FAQ # 48
ALL-Ways^TM Support

What ALL-Ways files do I need to transfer from my desktop computer to my notebook computer if I am traveling or if I want a computer at the track?

The files that need to be transferred depend on what you want to be able to do on the notebook computer. The normal process for handicapping a race card is to download the ALL-Ways data file, unzip the file, process the file through the Par Update function, process the file through the Translate function and then handicap the individual races in the Handicapping Module.

Full Processing

If you want to do all of steps described above, then you must transfer a lot of files from your desktop computer to the notebook computer. All the files are in your FRANFILE directory/folder. Some files are required for all tracks in the country and are not dependent on the actual track(s) you intend to handicap. Other files are dependent on the track(s) you intend to handicap. Note that all of this assumes you have installed ALL-Ways software on both computers.

Here are the files required regardless of the track(s) you intend to handicap. Note that the ".xxx" extension is the track code.

Custrep

Histdb.xxx (all tracks)

Histdx.xxx (all tracks)

Pars2.xxx (all tracks)

Parsdx.xxx (all tracks)

Phone (only if you will use the Communications Module in ALL-Ways)

Prefer

Profile.xxx (all tracks)

Shape.xxx (all tracks)

Var.xxx (all tracks)

Here are the files that are required only for the track(s) you intend to handicap:

Locks.xxx

MRA.xxx

IV.xxx

IVdex.xxx

Racedb.xxx

Racedx.xxx

If this is something you are going to do more than once or twice, we suggest you invest in one of a number of things that will help make this as painless as possible. Here are the alternatives:

• Purchase a program such as Laplink that allows you to connect the two computers together via a cable between the parallel ports on each computer. Then, all of these files can be quickly and easily transferred over the cable. These kind of programs are typically around $100 including the cable.

• Purchase an external Iomega ZIP Drive. These drives use removal disks much like floppy disks except the disks hold 100 Million bytes of data. The 100 Million bytes will be more than enough to handle all the files you need to transfer. You can copy the files from your desktop computer to the ZIP Drive and then move the drive over to the notebook computer and copy the files from the ZIP Drive into the notebook computer. This is a very fast process. these ZIP Drives cost about $150. This approach is better than the Laplink type program above because the ZIP Drive also gives you excellent capabilities to back-up your ALL-Ways files.

• Purchase an external Tape Back-up Unit. These devices use small magnetic tape cartridges that hold billions of bytes of data. You would use it in the same manner as the ZIP Drive described above. They also cost about $150. Their advantage is that one removable tape cartridge can hold the entire contents of your hard disk drive. This is an excellent choice for backing up your ALL-Ways files.

Note: If you use any of these three methods, you may want to consider just transferring all files in your Franfile directory/folder from your desktop computer into the Franfile directory/folder in your notebook computer. In other words, transfer the entire contents instead of just selected files.

If you only want to handicap the races, meaning you have already processed the ALL-Ways data file through the Par Update and Translate functions, then the number of files you need to transfer is greatly reduced. Here are the files to transfer. The files ending in ".xxx" are only required for the track(s) you intend to handicap. The "xxx" is the track code.

• Custrep

  IV.xxx

  IVdex.xxx

  Locks.xxx

  MRA.xxx

  Prefer

  Profile.xxx

  Racedb.xxx

  Racedx.xxx

You can use any of the techniques described above to transfer the files. You can also use the Transfer function in the Custom Module of ALL-Ways to create a transfer disk on your desktop computer and to import the files from the transfer disk into your notebook computer. A clean floppy disk is required for each track you intend to handicap.

Note: Any and all files that need to be transferred are in the Franfile directory/folder. No files are needed from the Frandata directory/folder.

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