HorseRacingUSA.com
Speed/Pace Handicapping with
WINNING AT THE TRACK
HELP Page for WATT Users
Using the DATABASE Transfer Program,
help with BRIS, or solving printing problems
Want help installing Winning at the Track (WATT)?
Today, the ONLY criticism one will ever hear about WATT is "it's a DOS-based program." Oh, horsefeathers! If WATT is easy to use, if it's good, and it works, why worry? Anyone capable of typing two words, TRANSFER and DESKTOP, can master Winning at the Track!
However, a Windows Version of WATT is available! Here are all the details: The Windows Version. Yes, the Windows version will offer sharp graphics and a few new features! Also, for serious handicappers, the Windows version can operate at the same time the DOS version is operational, or visa versa. Both programs have essentially the same format. Master the layout of the DOS version, and then you understand WATTwin.
Installing WATT, step-by-step, can be seen here: Install
The Home Page (lower left corner) of HorseRacingUSA.com tells what you'll need to know about DOS and about the WATTdos installation procedure. Read the file HowTo.PDF and print it. When "Winning at the Track" is installed properly both versions, WATTdos and WATTwin, run beautifully in Win95, Win98, 2000, XP, or Vista.
The Database Program and How it Works:
The Winning at the Track DATABASE software has two primary functions: 1) To Transfer data from data source files that have been received from Bloodstock Research (BRIS); or 2) To Store the history of individual horses if the user wishes to do so. The Transfer segment accounts for 95% of its use.
The DATABASE Transfer segment is used to create WATT race files with BRIS data files (their "Single File" .DRF format). So, in this case, the DATABASE is not used for entering data, but only as a means of deciding which data to keep, or which to delete. Thus, a new WATT race file (one race card for one track) can be made in ten only seconds (or ten minutes for those who want to eliminate certain data) for only $1.00 per file. And, typically, a data source file can be received well in advance -- Thursday night or Friday for Saturday's races. WATT handicappers especially appreciate the total control they have with data entry!
Using BRIS Data Source Files in the DATABASE Transfer Program:
Here is a broad overview of the DATABASE: The Database
The DATABASE was written to accommodate various data sources. Most used is BRIS. Now that CSW has decided to no longer offer horse racing files, LPC may be adding yet another data service company in its future WATT editions. In the meantime, for ex-CSW subscribers who plan to use BRIS data source files in their WATT DATABASE "Transfer" program, here are the details...
The BRIS download service is located on the internet at BRISNET.com. When you visit that site, go to the "Selections, Programs & PP's" section (top left). Go to the Software Data Files table and then find the Past Performance "DRF Data File (single)" entry on the lower portion of the list. The file you want will be a single, comma delineated file, about 400-500k in size and will have a .DRF extension after it is decompressed. It will be named as such: An Aqueduct file for March 25 would be called AQU0325.DRF. However, the BRIS file first arrives in a "zip" format (a compressed file with a .ZIP extension). In this specific example, the file downloaded would be named AQU0325k.ZIP. Therefore, before the DATABASE Transfer program can accept the .DRF file, the zip file must be decompressed (see below). The Transfer program will not accept the zip file.
Most WATT users download the BRIS "k" file into the TRACK directory and then later erase the old BRIS files. However, there is also another approach if you use BRIS frequently and want to build an archive...
Once your account with BRIS is opened, you might want to take the following steps. 1) Create a download folder on your "C" drive for receiving the BRIS files. We suggest naming the empty directory BRIS. 2) If you don't have it, obtain a PKUNZIP.EXE file from Bloodstock or LPC. For those who update WATT programs regularly, note that the PKUNZIP program is also included in the latest WATT update. 3) Copy the small PKUNZIP program into your BRIS directory and use the program to decompress any files received from BRIS. Once you have the PKUNZIP program, opening the .ZIP files will be easy.
When you download a .ZIP file into your BRIS directory, your "path" will be as follows...
C:\Bris\AQU0325k.ZIP
After the .ZIP file is downloaded into the BRIS directory, type this message: PKUNZIP AQU0325k.ZIP. This will open the file and produce the file your DATABASE Transfer program needs ... AQU0325.DRF. Once the DRF file is available, copy it into your TRACK directory. There, it is entered into your Transfer program when the program says: "Enter BRIS File Name." If you go to the races infrequently, you can download the BRIS file into your TRACK folder and save the copying step.
Also, be sure that the "Source" to your Transfer program is set properly. After typing "Transfer," if the Transfer program fails to say "Enter BRIS File Name," hit Alt-S to change your Source setting to BRIS. In most cases, this will not be necessary.
By making the WATT files yourself with this process you are doing something no other software program offers. You can decide which data goes into each horse's History Worksheet and which does not. As most experienced racegoers know, with computer handicapping, it's "garbage in, garbage out." This is one big reason why Winning at the Track is superior to every other speed/pace handicapping program available today! It is not absolutely necessary to remove unwanted data, but most users want to have that choice.
Also, be sure to read and print the DATABASE.doc file found in your TRACK folder. These are the official DATABASE instructions, only 7-8 pages long. And always refer to menus at the bottom of each page!
That's all there is to it! Once you've done this a few times, the entire process, including the data selection, should take only about ten minutes.
Bloodstock's local phone number is: (606) 223-4444 -- or use (800) 354-9206 to set up an account.
WATT Questions? Call LPC's offices at (954) 426-9677 - Jeff Little, Publisher
A problem?
For computer novices, here is yet another Help page (a PDF file that can be printed)... For the Computer Novice
When WATT users are having problems, it is most often because the BRIS files are sent into the wrong directory (folder). Most problems occur at this point ...
The file should be downloaded and opened in the same directory (TRACK) where the DATABASE program is located. For most users, that path will be C:\TRACK (not C:\MyDocuments\TRACK or anything else). Some people download the BRIS files to a "Bris" directory for archive reasons. But, ultimately, the .DRF file (after the zip file is opened) must be copied into the same folder as the DATABASE (i.e., into the TRACK folder) or the DATABASE program will not function.
The rule is simple: Know where your program is located (the TRACK folder) and where the files are going!
Printing Problems
LPC still sells DOS-based programs. Any customer who has a new, Windows-only printer could encounter a problem printing DOS-based software such as WATT. Of course, the new Windows version will eliminate these problems, but in the meantime, three things can be done ...
(1) Own a printer capable of printing Windows and DOS.
Our customers tell us that the best printer is the Brother HL 1440 (laser, B&W only) that retails for $149.95 in Office Max and other locations. We've tested the printer and concur. Using a parallel port cable, it is excellent. The cartridges are expensive, $50, but they last for 6,000 copies and the print output is FAST. The next-best printer is the HP (inkjet) Deskjet printer. For those who can use older printers, we recommend any of the older models of the Okidata series (the Microline 320 is very fast, inexpensive, and good). Needless to say, with the Windows version, this is no longer a problem.
(2) Users unhappy with their printers can download a shareware (free) program called "PrintDeskTop" that will allow any printer not capable of printing DOS-based programs to do a simple print-screen without the normal Windows "cutting and pasting" (a time-consuming process that is a major disadvantage to Windows).
This is a good, easy-to-install program that allows new non-compatible printers to run a simple, old-fashioned "print-screen" function. This program is downloaded into an empty folder and is installed quickly.
www.PrintDesktop.com and www.PrintDesktop.com/shortcut.htmPlease note -- LPC is not the publisher of this
program. We like it, but we cannot assume responsibility for the program or its
operation. And we do not provide customer support for it.
(3) Download the 500c HP Driver, free of charge, from the
following website address:
www.HP.com/go/support
Note: It has been our experience that Hewlett Packard support is no longer what it used to be.
Customers using Windows 95 can download the print driver free from HP.
The following is for Windows 98 per
Hewlett Packard's instructions:
Any other WATT Questions? Call LPC's offices at (954) 426-9677
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