summarize this (admittedly clunky) workaround -

- set RDSS Tote_enabled=0 (tote access OFF)
- download data with the internet turned ON
- handicap races with the internet turned OFF
- if you use TS figs (PL/BPP), assemble races with the internet turned ON, then restart RDSS with the internet turned OFF to handicap

:(:mad:

I am concluding so far that this still has something to do with RDSS accessing TwinSpires, despite turning tote access off. Some page that RDSS hits now does not respond, or responds only slowly, most likely the periodic request for scratches, changes and available tracks. For over a year, I have presumed that the TS page providing changes, scratches, etc is unchanging otherwise TwinSpires' Mobile site would not work (https://m.twinspires.com), and in fact it still DOES work fine, but just this week seems problematic WITHIN RDSS (not in a browser).

I am doing testing in the software code to troubleshoot and will respond here as soon as I have a resolution.

Comments appreciated about if the above workaround suggestions are usable (if inconvenient).

If anyone wants a refund on TrackMaster data for cards they feel they cannot work (i.e. for non-unlimited accounts), I have alerted them to this situation and they are expecting any requests. Just write to info@trackmaster.com and identify your account and the card you want refunded.

Again, very sorry about this string of events. I'll report back as soon as I can!

Ted

[bet2windo]

works almost as good as before after deleting...c:\Rdss2.1\Data\Tote\

[Ted Craven]

Well, glad to hear that Fred! It was probably good to clear out that folder anyway.

However, early morning June 27 (looking at Hong Kong), it looks to me like the issue with hitting the problem page at TwinSpires has gone away - regardless of Tote enabled, or content of that full Tote Cache folder. It looks like they simply made a change in their server for the past few days, and now it's back to what it was.

Let's see in the morning and during the day's races tomorrow. I will be testing with Tote enabled and will report here. Meanwhile, I made some changes to the RDSS code to try to get out an emergency update if necessary. Let's see this weekend.

Ted

[Blueken555]

Morning,

Running fine for me this morning.

Best
Ken

[Dorianmode]

Things appear to be working now. Both my desktop and laptop were basically unusable yesterday. They improved a little with the fixes. Today they are both fine.

[rmath]

I downloaded a few tracks and assembled them and then I ran GP and CD
for today and so far everything is running smoothly.
For now the problem appears to be fixed.
Rmath

[Ted Craven]

Thanks guys - I appreciate the reporting. I also have been testing RDSS on a few computers this morning and the past few days seems like a dream. All is back to normal so far (as of about 1am this morning, it seems).

With tote turned off (Tote_enabled=0) everything is smooth, and with tote turned on as well (Tote_enabled=1, or that line absent) - no slow downs either. Let's see about tote flow closer to race time in a few hours.

I still did a bunch of programming last night and consulted some tech support for my software tools and have some solutions to stay ahead of this issue, and better - make it a moot point.

Very sorry for the issues the past 2 days.

Ted

[bet2windo]

i worked CD yesterday and LS today without slowdowns.

[elocutionist]

No slowdowns today, even with the tote turned on.
Phil

[Ted Craven]

Thanks again guys! I also have seen no slow-downs with or without tote running. Still vigilant though ...

Ted

[ignacio todoberto bernal]

tote turn on and all is well.......................
ignacio

[Ted Craven]

I have received several reports today July 17 about RDSS again being non-responsive, apparently the same behaviour as reported earlier in this thread.

Haven't duplicated that yet on one of my computers (just worked and watched the Saratoga opener) but I am investigating and will report here.

Ted

[kevbrim]

I'm having issues. But my internet provider is up/down all morning. So I'm waiting for a stable connection.

[Ted Craven]

I can confirm (and duplicate) that the current RDSS version 2.1.049.11 is having these issues again today :(.

This appears to be the case regardless of whether you turn off the Tote system. As before, the issue is that RDSS periodically reaches out to TwinSpires to fetch the current track list, MTP and any race changes (Scratches primarily) and sometimes TwinSpires' server rejects responding to that request. During the time of that non-response from TwinSpires, RDSS 'spins its wheels' - literally with the spinning 'non-responsive' icon. It does this independently of the tote enabled/disabled setting (i.e. you can't turn that off).

Last time, this behaviour went away after about 2 days. Now it seems to have returned. I have addressed this in updated code, however I am not yet in a position to issue a general update.

Best advice so far - if you experience this behaviour, first turn off the Tote system in RDSS (see Post #1 (http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=128333&postcount=1) in this Thread). If this has no effect, I can only suggest trying to persist through the RDSS non-responsiveness behaviour. If that doesn't work, you can write to Trackmaster for a refund of the card file (info@trackmaster.com).

This vulnerability to TwinSpires server to sometimes reject RDSS' check-in for Scratches/Updates can only finally be solved by a RDSS software update - which I am working on.

Ted

[kevbrim]

Ted, just PMed you.

[57viking]

I had the issue and was able to make it go away the same way as last time.

Disconnect internet
Hit update registration
Connect internet
Hit update registration

No idea why it works, but it worked twice today.

[Ted Craven]

I had the issue and was able to make it go away the same way as last time.

Disconnect internet
Hit update registration
Connect internet
Hit update registration

No idea why it works, but it worked twice today.


After you disconnect from the internet, when you hit the Update Registration Info button, do you not get an error message? If so, do you then close RDSS, reconnect to the internet, then restart RDSS then again hit the Update Registration Info button?


Or do you not get an error message the first time?


Ted

[RichieP]

I had the issue and was able to make it go away the same way as last time.

Disconnect internet
Hit update registration
Connect internet
Hit update registration

No idea why it works, but it worked twice today.

worked like a charm! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! Yes I did get the error message first
Richie

[57viking]

Ted, shutdown RDSS and restarted. It was non responsive. This time I kept the internet connected, but hit the update registration button and the responsiveness issue went away again.

Hope that helps

[Ted Craven]

Ted, shutdown RDSS and restarted. It was non responsive. This time I kept the internet connected, but hit the update registration button and the responsiveness issue went away again.

Hope that helps

So, it sounds like you're saying: if you encounter the non-responsive behaviour in RDSS, simply refresh the RDSS Registration by clicking the Update Registration button. No need to disconnect from internet then reconnect to the internet. Correct?

Essentially (until this is no longer an issue) - start RDSS, refresh the Registration, then start using handicapping. Is that about right?

Richie - I confirm that 57viking's advice works: responsiveness restored by refreshing the Registration.

:confused::confused::confused:

Still studying this, and why the solution works ...

Ted

[royal]

This fix is working.

[57viking]

Ted, you are correct.

[thebear67]

Hope this is fixed soon.I do not have the ability to disconnect anything without
doing the same with the tv(I have att u-verse).RDSS is so slow that I have to use the task manager to disconnect it.

[Ted Craven]

Hope this is fixed soon.I do not have the ability to disconnect anything without
doing the same with the tv(I have att u-verse).RDSS is so slow that I have to use the task manager to disconnect it.

Bear, I agree this is so very frustrating :(:mad:. Are you saying that the solution suggested above to simply Refresh the RDSS Registration when starting RDSS does NOT work for you, like it has worked for those reporting above (and to me privately)?

Apparently, no disconnect/reconnect to internet is required.

Further, regardless of how your internet connection is related to your TV, how does internet get to your computer? Is it a physical wire which plugs into your computer? If so (despite the above note about apparently NOT having to disconnect form the internet), simply pull the internet cable out of your computer to disconnect. If it is instead a wireless connection to a router or tvset-related set-top box, but none-the-less not wired into your computer (wire-less), simply disconnect your computer from the wireless network. In Windows 10, click the Notification Icon lower right of Windows screen (or search for Wireless Connections), select the Network box, find the active wireless network, click on it then choose Disconnect. That should remove your computer's connection from the internet.

Regardless, (since you did not mention it) please let me know if the suggestion to simply Refresh the RDSS Registration does not work for you.

Thanks,

Ted

[sureshotlink]

Hello Ted,

Hope all is well.

None of the recommended solutions have improved the issue for me.

Respectfully,

Paul link

[Ted Craven]

Hello Ted,

Hope all is well.

None of the recommended solutions have improved the issue for me.

Respectfully,

Paul link


Sorry to hear than Paul. Until this resolves by itself (like last time) or until an update, can you perform your RDSS handicapping with your computer disconnected from the internet? Not ideal, of course. But the best advice I have at the moment if the Refresh Registration suggestion does not work for you.

Ted

[Ted Craven]

In general, I'm having difficulty understanding why the Refresh Registration solution works fine for some people (the majority who have reported in) and not for others. I certainly accept that that solution seems to NOT work for those who have reported it. But I don't understand the difference :confused:

To repeat: a temporary solution for some has been - open RDSS, go to the Registration Tab, click the Update Registration Info button, then start your handicapping.

Ted

[darmar]

Hey Ted FWIW when I just run RDSS alone it seems to remain stable but when I start another program along side the unresponsive issue comes back again
Darryl

[rmath]

Ted , I have been having the same problem as Sureshot for the last couple of days now.
I have tried all your suggestions but nothing seems to work.
I will try disconnecting from the internet and will see what happens today.
Rmath

[DaveEdwards]

Hi Ted,

I had the anticipated issues and so reregistered on RDSS to no avail.

I was able to download Sat & Sun cards for SAR no problem. I then disconnected the internet, but encountered a further issue. There was a system error. I have taken a snip and include. Whatever I do it then leads me to having to close RDSS

[DaveEdwards]

And now it's working following another reregister whilst online.
Swapping between horses is labourious, but changing pacelines whilst remaining on the same horse works fine.

[gandalf380]

Dave:

That error #2 you get is from starting up RDSS without being connected to the internet.

Ted:

I don’t know if is related or not but I occasionally start RDSS and it Is unable to find my registration. It treats me like a brand new user with a 30 day limitation and I have to run the registration again.

[DaveEdwards]

Thanks for the shout on that!

[The Pook]

To maybe confuse things further I haven't had any of these recent issues with tote disabled. Mac/Parallels/XP.

Pook

[clore1030]

I knew that if I did a search on "not responding" that someone would have a suggestion. I was getting the error message with each mouse click

57viking probably saved several laptops today.

[thebear67]

Hi ted ,

Same as Dave Edwards.I get an error message when I try to access a card.

ERROR NUMBER 2
error tex =full object reference at line 28 in functionor get
race changes of object n adw bris_window /menu/object=adw_bris
error objrct/control=n=adw=bria,
error object control=adw_bris,
script=of get_race changes,
time in script=28


I previously updated my registration to no avail.

[The Pook]

To maybe confuse things further I haven't had any of these recent issues with tote disabled. Mac/Parallels/XP.

Pook

No. Actually it is slower and buggier than usual. Before an hour ago I noticed nothing different.

It is now slow.

Pook

[barb craven]

RDSS started being unresponsive about an hour ago. After reading this thread, I restarted it and went right to registration and hit the update tab and all is well again with tote working. Curious.

[Ted Craven]

So many different scenarios, people getting opposite responses from the same circumstance and same workaround. :confused::confused::confused::confused:

All from RDSS trying to periodically hit this TwinSpires link (https://m.twinspires.com/php/fw/php_BRIS_BatchAPI/2.3/Cdi/IntegratedScratch?username=iphone&password=ru13juhyo&ip=10.20.2.248&affid=2800&affiliateId=2800&output=json&&track=SAR&type=Thoroughbred) (e.g. for Saratoga) to fetch scratches and changes, which it has done happily for a few years, and which periodically fails (for some but not all people).

If other more nuanced workarounds com up, I will certainly post them here. And I am seeing how I can expedite a software update.

Ted

[The Pook]

For those of us not interested in tote action or being connected to live racing in any form, is there a piece of code that we can amend, like the tote disable code, so that this rogue server doesn't interfere with RDSS?

So we can start it up and use it with no internet once you have downloaded the track master file. We would then scratch horses on our own and when a race is made official the screen you are in doesn't scramble.

You know. Until a stable update.

Pook

[Ted Craven]

Hi ted ,

Same as Dave Edwards.I get an error message when I try to access a card.

ERROR NUMBER 2
error tex =full object reference at line 28 in functionor get
race changes of object n adw bris_window /menu/object=adw_bris
error objrct/control=n=adw=bria,
error object control=adw_bris,
script=of get_race changes,
time in script=28

I previously updated my registration to no avail.

As Charlie mentions above responding to DaveEdwards, you get this message on the race day if you are not connected to the internet. (A cascade of problems because of trying to disconnect from the internet to solve the slow-down problem).

If I can make any consistent sense of why some people can use the Re-register workaround successfully and why others can't, I will certainly post and explain it.

Again, in the meanwhile trying to fix this, if anyone wants a refund for the day's card, please write info@trackmaster.com. (Or if anyone wants a refund for RDSS, just email me).

Ted

[Ted Craven]

For those of us not interested in tote action or being connected to live racing in any form, is there a piece of code that we can amend, like the tote disable code, so that this rogue server doesn't interfere with RDSS?

So we can start it up and use it with no internet once you have downloaded the track master file. We would then scratch horses on our own and when a race is made official the screen you are in doesn't scramble.

You know. Until a stable update.

Pook

Short answer = no. The code sending RDSS periodically to that TwinSpires server for scratches/changes is not user amendable (unlike the Tote enable/disable setting). Hence a software update, with all those user over-ridable settings included (and the issue of hitting that TS scratch/changes URL overhauled).

Sorry ...

Ted

[57viking]

Just to clarify .....you need to go through the procedure of hitting the "update registration " button every time RDSS shuts down or restarts or the problem will return.

[Ted Craven]

Thanks for the re-re-iteration.

...

To repeat: a temporary solution for some has been - open RDSS, go to the Registration Tab, click the Update Registration Info button, then start your handicapping.

Ted

Yes - every time you start RDSS, please. I don't understand what that Re-registration process might be doing which soothes the troubles hitting TwinSpires. But please try it every time - (if you are encountering the 'non-responsive' problem).

Ted

[Dorianmode]

Thanks Theodore and Barb.
That worked.

[thebear67]

Everything seems to be up ,and running now.I get no more error messages ,and t is responsive.

[Bill Lyster]

It worked for me when I hit the registration button yesterday, but some races did not show the BPP info even after the restart. Some races did and some did not even on the same race card.

I can live with that, in any event.

[mnl97]

RDSS was having issues yesterday too. I did the registration thing and it worked for a while and I do it again. I kept getting a gray screen after making a selection and then it would crash. "Sometimes" if I waited long enough the gray screen would disappear allowing me to continue on. I'm no expert but could rdss be crashing due to a time-out (data not arriving fast enough).

Regardless of the crash, rdss has been very slow like something is overloaded.

I don't think the internet is a problem because I stream video on my computer all the time.

Does rdss have this problem when there aren't may people using it?

[Ted Craven]

I hear it reported that the Re-registration workaround works for some, and not for others. Or works for a while, then not.

I will presume that (for those experiencing ANY slowness) people are first clicking the Update Registration button EVERY time they start RDSS, and when they first start it - before moving on to handicapping.

When it works fine for a while, then resumes being sluggish, close RDSS, restart it, re-register it, then resume your work.

I know, not satisfying! Short of waving a magic wand (mine's in the shop :(), I have no other workarounds to suggest at the moment. I am sorry.

As mentioned earlier, working on an update as fast as I can ...

Ted

[Ted Craven]

RDSS was having issues yesterday too. I did the registration thing and it worked for a while and I do it again. I kept getting a gray screen after making a selection and then it would crash. "Sometimes" if I waited long enough the gray screen would disappear allowing me to continue on. I'm no expert but could rdss be crashing due to a time-out (data not arriving fast enough).

Regardless of the crash, rdss has been very slow like something is overloaded.

I don't think the internet is a problem because I stream video on my computer all the time.

Does rdss have this problem when there aren't may people using it?

Yes, as described earlier, RDSS is timing out when waiting for a response from the TwinSpries server on its periodic requests for scratch/change info (which the user cannot switch off, unlike the Tote enabled/disabled setting). This problem occurs for some and not for others (as reported above, and in emails). But of the many thousands of hits per minute that TS server is receiving, if ALL RDSS users hit it in the same minute (this never happens), it would be a drop in the bucket.

That's not the problem. Though if people keep suggesting their various ideas or combinations of workaround ideas, I will try to get to the bottom of it while I work on an update.

Also - if anyone is RELIABLY and CONSISTENTLY having no issues with RDSS slowness or is successfully using the re-registration workaround - would like to contact me privately, I would be happy to try to understand what is unique about their setup while others continue to have problems (presuming those having problems are actually following the workaround instructions correctly).

"Ted: why don't you just issue an update and be done with it!? :mad:"
"Me: as soon as I can."

Ted

[mnl97]

We appreciate you Ted. You have a tough job. There would be no RDSs without you.

[Ted Craven]

Hi Ted,

Did you take out my previous post?
I agree if so, not pertinent to this issue, but I have realised the cause.
When assembling all races the entry screen issue is caused on the races where RDSS stops the race assembling. When you click assemble to continue it carries on from the next race. Don't bother replying to this, I know you are busy. Just following up on yesterday if anyone else was wondering.


Dave, yes I did move it - to the Bugs List: starting here: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=128821&postcount=337


I added a post addressed to you, so you should have received notice of it, that your posts had moved, for the reasons given (different topic). I'll get to it as soon as a few other fires are down to a dull roar today ;).


(And soon, I'll move this reply there too, to keep this Topic clean for those still trying to figure out how to get their RDSS back working normally).


Ted

[Ted Craven]

We appreciate you Ted. You have a tough job. There would be no RDSS without you.


Thank you Michael. It keeps me on my toes ... :eek:

Ted

[DaveEdwards]

Hello all,

Opened RDSS and reregistered. Download this weeks FL cards.
Assembled today's card.

RDSS is working perfectly. No issues whatsoever. Not sure whether this is relevant or not, but it did say no toteboard connection.
Time used was 2:35pm BST which is 5 hours ahead of NY time.

That's all folks!

[Ted Craven]

This post is a 'landing zone' where I can refer folks (e.g. by email) to the workaround solution to the recently occurring 'non-responsive' issue.

The Workaround:

(Note: you must be using the current version of RDSS: V2.1.049.11. If you are using an earlier version, you should update now to the current version (click the RDSS Icon upper-right corner of the website. This workaround does not work on earlier versions).

IF you are experiencing RDSS to be running very slowly, or if the 'spinning wheel' or Windows 'non-responsive' message appears -- THEN every time you start RDSS please re-register it by going the Registration Tab and click the Update Registration Info button. Then - DO NOT EXIT RDSS, rather just continue straightaway with your handicapping, or downloading/converting Tasks then assembling new race cards.

If you close RDSS or if crashes for some reason, when you restart RDSS, you must again re-register RDSS as described above, before starting your handicapping - otherwise you will continue to experience the 'non-responsive' slow-down problem.

According to the posts above in this Thread, and in my own experience and in numerous email correspondence, this solution almost always works. If not for you - after carefully checking you have followed the above advice - please contact me and I will do my best to help you.

As discussed earlier in this Thread, this problem occurs when RDSS attempts to contact a TwinSpires server periodically to fetch Scratch and other Race Change info, but new recent behaviour from that server is that the request is never fulfilled and RDSS stalls while waiting for the response until a timeout. For some (as yet unknown :confused:) reason, re-registering RDSS first (each session) resolves this problem.

This will require a software update to fully resolve, which I am working on as fast as I can. I will inform everybody when that update is available.

-------
Updated -- October 6, 2020

In the past few weeks, RDSS access to live tote data, scratches and TwinSpires figures ProfitLine and BRIS Prime Power - has stopped because TwinSpires modified its website without notice. Not only RDSS but other software accessing these data have been affected.

There is more discussion about this latest issue further along in this Thread.

I have managed to resolve all these stability issues (and more) in a significant update planned for RDSS before the end of October. I will advise all RDSS users by email and also here on the PaceandCap website about the update.

Thank you all for your understanding!

-------
Updated -- October 27, 2020

All these issues have been fixed and will be available in the update available by October 31, 2020 or earlier. Please check this thread for progress: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=13314


Ted

[Old Arkie Gal]

If you have a fix for this before the update is ready, I sure would love to get it. I don't use RDSS as much as many users do, but I do find that this non-responsive thing is extremely frustrating. Sometimes it elicits a few cuss words not as moderate as swear words.
Good luck and good progress!
Pat

[Ted Craven]

If you have a fix for this before the update is ready, I sure would love to get it. I don't use RDSS as much as many users do, but I do find that this non-responsive thing is extremely frustrating. Sometimes it elicits a few cuss words not as moderate as swear words.
Good luck and good progress!
Pat

Pat, is your experience different than what's reported by other users who use the workaround? Namely: after starting RDSS, you have to wait for several seconds while the wheel spins, then when it stops, go to the Registration Tab and click the Update Registration Info button. Thereafter, all is normal.

Is it that initial delay that elicits the cussing, or does something cuss-worthy still happen after that?

This workaround IS the fix, before the next update!

Ted

[Old Arkie Gal]

Yes, I use the workaround, but it sometimes it works for a period of time and stops then I have to go through the process again.
Pat

[Ted Craven]

Sorry to hear that Pat. :( At this time, I don't have any other workaround to suggest which works for an entire RDSS session.

Ted

[dlivery]

After downloading woodbine was a complete No Response.
No internet conection

[Ted Craven]

After downloading woodbine was a complete No Response.
No internet conection


OK, tell me more ...

[dlivery]

I will document the next Wood bine test

[Ted Craven]

Hello Folks, as many of you will know from emails and conversations, I am planning on an initial update to RDSS - RDSS2.2 - sometime before the end of October, earlier if I can.

At the very least, the initial update will cover the recent 'not responding' problem discussed in this Thread, as well as several other stability issues, a few of the worst bugs and more documentation. After that, I plan updates much more frequently over the coming several months than have appeared over the past year.

In case anyone is still unaware of the workaround to the 'not responding' issue, it is summarized in this post earlier in this Thread: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=128942&postcount=71

I appreciate everyone's patience recently. RDSS will have a long future yet and will continue to be a spectacular tool for implementing the Sartin Methodology to profit in betting at the races.

Ted

[papajohn3times]

Well Ted
I did buy a new computer but as my grandson advised, I only us it for RDSS !
I still get the no response message but the work around works great. But when I switch to another track, I have to do the process again but no big deal for me!
Papa John


Balance of discussion on betting moved to a separate thread: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13264

Leaving this thread for comments related to RDSS workaround.

[Ted Craven]

John, if you start RDSS again to switch to a different track, you will have to re-register again to apply the workaround.

But you don't have to restart RDSS to move to a different track. Just open the different track in the Race Cards by Date Sidebar list without restarting RDSS. If you must restart RDSS for some reason, always re-register (until the update comes).

Ted

[barb craven]

I'm not getting Profit Line, Prime Power or the tote, no matter how many times I start it , restart it, (using the work a round every time), assemble, re-assemble, try different tracks. redownload the tracks ( unclicking and reclicking 'don't duplicate tracks)'. I've run out of ideas. Anybody else had this problem lately?

[MJS6916]

I'm not getting Profit Line, Prime Power or the tote, no matter how many times I start it , restart it, (using the work a round every time), assemble, re-assemble, try different tracks. redownload the tracks ( unclicking and reclicking 'don't duplicate tracks)'. I've run out of ideas. Anybody else had this problem lately?


I cant get ProfitLine & BPP either

Mike

[Ted Craven]

Agreed :(:confused:. No idea why ... I will look at it as soon as I can.

New version (next month) works fine.

Ted

[Mitch44]

Barb I've had the same problems and have had to quit using it. Nothing but an exercise in frustration and a negative influence to my handicapping procedures. Even if the new version were to arrive tomorrow I'll be in a holding pattern until it proves itself. Typically fixes haven't lasted and some of these problems have been ongoing for at least 2 years.

As a loyal customer,not being a priority has been a stretch too long and this customer has decelerated to a complete stop. Like tracks there are other courses of action. Excuses only benefit those who make them.

Mitch44

[rmath]

You can get the Profit Line ratings on Twinspires and the BPP ratings if you download the Bris PPs.
It is a little more work but it resolves the problem.
You will also get false ratings on the RX screens.

I have had
to do this for the last few days.
rmath

[Lt1]

I've just started getting the problem today. Rich has given out the only option available at this time. If using his 4 number approach you have to make your own updates manually.
Tim

[57viking]

For me , it was working yesterday afternoon , but not in the evening . The issue continues today .

[57viking]

You can get the Profit Line ratings on Twinspires and the BPP ratings if you download the Bris PPs.
It is a little more work but it resolves the problem.
You will also get false ratings on the RX screens.

I have had
to do this for the last few days.
rmath

Are all the Rx ratings incorrect or just Rx3 ?

[Ted Craven]

Are all the Rx ratings incorrect or just Rx3 ?

Just Rx3, which includes ProfitLine. Rx1 (includes Morning Line) and Rx2 (includes double dose of CR+) are fine. It's the ratings from TwinSpires and tote flow which seem to be f@cked, causing users of the 4 Factor style method to have to look elsewhere for BRIS Prime Power and ProfitLine ratings.

I'll post here if I (or others) come up with any workarounds for this latest issue ahead of the planned (later) October update.

Ted

[Ted Craven]

It has been brought to my attention that other software which also accesses TwinSpires to fetch tote data - for example the well regarded ATRPro tote analysis program is now also offline.

Apparently TwinSpires changed some of the API links used for tote on Wednesday. TwinSpires has no contracts or obligations to provide any of this data to any software like RDSS or ATRPro - and they can change and BREAK anything at any time and have done so many times in the past. Unlike TrackMaster/Equibase with whom I have a longstanding contract for data access which is guaranteed to work or be fixed when it doesn't.

Doc Sartin's software offerings did not use any tote data or TwinSpires ratings and despite that, everyone is here to day because of the strength of that Methodology. I understand that many people (not all) value some of the new stuff we get from TwinSpires.

An important change to the upcoming RDSS release later in October will be to insulate RDSS stability from whatever changes TwinSpires may make: you will always be able to TURN OFF completely any TwinSpires data access (e.g. tote or BPP/PL ratings or scratches/changes) and retain complete stability of the rest of RDSS. Further, small changes to web API links will be stored in a RDSS config file which you can update yourself without a whole software update, and eventually the software will self-update stuff like that. Again, more stability, less reliance on Ted.

Fortunately, the upcoming RDSS still works fine for fetching tote, scratches and BPP/PL ratings (MTP is a bit screwy):

49412

I know for some of you, the forgoing is just another set of excuses. I accept that. That is my excuse. I could have solved many other things by now. I have my excuses for why not - perhaps another time. Do not believe me about an immanent RDSS update - believe it when you see it and when other people report that such and such problems are fixed. That is a fair approach to take, IMO. I will continue anyway to check off the 1000 details involved in the grand renovation I've been making to RDSS the past year+ and to deal with ever new bumps in the road.

Meanwhile, for those of you who do NOT rely on any tote or TwinSpires ratings for your handicapping (i.e. the Methodology Doc Sartin and Jim Bradshaw left us with) - continue to apply the workaround described in this Thread to fix the 'non-responsive' error and cash the mutuels some of you have been reporting. Or if you do use TS ratings (BPP/PL) as Lt1 and rmath have suggested, just get them from public TwinSpires sources. (And feel free to comment on whether you think it is a good and valuable thing to get that data - and correctly - automatically into RDSS, via programming magic).

The only other excuse I've got today is that I am away from home until Oct 3, on the West Coast of Canada (Vancouver Island) buying a home to move to soon. My focus is a bit multi-tasked at the moment. Plus I dropped my email tablet computer and that is now a bit flakey, as is intermittent internet access. If I don't respond to you as promptly as you'd like, try sending me a Private Message here.

End of excuses for today. Enjoy the weekend of racing!

Ted

[Lt1]

Anything that gets the winner in the top 5 90% of the time is indeed valuable imo. However if you can't get them I would suggest using the top 5 m/l [plus ties]horses as a viable alternative.
Tim

[So Cal Al]

Ted: Just a note! Was able to download BEL, but after several attempts I cannot download DMR card Al Borgerding

[SCSAYS]

I think the Del Mar meet is over and Santa Anita is racing.

[So Cal Al]

You"re right. Got lured into thinking DMR was open by a promo on TVG

[barb craven]

I just found out today from Pat, Old Arkie Gal, that you can get both PL and PP from TS. PL from either Basic or Angles and PP from Class.

[Lt1]

Hi Barb. Be careful with the BPP ranking from the new classic screen. The often show ties and when there are ties they rank then according to m/l odds which makes them questionable at best but better then nothing. Richie M has pointed this out to TS but got nowhere.
Tim

[barb craven]

Hi Tim
It's not in the classic, it's in the basic. Pat says she's been using this since it first changed to check on the numbes in RDSS. Have you looked at that?

[Lt1]

What TS does is rounds the numbers off ie 109.2,109.6 109.9 are all shown 109.0 so they are off no matter what but still if it's the only thing you have then just be aware they off.
Tim

[So Cal Al]

Ted: You continue to do a great job. I still remember the early Sartin days when it took me about 8 hours with the DRF to handicap a full card.

[carlous21]

Hi Ted

Does anyone Have issue with the no tote connection ?

Carlous

[MJS6916]

Hi Ted

Does anyone Have issue with the no tote connection ?

Carlous

Yes I have that issue and I think everyone has since Thursday.

Mike

[Dorianmode]

RDSS sure works slick and fast with everything disconnected. :D

[raceman5]

So let me get this straight. When we download racecards we don't get the bris prime, PL, and tote? Not that I care because I am not a big fan of either. So now I can download my cards the day before. I am sure Ted will have this fixed in due time.

Bob

[MJS6916]

whether we have a use for tote, BPP, or Profit Line or not.......
.....we can still download the PPs as soon as they’re available.
That hasn’t changed.

Mike :)

[raceman5]

But the following day you will have to rework the races if you want PP and PL

[MJS6916]

fair enough.

Could be I’m too old school.
Usually PP & PL wouldn’t change my
contender-picking process,
I when I have the chance to
handicap days before.

I heard until this gets resolved
the RX3 readings will be off.

Mike :)

[gandalf380]

I have found that for the major tracks rx1 is as effective as rx3.

[57viking]

One other issue , is scratches do not automatically come in . The need to be manually made.

[Ted Craven]

Raceman - Bob, ProfitLine (PL), Prime Power (BPP) tote data, scratches/changes have come from TwinSpires - for free, the day of races (not the day before).

RDSS, like an other software can access this data by simply knowing how to do it (knowing the back-end programming API) BUT access is not guaranteed by contract so if TS changes anything which they do from time to time without notice, then that data goes missing.

RDSS does get Past Performance data from TrackMaster/Equibase, sometimes several days ahead of time. You can download it as soon as it shows up in the Data Centre. If you want to also make use of PL, BPP you have to download that the day of the races - when I get it reinstated sometime next month.

57viking - yes, scratches and changes also come from TwinSpires (right now), so that is also missing and must be entered manually.

gandalf380 - Charlie, yes I also find Rx1 (with a Morning Line component) works well at major tracks (with more competent ML makers).

I am still on the West Coast of Canada until the weekend and really only able to respond to emergencies. Plus my email seems to have crapped out so, again, any urgent issues - please send me a Private Message here.


Ted