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Main => Suggestions => Topic started by: dc_rocker on September 18, 2007, 03:09:16 PM

Title: Receipts
Post by: dc_rocker on September 18, 2007, 03:09:16 PM
Hello Corey and everybody.

I run two regular monthly tournaments and one of them has averaged 150 to 170 players. It has become unpractical to have all the 150+ players to stop on the screen projection, search for their names on the table diagram and then go out looking where table 13 is. Also, to designate a seat on the moment they buyin also makes the process way too long. Adding a player, buying in and then seating him.

I was wondering if there's any way we could work out a solution for something like they do in Vegas and the WSOP. Almost every casino in Vegas use the QueueOS tournament system that prints this receipt:

(http://www.pokersucht.com/images/wsop-ticket.jpg)

Look how much information there is and most importantly: Table and seat #.

I know there's the problem of the software not knowing how many people/tables there will be before hand, but I'm willing to work with you, Corey, and find a solution. I think with the addition of a professional receipt system (and if ever possible the multi-screen feature) your software will be nothing short of perfect.

On a side-note, people on the 2+2 forum all consider the QueueOS system to be really simple, in their words, a piece of sh**, and they all recommend TD, as I do.

Hope we can work it out.

Best regards,

DC
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Corey Cooper on September 18, 2007, 03:49:29 PM
Much of this can be done today, since you can turn on receipt printing on the Preferences tab.  Items that aren't already provided can easily be added (although I can't think of anything other than Table and Seat).

There are 2 ways to go (off the top of my head) for providing table and seat number on a receipt.

(1) Provide a setting which tells the TD how many players you EXPECT, and allow it to seat players randomly within a set of tables that fits that expected number.  Or simply have a setting that says until the tournament starts, seat players randomly within the set of tables that are defined.  This sounds simple, and on the one hand it is, but there are a lot of what-ifs that also have to be taken into account.

(2) Seat players before buying them in.  Buy them in as they arrive and pay.

Both of these need the addition of printing the table and seat on the receipt, which is easy to do.  The 1st method needs additional coding to make it work, while the 2nd would work simply with adding table and seat on the receipt.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: tandemrx on September 18, 2007, 08:00:16 PM
I also like the idea of printing table and seat on receipt (although not sure when I will use it).

I like your option #1 the best.  Tell the program that this tourney will have 4 tables and then just have it select seats as people come in (or the option to pre-seat people if you know they are coming or are pre-paid).

In my case, I will usually know who is coming before the tourney - so I pre-seat people (I just buy them in well prior of the tourney).

But, I would like a better way to let them know what seat they are at.  Receipt might help, then they don't have squint at the displays to figure out which table they are at.

Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Corey Cooper on September 19, 2007, 10:16:24 AM
I've been thinking about this a bit and think this is what I will do:


Thoughts?
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: spade117 on September 19, 2007, 10:28:46 AM
Sounds good to me.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: tandemrx on September 19, 2007, 10:43:35 AM
I don't know if I would use it in this manner because I don't run big tourneys, but here is a problem that I might see with this method if I was running big tourneys.

Say you set up 3 10-person tables.  You then buy people in and get 18 entrants.  So, right off the bat you are going to want to collapse to 2 full tables and seating will change from what you assigned people.

So this method would count on the director have a really good idea of how many peopl will sign up and then make sure you set up a low number of tables so that you would have to add tables if you get more than you expected.

I am often on the fence as to whether I will have 1 or 2 tables used at my tourneys.  So I guess I would just define 1 table and fill it up and if I get enough for the 2nd table I would just define that table and fill it up (assuming that those I have seated wouldn't move).

My other problem is that I have dedicated dealer players and I need to seat them first.

I see how this is a very tough problem.

But, I like your basic solution Corey and could see using the approach you are considering.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Usireland on September 20, 2007, 02:58:27 AM
Well assuming when you have a large number of players you have more help than just yourself, you could print out receipts and then print out seating arrangements afterwards and have 3 people handing them out to players i.e. Players with Surnames A-G go to Person A, Players with Surnames F- M go to Person B, and N-Z go to Person C to receive their seating assignment.

Sure its not the ideal arrangement but it does eliminate the need to collapse tables before the game even starts.

Hope this helps
Regards
Ian
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: dc_rocker on September 20, 2007, 04:23:27 PM
Hello Corey and everyone else.

I've been thinking about this a bit and think this is what I will do:

  • Add an option to the Players tab to Randomly seat players as they buy-in
  • If this option is checked, when a player buys-in they will be randomly seated at any available seat defined on the Tables tab; the seating algorithm is completely ignored at this point - just randomness is used
  • If no seat is available at buy-in, a dialog will be presented to ask whether or not the player(s) should be bought-in and left unseated (this gives you the option to abort the buy-in process and edit your Tables first)

Thoughts?


Awesome! I think this is a great idea. Nice way of implementing. On another though, I think that when the seating capacity is reached a dialog could pop up and advise you to add more tables.

Another suggestions to have a way selecting the method of payment on the receipt. Since you have the "salesperson" field I don't think it would be too hard. The thing I'm looking for is that I need to have a financial report (for my own control) of my tournament. I need to know how many people pated by credit card, in cash and in check. Is it possible?

Actually I'm using an Excel spreadsheet along with TD to control this, but again it consumes a lot of time during the buyin process to fill two separate softwares.


Say you set up 3 10-person tables.  You then buy people in and get 18 entrants.  So, right off the bat you are going to want to collapse to 2 full tables and seating will change from what you assigned people.



Tandemrx, in my tournaments we have a nice staff to help me run things. But it wouldn't be much of a problem if I have to collapse a table before starting. After all, as soon as all buy-ins are finished I can glance at the seating chart to see how things are and direct my staff to relocate the players at once. Also it would take a lot less time than having 150+ players staring at a scrolling table diagram screen looking for their names.


Thanks  for the help and I hope to help you improve this great software.

D.C.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on October 08, 2007, 11:38:28 PM
Hey Corey.

As always, GREAT work on this entire program!

I've been working on the receipts here and for the most part I am making progress.  I'm trying to do something similar to the example posted previously at the top of this thread.  My question to you is, is there a way to rotate the text in the cell 90 degrees, like it is shown on the left side in the example above?  I'm not too well-versed in HTML, so I have been following your suggestions as well as some tutoring on some websites that I have found, and I couldn't find out how to do that, if it is at all indeed possible.

This is certainly not a priority issue, so if it can't be done in an easy manner, then don't bother.  I was just wondering if there was some easy code that I could attach to the cell to make the text rotate.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Corey Cooper on October 09, 2007, 10:26:10 AM
There is, they are called "filters". 

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms532972.aspx

http://thetournamentdirector.net/forums/index.php?topic=755.0

Basically, you add a style:

<td style="filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.BasicImage(rotation=N)">

Set N to:

0: Default. Content is not rotated.
1: Content is rotated 90 degrees.
2: Content is rotated 180 degrees.
3: Content is rotated 270 degrees.

You might have to work with it a little bit.  They don't always do exactly as you might think (as amcq10 discovered in the topic referenced above).
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on October 09, 2007, 03:38:34 PM
Thanks so much for your help and prompt reply.  I'll give it a go and see how it comes out.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on October 18, 2007, 07:45:54 PM
OK....I've been working on this some more.  I did follow your suggestions, Corey, and I made some progress in seeing the text when I added "valign="top".  The only problem with this now was that when I did the text rotation, it expanded the cell horizontally, as if the text were going in the original direction.  Also, the text rotation was only accomplished in the viewer; when I went to Print Preview, it showed the original orientation.  So I guess I'm still not doing something correctly.  I've put this aside for now to continue to work on my receipt template, and for the most part (aside from the text rotation issue), I've got it to where I like it.

Now here's the rub:  I worked on my template file, tweaking it here and there, and finally printed it out directly from the Receipts folder, where TD sends them when they are created at buyin.  When I printed them out from the Receipts folder, I would hit the Print dialogue, and everything was fine.  Then I figured it was time to try it out directly from TD; I did a buyin, hit the Print dialogue that pops up there, but when I hit Print this time, the reciept prints out in a drastically smaller form, about one-quarter the size of the original.  I checked the printer settings, and still the same thing happens, a much smaller version of my receipt is printed.  It also changes my font from Ariel to New Times.

Here's what I did to check it out:

1.  I did another buyin; when the Print dialogue pops up, this time I went directly to the Receipts folder and opened the receipt that was sent there.  I did the print preview, checked my print settings for size and whatnot, pushed print, and all is well.  When I went back to the original Print dialogue, I checked printer settings there (everything seemed to be in place), pushed print, and the small version printed out again.

2.  I changed to receipt template to another version that I made earlier; same story.  Then I went to your default receipt template, and again the same thing.

3.  I repeated this exercise on 3 different printers; everything happens the same.

Am I doing something wrong?  Have you heard of this before, and if so, any suggestions on how to fix it?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

(P.S. I don't know of anyone else who is testing out this feature.  If you are, let me know how it's going for you.)
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Corey Cooper on October 19, 2007, 09:45:51 AM
The rotation trick does have some odd side effects.  The few times I have used it, I've had to tweak it in different ways to get it to render the way I intended.

That aside, there aren't that many people, to my knowledge, using the receipt feature.  I have of course tested it to make sure it works.  I haven't tested very many different template configurations, and as we are working with HTML and Internet Explorer, and possibly some of the less common features (filters), anything is possible.  Why don't you post your receipt template (or email it to me if you'd rather not make it public), and I'll see what I can find out.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on October 19, 2007, 05:05:52 PM
Thanks again for your help with this.

I've sent along two versions of my receipt templates to your support email address.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Corey Cooper on October 22, 2007, 12:33:17 PM
As I mentioned before, the filters can have some odd side-effects.  It looks like using the rotation filter renders the object with its original width (before rotation), and its height after rotation.  I'm sure there's a way to make this work the way we intuitively think it should, but it would require tweaking the HTML quite a bit.  I know it *can* be done, but the time and effort I'm not sure is worth it.

I also see the same thing you are seeing, that the filter works on-screen but appears to be ignored for printing.  I have no idea why this is.  I have come across nothing in Microsoft's documentation that would explain this.  Furthermore, rotating the text causes it to render in bold.  Again, no idea why.

Since you are rotating text to flow down the screen/page, there is a built-in style that can do this for you.  Instead of using a filter, use the style "writing-mode: tb-rl".  This renders correctly and prints correctly (at least the print preview looks right).

As far as why your receipts are printing smaller ... well, I'm afraid I don't have an answer for this.  To be honest, the software really barely has access to print anything anyway - really all it can do is call the "print" function of Internet Explorer (the same thing you can do with File -> Print in IE).  Nothing else.  As the user manual explains, if you want to change other printing configuration items, you've got to open IE and set them there - the TD doesn't even have access to those.

Hate to leave it like this, but I'm at a loss as to why it is doing this.  And I'm not sure there's anything that could be done within the TD to fix it.

If I figure out anything else, I'll post it.  Please do the same.  Sorry I can't offer more help.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on October 22, 2007, 04:38:49 PM
Again, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to take a look at these things for me.

I'll try the style suggestion and see if that works.  As for the receipt printing small, I have a couple of thoughts that I'm going to attempt to try and see if they work; otherwise what I think I might wind up doing is pre-seating everyone for my tournaments, then print out all the receipts with table name and seat #s beforehand as well.  As I said before, the receipts will print correctly for me if I approach the Print function from the Receipts directory, rather than from the pop-up Print dialogue when I buy players in.  If I have to do it that way, then so be it.

I'll let you know if I work it out.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on October 23, 2007, 08:14:52 PM
Aha!

It would appear that your suggestion to use the style "writing-mode: tb-rl" does exactly what I would like it to do.  It rotates the text just fine in that cell, and it prints just like it's supposed to, so that would solve that problem.  Thanks!

Still having a problem with the small printing receipt, though.  I haven't given up yet, and I am still trying a few things.

Thanks again for your help with this.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Keith_Huggins on November 15, 2007, 02:48:29 PM
What type of printer are you using...

Where would be the best place to get one cheap?

I assume you are using a thermal receipt printer but I wanted to see which printer people have had the most success with.

I run a tournament with about 30 people and have been looking at a more efficient way of buying people in. I believe this will work... I normally know who all will be playing prior to the game.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on November 18, 2007, 10:18:20 AM
Hi Keith.  I just saw your post now...

I do have a small portable thermal receipt printer, but I can't get it to interface with my computer at this time; that's a whole other issue.  I think that if I were able to get that one to work, then I could compensate for the small output, something that I could certainly live with.

In the meantime, I did come up with a receipt template/form that I am happy with (I'll post an image soon).  The only way that I can make it work, though, is to buy everyone in beforehand, but instead of having TD initiate the printing (I don't click the "print receipt" box in the Receipt button in "Preferences"), I just go to the Receipt folder and print them out individually there.  This is the only way that they will print exactly as they appear, without the shrinking or changing of fonts.

I got a cheap HP printer at Target for $30 (it's a printer only, no photo or scanner or anything) and print them out on 4x6 cards.  They look very similar to the receipt cards at the beginning of this post.

I'll be doing this for the first time at our next tournament, which is this coming Saturday, Nov. 24; I'll let you know how it works out.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Keith_Huggins on November 19, 2007, 02:11:24 AM
thanks for the reply I am looking forward to hearing how it worked out for you. I am still debating on if this will be effecient for me or not... Some players show up late... What I did before my printer broke was I bought in before everyoone showed up and exported and printed the player list and table seats. Then I would check off their names and look at the seating chart to tell them their seats... but thats with 30 people sometimes 40.

Keith
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on November 19, 2007, 09:52:56 PM
Yeah, OK.  I hear you on that one.  I did the same thing actually, so that's why I was thinking that it would be better to just hand them the receipt card with their table and seat info on it so they wouldn't be asking or wanting to see the seating chart on the screen, etc.

I do have my players trained fairly well, however.   :D  I have a one-week prior-to-tournament deadline in which they need to reserve their seats; otherwise they can't play.  This helps tremendously with the planning, as you might imagine.  I can let the host know exactly how many people are going to be there, so they can plan on the quantity of food/snacks that they will need to provide.  It's great for me as far as knowing beforehand how much equipment I'll need to bring.  If they don't cancel their reservation 24 hrs. before the tournament, then they will need to make good on their buyin anyway.  They also have until the end of the second round in which to arrive, otherwise the same thing, so everyone makes sure they get there on time.  So far everyone has been good with it.

I'll try to get an image of my receipt up soon, and I'll let you know how it works out.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on November 19, 2007, 10:09:12 PM
OK; here's an image of my receipt.  The barcode has an actual function; it contains the player's ID#, the buy in amount, and the receipt number.  Now all I need is for something to read it with... :D
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Keith_Huggins on November 20, 2007, 06:06:18 PM
Wow that looks really good.

I will try it out soon if it doesnt work then oh well...

I would like to try the deadline but its hard for me when I host 2 tournaments a week. Also the problem isnt them signing up (i have a automated phone system to call and poll if they are playing or not) the problem i have is them showing up durring the first couple rounds. I have it so that they have to arive by the break or they are out... but what I am starting this year in January is if you arive early you will get an aditional 500 chip that will bring you from 1500 to 2000 in chips...

Can I get a copy of the template you are using? That receipt looks great and with the exception of the barcode everything I would want to do, my email is khuggins@lansg.com

Maybe I will try to make a loby area and filter the players through there. Give them their receipt and send them on their way.

Keith
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on November 21, 2007, 09:19:42 PM
I sent you my template, sans the barcode and my league logo.  You might need to make some size adjustments to the cell that had the logo; other than that you should be good to go.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: PESH2037 on December 21, 2007, 12:37:53 AM
Hi,

Any chance you could give me the template, i've been trying to register players and give them a reciept at the same time with my thermal printer, but i cant seem to put the table number on there, or anything else for that matter apart from the orginal that comes with the td which is the same every time. Please help, im new at this computer thing, but i feel it would benefit my game greatly.

thanking you in advance
 
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on May 22, 2008, 10:36:46 PM
Hi Corey.

Just wanted to let you know that I have tried the new receipt feature, and it does EXACTLY what I would like it to do.  Apparently the changes that you made to how the receipt funtions were right on the money!  I used this feature in our satellite tournament, and everything was perfect.  I'm looking forward to continue using it throughout our next season.

If anyone is in need of kknowing how we are using this feature, please feel free to let me know, and I'll try to help you our as best as I can.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Corey Cooper on May 23, 2008, 10:03:26 AM
Thank you very much, Scotty, for letting me know.  Up to now, I hadn't gotten any real feedback on printing.  No news is usually good news, but it's definitely better to get real usage information.
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: MickejMouse on October 16, 2009, 02:51:13 AM
i love the receipt :D

Is it possible to publish it? So everyone can use it?
I'm hosting a tournament for an organisation for over 400 People so it can be usefull :p
Title: Re: Receipts
Post by: Scotty K on October 16, 2009, 06:55:34 PM
OK; here's the template.

I deliberately left the codeline for our league logo in the code; this will need to be changed for your own purposes.  Just go to the line that has the following code: "C:\Program Files\The Tournament Director 2.3\images\NJPT logo text.gif".  Remove this code, and replace it with the code for your own logo (make certain you use the quotation marks!).  You can also just replace it with text if you so chose.

This file can be edited using the standard Notepad program.  Open the .xml file (it should open, with an "x" indicating the missing logo), then on your browser click "View", then scroll down to "Source"; the .xml file now appears as it was written.  Right-click, then "Select All"; then right-click again, then "Copy".  Open Notepad, right-click and "Paste"; now the file can be edited as you might see fit.  You can save as an .txt file, or save with an .xml extension, which I would recommend just for consistency sake.  I would also suggest saving the file with a different name and keeping the original, just in case there were any mistakes made during editing.  After you save, you can then place the new template in the TD Template's directory, then select it within the program by going to the Preferences tab, clicking the Receipts button, and selecting the new template.  That should do the trick.

If you are having any problems with this, just let me know and I'll try to help.