Scorer Overview
NZ Scorer is the most used Bridge Scoring package in New Zealand
History
Scorer was originally commissioned by NZCBA around the year 2000. At this point BridgeNZ was not involved.
NZCBA eventually found they did not have the resources to support the product, and as a gesture to clubs BridgeNZ was offered independent support rights on a "comercial basis" meaning that BridgeNZ had the right to charge clients for support.
BridgeNZ sourced developers who could make a significant number of changes to the programme for congress and to try to fix bugs - a very high proportion of this was never charged to any client or to NZCBA.
After a number of years NZB passed on the development rights for the source code to BridgeNZ, and BridgeNZ now have full control of the code.
How Scorer is Built
Scorer uses a delphi application connecting to a microsoft SQL Server database. This was developed by BridgeNZ so that the data collected was more easily available to the user.
A reporting tool has been developed using Fast Reports, and this allows the user to have full access to their data and control over the format of output.
Slowly but surely the file components of Scorer are being removed and all information stored in the SQL database.
Scorer is Calendar Based - so the calendar is set up by adding Events which are comprised of sessions. This means that the ladders are pretty much automatic, with the option to say how many sessions are required to qualify and how many substitutes are permitted.
Scoring is available on Match Points, Datum IMPS (Butler) or X-IMP, and sessions can be run as pairs, Teams, Swiss Pairs or individual.
Club administration information, which was originally stored in paradox, was moved to SQL Server in version 11, and all teams data was stored in the database from Scorer V12.
Scorer requires the install of SQL Server Express edition (free) and is currently working successfully on versions from SQL Server 2008(R2) to SQL Server 2016.
Movements are currently of two forms:
- Standard Mitchell movements which are generated automatically, including the option for skip move or share & relay when the number of tables is even.
- New custom movements which are stored in the database. Custom movements, from V20, allow users to add any pairs/individual movement they choose and using the repoars print the overview and table slips for the movement.
Using Electronic Scoring
BridgeNZ implemented the use of BridgePads into Scorer 7 and opened the door with the addition of BridgeScorers then BridgeTabs in later versions.
