RDSS 2.1 --> on HOLD

[Ted Craven]

Hello Everyone. I set up a new Forum to begin the process of first announcing, then describing the new version 2.1 of RDSS which is in the process of being born!

Within the next week, I should have a bunch of stuff posted here, including screenshots, a list of what's included, what's coming later, maybe a video.

For now, I can say that although I had hoped for the end of March, it looks like RDSS 2.1 will start circulating in a wider Beta version sometime in June. A handful of folks have agreed to be 'subjected' to what I'd call an Alpha version over the past year or so and I do thank them for their bravery! Thanks also to everyone who has given me suggestions over the past 3 years - AND who have stuck with the software as it is all along. All in all, not too shabby (or unprofitable) a time for many, from what I've been seeing.

OK, I'm going to clean up a few screens so it's not too confusing, then post some screenshots as soon as I can. (FYI, tomorrow I will be gone all day, but back at it on Friday).

It's very exciting for me, and I think everyone will find it a great new addition to the toolset.

Thanks,

Ted

[Ted Craven]

Here is the Master List of new Features in RDSS 2.1 -

1. Decision Modeler, including result, odds and mutuels, and numerous ways to portray, filter and sort that modeled data; Track Profiler

2. Result Charts Converted to database, displayed in screens (~20 minute after race, shows as Line 0 for each horse), feeds into Modeler

3. Revamped Tote Board: WPS pools, Exacta Pools, Daily Double Pools, Will-pays; Tote Xray 2 and further analysis, highlight interesting/overlaid combos

4. Re-organized Card Summary screen (including My Races version)

5. Re-organized Sidebar: merged with My Races, sorted by Date, Track, other filters. Assemble multiple cards/selected races at once. Use Sidebar to switch between cards and races instead of Card Summary Tab in each Race screen. Race Tabs at bottom eliminated. Minimal version of horse header for greater vertical screen display room

6. Result Charts fetched automatically, following race Official (~20 minutes delay), also mutuel results and prices (if connected to Supertote or TS ADW), also automatically added to Modeler; OR, race added to Modeler in bulk as Mutuels fetched in bulk, if race has been Assembled and pacelines selected

7. Paceline Selection Strategy screen re-organized: Contender separation filters exist separately from PSS, optionally enabled by user. A few new, canned New PSSs

8. Bugs fixed: numerous, TrackMaster website error bugs, Tote module mangling of Analysis screens and premature closure after last race; annoying navigation bugs

9. Built in Help system - annoying popup tips on data screens optionally disabled. Help buttons (mouse clicks) lead to contextual web links to online discussion/videos about particular factor, its formula (if public) and its usage

10. New modern Installer (Nulsoft) - for 32 and 64 bit Windows systems. Software updates retrievable from within RDSS (software checks for updates, prompts to download and install)

11. Projected Pace appears on Adjusted Screen; horse owning the Projected Pace at each Call is identified (i.e. the horse you clicked)

12. Dedicated button and RTF format document template for race by race screen captures and printouts - for Word and Wordpad

13. RDSS Desktop button to launch TeamViewer for Remote Support

14. RDSS Desktop button to launch Windows screen snipping tool

15. User Notes stored in Database or Cache and subsequently retrievable: by Race, by Horse, by Running line

16. Revamped Data Mgmt Tools section: simpler listing of existing databases for Switching, making New databases, Copying (i.e. Backup) of databases, downloading demo databases

17. Download from RDSS Server full race listing with details (though not PPs) each day. Card Summary screen (optionally filtered by desired race types) appears as if one had downloaded ALL race cards (to help determine which cards to purchase from TrackMaster)

18. Optionally Show fractional times on Original and Adjusted screens (as opposed to just the segmental leader's times)

19. Tweak Data Centre to allow unattended race Assembly as a Task (without quickly crashing!); Re-convert past race cards on hand to a new database (even if the card has expired from TrackMaster’s online listing)

20. Optionally relabel Analysis group headers to permit usage for other than Contender Groupings (e.g. Visual Running Style separation: F/E/EP - P - SP/S)

21. Sort most analysis screens by many more columns: e.g. RS Running Style

22. New, improved Factors:
- better Class Rating (CR+)
- TSF3+ based on Pace of Race and Horse Total Energy
- optional use of an outside (or inside) 'Power Number', e.g. TwinSpires ProfitLine, for starters; eventually, Bris Prime Power or other user-created number; OR other user-designated existing RDSS factor
- New, weighted 'Rx' Line Score and Odds line comprising VDC, CSR, Power Number (optional), new Class Rating, Early/Late composite ranking
- new Odds Line based on new Rx Rating

22. A few new Analysis Tabs: MPH (Phase III) factors, EXDC/Thoromation factors; the ability to hide Analysis Tabs you're not interested in (similar to hiding Tabs on Horse PP Panels)

23. New screen layout option: Analysis/Tote board combo (tote sorted/grouped by current Analysis screen)

24. Setup and launch multiple instances of RDSS2.1 - each having different Configuration settings and Cache

25. Identify Fulcrum, and Fastest Pace Last Race (FPLR)


Ted

[Ted Craven]

Folks, your comments and thoughts about the above list of features is welcomed! It's a pretty aggressive list of 'To Dos' and unless there is a really compelling reason to add something I just plain forgot about - the list is probably not going to grow much (more likely shrink ...). The good news is - I am in a much better position to update RDSS 2.x more and more frequently.

My goal (may take a year or so) is that RDSS and it's integrated Help/Tutorial system linked to this website - becomes an updated documentation on using and winning with the Sartin Methodology in the 21st Century. Within 2 years (e.g. 2018) RDSS will also run entirely from the web in your browser or as a web-app (Windows/Android/iOS), with your data stored either online or locally on your device.

* * *

I'll be away traveling now until April 30 and likely incommunicado for good portions of that time, though I will look in here and to emails when I can.

I am excited about what is coming! Phew

Ted

[cigar]

Originally Posted by Ted Craven

Folks, your comments and thoughts about the above list of features is welcomed! It's a pretty aggressive list of 'To Dos' and unless there is a really compelling reason to add something I just plain forgot about - the list is probably not going to grow much (more likely shrink ...). The good news is - I am in a much better position to update RDSS 2.x more and more frequently.

My goal (may take a year or so) is that RDSS and it's integrated Help/Tutorial system linked to this website - becomes an updated documentation on using and winning with the Sartin Methodology in the 21st Century. Within 2 years (e.g. 2018) RDSS will also run entirely from the web in your browser or as a web-app (Windows/Android/iOS), with your data stored either online or locally on your device.

* * *

I'll be away traveling now until April 30 and likely incommunicado for good portions of that time, though I will look in here and to emails when I can.

I am excited about what is coming! Phew

Ted

WOW - looking forward to the new release. Is there a feature in the new update version that will show all horses by running style when matching up? Eg all Early separated by Early Presser by Presser by Sustain.

[Ted Craven]

Sort of like what Bill V has been showing occasionally?

http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpos...9&postcount=19

[cigar]

Originally Posted by Ted Craven

Sort of like what Bill V has been showing occasionally?

http://paceandcap.com/forums/showpos...9&postcount=19

Not sure what Bill is looking for? When I am doing the matchup, I would like the ability to group all the Early (1A-4-6-7), Presser (1-2-3-5) & possible a space between each group.

[Rivegauche610]

I'm going to go out on a limb and muse that a grant of some kind is in order so that someone (and no, I have no one in mind, as I am new here) can distill 1) the Follow Ups, 2) Brohamer/Quinn/Sartin misc, 3) Recent analysis and program enhancements, into a comprehensive RDSS2 Training Manual. A caveat would have to be that it cannot hope to start "ab initio" with a neophyte and walk him or her through handicapping 101 all the way to Sartin Methodology Advanced. The material would have to assume fluency with Brohamer, Pace Makes the Race (both versions, perhaps; I got a lot from reading both) AND the fundamentals of "mainstream handicapping" that are necessary as background/preparation to understanding what is going on here. I say all this because I have been reading in Follow Ups and I feel there is a cognitive disconnect (for me, anyway) between the older pre-RDSS/RDSS2 information, especially names of the old modules/programs, their printouts and their programming, and the many, many abbreviations, acronyms and assumed knowledge on the part of the reader. So, how marvelous it would be to see a document come out of this. I used to be a technical writer in my younger days, among my other past lives, but I am not yet conversant with the program nor its intricacies nor with advanced Sartin Methodology processes, so I can't offer my services in this area. Perhaps a GoFundMe drive amongst Sartin enthusiasts? Anyway, this all just came to mind while reading through the Sartin Today Wkbk 1.

[DanBoals]

Hey Rivegauche610, yes, a manual would be awesome. The only question is how much would it be worth to you? I used to work as a software engineer, and at one job, we were required to update the manuals, and I can tell you it is a LOT of work time wise. Someone has to pay for those hours and hours of labor. Myself, I would pay $40 for a complete RDSS2 manual that described everything in detail even if it did not go into how to handicap the Sartin way. I feel after 20 years+ I know the methodology pretty well, and can fumble my way through handicapping a race if I have BL/BL and some other basics. What I would need a manual for, is the trackmaster stuff and all the new bells and whistles that have been added since Synthesis. Like I did not even know you could split the screen to show E and E/P, P and SP, and S. That is so cool.

With Ted dedicated to programming the new version, I would think he would need to bring on a second person to do the manual, or wait until after the release and do the manual himself. Either way, a lot of time and therefore money would go into it, and I am not sure how many people would be willing to pay money for it when they can come to this forum and ask others about things they don't know. So, even though it would be incredibly awesome to have a RDSS2 manual, I just do not see it happening in the near future.

That being said, there is no reason we probably couldn't start a forum called "Documenting the RDSS" and put in our own observations on what works in what situations. We could make a "users" manual with everyone contributing ideas and input based on what they use and how they use it. Bill does this exceptionally well in his posts, but we could all throw in our 2 cents worth. With everyone adding in some help on new features and seldom used features, we could probably get a decent collection of info that could serve as a manual for new users. And don't discount new users input, they see things differently and their questions often clue us in to what is missing or needed and what needs explaining. Anyway, I would be willing to give an hour or two a week to researching and writing about RDSS and its features so that a new user can jump right in. If anyone else is interested, let's try it. If it sucks, Ted can maybe steer us in the right direction, if people like it, then the forums have a new resource.

[Rivegauche610]

Dan, I was a civilian tech writer for the military in my younger days. I know what you mean. From my experience, it seems you can get quite a lot from the forums and from reading things like "Official Sartin Methodology TODAY Workbook for Video/Audio #1" which I guess describes the workings of the original/legacy programs. So most likely an RDSS document, which I consider somewhat of an anachronism from the early days of corporate computing, isn't in the cards, and that's OK. Not impossible to learn on the fly, however, especially if you read Brohamer's MPH and the revised PMtR. - Kevin

[Rivegauche610]

New question, please: What is the significance of the three R-G-Y pgm #s on the Original tab screen?