JCapper TripNotes Help Doc

 

Author: Jeff Platt

Date last modified: 10-10-2011

 

 

Overview

Horse race betting is a pari-mutuel game. Consider the case where two horses competing in a mile race finish a neck apart at the wire. If both horses come back to face each other again a few weeks later, the wagering public will see that they finished a neck apart and that their last race speed figures are basically identical.

 

What if the horse that finished second broke from an outside post and went wide on the first turn, traveling 4 lengths further than the winning horse as a result?

 

If this information isn’t reflected in the odds when both horses come back to race again, would you want to know about it?

 

Taking good trip notes, and integrating them into future wagering decisions, is one of the ways the player who takes the time to develop a keen eye can separate himself or herself from the wagering public.

 

The primary purpose of JCapper TripNotes is to provide the player with an interface for persisting trip notes to a database in a manner that enables them to be retrieved at a later date and integrated into JCapper Past Performances.

 

The JCapper TripNotes module is included with all versions of JCapper: JCapper Basic, JCapper Silver, and JCapper Platinum.

 

 

 

 

--JCapper TRIPNOTES USER INTERFACE SECTION--

 

Launching the module:

JCapper TripNotes can be launched by clicking the TripNotes button on the JCapper Main Module.

 

The JCapper TripNotes Module user interface presents the following visual elements to the user:

 

DFM button

Clicking this button causes the DFM (Data Folder Manager) to be launched. Providing a launch button on the face of the TripNotes module itself was done to provide the user s way to change active data folders (without having to leave the TripNotes Interface) prior to running a Soft Build. Information about Soft Builds can be found later on in this Help Doc. Information about DFM (Data Folder Manager) operation can be found in the DFM (Data Folder Manager) Help Doc.

 

TripNotes Setup button

Clicking this button causes the TripNotes Setup Screen to appear. That screen is discussed below in its own section.

 

TripNotes Data Entry button

Clicking this button causes the TripNotes Data Entry Screen to appear. That screen is discussed below in its own section.

 

SoftBuild button

Clicking this button causes the TripNotes SoftBuild Screen to appear. That screen is discussed below in its own section.

 

Settings button

Clicking this button causes the TripNotes Settings Screen to appear. That screen is discussed below in its own section.

 

Utilities button

Clicking this button causes the TripNotes Utilities Screen to appear. That screen is discussed below in its own section.

 

Exit button

Clicking this button closes the TripNotes module.

 

 

 

--TRIPNOTES SETUP SCREEN SECTION--

 

Overview

The primary purpose of the TripNotes Setup Screen is to provide the user an interface for setting up predefined trip types (or trip categories) that will be entered (repeatedly) as the player watches race replays and records his or her trip notes. In JCapper, trip types (or trip categories) contain two elements: 1. A short description. 2. A long description. 

 

Explanation (and example) of Short and Long Description

It is reasonable to assume that individual players see (and will want to record) different things while watching race replays. Trip types are user defined and are therefore unique to the individual player.

 

One example of a trip type (that may have some value to the player) would be horses observed by the player to have galloped out strongly after passing the wire. The player who observes such an event and who wishes to record it as a trip note might use the letters GOS as the short description. The words Galloped Out Strongly might suffice as the long description.

 

Short Description Textbox:

A textbox is provided for entering data that will be persisted into the ShortDescription field of the TripNotes table upon clicking the Save button.

 

Note: This field can store a maximum of 18 characters.

 

 

Long Description Textbox:

A textbox is provided for entering data that will be persisted into the LongDescription field of the TripNotes table upon clicking the Save button.

 

Note: This field can store a maximum of 72 characters.

 

 

New button

Clicking this button communicates your intent to the interface that you wish to create a new trip note type (or trip category.)

 

Creating a New Trip Note Type or Category:

To create a new trip note type or category: click the NEW button, key a short description into the short description textbox, key a long description into the long description textbox, and click the Save button.

 

Presisted TripNote Types by Short Description Drop Down

When the TripNotes Setup Screen is first launched, the interface populates this drop down with a list of all existing (previously set up) Short Descriptions as read from the TripNotes table – thus providing the user a way to select trip note types (or trip categories) for editing.

 

Editing an Existing Trip Note Type or Category:

To edit an existing TripNote type (or category) select the desired short description from the drop down, key your changes into the short and/or long description fields, and click the Save button.

 

Save button

Clicking this button causes data appearing in the short and long description fields for the current trip note type (or trip category) to be persisted to the TripNotes table. Failure to click the Save button after keying data into the short and long description fields will result in failure to persist data keyed into those fields to the table (although after making changes to an existing record, the interface will give you the option to save your changes before exiting the Setup Screen.)

 

Delete button

Clicking this button after selecting a short description from the TripNote Type by Short Description drop down communicates your intent to the interface that you wish to delete that record from the table. (After clicking the delete button, the interface will offer you the chance to abort the delete operation.)

 

Deleting an Existing Record

Select the record to be deleted from the drop down and click the Delete button. Then click Y when prompted by the interface to confirm your intent to delete the current record.

 

Exit button

Clicking this button closes the TripNotes Setup Screen.

 

 

 

--TRIPNOTES DATA ENTRY SCREEN SECTION--

 

Overview

The primary purpose of the TripNotes Data Entry Screen is to provide the user an interface for (repeatedly) entering trip notes while either watching races live or while watching race replays.

 

Date Textbox:

A textbox is provided for entering date of race that will be persisted to the Date field of the TripNotes table upon clicking the Save button.

 

Note that the interface will initially default to today’s date when the Data Entry Screen is first launched. If a different date is desired, a mouse click on the Date Textbox will cause a calendar control to appear where the user can select a different date.

 

Track Code Textbox:

A textbox is provided for entering a 3 character track code that will be persisted to the Track field of the TripNotes table upon clicking the Save button.

 

Note that all track codes in JCapper have 3 characters. Tracks bearing just 2 characters (such as WO for Woodbine) are auto morphed by the interface into a 3 character code whenever the user navigates away from the Track Code textbox to another data element. At that point, an X is appended to a 2 character track code making it a 3 character track code. (WO becomes WOX.)

 

Note: This field can store a maximum of 3 characters.

 

 

Race Number Drop Down

A drop down is provided to enable the user to select a valid race number while entering a trip note.

 

When race data is made available to JCapper TripNotes ahead of time (before the user sits down to enter trip notes) this drop down auto populates with valid race numbers for the current track and date.

 

Horse Name Drop Down

A drop down is provided to enable the user to select a valid horse name while entering a trip note.

 

When race data is made available to JCapper TripNotes ahead of time (before the user sits down to enter trip notes) this drop down auto populates with valid horse names for the current race.

 

Short Description Drop Down

A drop down is provided to enable the user to select a valid short description while entering a trip note for an individual horse.

 

When the Data Entry Screen is first launched, this drop down is auto populated with a list of short descriptions previously created using the TripNotes Setup Screen (as discussed above in the section about the TripNotes Setup Screen.)

 

Adjusted Lengths TextBox

A textbox is provided in the event the user wishes to record an adjustment in lengths as part of the trip note itself.

 

Lengths Adj Explanation:

Trips where the horse got the best of it:

When you believe an observed trip HELPED the horse earn a higher speed fig than it otherwise would have given a neutral trip: Key a POSITIVE number representing the number of lengths you think the horse's speed fig was inflated by the trip you observed into the Lengths Adj field.

 

When the Apply TripNotes Lengths Adj to Speed Figs in PPs checkbox is persisted as checked on the JCapper TripNotes Settings interface, if a trip note with a positive value in the lengths adj field exists in the TripNotes table for the current running line being processed by the Past Performance Generator, the Past Performance Generator will adjust the speed fig displayed for that running line downward using the number of lengths entered by the player into the lengths adj field for that TripNote. (Subtraction of HDW or Brisnet points per beaten length at the race distance times the lengths adj value in the TripNotes table.)

 

Trips where the horse got the worst of it:

When you believe an observed trip COST the horse a higher speed fig than it otherwise would have earned given a neutral trip: Key a NEGATIVE number representing the number of lengths you think the horse's speed fig was understated by the trip you observed into the Lengths Adj field.

 

When the Apply TripNotes Lengths Adj to Speed Figs in PPs checkbox is persisted as checked on the JCapper TripNotes Settings interface, if a trip note with a negative value in the lengths adj field exists in the TripNotes table for the current running line being processed by the Past Performance Generator, the interface will adjust the speed fig displayed for that running line upward using the number of lengths entered by the player into the lengths adj field for that TripNote. (Subtraction of of HDW or Brisnet points per beaten length at the race distance times the lengths adj value in the TripNotes table.) (In this case subtraction of a negative number causes addition.)

 

<< Button

Clicking this button causes the horse name drop down to populate for the current race. In the event data is missing for the current race, a message box will appear reminding you what data you still need to provide (just in case you need a reminder.)

 

?? Button

Clicking this button causes a message box to appear reminding you about the impact of entering both positive and negative numbers into the Adjusted Lengths Textbox (just in case you need a reminder.)

 

Notes Field

A textbox is provided for the user to record detail about the trip observed. Data sitting in this field will be persisted to the Notes field of the TripNotes table upon clicking the Save button.

 

Note: This field can store a maximum of 255 characters.

 

Save button

Clicking this button causes data sitting in all fields for the current trip note to be persisted to the TripNotes table.

 

Note: Failure to click the Save button after keying data into the interface’s data fields will result in failure to persist keyed data to the table (although after making changes to an existing record, the interface will give you the option to save your changes first before exiting the Data Entry Screen.)

 

Delete button

Clicking this button after pulling up an existing trip note to be edited communicates your intent to the interface that you wish to delete that record from the table. (After clicking the delete button, the interface will offer you the chance to abort the delete operation.)

 

Note: As a safety precaution, the Delete button is disabled when the Data Entry Screen is first launched. It becomes enabled for the current record once the user pulls up an existing trip note for edit. It also becomes enabled for the current record after the user creates (and saves) a new trip note.

 

Clear Button

Clicking this button causes the interface to clear all data fields on the Data Entry Screen. Click this button any time you do not want to save the current record displayed by the interface to the table.

 

Reports Button

Clicking this button launches the JCapper TripNotes Report Generator.

 

Clear SoftBuild Table button

Clicking this button clears all records from the SoftBuild table.

 

Soft Build Interface Launch button

Clicking this button launches the Soft Buiild Interface.

 

Exit button

Clicking this button closes the TripNotes Data Entry Screen.

 

 

Prerequisite for Recording a New Trip Note:

Race Data Must be Made Available to JCapper TripNotes

Prior to recording a trip note the player must have (previously) made data available to JCapper TripNotes for the trip note horse through one of the following methods:

 

  1. Data for the trip note horse is sitting in the StarterHistory table because the race card involving the trip note horse was included as part of a sql mode build database routine.

 

  1. Data for the trip note horse is sitting in the StartersToday table because the race card involving the trip note horse was included as part of a sql mode Calc Races routine.

 

  1. Data for the trip note horse is sitting in the SoftBuild table because the race card involving the trip note horse was included as part of a JCapper TripNotes Soft Build routine (discussed later on in this Help Doc.)

 

Note: Methods 1 and 2 above require JCapper Platinum or JCapper Silver. Method 3 (SoftBuild) is discussed later on in this help doc and can be performed using JCapper Platinum, JCapper Silver, or JCapper Basic.

 

 

Creating a New Trip Note:

It is reasonable to assume that individual players see (and will want to record) different things after watching race replays. Trip notes are user defined and are therefore unique to the individual player.

 

Building on the GOS (Galloped Out Strongly) example from the TripNotes Setup section above, we will assume a player has observed such an event and now wishes to record it as a trip note. We will further assume that the player has: 1. Used the Setup screen to create a trip type (or category) for this specific event type using the letters GOS as the short description and the words Galloped Out Strongly as the long description. 2. Used one of the 3 methods discussed above to make race data available to the JCapper TripNotes Interface.

 

Steps to create a new trip note:

 

  1. Enter date of race into the Date textbox. Note that the date field will auto populate with today’s date. If the race date for the trip note horse is different than today’s date, click the Date field to bring up a Calendar Control and select the correct race date for the trip note horse.

 

  1. Key a 3 character track code into the Track Code textbox. Note that after keying a track code into the Track Code textbox, the Race Number Drop Down will auto populate with race numbers for that race card. Also note that auto population of the drop down happens only when race data has been made available to the TripNotes Interface as discussed above.

 

  1. Select the Race Number from the (auto populated) Race Number Drop Down. Note that after selecting a race number, the Horse Names Drop Down will auto populate with horse names for the race selected.

 

  1. Select the horse name of the trip note horse from the Horse Names Drop Down.

 

  1. Select a short description (in this case GOS) from the Short Description Drop Down.

 

  1. Enter adjusted lengths into the Lengths Adj textbox.

 

  1. Enter text describing the trip observed into the Notes textbox. Use as much or as little detail as you want. Note that text stored in the Notes field (255 characters max) will appear in place of the chart caller’s comments in future JCapper Past Performances provided the right settings (discussed later on in this help doc) are applied.

 

  1. Click the Save button to save your work.

 

 

 

Editing an Existing Trip Note

 

Steps to edit an existing record:

 

  1. Enter date of race into the Date textbox. Note that the date field will auto populate with today’s date. If the race date for the trip note horse is different than today’s date, click the Date textbox to bring up a Calendar Control and then select the correct race date for the trip note horse.

 

  1. Key a 3 character track code into the Track Code textbox. Note that after keying a track code into the Track Code textbox, the Race Number Drop Down will auto populate with race numbers for that race card. Also note that auto population of the drop down happens only after race data has been made available to the TripNotes Interface as discussed above.

 

  1. Select the Race Number from the (auto populated) Race Number Drop Down. Note that after selecting a race number, the Horse Names Drop Down will auto populate with horse names for the race selected.

 

  1. Select the horse name of the trip note horse from the Horse Names Drop Down. At this point, the interface will search existing records in the TripNotes table. If an entry exists having the same date, track, race, and horse name: The interface will pull up that record from the table and display it on the Data Entry Screen. A message box will appear that says Record Found. (Click OK to continue.)

 

  1. Make changes to the current record (as needed.)

 

  1. Click the Save button to save your work.

 

Deleting an Existing Record

Bring up the record to be deleted using steps 1-4 presented above for editing a record. Once the requested record has been pulled up the Delete button will become enabled. To delete the record click the Delete button and answer Y when prompted.

 

 

 

Daily Track Profile Notes

In addition to trip notes for individual horses, you can also use JCapper TripNotes to record Daily Track Profile Notes.

 

Example

A Daily Track Profile Note can relate tp observations made by the player about track biases for single race cards. For example, on Monday Oct. 03, 2011, after watching a few races, I thought the dirt surface at Delaware Park was speed favoring. On the same day, I thought the dirt surface at Finger Lakes was speed tiring.

 

My Daily Track Profile Notes for both race cards (as cut and pasted from the Report Generator) are as follows:

 

DAILY TRACK PROFILE REPORT 10/3/2011 4:24:57 PM

DATE        Tk      Wt Notes

********************************************************

10/3/2011   DEL  02.00 DIRT: SPEED FAVORING... TURF: R4 R7 OFF

10/3/2011   FLX  04.00 DIRT: SPEED TIRING

 

During live play, I have found the ability to refer back to Daily Track Profile Notes for past running lines to be (ahem) helpful.

 

 

Daily Track Profile Notes vs. Trip Notes for Individual Horses

Steps for creating, editing, and deleting Daily Track Profile Notes are (nearly) identical to those presented above for working with trip note records for individual horses. The key differences (so far as the TripNotes Interface is concerned) between working with Daily Track Profile Notes and trip notes for individual horses are explained below.

 

99```DAILY TRACK PROFILE NOTE instead of Horse Name:

Note that the bottom entry appearing in the Horse Name drop down is: 99```DAILY TRACK PROFILE NOTE

 

To make the current record a Daily Trip Note instead of a trip note for an individual horse: Select 99```DAILY TRACK PROFILE NOTE from the Horse Name drop down.

 

When you select 99```DAILY TRACK PROFILE NOTE as the horse name:

 

  1. You are telling the interface the current record is a Daily Track Profile Note.

 

  1. Daily Track Profile Notes relate to a day not a race. When records are saved to the table (or pulled up for editing or deletion) the interface uses 1 as the race number.

 

  1. For benefit of those of you manipulating TripNotes table data outside of JCapper in Access, Excel, etc., records for Daily Track Profile Notes have an entrytype of 4. Trip notes for individual horses have an entrytype of 2. Records for Vet Scratches have an entrytype of 3. Trip types (or categories) have an entrytype of 1.

 

 

Setup

The user should use the Setup Screen to create at least one trip note type (or category) that relates to Daily Track Profile Notes before sitting down to create Daily Track Profile Notes.

 

A trip note type (or category) having a short description of TKPROFILE and a long description of Daily Track Profile Note would suffice for this purpose.

 

No Race Data Available Prerequisite for Daily Track Profile Notes

Unlike trip notes for individual horses, there is no requirement that race data be made available to the TripNotes Interface prior to creating a Daily Track Profile Note.

 

Required Data Fields

When working with Daily Track Profile Notes, the following data fields must be filled in by the user: date, track code, 99```DAILY TRACK PROFILE NOTE as the horse name, selection of a short description that relates to a Daily Track Profile Note, and text keyed into the Notes textbox describing the player’s observations about track profile for that day’s race card.

 

Lengths Adj Data Field (Optional)

For the JCapper Data Window, I created the following numbering system to designate behaviors for different types of track surfaces:

  1. Speed Favoring
  2. Somewhat Speed Favoring
  3. Plays Fair
  4. Somewhat Speed Tiring
  5. Speed Tiring

 

When creating a Daily Track Profile Note, the player can (optionally) key in a number describing the influence (if any) the surface had on race outcomes that day. Note that you are in no way tied to my numbering system. If you have your own, have at it!

 

Creating a New Daily Track Profile Note   

Steps for creating a new Daily Track Profile Note:

 

  1. Enter date of race into the Date textbox. Note that the date textbox auto populates with today’s date. If the race date for your Daily Track Profile Note is different than today’s date, click the Date textbox to bring up a Calendar Control and then select the correct race date.

 

  1. Key a 3 character track code into the Track Code textbox.

 

  1. Select 99```DAILY TRACK PROFILE NOTE from the horse name drop down.

 

  1. Select a short description from the short description drop down.

 

  1. Key text describing what you observed about the Daily Track Profile into the Notes textbox. Use as much or as little detail as you want (255 characters max.)

 

  1. Optionally, key a number into the Lengths Adj field representing the influence of the track surface that day.

 

  1. Click the Save button to save your work.

 

 

 

 

Editing an Existing Daily Track Profile Note:

Steps for editing a Daily Track Profile Note:

 

  1. Enter date of race into the Date textbox. Note that the date textbox auto populates with today’s date. If the race date for your Daily Track Profile Note is different than today’s date, click the Date textbox to bring up a Calendar Control and then select the correct race date.

 

  1. Key a 3 character track code into the Track Code textbox.

 

  1. Select 99```DAILY TRACK PROFILE NOTE from the horse name drop down. At this point, the interface will search existing records in the TripNotes table. If an entry exists having the same date, track, race, and horse name: The interface will pull up that record from the table and display it on the Data Entry Screen. A message box will appear that says Record Found. (Click OK to continue.)

 

  1. Make changes to the current record (as needed.)

 

  1. Click the Save button to save your work.

 

 

 

Vet Scratches:

When 0 All Scratches in the XML is persisted as the Scratch BOT setting in the Enhanced Settings Module, when JCapper Scratch BOT parses the scratches and changes XML, and the XML lists a horse as Vet Scratched, Scratch BOT will auto create a trip note about the vet scratched horse and persist it to the TripNotes table. When either of the two Display TripNotes in PPs boxes is persisted as checked using the TriNotes Settings Screen, trip notes (including those for vet scratched horses picked up by Scratch BOT) are integrated into JCapper Past Performances. You may not know what the horse’s issue was. However, the interface will at least make you aware of the fact that the horse was recently vet scratched.

 

Clear SoftBuild Table button

Clicking this button clears all records from the SoftBuild table.

 

SoftBuild Interface Launch button

Clicking this button launches the SoftBuild Interface.

 

 

 

 

--TRIPNOTES SOFTBUILD INTERFACE SECTION--

 

Overview

A Soft Build is a routine that is run from the JCapper SoftBuild Interface. The purpose of running a soft build is to make race data available to the TripNotes Data Entry Screen to facilitate auto population of drop downs while entering and editing trip notes for individual horses.

 

The basics are as follows:

 

1. Use the DFM (Data Folder Manager) to point the SoftBuild Interface at a target folder where data files are sitting.

 

2. Select specific data files to be included in the soft build routine.

 

3. Click a build files button to run the routine.

 

The routine itself then reads race data from data files on the hard drive and writes that data to the SoftBuild table. Later, during trip notes data entry, the interface reads race data from the SoftBuild table and uses it to auto populate drop downs to for requested races to facilitate user data entry.

 

Running a Soft Build

Steps for running a soft build:

 

  1. Set the target folder using the DFM (Data Folder Manager.) See the Data Folder Manager Help Doc for detailed information about using that module.

 

  1. Launch the SoftBuild Interface by clicking one of the launch buttons.

 

  1. Select Start Date and End Date. Note that dates can be selected using drop downs for month and day or by clicking a Calendar button that launches a Calendar Control.

 

  1. Select a file type from the file type drop down. Note that selecting a file type causes the interface to display individual file names for the file type selected (that match the start and end date provided by the user to the interface) that happen to be sitting on the target folder.

 

  1. Select (or highlight) individual file names to be included in the soft build routine by CTRL-Clicking them (or clicking the first one and using SHIFT-Dwn Arrow or SHIFT-Up Arrow to highlight adjacent files.)

 

  1. Double check the target folder. (The folder name is displayed on the title bar at the very top of the SoftBuild Interface.) Double check the start and end dates. Double check individual file names that highlighted/selected. (CTRL-click individual highlighted file names to deselect them.)

 

  1. Run the SoftBuild routine for the selected files by clicking the Soft Build Selected Files button.

 

Once the SoftBuild routine is complete, race data for horses found in the data files included in the SoftBuild routine becomes available to the Data Entry Screen so that drop downs can be auto populated during user data entry.

 

Halt SoftBuild in Progress button

This button is provided to enable the user to escape out of a soft build in progress. Suppose you accidentally start running a soft build for every data file on the target folder. If there are several thousand data files on the target folder, that could take a while.

 

Clicking this button brings up a message box prompting the user to Halt the current SoftBuild in progress. Clicking Y to halt the build when prompted causes the interface to abort the soft build at the next opportunity. (This is normally after the soft build for the current data file being processed is complete.)

 

 

 

--TRIPNOTES SETTINGS INTERFACE SECTION—

 

Overview

The primary purpose of the Settings Interface in JCapper TripNotes is to provide the user a way to persist settings that toggle certain behaviors on or off so as to make JCapper behave in a user directed way.

 

Persisting a Setting as On

Check the box for that setting and click the Save button.

 

Persisting a Setting as Off

Uncheck the box for that setting and click the Save button.

 

Display TripNotes in PPs – Short Description Only Checkbox

When this checkbox is persisted as checked, behavior for this setting is toggled On. When the box is persisted as unchecked, behavior for this setting is toggled Off.

 

When this setting is toggled On, and when the TripNotes table contains an individual horse trip note for the current running line being generated by the JCapper Past Performance Generator, the short description (and only the short description) from the player’s trip note is displayed instead of the chart caller comment for that running line.

 

Note that if no player trip note exists for that running line, then the chart caller comment is displayed instead of the player trip note.

 

Display TripNotes in PPs – Complete TripNote Checkbox

When this checkbox is persisted as checked, this setting is toggled On. When the box is persisted as unchecked, behavior for this setting is toggled Off.

 

When this setting is toggled On, and when the TripNotes table contains an individual horse trip note for the current running line being generated by the JCapper Past Performance Generator, the short description and notes field from the player’s trip note is displayed instead of the chart caller comment for that running line.

 

Note that if no player trip note exists for that running line, then the chart caller comment is displayed instead of the player trip note.

 

Apply Lengths Adj to Speed Figs in PPs Checkbox

When this checkbox is persisted as checked, this setting is toggled On. When the box is persisted as unchecked, behavior for this setting is toggled Off.

 

When this setting is toggled On, and when the TripNotes table contains an individual horse trip note for the current running line being generated by the JCapper Past Performance Generator, and when that trip note contains a numeric value in the adjusted lengths field, the speed fig for that running line is displayed stricken out with an adjusted speed fig based on the number of lengths recorded as part of the trip note displayed to the right of the stricken out speed fig.

 

Note that if no trip note containing adjusted lengths exists for that running line, the speed fig for that running line is displayed in a normal manner.

 

 

Apply Lengths Adj in PaceLine Algorithm Checkbox

Note: This setting controls a feature that is currently under construction. When this feature is published in a future JCapper program update, the following behavior will be enabled:

 

When this checkbox is persisted as checked, behavior for this setting is toggled On. When the box is persisted as unchecked, behavior for this setting is toggled Off.

 

When this setting is toggled On, and if the TripNotes table contains an individual horse trip note for the current running line being processed during a Calc Races or Build Database routine, and if that trip note contains a numeric value in the lengths adj field, the speed fig for that running line during PaceLine selection will be the adjusted speed fig arrived at using the value stored in the lengths adj field instead of the speed fig supplied by the data vendor.

 

Note that if a trip note containing a lengths adj value does not exist in the TripNotes table for a running line, the speed fig for that running line during PaceLine selection will be the speed fig supplied by the data vendor.

 

Apply Lengths Adj in Speed Fig Algorithms Checkbox

Note: This setting controls a feature that is currently under construction. When this feature is published in a future JCapper program update, the following behavior will be enabled:

 

When this checkbox is persisted as checked, behavior for this setting is toggled On. When the box is persisted as unchecked, behavior for this setting is toggled Off.

 

When this setting is toggled On, and if the TripNotes table contains an individual horse trip note for the current running line being processed during a Calc Races or Build Database routine, and if that trip note contains a numeric value in the lengths adj field, the speed fig used to generate factors such as Speed Fig Last Running Line, Speed Fig Best Last 3, Speed Fig Best 10, etc. will be the adjusted speed fig arrived at using the value stored in the lengths adj field instead of the speed fig supplied by the data vendor.

 

Note that if a trip note containing a lengths adj value does not exist in the TripNotes table for a running line, the speed fig for that running line during number crunching will be the speed fig supplied by the data vendor.

 

 

 

 

--TRIPNOTES REPORT GENERATOR SECTION--

 

Overview

The purpose of the TripNotes Report Generator is to provide a way for the player to generate reports that display content as it exists in the TripNotes table.

 

Filtering Trip Note Reports by Date, Track, and Race Number

The Report Generator is able to read race date, track code, and race number directly from the Data Entry Screen. When launched directly from the Data Entry Screen, the drop downs in the Report Generator are auto populated with data as it exists in the drop downs on the Data Entry Screen.

 

To make the Report Generator create reports to display TripNotes table content filtered for a specific track code or race date, etc., select desired report filtering criteria using the date textbox, track code text box, race drop down, etc. on the Report Generator. Then, optionally, select ORDER BY criteria and a report type from the Report Type drop down.

 

After selecting report filtering criteria, click the Create Report button to generate the report.

 

Calendar Control (Selecting a Date)

To generate a report showing TripNotes table content for a specific date, give the date textbox a mouse click and a Calendar Control will appear. The outer double arrows on either side of the calendar control enable you to select a year. The inner single arrows on the face of the calendar control enable you to select a month. The numbered boxes on the face of the calendar control enable you to select day for the month displayed.

 

Clicking Apply persists the date selected to the date textbox.

 

Clicking Cancel closes the calendar control without persisting a new date to the date field.

 

Clicking the Clear Date button clears the date field.

 

Clearing the Date Field Manually

Use the TAB key (or SHIFT-TAB) to navigate to the date field. Then press the DEL or ESC key to clear the date field. Navigate away from the date field without bringing up the Calendar Control by using the TAB key (or SHIFT-TAB.) Key in a track code, then click the Reports button. The interface will recognize that the Data Entry Screen does not have a date, and the generated report will reflect that.

 

Reset Button

Clicking this button clears the date textbox, track code textbox, race drop down, and returns the short description, order by, and report type drop downs to their defaults.

 

To generate a report showing all TripNotes table content (a report with no filtering whatsoever), click the Reset button, select a report type, and click the create report button.

 

Player TripNotes Report

This report displays player trip notes filtered by user supplied criteria.

 

Daily Track Profile Report

This report displays daily track profile notes filtered by user supplied criteria.

 

30 Day Vet Scratch Report

This report displays horses picked up by Scratch BOT as vet scratches within the past 30 days. Currently, it can not be filtered by date, track code, or race number. However, the report can be sorted by date, track code, or name of horse by making a selection in the ORDER BY drop down.

 

Sizing the Report Generator Screen

To resize the Report Generator Screen: Grab the border of the module with your mouse. With your left mouse button held down, drag the module border to resize the module as you see fit. Alternately, you can double click the title bar going across the top of the module to maximize it.

 

Zoom Feature

The Report Generator comes with two buttons for making text displayed in the main viewing area larger or smaller.

 

Clicking the Font (+) button causes text displayed by the module to increase in size by one half pt. (Repeat as needed.)

 

Clicking the Font (-) button causes text displayed by the module to descrese in size by one half pt. (Repeat as needed.)

 

 

 

 

 

--SCREENSHOT GALLERY—

 

 

 

Screenshot above: The JCapper TripNotes User Interface

 

 

 

 

Screenshot above: The JCapper TripNotes Setup Screen. The user is setting up a new trip category for horses that closed against the grain.

 

 

 

 

Screenshot above: The JCapper TripNotes User Data Entry Screen. The user has just saved a trip note for MIKES GUST O who was taken back off the pace and made to close too late given the pace scenario for the race.

 

 

 

 

Screenshot above: The JCapper TripNotes Report Generator. The user is double checking that trip notes for HAW R1 on 10/09/2011 were in fact saved to the table.

 

 

 

 

 

Screenshot above: The JCapper TripNotes Settings Screen

 

 

 

 

Screenshot above: The JCapper TripNotes Utilities Screen

 

 

 

 

Screenshot above: The JCapper TripNotes Soft Build Interface. The user is about to run a Soft Build for the 4 selected data files.

 

 

 

 

 

Screenshot above: The JCapper TripNotes JCapper2.mdb File Import Screen. The user is about to import trip notes table data out of a source JCapper2.mdb file and write it to a target JCapper2.mdb file.