RDSS2 - FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

[Ted Craven]

Here are Frequently Asked Questions - and Answers about using RDSS2. Hopefully they will answer some of yours :)

Feel free to ask 'How do I ...' type questions here. I may 'tidy things up' a bit for posterity, so this can be a concise resource.

Ted

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[Ted Craven]

Regarding the use of the Example Databases, e.g. Sunday April 7th, I am having a problem getting it into the right file for processing. I am assuming that it should show up in the Race Card section?? Would appreciate your help.
Please check out the RDSS2 Getting Started (http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=89812&postcount=4) tutorial video, around the 14:50 minute mark where I discuss and demonstrate using that Database Management tool, and switching among the different Example Databases.


Let me know if that helps!


I plan to make another specific video tutorial soon focusing on using that tool, switching among databases, making new ones, retrieving new samples from online.


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[Ted Craven]

When I Register my existing RDSS account by clicking the Update Button, I only get another 30 days, not my correct Renewal Date - and my NewPace module is not showing up.If you already have an ongoing RDSS Subscription and are Registering this new update, the first time you click the Update button on the Registration Tab, your Status changes to Evaluation (Active) and the Renewal Date is extended for the normal 30 days - no Modules are shown.

To get the Status to be fully Active, the Renewal date to be the correct date and any plugin Modules (e.g. NewPace) to show up - please simply click the Update button again.

If I have never picked up your new TrackMaster account before (e.g. new Evaluation, first time registering) - the 30 days is your evaluation period and the Evaluation (Active) Status gives you access to ALL of RDSS2. As soon as I add your new ID to my RDSS Registration server, your Status will change to Active (i.e. the next time you click Update or check available cards in the Data Centre).

I know - if you're an existing Subscriber, the software should be (and will soon be) smart enough to know you the first time! I'll speak to the programmer ...http://www.paceandcap.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif


The first time you click on Update Registration Info:

http://paceandcap.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=34116&d=136637948734283

The second time you click on Update Registration Info:

http://paceandcap.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=34117&d=136637948734284


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[Ted Craven]

I can't seem to get the horse screen layout to show all 3 panels, like some of the videos.Depending on your screen resolution, you will have room for either 2 or 3 panels (or maybe even just 1 panel on a very small tablet or netbook, perhaps in combination with Windows font magnification settings > 100%).

1024 and higher vertical resolution gives room for 3 panels (e.g. you can include an Analysis panel at the bottom). Example resolutions are 1280 x 1024, 1680 x 1050 1920 x 1080. Some common resolutions have 900 vertical or less, which is not enough to show 3 panels - you'll only get part of the Analysis or even just the Tabs and no numbers. RDSS tries to automatically configure the screen to 2 panels if it detects less than 1024 vertical resolution. If you set the Windows font magnification to higher than 100%, RDSS does get confused at the moment and can try to display 3 panels when there is actually room for only 2, with the larger fonts.

You set the Panel and Tab list layouts in the Tab and Panel Layout tool. Click on the 'gear' icon (the Layout Config Icon) at the right edge of a horse panel to bring up the tool, then choose the number of panels which works best for your screen resolution. You can also change the set of Tabs displayed on each horse PP Panel, as well as their order. The Layout Config Icon on each PP panel controls the layout for that particular panel.

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[Ted Craven]

Using the Database Management Tool, I switched to one of the Example Databases to check it out. When I switched back to my regular database, it was empty - no cards or races were there.

Where's my races? :eek:When you switched back to your regular database, you chose the wrong file. Your Example Databases, both supplied with the software or downloaded later from the website, reside on your RDSS2 Data folder and you likely switched to a file named data.db in that folder, which is empty.

Your 'regular database' however is stored in RDSS Data (i.e. c:\rdss\data), the location for data originally for RDSS1 (V0.99.2), the older RDSS version, and shared with RDSS2. To get your data back, Switch using the Database Tool and navigate the file system from the RDSS2 Data folder to the RDSS folder, then the Data sub-folder and select the data.db file there. That's your regular data.

In fact, it is much simpler to simply leave the database RDSS2 is using as c:\RDSS2\Data\data.db (the empty one) - then exit RDSS2 and move your regular database file (named data.db) from your RDSS Data folder to the RDSS2 Data folder and overwrite the empty one there. Then, ALL your data will be in the same folder and much easier when switching among the various alternate databases.

I made a video explaining that, demonstrating how to create a NEW database, and how to recover from problems if you try to switch to a file which is not a database file (i.e. you won't be able open RDSS2).

Here's the Database Management Tool Video (http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=90092&postcount=6) in the RDSS2 Videos (http://www.rdss2.com/videos-tutorials) section.

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[taxman]

I downloaded Rdss software, sample database and opened account with TrackMaster. The software lists the example database, but I can not show any data from it.


If you downloaded the ZIP file version (i.e. of the 2010 Example database), you have to extract the DB file from within it to your \rdss2\data\ folder. If you downloaded the unzipped version, or any other example database (which are not zipped), it still needs to be present in the \rdss2\data\ folder. Just move it there from wherever you downloaded it

Then, using the RDSS Database Mgmt tool on the RDSS Desktop, switch to that database file on the \rdss2\data folder, then restart RDSS using that database. Races will be found in the PAST section.

[atkinsrr]

At the top right of my BL/BL screen there is a red arrow pointing to the right. I click on it and a window comes up titled 'Export Analysis Data' with several File Format options. Which one do I use?How do I export Analysis Data to Excel for making Decision or 'Factor' Models (Brohamer Models)?
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This is how you export data from RDSS to various file formats for use in other programs. Most people will want to select Excel, the default. If you want Excel, simply right-click on the Export Icon (instead of left-click) and the Excel export file is automatically created.

Excel files are created from the Analysis data and stored in your \Rdss22\Models\ folder. Here is the written and video documentation on exporting data to an Excel file and making Factor models:

Export to Excel

Original Release Notes: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5947
An update: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=89777&postcount=3 (please see point #2)
A tutorial video: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5987


Export to Older Sartin Programs

You can also export to older Sartin DOS programs either raw 3 call format or adjusted 3 call format; programs such as EXDC, Thoromation, Kgen, Synergism 2. If you don't use these programs, you don't need to think about these options.

For Synergism2, here are tutorial videos made by Bill V:

Video #1 (http://www.sartinmethodology.com/video/SYN2_Part1.mp4)
Video #2 (http://www.sartinmethodology.com/video/SYN2_Part2.mp4)

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[Ted Craven]

After trying to switch to a different database using the Database Management tool, I get error messages when restarting RDSS2 and now cannot start it at all!

Most likely, when using the Database Management tool to switch databases, you chose a file which is NOT a Database file (i.e. does not end in file extension .DB or type = 'Data Base'). For example, perhaps you chose a ZIP file downloaded from TrackMaster from the Data Archive (\rdss2\Data\PP\2013\ ...) thinking it was a RDSS database file (they are only 'delivery' files from TrackMaster to RDSS - not databases).

This problem is discussed and the workaround is demonstrated in the Database Management tool video (http://www.rdss2.com/video/RDSS2-database-tool.mp4), at 20 minutes 45 seconds.

In short, open your RDSS Configure file in a text editor (e.g. \rdss2\Configure\Configure.ini), search for the line which begins: DatabaseFile= and change the file named after the = sign to c:\rdss2.1\data\data.db or whichever drive other than Drive C you have installed RDSS2 on). Save and close the Configure file, then restart RDSS2. Then you can try again to switch to a different Database (a .DB file, or Type = 'Data Base').

(Note: in future versions after Beta2.6-02, the software will prevent you from trying to switch to a file other than a proper Database type file.)

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[Ted Craven]

How do I get printouts of RDSS data screens, or make screen captures like I see throughout Paceandcap?

RDSS does not yet have a built in Print button which prints a single screen or a pre-defined collection of screens. Part of the problem is that there is an endless combination of possible screens and orderings - one size would not fit all: some would get too many printouts, some too few or not in the preferred order, etc.

Instead, you can easily create your own customized printout using the following steps:

1. On the RDSS2 Desktop, click the Screen Capture button. This loads a Windows utility named 'SnippingTool.exe' which looks like this:

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2. Minimize this utility then go to the RDSS screen or screens you wish to print. Click on the SnippingTool again in your Taskbar, choose New then create a rectangle on your screen using your mouse. The rectangle is outlined in red. When you release your mouse button, tht area of the screen is copied to the Windows Clipboard and subsequently displayed in a little window for your review.


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3. For each race (or for groups of races) create a blank Rich Text Format (RTF) file using Wordpad or Word, or a Word format file (DOC or DOCX) if you have Word. Open the file then Paste the screen you just captured from the Windows Clipboard to your file (right-click then choose Paste, or just use the keyboard shortcut keys: Ctrl+V).

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Download and use this blank RTF template file (http://www.rdss2.com/pubs/RDSS-Printout-Template.rtf) if you like, or create your own using Word or WordPad (or other RTF or DOC format editor).

4. Repeat for as many different screen captures, in whatever order you need, add notes if you like, then Print the document. Switch to Landscape page orientation if Portrait mode squashes the screens. You can also Save it to a PDF format for sharing if you are using Word, or print it to a PDF document using Bullzip (http://www.bullzip.com) or other PDF printer driver. You could have 1 such document for all races on a card, or 1 document for each race.

5. If the RDSS Desktop Screen Capture button does not properly find and load the Windows 'SnippingTool', run it manually from the Windows Start menu by typing SnippingTool.

6. You can also use other screen capture utilities like Snagit or ScreenHunterFree.

Happy Printing!

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[Ted Craven]

I can't open any of the tutorials. I downloaded them to rdss2 data file. Anyone know what to do?Video Tutorials (http://www.rdss2.com/videos-tutorials) are in MP4 format. Download and install VideoLan VLC Media Player (http://www.videolan.org/) (free) for best viewing results. When installed, VLC will associate itself with MP4 type files. Then all you need to do is click on them to view them.

Also, you don't have to download these video tutorials to the RDSS2 Data folder - they can go anywhere you like, for example your Windows Videos folder. You should download the Example Databases to the RDSS2 Data folder.

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[Ted Craven]

What is the 'Tote Xray' (Tx) readout and what does it measure.Tote Xray is a readout in the Tote group at the right side of each Analysis screen, and on the main Tote Screen for each race.

To activate the RDSS Tote Board, click the Supertote Button on the RDSS Desktop, read the message which appears, then login to the BrisNet Supertote web page presented within RDSS (you need a free Brisnet account via the link provided). Then close the Supertote web page. This establishes a connection between RDSS and Supertote to retrieve odds and pool information regularly. Now, Minutes to Post (MTP), live Win Odds and the Tote Xray will appear on the Analysis screens and various other screens.

In general, Tote Xray measures for each horse the general tilt of monies bet in the Win, Place and Show pools towards the Win pool, then the relative ranking of such tilt for all horses. The horse with the most money distributed towards the Win pool relative to the others is shown as rank #1 and 0.0% deviation from best (it is the best). The other horses are shown as a percentage deviation from this best.

Arguably, this measures relative confidence of certain members of the betting public (perhaps the 'insiders' or perhaps skilled or just 'large' bettors).

The 'xray' part of the idea is that when this ranking diverges from the Win Odds rank, there is extra information (e.g. hidden) revealed by the Tote Xray of relationships between the pools, and between the horses.

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For example, when the betting favourite (i.e. Win Odds rank #1) is also the Tote Xray 0.0% ranked #1 horse, there is no extra information. But when a higher odds horse is ranked Tx #1 - near to post time - there is potentially extra or hidden information. In the above image, the #1 Tx horse was ranked 4th in Win odds at 6-1 (the winner, #8).

One of the original uses of Tx was to Dutch the top 3 or 4 ranks in the Win or Exacta pools for a high percentage hit rate. Where the Tx #1 rank agrees with the Win Odds #1 rank (i.e. the betting favourite), this can point to the horse who should be 'hedged' to get a simple breakeven return or partial loss while preserving the balance of the betting unit for the remaining Tx ranks 2 - 3 or 4. (If your ADW does not enable Dutch calculations in Win or Exacta pools, please read --> this (http://www.sartinmethodology.com/rebate_info))

However, in RDSS the Tote Xray is intended to be used as a corollary to the primary handicapping factors, just like any other supplementary factor - an extra confidence booster or tie-breaker. While the Top 4 ranked Win odds horses win a very high percentage of all races, it is possible that the Top 4 Tote Xray rankings win an even higher percent.

Admittedly lots of money flows late into the pools, and the TX ranks and gaps do fluctuate - however my anecdotal evidence is that the Tx rankings and gaps change less than the Win Odds ranks do between 1 MTP and the Off. And certainly the absolute Top 4 Tx ranks do not change much, so it remains relatively useful in Dutching despite late money flows.

Here is a short previous discussion on Tote Xray: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6257

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[Ted Craven]

Question: When I install RDSS2 the first time on a computer, I get a weird message about 'Unicode Font Substitution' every time - then RDSS loads and runs OK. How do I get rid of it?

http://paceandcap.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=37362&d=1398266808


Answer: Close RDSS2, right-click on the RDSS2 Desktop icon and choose "Run as administrator" from the pop-up menu. A Windows setting re fonts gets made, and the message never recurs. http://paceandcap.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=37364&d=1398268110

UPDATE: Please Note -- it is not recommended to ALWAYS run RDSS as Administrator - just the once to take care of the above message regarding Unicode fonts.



That is - on the Properties window (from the right-click popup menu), on the Compatibility Tab, DON'T check the 'Run this program as an Administrator' box unless you have to in order to get it to work in unexpected circumstances. Running always as Administrator can have the bizarre side-effect of preventing RDSS when minimized to the Taskbar to Restore/Maximize again. Instead you'll need to Close and restart.


Ted
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[Ted Craven]

Q: What do Workout Form Patterns mean?

A: Workout Form Patterns Documentation (also see discussion --> HERE (http://paceandcap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8667))


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FPD - Furlongs Per Day. When there are 2 or more workouts since the last race, and within the past 30 days: count the furlongs worked including the distance of today's race and divide by days since the last race. 1 furlong per day = FPD, less is -FPD, more is +FPD. We're trying to get a coarse idea of how much public work the horse has been doing to return to racing. You can only put so much value in this info - this does not tell us how much private work the horse has done, the frequency, the speed, the pressure during (e.g. working in company, working inside/outside other horses, etc), the distance, etc. Consult other Workout Patterns for some of these.

5f / 6f - 5 or 6 Furlong Workout. The last workout within 9 days of today's race was either 5 or 6 furlongs, an important endurance distance associated with at least a certain degree of fitness, especially if combined with a good Speed Rating and coming at the end of an evenly spaced series of works (see HWL group). If the last work was within 6 days = +5f or +6f. Consider referring to William Scott's excellent book 'How Will Your Horse Run Today (http://astore.amazon.com/sartinmethodo-20/detail/0897091477)', some of which is now rather outdated, but including his treatise on the 5f workout, beginning on Page 42.

SRW - a Short Recent Work between 2f - 4f within 3 to 5 days of today's race

SW - Super Workout. Depending on distance and recency, a designation for the LAST workout within the past 14 days, run faster than a certain time for each distance.

GW - Gate Workout. Within the past 8 days, a workout from the Gate. Extra credit for more recent gate workouts (* ! + modifiers)

HWL1 - Heavy Workload 1. 3 or more workouts within the last 21 days. +HWL1 for 4 works in 20 days or 3 works in 16 days. -HWL1 for 3 works in 21 days

SAR - Heavy Workload 2. Between 4 and 7 workouts since the last race at *regularly* spaced intervals. Extra credit for more workouts.

SCW - Special Condition Workouts. SCW1 - Comparing workout immediately prior to the last race within 60 days to workout immediately following that last race - the latter workout is faster and may indicate that the last race did not adversely affect the horse.

SCW2 - Comparing workouts immediately preceding and following the last 2 races with an out of the money finish (worse than 3rd), the later workout should be faster, perhaps indicating that the previous 2 races also did not adversely affect the horse's condition and it may be ready to offer at least as good an effort today.

SCW3 - the horse had 1 or more 6f or longer works since the last race (within 21 days) and finished in the money (3rd or better) in its last race.
SWG - Special Work Group. Denotes that 2 or more significant patterns were observed, consisting of: FPD, 5f or 6f workout, SRW, HWL1, SAR.

PIW - Progressively Improving Workouts. Comparing the past 3 workouts within 75 days (preferably shorter), each next workout should be run at increasing average speed.

TCW - Turf Course Work. For a horse's first Turf race, its last workout is on Turf.


Adjunct to Workout Patterns themselves are the Workout Rank and the Workout Speed Rating.

WR - Work Rank. A computation based on the average percentile of a horse's workout rank for all workouts in a day (when at least 5 workouts recorded that day), plus furlongs worked and raced - over the past 30 days. A measure of its fitness.

SR - Speed Rating. A rating of workout time, based on a parallel time chart equating times for different workout distances. Speed Ratings of 92+ may indicate the horse is extremely fit and sharp, especially if the workout distance is 5f or longer.

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[highvoltage88]

Q: Whats the difference between the bold odds and the bold underline odds?

A: Bold odds in Past Performances indicate odds of 6-1 or less (likely chance the horse was in the top group, say odds rank # 1-4, which wins ~ 80+ % of the time). Bold & underline odds indicate the horse was the betting favourite.

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[Ted Craven]

Q: After downloading a race card, during the Convert process I get this error message:
Problem during Convert. Could not extract contents of downloaded RDSS PP file [a TrackMaster RDSS ZIP data file - for example: pim20150515.zip]

C:\Rdss2\Temp\RACEDR.DBF did not exist. Please try it again.
A: Almost ALWAYS, this is NOT actually a problem with Converting the file to the RDSS database. Instead, it is usually a problem with your TrackMaster account, such as your credit card expiry date, or your chosen RDSS Data Plan being INACTIVE for some reason. (For example, on the RDSS Registration Tab, if you set RDSS to download against your RDSS PP Only data plan but that plan is INACTIVE on your TrackMaster account page, but your RDSS Bundle Plan (Charts+PPs) is ACTIVE, only that's not the one you are using ... etc).

To confirm this, login to your TrackMaster Account (use the link on the RDSS Registration Tab, or here: https://www.trackmaster.com/cgi-bin/my_acct_entry.cgi). Check under your Downloaded files. If the problem is with your account settings, the race card file you thought you downloaded will NOT show up on your Download List. Simply go to your Trackmaster Contact/Billing Info section and update your Credit Card info (e.g. new Expiry Date), or the My Products Tab and set the required RDSS Data Plan to ACTIVE.

What happens is: the file RDSS received from TrackMaster was an ERROR MESSAGE web page, not a race card file, informing you (if you could only see it) - that there was a problem with your account settings. After the recent TrackMaster website upgrade, the current version of RDSS does not interpret correctly ALL these kinds of account-related error messages. Instead, unfortunately, it gives the above unhelpful message about not being able to treat the file as a normal race card file (because it isn't).

This is fixed in the coming RDSS 2.1 upgrade. Until then, please first check your TrackMaster account, or call TrackMaster and ask them to help you ( 800 321-3343).

Of course, if your TrackMaster account settings are NOT the problem (your credit card is fine, your RDSS Registration page settings about which data plan to use matches an ACTIVE RDSS data plan, and the card file you thought you just downloaded shows as actually having been downloaded on your TrackMaster Download Listing) - then, simply re-download and re-convert the file. Perhaps it got scrambled during the download process (but this is almost never the problem). When you do this - ALWAYS uncheck the 'Don't Duplicate' Task check-box, forcing RDSS to actually do again (i.e. DUPLICATE) a previous unsuccessful download and convert.

If you still need help, just email me (support@SartinMethodology.com), no worries!
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[Alice0607]

Q: What is the Trackmaster RC (Race Dlass )? Can we used this with race RC ranking of the race with RC class for the horse?
How reliable is this indicator?


A: The RC number - Race Class - is supplied by TrackMaster, and is integrally related to their Speed Rating, Pace Rating and by extension, their Daily Track Variant and Inter Track Variant. In other words - every final time related number they create.

Dave Siegel, president of TrackMaster explained Race Class (RC) to me once, but it has faded enough that I should let him explain it himself - which he does in the 37 minute video below.

Essentially - RC is the product of the composite of the most recent final time Speed Ratings of all the horses in the race. Sometimes the RC number for the race (e.g. in the Result Charts or in subsequent Past Performances) will change when horses are scratched - which makes sense for a number derived solely from the final times of the entrants - and not the man-made class levels such as Claiming, Allowance, etc (which might more properly be termed Race Conditions, not Race Class).

When you think about this, it's not surprising that RC numbers derived solely from final times do not strictly match Race Condition levels: final times are at the mercy of so many things including weather, the particular track involved - but probably most of all - the matchup of horses running in any given race (i.e. slow pace, fast close; multiple early runners and a torrid pace - slow close; paceless races etc, etc).

Like any given set of Speed Ratings (e.g. TrackMaster's, BRIS', RDSS' internal Adjusted SRs) - they may differ from each other but they will all be coherent within themselves because each of them uses a consistent (if different) concept and formula. So TrackMaster's Race Class number may not co-relate with Race Conditions, but it measures on a consistent basis at least the recent Final Times of the horses involved in each race.

After all - no one is surprised that any given Claiming $20,000 race at the same track, even on the same day, may run in remarkably different final times.

FWIW, I make almost no use of RC myself, and really have no advice about how best to employ it.

Anyway, here's Dave Siegel. It' fascinating if you can bear with it ...

CGGJdHX4dpQ


Here is a further discussion on TrackMaster's Race Class (RC) number: http://paceandcap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9415

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[Ted Craven]

The following Data Centre Error Message during Convert is in the RDSS FAQ section (HERE (http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpost.php?p=100126&postcount=15)) though some people do not think to look there for help when it occurs. Since about 75% of the tech support I do recently relates to this one problem, I am repeating it here for convenience, with an explanation following.

This means a problem with your TrackMaster account, not with the card file mentioned or with the Convert process. (Please read further, below).

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Since TrackMaster's website upgrade a few months ago, the error messages TrackMaster reports when something goes wrong while downloading data files (all TrackMaster products, not just RDSS) are now being incorrectly interpreted by the current RDSS version (which is about 2 years old). Thus, that version of RDSS cannot now give a correct message to help you solve the problem - instead it basically throws its hands up and says 'there's some kind of problem with a specific file, but I don't know what it is'. That's because RDSS couldn't figure out that the file is NOT a data file but rather an HTML error message file with useful info about the problem.

Here are the types of problems it could be - all solvable by the user: 1. Your TrackMaster User Name is incorrect (as specified in the RDSS Registration Tab)
2. Your TrackMaster Password is incorrect (ditto above)
3. You don't have ANY RDSS data plan (new users)
4. The type of RDSS data plan you selected in the Registration Tab (PP Only or Bundle) does not exist on your TrackMaster account.
5. The selected RDSS plan DOES exist but is set to INACTIVE
6. Your credit card has expired or changed, or was declined (often happens after the end of the month, or after resuming downloads after a break)
7. Some other (highly unusual) unavailability of the requested card file
The way to solve ANY and ALL of these problems - if you ever get the error message shown above, it to login to your TrackMaster account, using the friendly link on the RDSS Registration Tab (or HERE (https://www.trackmaster.com/cgi-bin/my_acct_entry.cgi)) and correct anything from points 3 - 6 above. Obviously, if your TrackMaster User Name/Password combo is incorrect you can't login to your account (and neither can RDSS). After you fix that (or call TrackMaster for help 1 800 321-3343), you're likely back in business.

If none of points 1 - 6 is the problem (i.e. maybe point #7), wait a few moments then try again, or call TrackMaster for assistance. Or email or PM me. BUT - please read the next paragraph.

Please Note: to re-download a data file after correcting any of the above issues, YOU MUST uncheck the Don't Duplicate box in the Task section which otherwise causes RDSS to skip over Tasks it thinks it has already done before. You must force RDSS to re-download a correct race card ZIP file (rather than a misnamed HTML error message). When you are done, remember to re-check it again (the normal state).

Also: if you have changed (or corrected a mistaken) Password - be sure to RE-START RDSS so that the changed/new Password takes effect throughout the software before you try to Download again.

(FWIW, if anyone wants to read the error file (mislabeled as a ZIP file for a specific card), just navigate to the card file Archive Folder (\Rdss2\Data\PP\2015\XXX [track code]) and find the file with the date in question. Change the file extension from ZIP to HTML. Then open it as a web page and read it to get the error message RDSS couldn't interpret.)

I am working to fix RDSS' Data Centre error processing routines and TrackMaster is helping me make sure I've covered all possible error circumstances. This will be included in the next RDSS 2.1 release in a few months. Until then, the above points will help you figure it out.

If it's all too much, you are welcomed to PM or email me and I will help you.

Thanks for reading!

Ted

[Ted Craven]

Please Note: to re-download a data file after correcting any of the above issues, YOU MUST uncheck the Don't Duplicate box in the Task section which otherwise causes RDSS to skip over Tasks it thinks it has already done before. You must force RDSS to re-download a correct race card ZIP file (rather than a misnamed HTML error message). When you are done, remember to re-check it again (the normal state).

Normally I don't like to harp on a point too much, but ... after updating your TrackMaster account if you run into the above problem, you really do need to read the above advice - otherwise anything you or TrackMaster do to correct it will be useless for the race card you are interested in.

To re-download the same card which failed with the error message mentioned at the top of post #1 above - you must un-check the 'Don't Duplicate' box to force RDSS to download that same card again. Otherwise it will be skipped (with a clear message) - and you won't be any further ahead.

(TrackMaster personnel know about this problem and how to help with your account, but may not remember to remind you how to re-download the same card in the RDSS Data Centre.)

Ted

[Ted Craven]

Q: Does RDSS run on an iPad, or Android tablet or phone, or Mac computer?

A: No. RDSS runs on Windows devices. (However, you can install Windows on a Mac using Parallels or other virtual OS tools, so then you can run RDSS on your Mac - many do). RDSS runs on Windows 10. Maybe that means you can run RDSS on a Windows Phone running Win10 (but why ...:confused:). If anyone does that, please do step up and claim your prize!

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[wsevhew]

Q: First let me say that i really enjoy rdss2. I have encountered a problem. My analysis tab has stopped working. No data is showing. Can you give me some advice to correct?

Q: Previously, after I assembled a race for handicapping, selected pacelines would automatically show up in the Analysis Panel. Now, the Analysis screens are just empty :confused:

Q: I just installed RDSS for the first time (or on a new computer for the first time). I thought the software picked pacelines for me. Why are the Analysis Panel screens empty?

A: RDSS selects pacelines automatically (or not) depending on the choices you make in the Paceline Selection Strategy (PSS) dialog window, shown below. When you first install RDSS, the default PSS is '00 Manual (You Select!)'. With this setting, RDSS does not select any pacelines for you and when you open a race, the Analysis Screens will be empty. With this Manual setting, YOU select pacelines yourself by clicking on a line or lines in the horses' PP screens.

If you choose any other PSS (for example, the Default of 'Best Perceptor Last 3 Comparable') and you check the box 'Select Pacelines During Race Assembly' then when you open a race, RDSS will automatically also select pacelines for you according to that strategy (or any other you might choose), and your Analysis Panel screens will have data in them (selected pacelines).

You can have RDSS pick pacelines for you, or not - according to these settings.

(Note: in future versions, the Default PSS will always be the initial one, so out of the box, pacelines will be selected for you, but you can always reset that to Manual if you like - just like you can switch selections now.)


39509

[Jeebs]

Q: Is there a timetable for the release of the new RDSS version?

A: I plan to make a fairly detailed post either later this week or early next week (e.g. March 11 - 16 period) outlining my best estimates for initial Beta release, then for the final release of RDSS 2.1 to the existing Subscribers. Also a Summary of major new features, plus the 'roadmap' (as I see it) for the rest of 2016 and subsequent releases. Also, very important, soliciting your feedback! This Summary will be followed by some initial walk-through videos, more screenshots and live handicapping using the tools, prior to a scheduled limited circulation Beta, then Final release.

Thanks everyone for your patience over almost 3 years now :eek: while I have worked out a fairly major new footing for RDSS and tried to find a way that the project continues to be exciting and enjoyable both for me (it's both my *livelihood* and my passion) and for all of you (and perhaps a few new people as well).

Update: Here is the new Forum for RDSS Version 2.1: http://paceandcap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=149

Ted

[DanBoals]

Hey there, I searched the forum and looked in this thread, but I can't seem to find a basic description of the DTV. I know it is Daily Track Variant, but not sure what the numbers mean.

Does a negative number mean it was a very fast track?
Does a lower number in DTV mean the track was faster than when there is a larger number?
What is a "normal" track DTV? How do I find out what is the average number for my track?

Using Synthesis Manual Entry, I know 16-18 was a normal track using the DRF's variant. This was pretty simple to understand. Going down, every 2 points lower the DTV was, the race was adjusted 1 "length/tick" approximately as faster. Once again, this was very easy to understand and visualize. I am still trying to understand the RDSS 2, which I love btw, but I need to understand it better to really understand what the horses did on what kind of track. Any help on the DTV is appreciated, Thanks, Dan

[Peteman]

Does a negative number mean it was a very fast track? -10 would be very fast -2 not so much
Does a lower number in DTV mean the track was faster than when there is a larger number? yes
What is a "normal" track DTV? How do I find out what is the average number for my track? 0 means track normal



I’m not a rdss user, but they come up in Val or Spec.
I think they are the same as the in pdf trackmaster file . Say –3 fast= 3 tenths or 1.5 lengths fast.
For example 0 even track.,10 .slow 5 lengths, now say –7 fast 3.5 lengths or 7 tenths fast. This is how I have used them
I have reverse engineered these variants , and think they are pretty good, mind you this is a final time variant, made from par times.
Dan, I do not know what all goes into the making of these numbers, but they much better than the DRF's variant
I’d just be wary of using lines that are to extreme. Say like +19 on a off track

[DanBoals]

Thanks Peteman, I am used to the DRF variants so the TM ones were kind of throwing me for a loop. Appreciate the help, Dan

[Mark]

Trackmaster uses the following formula for determining the effect of the DTV

Time Adjustment = .0125 * d * DTV where d is the number of furlongs in the paceline race.

So a -10 DTV in a 6 furlong race = .0125 * 6 *-10 = -.75. In other words according to Trackmaster this race race .75 seconds faster than the Par for this race class.

[Peteman]

Hi Mark,
That would tighten up the numbers some.A single variant point at each distance,a minus 10 points at 6 =.75 secs fast.or say a +20 at 7 fur
would be 1.75 seconds slow final variant.Thanks for the input.This kinda makes me accept a +20 var number a little better.

Value
Fur single
Dis Var point -10 var +20 Var
5.0 0.063 0.625 1.250
5.5 0.069 0.688 1.375
6.0 0.075 0.750 1.500
6.5 0.081 0.813 1.625
7.0 0.088 0.875 1.750
7.5 0.094 0.938 1.875
8.0 0.100 1.000 2.000
140 0.102 1.023 2.045
170 0.104 1.040 2.080
8.5 0.106 1.063 2.125
9.0 0.113 1.125 2.250

[Peteman]

Sorry word wrap makes this hard to read. key

col 1 dis 5 fur
col 2 a single variant point a 5 fur .063
col 3 what a minus 10 at 5 fur looks like .625
col 4 what a + 20 would look like in seconds 1.250

[Mark]

Peterman,

It makes a great deal of sense. But from being right on to way off, you never know. So I don't use them. I do use ITV however.

In my view final time is completely reliant on early pace. I don't know the percentage but I believe it is a good 50%. You don't get fast final times without fast early fractions. If you have a bunch of SPs and S in a race or slow Pressers, nobody wants the lead. You see it in turf routes all the time. You see Pressers who can finish against a 1:11 but some slow E or EP grabs the lead and they play follow the leader through 1:12. There is a limit to how fast a horse can run the final fraction, they are flesh and blood.

So it makes absolute no sense to me to make final time variants that don't in some fashion take into account the early pace and it makes less sense to apply a final time variant to early fractions. It's nonsense. I don't know why some really smart guy hasn't figured a way to do this. Hell, it has been done this way since early TPR days. Pizzolla showed how he adjusted DRF speed ratings by 2nd calls off his fulcrum pace. If I was 20 years younger I might make a stab at it, but I have gotten to lazy and so I just don't use them.

[Bill V.]

I coded your work up for easier reading
Bill

[Peteman]

Mark, when your doing your match up your kind of free from this ball parking of numbers, and are able to concentrate on the flow of the race.
I can’t match, but we can look to for who will be advantaged by the pace, I see there is freedom from the exact value in numbers.

Imo the final time varient does not reflect the fractional splits 50% of the time as well,I used to make pace and final time variants
Too much work, fortunately for us the first 2 fractions are not stepped on too much .by most of these programs we use.


I too wish I could up with something new,a pbs or a ppf spinoff,I think we need things that are unique,or something old we can master
I’ve tried race shapes, pace pressure gauges, running styles, pace of race to get a clue of the race the horse is coming from.
Now I’m comfortable with velocity ,as old as it and I am.

Thanks Bill, for cleaning up that number mess.

[Mark]

Peterman,

I'll be 66 next month and I am a firm believer that, "Youth is wasted on the young!" I found this website 3 years ago and have studied the Hat Check Blog til my eyes bled. After 3 years, including the time I spent figuring out how to implement the Match Up on RDSS, I am comfortable. Do I hit 50% of my wagers, I am not Jim Bradshaw. But I bet win and place so I catch enough place horses at outstanding odds to make a serious profit when I my horse runs second.
The biggest mistake I see from the handicappers that post here is that they focus on the last 3 lines. Instead of finding the line where the horse finish well, won or very close up against the fastest early pace in his pps. Now I ask you if I want to compare horses don't I want to compare what they have shown as their best? I pick lines 9 and 10 back, I don't care. Once I get them I can see who was the fastest horse in their last 10 races. There will be horses that are obvious throw outs, never finished anywhere near against these paces. So you only have to deal with a few "true contenders" as the Hat called them. Now comes the skill. Can you work your way back to that line? Are there reasons that the horse can't run back to that race? The Hat had 3: 1. horse has changed his Running Style and become a slow horse, 2) Is he still a horse? 3) Can he still get on top of his fractions. Took me quite a while to figure out what he meant. Trainers today, particularly at the mid and small tracks play too many games to darken form. So if you stick with recent lines you get beat at short odds. Most of the handicapping world does that. You have the whole story of the horse right in front of your eyes, read it from the bottom up! Remember, long layoffs are good. No one is going to put a horse away for 200 to 350 days if he is completely broken. Depending on the trainer and the reported works you can get a feeling about a horse coming back. My favorite angle is 3rd start of the long layoff. The horse has had enough work to get fit regardless of what the return races look like. If he had some snappy works all the better. Anyway, us old dogs can teach these youngsters a thing or two. But as Jim told Richie, "Hush up, your mouth can make you deaf".

[MJS6916]

Peterman,

It makes a great deal of sense. But from being right on to way off, you never know. So I don't use them. I do use ITV however.

In my view final time is completely reliant on early pace. I don't know the percentage but I believe it is a good 50%. You don't get fast final times without fast early fractions. If you have a bunch of SPs and S in a race or slow Pressers, nobody wants the lead. You see it in turf routes all the time. You see Pressers who can finish against a 1:11 but some slow E or EP grabs the lead and they play follow the leader through 1:12. There is a limit to how fast a horse can run the final fraction, they are flesh and blood.

So it makes absolute no sense to me to make final time variants that don't in some fashion take into account the early pace and it makes less sense to apply a final time variant to early fractions. It's nonsense. I don't know why some really smart guy hasn't figured a way to do this. Hell, it has been done this way since early TPR days. Pizzolla showed how he adjusted DRF speed ratings by 2nd calls off his fulcrum pace. If I was 20 years younger I might make a stab at it, but I have gotten to lazy and so I just don't use them.

Mark,


I think you are correct about never knowing just how accurate DTVs can be.

And I absolutely agree that trying to determine track variants based on just final time alone is not good enough, and absurd without context of early fractions.

However, its clearly better than no assessment of track surface speed; and the reasons why no one has figured out how to do it (what I highlighted in bold) is two-fold at minimum imo:

(1) it's almost impossible to do without handicapping each race (before and after the running) which involves more than just crunching numbers on a spreadsheet.
Even with enough man-power or software creating knowledge, extremely time consuming. and,

(2) because it seems every one who has attempted this process only views it through either: final time 1st, or just velocity alone.
Class, current form and position at each call are still very hard to piece together consistently for virtually all of us.

I've only been back into the game for just a few months, but I've been attempting to piece this all together for only a few weeks.
A sometimes frustrating process that pans out for me at the windows from time to time, which I ultimately am convinced is solvable as far as
discovering a more efficient way of determining track surface variants.

Then I ran across this thread. Hopefully, I can be one of those who become smart enough to bring the pieces together.

[winning]

Q: I got an error message with RDSS. Message says: RDSS encountered a conflict with another version of the ZIP library it uses and tried to correct the problem.
Please make sure the file XCEEDZIP.DLL exists in your C:\Rdss2 Folder. Please try running RDSS again to see if the problem is resolved. If it isn't resolved please look for the file XCEEDZIP.DLL in your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder. If you find it, please either DELETE it or RENAME IT, then run RDSS again.

There was no XCEEDZIP.DLL in my C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder.

Any help from anyone is appreciated. Thank-you, Brian


A: Here is what I sent you by email just now, for others' benefit:

Since the last time you successfully used RDSS on that computer, likely you installed some other software which made use of a ZIP management toolset named XCEEDZIP. Which overwrote the RDSS license info in the Windows registry for that same tool. Or -- some other change happened on your computer recently which de-registered that ZIP tool :(

Try this:

1. Go to your RDSS folder. Locate a file named REGDLL.BAT. Double-click it to run it. Usually this updates the XCEEDZIP tool to re-license it to RDSS. Then run RDSS to see if that worked.

2. If that doesn't work, uninstall RDSS. Don’t delete your database file (data.db) if asked during the uninstall! Then reinstall RDSS. This will re-register the XCEEDZIP tool to RDSS in the process. Then run RDSS to check.

Ted

[Ted Craven]

Q: I have been with RDSS for a few years, and the horse races are accumulating and slowing down my computer. I am thinking of getting an external hard drive and putting last year's races on that. Is this the way to go? Any recommendations on the type of external hard drive to purchase? Any other suggestions in this regard?


A: The size of the database file affects the speed of the Convert process in the Data Centre operations. I recommend starting a fresh, empty database file for each new year. Even if you download EVERY race card from EVERY track 365 days a year - your database file should still be well less than 1 Gigabyte in size. But it will run more slowly than with a fresh empty database file.

You should be making a backup copy of all your data anyway, every week ;). But if you prefer not to :eek:, you can simply copy your database file to an external thumb drive for deep storage. 2 Gb USB thumb drives cost about $5 in my local Staples, and 8/16 Gb thumb drives only a little more.

Look in the Data Centre, lower right box captioned 'Database' to find the file name and folder of your working database. Use Windows' folder system to navigate there and make a copy of that file on your thumb drive.

Next, in RDSS, on the Desktop, use the Data Mgmt button to create a New database file. Opening the New Database dialog box, creates a new database file named (cheekily): 'NEW Database (RENAME This Please!).db'. Scroll the list of database files displayed in your \RDSS\Data\ folder to find that file, right-click it to Rename it, then give it a meaningful name: e.g. data2017. If you see the .db file ending (a database file), DON'T change that ending part. If you don't see that .db file ending, don't worry about it - just rename it. Then single-click on it to select it.

You are then prompted to RESTART RDSS. When you restart, that newly created (and empty) database file will be the default database file for your next session of RDSS. Voilà - you have a clean, empty and faster processing RDSS database! If ever you want your old one back, or any other old ones as the years go by - simply use the Data Mgmt tool to Switch between existing databases. You could go back and rename your previous, big database file something like data2015-2017.db, or whatever. That way, you know what's what in your Data subfolder.

Most computers have LOTS of storage space these days. Your RDSS databases, even after a few years should not occupy a whole lot of space. So - keep them all on your main hard drive so you can go back to them if you want. But back them all up, please!!

Other Data subfolders you can clean up periodically to regain disk space are: the \Data\Cache\ folder and the \Data\PP\ folder. The Cache contains temporary files created whenever you Assemble a race for fast retrieval inside RDSS - also to store pacelines chosen and Contender choices made. if you know you'll never go back to resurrect an old race (e.g. with previous paceline selections), you can drill down into that Cache folder and delete subfolders according to year, track and date.

Downloaded TrackMaster data files are stored in the \Data\PP\ subfolders of your RDSS2 folder - by Year, Track, and Date. Once you have Converted these files to a RDSS database, their job is done! You can delete them (e.g. annually) or better still - move them to deep storage on your handy RDSS 8 Gb $10 thumb drive :) This also frees up storage on your main disk. (While RDSS cannot currently recreate a database out of these older TrackMaster data files, one day it will - so that's an argument for keeping them somewhere.)

The above ideas should solve your RDSS slowly Converting, plus recover some disk storage space, plus earn you a good data housekeeping award ;)

Cheers,

Ted

[The Pook]

"Q: I have been with RDSS for a few years, and the horse races are accumulating and slowing down my computer. I am thinking of getting an external hard drive and putting last year's races on that. Is this the way to go? Any recommendations on the type of external hard drive to purchase? Any other suggestions in this regard?"

If you really want to get RDSS to snap along converting files etc., create a new database monthly. Since I started downloading all tracks a couple of years ago I keep all races in monthly databases and then delete them as I go along so that at any one time I have the past year for reference. If you want to keep more keep them as long as you wish. You won't believe the speed difference when RDSS has only at most a months worth of files in a database.

Pook

[TEPLHORSE]

Thanks Ted and POOK for your well explained responses.
Good Skill and Good Computing!

[sdahl]

Does RDSS make adjustments to the ratings for horses coming from a faster track to a slower track

[The Pook]

Does RDSS make adjustments to the ratings for horses coming from a faster track to a slower track

Everything but the original screen has every adjustment you can think of. So yes.

Pook

[mick]

Everything but the original screen has every adjustment you can think of. So yes.

Pook

Pook is spot on. The specific adjustment is called the "Inter Track Variant" or ITV by RDSS. TrackMaster refers to it as the Track-Distance Variant. It's derived from a detailed shipper study. You can find a 33-minute video at this website about how they build their speed figures: www.trackmaster.com/articles/thr/ratings (http://www.trackmaster.com/articles/thr/ratings)

RDSS pulls the DTV and ITV from the TrackMaster data file and uses them to adjust its data. And yes, everything to the right of the "Original" tab is adjusted and equalized for distance (except for Tandem, Workouts and Trips).

[Old Arkie Gal]

This morning when I tried to open RDSS I was unable to do so. An error message pop up indicated there was a conflict with the xceedzip.dll file. I have another copy of RDSS that has been renamed. I want to make some comparisons between 2 different config. settings. The same pop up error message appeared. If you read this and it sounds like gobbledygook, it is because you haven’t had a problem with the xceedzip file. I started looking for a fix and found one in the FAQ section. I followed the directions. Found the xceedzip file in both copies, but not in Win system 32 so I did not have to delete it there. I found the regdll.bat file double clicked and tried to reopen RDSS neither would open. I closed and rebooted still nothing. I think this may have happened, as Ted suggested in the fix, that a program, CCleaner, that I had downloaded earlier this morning was causing the conflict. So I went to the next step – uninstall. I tried that and got as far as the retry, ignore, ? can’t remember the 3rd option. I could not get past that part, but part of the program uninstalled. I never got to “the don’t delete the data base” option. I got a little nervous because my 2018 races were on the remaining RDSS. So I decided to do the update/install. When I finished, the reinstalls worked perfectly except all my 2018 races were gone. Boo Hoo. I don’t know what I did wrong. I have a bad habit of hitting the key board when something doesn’t work, that’s my approach to a fix :) . Also, I don’t remember everything that I tried and I roughly remember the order of my actions (my feeble 82 yr old mind). I just want to offer this message of caution to anyone having a problem with the xceedzip error message. Proceed with caution. Ted, I did get this message sometime during my button punching. I saved it thought it might be of some help to you. I will have to PM it to you if I can I don't know how to do it here.
Pat

[atkinsrr]

Hey Mark...just read your post about picking pacelines...and I agree with you. Sometimes I go back 5 to 10 lines back and do a lot of studying on them. I also have a copy of the "Hats" book "The Match Up" on my bookshelf along with 12 other HCP books from different authors...including DOCs Pace Makes the Race plus a copy of all the Follow Up Manuals....what we do takes a lot of study and work, just thought I'd run that by you.

[Mark]

In the last year I have changed the way I get to my paceline selection for each horse in the race. I still don't care where it is in the horse's pps. And I hope the majority of horseplayers continue to focus on the best of the last 3 comparable.Because that opens the door to good to great mutuels for me.
I have to project the 1st fraction of any race that I am going to wager money on. The better I have gotten at that the more money I have made. The options provided by RDSS are enough, perfect, No, but good enough.
Bradshaw used three questions to qualify a deep paceline: 1) Is the horse still a horse? 2) Has the horse changed his Running style and become a slow horse? 3) Can the horse still get on top of his fractions?
We want to bet on fast horses but we are looking at historical data whether the horse ran last week or last year. Horses change in the maturation process which will often change their abilities, to say nothing of injuries and the wear and tear of racing but if they are fit and sound they can often run back to or very close to there most recent TOP.
It all comes back to those early fractions and if you can't figure out a method to consistently project them accurately and measure each horse against them in today's race, then all the other stuff becomes fun with numbers.

[Ted Craven]

This morning when I tried to open RDSS I was unable to do so. An error message pop up indicated there was a conflict with the xceedzip.dll file. I have another copy of RDSS that has been renamed. I want to make some comparisons between 2 different config. settings. The same pop up error message appeared. If you read this and it sounds like gobbledygook, it is because you haven’t had a problem with the xceedzip file. I started looking for a fix and found one in the FAQ section. I followed the directions. Found the xceedzip file in both copies, but not in Win system 32 so I did not have to delete it there. I found the regdll.bat file double clicked and tried to reopen RDSS neither would open. I closed and rebooted still nothing. I think this may have happened, as Ted suggested in the fix, that a program, CCleaner, that I had downloaded earlier this morning was causing the conflict. So I went to the next step – uninstall. I tried that and got as far as the retry, ignore, ? can’t remember the 3rd option. I could not get past that part, but part of the program uninstalled. I never got to “the don’t delete the data base” option. I got a little nervous because my 2018 races were on the remaining RDSS. So I decided to do the update/install. When I finished, the reinstalls worked perfectly except all my 2018 races were gone. Boo Hoo. I don’t know what I did wrong. I have a bad habit of hitting the key board when something doesn’t work, that’s my approach to a fix :) . Also, I don’t remember everything that I tried and I roughly remember the order of my actions (my feeble 82 yr old mind). I just want to offer this message of caution to anyone having a problem with the xceedzip error message. Proceed with caution. Ted, I did get this message sometime during my button punching. I saved it thought it might be of some help to you. I will have to PM it to you if I can I don't know how to do it here.
Pat

Pat, I am going to just replace that old XCEEDZIP ZIP routine module - very soon (next update?). It gets cranky sometimes ...

It sounds like you are back in business though. Perhaps the 2018 database you were using previously was in fact residing in another RDSS-related folder, perhaps RDSS2 (distinct from RDSS2.1). If you browse your File System, you may find multiple RDSS folders, and if you drill down into the Data sub-folder, you may find a database (data.db?) or something with another name you provided (with a DB file extension) which has a very recent 2018 time stamp on the file. THAT might be your previous 2018 database.

IF you find such a database file or files, in RDSS 2.1, simply use the Data Mgmt tool via the Desktop button for it to Switch databases to that other one you found (use the file navigation provided by the Switch routines).

Unless you specifically said during the Uninstall to YES, delete a database type file (DB file), databases should NOT be deleted by an Uninstall process: they just might be located elsewhere than where a new RDSS 2.1 Install puts a fresh empty database (e.g. an older RDSS2\data folder).

I hope that helps. I am travelling at the moment and only sporadically available (and often with no or poor internet) until after April 20. But if you have not yet located you previous database and saved Cache race files, do send me an email and we can arrange a quick remote connection to snoop around your computer to try to find them, no worries!

Take care,

Ted

[Old Arkie Gal]

Ted, I may have found the problem. I discovered that File Explorer was not responding. When I looked for a fix, I found that non-responding may be related to indexing problems. So I tinkered with that, I did not have to do a rebuilding of indexing but that remains an option. Anyway things are running smoothly now.
Pat

[Ted Craven]

That's great news Pat! I am concerned that you seemed to have 'lost' some of your databases or past data. If you still cannot find that stuff by next week, do drop me an email and we'll go hunting for it :)

Cheers,

Ted

[cigar]

Most likely, when using the Database Management tool to switch databases, you chose a file which is NOT a Database file (i.e. does not end in file extension .DB or type = 'Data Base'). For example, perhaps you chose a ZIP file downloaded from TrackMaster from the Data Archive (\rdss2\Data\PP\2013\ ...) thinking it was a RDSS database file (they are only 'delivery' files from TrackMaster to RDSS - not databases).

This problem is discussed and the workaround is demonstrated in the Database Management tool video (http://www.rdss2.com/video/RDSS2-database-tool.mp4), at 20 minutes 45 seconds.

In short, open your RDSS Configure file in a text editor (e.g. \rdss2\Configure\Configure.ini), search for the line which begins: DatabaseFile= and change the file named after the = sign to c:\rdss2\data\data.db or whichever drive other than Drive C you have installed RDSS2 on). Save and close the Configure file, then restart RDSS2. Then you can try again to switch to a different Database (a .DB file, or Type = 'Data Base').

(Note: in future versions after Beta2.6-02, the software will prevent you from trying to switch to a file other than a proper Database type file.)

.


I did some house cleaning and changed RDSS file name from 2 to 2.0 and the config file had RDSS 2.

Back up and running - Thanks again:):)

[Old Arkie Gal]

That's great news Pat! I am concerned that you seemed to have 'lost' some of your databases or past data. If you still cannot find that stuff by next week, do drop me an email and we'll go hunting for it :)

Cheers,

Ted
Thanks Ted. My lost races reappeared when my problem was solved. Sorry I didn't mention that. I have used computers for some time and have never run into File/Windows explorer not responding and darned if that didn't happen with my new Dell.

[SouthSideRob]

Is there a thread or post somewhere in this very large and impressive information bank of pace race information. I'm a recent owner of the RDSS software and I like to get a better understanding how the program determines its perceptor total for each horse. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

[Mitch44]

SouthSideRob:


Look up picking pace lines and you'll probably find more information on it. I've written about it several times. You can also click on my screen name and it will show you all my posts making it easier to find.


There is also a current thread on picking pace lines and within about the Preceptor.


Welcome aboard Pace & Cap.


Mitch44

[SouthSideRob]

Thanks Mitch. I'll do that

[Bill V.]

Thank you to Mitch

Hello South side rob

welcome to pace and cap

Here is a good example of the preceptor

47719

In today's 4th race from FG the # 8 horse has the best perception total line score.

The perceptor line score is a low is best type rating

The horses with the best ratings of the 7 basic Sartin pace ratings
gets a 0.0 rating The lower the score means that horse ran the best
number from its paceline.

In the above example, The #7 horse ran, and earns the best EPR rating
so it gets the 0.0 rating, Horses 3 and 2 ran very slow EPR's relative to the field or this matchup, and so they get a very high 28.9 and 28.3 rating.

For LPR the #3 gets the best rating compared to the field So it gets the 0.0

But our example horse, Horse #8 gets the best rating for CPR,TT,HID,FW,and FX

Now RDSS adds up the totals for the 7 factors
The lowest total score gets the 0.0 rating for the total perceptor readout.

On the paceline screen the concept is the same But on the paceline screen
The perceptor is a rating based on rating each paceline

For our horse #8 its best paceline or the pace line with the lowest linescore
is line 1

47720

so lastly

Horse 8's perceptor rating from the last paceline is the best for the horse
and its also the best when rated against all the other horses best

Good Skill
Bill

[SouthSideRob]

Thanks Bill, that does help but I am so far behind what is going on with the software vs what I've read from Brohamer's book. The array of velocities he speaks about are F1, F2, F3, EP, SP, AP, and FX. Here, we have EPR, LPR, CPR, TT, HID, FW, and FX. Plus, in the manual, they talk about some of these primary factors being weighted (My guess is the more predictive a velocity is would receive more weight than the one's that don't).


Right now, I'm more interested in how perceptor determines which pace line to use for each horse for starters. Now, with help from you and Mitch, I do understand how the paceline is determined, I just have to figure out how different these factors are from Brohamer's. I also own the Pace of the Race book which might help me understand the differences.


Thanks again. For those who don't know me, I'm also a custom programmer who loves to test as many different scenario's as I can. Ted and I had a nice conversation about it when I signed up but for now, I need to learn all the concepts the program displays which appears to be quite a bit so I'm excited to get up to speed and hopefully, make a few bucks :)

[Mitch44]

SouthSideRob:


As a programmer SouthSideRob the way Sartin wrote will drive one nuts. Definitely not in a clear and concise manner. He also was adapt at improving things yet called it the same name. This prevented his hard work from being stolen as they never came up with the same figures he came up with. Turn Time as an example.


All this really has no bearing on one's game as they don't have to know what's in it to use it. Simply track different factors and see what works. Using all 3 Fr.'s is still of primary importance over just using two and increased the winner getting ability of Sartin later programs.


Brohamers book was state of the art at the time and still is the jumping off point for everything that came after. The 3 Fr's are the foundation for everything and are used in every program or factor that came along after his book.


The CPR formula in RDSS isn't the same as the original formula (TPR)which is widely known but why we have a TPR + E/L tab screen, I can't answer except to say probably tradition. On both screens the figures are the same and are CPR figures.


Some changes were hidden and some were disguised by a different way of displaying them. Such as FPS for different Fr's and later he used percentages or %, 55.63 FPS or 34.19 % in Energy of the whole. The measurement it self is exactly the same. Some understood % better than FPS but as part of the whole or Total Energy their the same.


Learn to drive the car and try not to become a mechanic. The car isn't broke and works, tinkering will just upset the timing of the engine and drive you to pull over in frustration waiting for a tow to arrive.



Enjoy the ride,

Mitch44

[SouthSideRob]

Mitch,


I'm building my RDSS database. In the meantime, I'm the kind of person who likes to understand the variables. Whatever is proprietary to RDSS is proprietary. I understand that and by no means am I trying to replicate what Ted and others have done here. Sounds to me that you do quite well spotting trends in some of the factor rankings and that has brought you success. I think that's great. Right now, I only have a few weeks of data for 3 or 4 tracks so I like to learn what the numbers are telling me. It's hard to participate in some of the conversations if I don't understand what each factor is saying about each contender/non-contender. I understand what you are saying but I won't have enough information to play through RDSS for 2 or more weeks yet (In my opinion).

[Mitch44]

Hello Rob,
In no way was I talking of things propriety in RDSS , just how Sartin wrote and thought. It pays to read his material more than once before the person gets it.


You don't need a very large data base to start seeing the factors that are important, Sartin always preached to learn concept not every detail. Look for factors that work at all tracks, surfaces etc., factors that are universal not necessarily track specific. I don't use a track profile or model because I play so many different tracks. If I was strictly devoted to one track than I would.


You can Google from this site to learn more about a factor and many members are willing to help. Ask away. If I can be of help PM me .

Mitch44

[Lt1]

Hi Rob. I agree with Mitch in that you don't have to be a mechanic to drive the car. Doc always told us that we didn't need to know how things worked just that they did. I only play 1 track a day so I maintain a track model for every track play by distance and surface.
By doing so it becomes very apparent what factors win at any track at any dist and surface.
Tim

[SouthSideRob]

I didn't mean to imply anything Mitch. I guess I wanted you and all the readers to understand that I am trying to understand the variables and not necessarily replicate them. The EPR, LPR, and TPR (I believe) come from Pace Makes the Race. Why they have a universal parallel chart in that book, it appears RDSS has their own custom chart for each track or, it adjusts for track variant ect... 80 is considered par or average. 90's and up are very fast to the pace call while 90's and up in the LPR (or FFR as the book calls it) would be very fast abilities after the pace call. (Guessing good turf runners might see FFR's in the 90's). TPR is just the two numbers added together which might be called CPR on the RDSS (or, it might not). If I'm (In the ballpark) of what those values hold, I'm happy with that in that while it is used to rank among other horses, I now have a relative idea of what it represents which is what I was looking for. For example, if I see a horse ranked #1 with a 95, I can probably expect him to slow after the pace call but what if I have a horse ranked #1 with an 82? I may want to test when the ranked #1 horse is lower, how many times was it able to finish 1st or 2nd? That's what I like to do. I'm not against seeing how many times the #1 ranked horse did in (pick a factor) did in its last 20 races, I like to utilize the value as well. Again, I'm a stat geek and just can't help myself :)

[Mitch44]

Pace Makes the Race is a good book and an excellent starting point Rob. That's how it all started. Its advance concepts section or chapter is excellent. From there they evolved to FPS and the use of 3 Fr's which brought new factors and concepts. It will give you a full understanding of CPR within RDSS today, it had been tweaked and is a much better product than the old Phase 1 or what's within PMTR.

They struggled for years testing and attempting to come up with better adjustments. Finally they succeeded and its within the president day RDSS.

Your in the right ballpark.Be careful with assumptions in that just because a horse runs a 95 early that he'll slow down late. NOT SO! There are at least seven different running pattern for horses. Horses don't decelerate at the same rate or pattern. The classier the horse the longer it can hold that speed. A Gr.1 horse can run a 95 EPR and run a 95 or 100 LPR. Now a cheap claiming horse can be accepted to slow down after a 95 EPR. Even within he same class horses don't decelerate at the same rate. Some decelerate slowly and some rapidly.

As a stat geek your going to find the biggest smorgasbord ever encountered with the combination of Sartin and horseracing. Possibilities are endless, numerous combinations and only limited by one's own limitations. Most just won't do the work, don't work smartly or spend too much time on wasteful collection of data.

Rob I believe you'll do well.


Mitch44

[SouthSideRob]

Mitch, those EPR and LPR numbers were just an extreme example to help get my point across. I understand what you mean. Thanks...

[korse]

Supertote is not giving me scratches or live odds? 02/28/2019?

[Lt1]

Korse it's been out the last 3days. Ted is aware of problem.
Tim

[Swifty0x0]

Is there a time limit (same day only, hours, days, etc.) on when you can get the Mutuel Prices recorded in the RDSS2 database by pressing the Mutuel Prices button on the Rx tab?

I do have a TwinSpires account.

[Ted Craven]

Those Mutuel Prices are only available during the current race day. In your web browser, if you could go to TwinSpires toteboard for a track (either TwinSpires Mobile which requires no account, or login to the main TwinSpires) and get the Mutuel Results, then RDSS can get those Mutuel prices for that track and that day too.

RDSS gets its tote, scratch, mutuel prices and ProfitLine/Prime Power data from the publicly accessible https://m.twinspires.com

Ted

[Jeebs]

One thing I notice when playing Maryland or Gulfstream/GPW is that the sire and dam come up as “Null”. Guessing that it’s Trackmaster’s data causing this issue.

[Ted Craven]

One thing I notice when playing Maryland or Gulfstream/GPW is that the sire and dam come up as “Null”. Guessing that it’s Trackmaster’s data causing this issue.

It's TwinSpires.

[tleusin]

When you do get the export function running again will excell be the only program it works with? I use openoffice instead.

[Bill Lyster]

I use Open Office as well and when I was downloading there was no problem. My version of OO asks whether I want to save in Excel mode or openoffice - it'll do either and it will be accessible in either thereafter.

[tleusin]

Thanks for the info.

[gandalf380]

I have used Excel, OpenOffice and LibreOffice with no problems whatsoever.

[Ted Craven]

Q: What do the 'moves' markups on the Horse and Analysis Original screen mean?

A: 'Moves' are a collection of underlines in different colours in the position and beaten lengths section of the Original screen of each horse, intended to draw your eye to gains in position, lengths behind the leader (or the leader extending its lead) or gains made while racing outside other horses around the final turn.

1. Red Underlines. In the last 2 races, within 90 days:

- a gain of 1+ lengths on the leader around the final turn (thin underline)
- a gain of 1+ lengths on the leader around the final turn while running 3+ wide, i.e. outside of at least 2 other horses (thick underline)
- not losing lengths on the leader through the stretch while gaining 1+ lengths around the final turn while running 3+ wide (thin underline)
- a gain of 4+ lengths on the leader through the stretch (thick underline)

Thick underlines are more significant gains on the lead.

49322


2. Blue Underlines. In any past race, a gain of 3+ positions, or extending a lead ( aka a 'power move' in Jim Bradshaw's Match Up terminology). The horse can PASS other horses and knows how to be competitive.

49323


3. Purple Underlines. In the last 2 races within 90 days, a gain of BOTH positions and lengths behind as defined above.

49324


You can control whether or not these 'moves' are displayed using the 'Show Moves on PPs' setting on the Configuration Screen.

49326

.

[Ted Craven]

More examples of 'moves'.

Thick red underline, last 2 races within 90 days, gain of at least 1 length around the final turn while racing 3 and 4 wide.

Purple underline, last race, gain of 3 positions Stretch to Finish AND 3+ lengths on the leader, to take the lead.

49327


Thin red underline, 2nd race, gain of 1+ lengths from stretch to finish,

Blue Underline, extended lead from 2nd Call, to Stretch Call, to Finish

49328


Thin red underline and Blue Underline, various gains of 1+ lengths behind in last 2 races within 90 days, and gains of position throughout its races. (Note: despite running 4 wide around final turn, no thick red underline because of no gain of 1 or more lengths.)

49329

.

[Ted Craven]

Question: How do I change the Distance or the Surface of a race?

Answer: On the Card Summary screen, right-click on either the Distance or Surface columns for the race you want to change. A window pops-up where you can choose the new distance or surface.

50108

When done, click the Update button. The race then re-assembles with the new changes.

Ted

[Ted Craven]

Question: I am in Germany and RDSS produces an error message during the Data Centre Convert Task, saying it cannot process a currency in the format of $999.99 (for example). Also, the dates in the Data Centre are incorrect.

Answer: RDSS requires North American (or UK/Ireland) settings for dates and numeric and currency formats. Some countries represent currency as (for example) 999,99$ where RDSS expects $999.99. Also, RDSS requires dates to be mm/dd/yyyy format (month/day/year), rather than dd/mm/yyyy format (day/month/year).

If you live outside North America, check your dates format by going to Windows Settings / Time & Language (or Regional Settings, depending on Windows version) / click Region on the sidebar, then change your Region to United States. OR, for your own Region, click the Change data formats link then change the Short Date Format to mm/dd/yyyy.

Check your currency format from the Region settings page by clicking on an Additional Settings button or link then make sure that the dollars/cents separator is a period (.) and not a comma (,). Any other currency format settings should show that currency is represented only as (example) $123,456.00 and NOT 123.456,00$. After making any changes, click the Save button.

Restart RDSS if you need to. If the Data Centre dates were incorrect, check they are now correct.

If you converted a race card previously but got the currency format error message described first above, in the Data Centre, UNCHECK the Don't Duplicate box to FORCE RDSS to re-convert the race with the new Windows currency format settings. Better yet, create a NEW clean database, re-start RDSS and re-convert the problem card into the clean database.

If you previously Assembled any races for the problem card, on the Card Summary screen, click the Clear Cache button then re-assemble a race or all races.

(Remember - when done with all the foregoing troubleshooting, return the Don't Duplicate box setting in the Data Centre Tasks section to CHECKED).

This resolves problems typical of Windows configurations at least in Germany, but surely also with some other European or regions outside of North America (not sure if the currency problem applies to the UK/Ireland).

Ted