Bridge Clock Program Written by: John Christman current version: BridgeClock.exe Rev 3.9 E-Mail: jwc2708@bellsouth.net Web Site: www.bridgeinorlando.com Description This little program lets you use your computer as a bridge clock. You set the number of rounds, hands per round, and time per hand. Breaks between rounds can be scheduled. The clock makes an end-of-round chime, a start-break sound and a sound for end of session. The director can stop and start the clock, and adjust the time while it runs. 'ACBLScore' or any other program can run concurrently. Even if the display is minimized, the clock continues to run and sounds at the end of rounds. BridgeClock can run on multiple screens. Registration This program is shareware. You may use the program for free for 30 days. After that you have to pay me $22 to get a registration key. You can pay via PayPal (which accepts credit cards). On the web, go to www.paypal.com and click on 'Send Money'. My account is my email address (below). To get your registration key, email me at : jwc2708@bellsouth.net Please include your full name, and email address. I'll email you the registration code as promptly as I can. If you don't register the program, it will stop working after 30 days. Until then, it will work exactly as the registered program does. Registration keys will work for this and all future versions. Updates will be posted, and users notified of them as they are completed. Installation Instructions ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Download the file Setup Bridge Clock 38.exe from the web site : http://www.bridgeprogs.com/BridgeClock Execute the setup file. Follow the instructions. NOTE: You can change where the program is installed, but do not put it in either of the 'Program Files' subdirectories. The program will start when it's installed. You will have an Icon on your desktop to start it subsequently. The clock setup should be self-explanatory (is it? - let me know). Use the 'Set Clock' tab to enter data for the session. Other tabs do allow you to change things: Options - Change the display colors and line sizes. Register - Enter registration information. (Note Version and contact info here) Help - Reminds you about 'hot keys'. Sounds - Change and test the sounds, or select no sounds. Note: Changes made to sound selection and display colors and size are 'remembered' and will stay as they are the next time you use the program. Hot Keys - ===VERY IMPORTANT=== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When the clock is on the screen, only 4 keys effect its operation: The space bar Starts and stops the clock. Up Arrow Increase time by 30 seconds (each time it's pressed). Down Arrow Decrease time by 30 seconds (each time it's pressed). 'm' or 'M' Toggle between full and part screen views. These keys only work if one of the program's two windows is the currently active windows application (i.e., the one with the brightly colored title bar). If you've been running other application (a scoring program, for instance) you must click on the title bar to select the Bridge Clock. The function keys (F1-F12) identify users. Your sound selections, times and options are saved when you hit 'GO' or stop, and are available for up to twelve users. Use the function keys to select your user number if you have multiple users. Revision Notes ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BrigeClock.exe Rev 3.9 (10/2012) Radio Group buttons for monitor selection. BrigeClock.exe Rev 3.8 (03/2012) Bug fix for finish time and session duration. These are now updated periodically. BrigeClock.exe Rev 3.5-3.7 (09/2010) Added text display capacity. Text on your clipboard can be written to the clock display. This is useful for game results, especially if you have a separate monitor. BrigeClock.exe Rev 3.4 (04/23/2010) Added code to support 2 monitors. If multiple monitors are detected, select the monitor for the clock on the 'Options' page (Monitor=0 is the primary monitor). The clock will display on the selected monitor when you maximize it. If you select a monitor other than the primary monitor, the control box will remain on the primay monitor, but the display will go to the selected monitor. BridgeClock.exe Rev 3.3 (06/02/2008) Sounds in a separate directory. Files in this revision Readme.txt This file. BClock.exe The program executable. BridgeClock.ini The configuration (written when program starts). Sounds =subdirectory with sound files. *.wav 9 WAV sound files - named to describe. *.mp3 14 MP3 sound files - named to describe. Miscellaneous minor fixes. Note: Your registration key and most other settings will remain the same. The program will create a new sound subdirectory, and use files from it. Put any sound files you want into that subdirectory. Delete those in the directory with the .exe file. You should check your sound selections. If you have multiple users, check other users too. NBClock.exe Rev 3.1 (04/17/2007) Prohibit multiple instances of the program from running. Adjust time per hand by 15 seconds (vs 30 seconds). Bug fixed in 'End of Game' time calculation. Some sounds converted to MP3 files - some eliminated. Test buttons for sounds added. Unreadable wide top line at 'Round XX of XX' fixed. NBClock.exe Rev 2.9 (10/25/2006) Minor fix- 'Break' ending doesn't wipe out display. No warning bell before break or last round. NBClock.exe Rev 2.8 (1/10/2006) The number of boards per round and total number of rounds is stored with sounds, and other options for each user. A display bug has been fixed in the "Break" display transitions. Registered users should continue to be registered, but the data file (BridgeClock.ini) will be replaced since its format has been modified. Current user settings will be reset to default values (Sounds, times, etc.) will be reset to defaults. Sorry. NBCLOCK.exe Rev 2.4 (11/01/2004) A provision for translation of on-screen text to another language was implemented. This feature is available from the 'Options' page. It provides a facility for translating the clock screen to another language and to select that as the presentation. Note that the 'Round 1 of 8' and 'Next Round 2' lines use the numbers (1 and 8, and 2) as place holders which should be included in the translation. Also, the 'Active' and 'Inactive' labels above the columns are selectors for the language to use. The translation phrases and active language are saved between program uses. The time line font selection is now also saved between uses. The anti-flicker method implemented in Rev 2.3 has been extended to both lower digits, so that either the units or tens and units digits can be updated as needed without re-writing the rest of the time line. A bug in the sizing option was also discovered and fixed. The changed font appears on the clock screen immediately. Also, the revision level (2.4 here) appears on the 'Register' page. This is a major revision. Although I've tested it extensively, look for a bug-fixed revision as I get reports of problems. NBCLOCK.exe Rev 2.3 (10/27/2004) New method of writing timer to screen in an attempt to reduce flicker during number updates. The units digit is the only one written if the others don't change. Also, double-buffered clock form. Flicker is reduced - not eliminated. Added font selector for digit line. This is for 'fun' only- it's not saved. All fonts don't work- most do. To change font, select one and press 'm' twice to cause the clock screen to update. Fixed bug in sizing method. Files in this revision (41): Readme.txt This file. NBClock.exe The program executable. BridgeClock.ini The configuration (written when program starts). *.wav 32 WAV sound files - named to describe. *.mid 5 MIDI song files - named to describe. *.mp3 2 MP3 sound files - named to describe. NBCLOCK.exe Rev 2.2 (6/15/2004) New buttons for 'Break After' rounds. Note: To break after a round, click on the round number in the break panel. Optional warning for the last 'x' minutes of a round. The time is selectable, as is the sound. Also, the display blinks during this time, if desired. These controls are on the 'Sounds' tab. New Method to Select User Number: F1= User 1 (default) F2= User 2 F3= User 3 F4= User 4 , etc up to F12= User 12 Each user can customize sound files and options, warning options, minutes/hand and time between hands. These are saved when the clock is run. Files in this revision: Readme.txt This file. NBClock.exe The program executable. BridgeClock.ini The configuration (written when program starts). *.wav 8 WAV sound files - named to describe. *.mid 5 MIDI song files - named to describe. NBCLOCK.exe Rev 2.1 (12/18/2003) Nonexistent sound files do not crash the program. NBCLOCK.exe Rev 2.0 (9/23/2003) The 'Minutes per Hand' setting now changes in 1/2 minute increments. A 'Stop' button has been added to the setup page. (Note: The space bar works to start/stop the clock too.) The session time calculation is more accurate. NBCLOCK.exe Rev 1.9 - (12/21/2002) Added 'Break' feature. The director can now call for breaks of a specified time after specified rounds. The clock uses a different sound to start a break, and displays the time in the top line color. Added 'Reset Round' button. This sets the round (or break) time to its initial value. Minor changes to the display minimizing/maximizing methods and controls. Files: Readme.txt This file. NBClock.exe The program executable. BridgeClock.ini The configuration (written when program starts). *.wav 7 WAV sound files - named to describe. *.mid 5 MIDI song files - named to describe. BCLOCK7.exe Rev 1.7 - (9/3/2002) Added files for more sounds and allow user to select sounds for end of round and end of session. These sounds are 'remembered' when the program is restarted.