Getting started

1. The launch

1. The license

   At first launch, FINISH checks the computer's license (or the trial period). Without a valid license, it does not start: HelpLicence… activates it.

2. The database

   FINISH installs with its local database: nothing to set. To share the database with EVENT or other computers, see Database.

3. The session configuration

   The Timing session configuration window opens. Choose Competition, the sport Speed skating, the discipline Long track (track length: 400), the country Famousie, the province Hollywood, then Edit for the venue: type “Star”, choose Anneau de Starford and its track. The SKF and HSK logos appear at the top right: the federations are deduced automatically. Confirm.

   The main window opens. The next times, the session will confirm itself after a 10 s countdown.

2. A tour of the screen

1. The modules: Timing (the races), Broadcast (the displays), Configuration (the equipment), History (the database).
2. The File (session), Session and Tools menus, then Settings and Help. In the center, search (Ctrl+K) finds any setting.
3. The finish loop switch: Finish loop ON in green (RACE RESULT, USB Timing Box or Ubidium decoder). The equipment itself is started in the Configuration module.
4. The numeric keypad, for passings by hand.
5. The loaded competition.
6. The timing tabs: Races in progress, List (waves), Configuration, Starts, Athletes, Annotations.
7. A race in progress: its timer, its commands, its lap-by-lap standings.
8. The status bar: management mode, start offset, decoder status, automatic loading, beep, database.

The details of each area: Main window.

3. Connect the equipment

1. The mode and the device

   Configuration module → Timing mode…: Decoder, RACE RESULT, then Settings: IP address 192.168.1.50, Port 0 (the usual port), and check Set the decoder clock to this computer's clock on connection. Confirm.

2. The track

   Track and loops…: a finish line STA with the identifier the decoder sends (“Channel=1 LoopID=1”); with an empty list, a single STA loop receives everything. See the scenario Install and set up a computer for several lines.

3. Running

   Set the Decoder switch to ON.

   The status changes to “Connecting…” then “Connected”; the dot of the STA line turns green on the track drawing. Pass a transponder over the loop: it appears in Latest passings, with “no race” (normal: nothing is loaded).

4. A first race

1. Create the race

   The simplest way: Configuration tab, One race mode, then at the bottom START A NEW RACE NOW!. Choose the favorite 500m (400 m track, 100 m start line, 1.25 laps), Create race.

   “Race “Emergency race 14h05” ready: it will start at the next start.” It is open: any transponder that crosses the line joins it. (For a real competition, the races come from the file or the database: long track scenario.)

2. Give the start

   The start gun connected to the decoder, or Manual start (Ctrl+0 on the numeric keypad).

   The race changes to “In progress”, the timer runs. The Starts tab records the signal.

3. Follow

   Each passing at STA makes a lap: the athlete's tile turns from yellow to green with their time. An athlete without a chip? Turn on the Numeric keypad and type their start position when they pass.

4. Finish

   When everyone has done their laps, the race becomes “Finished” (“Closing in N s”), then raced. Otherwise: All finished (countdown) or Finished (immediately).

   The race leaves the screen; its .LIF file is written to the results folder (desktop, ChronoFEED\Résultats).

5. Find it again

   History module, Races tab: the race “Raced”, its laps, Detail and report… to print it.

What next

• Install and set up a computer: session, decoders, photocells, photo finish, manual, track lines.
• A long track competition loaded from EVENT or from a file.
• Free practice.
• Displays and voice.