IBEScore Technical Manual – section 4

INTRODUCTION
SECTION 1: Basics for all users
SECTION 2: Player Guide
SECTION 3: Director’s functions
SECTION 4: Common Questions
Download IBEScore Technical Manual as a pdf

COMMON QUESTIONS FROM PLAYERS

Someone else at my table also has IBEScore on their phone. Which one of us should score?

It doesn’t matter as far as IBEScore is concerned.

If both players enter the same score into their phone, there will be no problem. If second scorer enters a different score to the first, then the first score will stand, and IBEScore will notify the second scorer of the discrepancy. If the first player entered an incorrect score, they should simply step back to the board in question using the small black arrows on either side of the board number at the top of the screen. Then they should tap the “Cancel score” button in the centre of the screen (if this option is enabled).

If only one player enters the scores, other players with IBEScore on the same table should refresh the game at the end of the round, so that their devices know that the round is complete. This is done by tapping the “Refresh game” menu option. Refreshing the game is a useful thing for players to know how to do, and it solves many problems straight off.

I accidentally quit IBEScore on my phone. What should I do/did I lose all my scores?

Nothing is lost – the player should just start IBEScore up again. We have designed this to be as quick a step as possible – the game code and id will all be remembered, so it should just be a matter of tapping the IBEScore globe image followed by “Enter round”.

Will using IBEScore cost me a lot in data usage fees?

IBEScore’s data messages are very small. A session with IBEScore is roughly comparable to writing a few E-mails in terms of amount of data transferred.

I put the names for my pair into IBEScore on my smartphone last round, but it didn’t remember for this round.

This may indicate that the game or the device is set to remain at a fixed table, when it should be set to move with its owner. This can be changed on the player’s device by using  the “Settings” menu option; tap “Table number” till it changes to “Pair number”, then “Save”.

Things to try when it’s not working

There follow some suggestions for recourse which are often enough to solve problems.

Internet connection

Make sure the device you’re having trouble with is connected to the internet. This may involve:

  • Switch on its WiFi
  • Switch off its WiFi, i.e. to force a phone to use its 3G/4G/5G internet connection
  • Specify a new wireless network
  • Switch on the WiFi, then open a browser to log into the gateway,
  • Use another phone in the room to create a local wireless access point (WAP) which other devices can then log in to on WiFi.

Refresh the game

If the device is not letting the player proceed to the next round, not showing results which have been entered, showing an obviously out-of-date leaderboard or pair names, refresh the game using the “Refresh game” menu option. This asks the server for the latest game information.

Update IBEScore

Make sure the device is using the most recent version of IBEScore. The phone should notify its owner if an update exists. Encourage your players to respond to these messages, and to keep their version of IBEScore up to date.

Battery life and screen brightness

Certain tablets may lose power during a duplicate, even if they started with a full battery, unless their screen brightness is dimmed. IBEScore automatically dims the screen to a certain extent, but some manual adjustment is recommended because of the differences between brands of tablet.

It is recommended that you find the dimmest setting at which IBEScore is still comfortably visible as soon as you take delivery of a tablet. IBEScore will then remember this setting and you will not have to adjust it again.

When IBEScore first starts up, press menu followed by “Global settings”. Reduce the brightness gradually until you feel you have reached the minimum that can be seen. Then press “back”. IBEScore will remember the brightness setting which you just selected, and apply it whenever “Duplicate client” is tapped on that tablet.

It may be that as you are reducing the brightness, the tablet goes into suspend mode. This means that you have passed below the minimum brightness for that tablet. Restart your tablet and set the brightness to a level just above the minimum.

GAME CODE

A subscription attaches to one GAME CODE and is a paid account with IBE Ltd to use IBEScore. With a GAME CODE, you can run as many games as you wish of any size, although trying to run two or more games simultaneously will not work. Use of the server, training and virtual scoring support comes with your GAME CODEs. The GAME CODE itself will however remain in existence and you will still be able to log in, manage your account, and look at your most recent game.

There are three different charging options to create your own GAME CODE.

  1. Purchase a one-off slot. This slot is accessible for up to 7 days
  2. Pay monthly
  3. Pay annually
  4. Without a paid subscription you be still be able to setup and score games – but there will be only limited )if any) post-game features available

Support: We are confident that once trained directors and players will be confident and competent and will not need to rely on our support. However part of the subscription includes access to our network of IBEScore support. We know that time can be critical and we endeavour to respond with immediacy. We want to help your scorer and director get the game setup and results accurate every time.

Additional support: The IBEScore electronic scoring system is accessed through remote servers, which means that YOU CAN CHOOSE to hold a game WITHOUT  A DEDICATED DIRECTOR at your venue, our support personnel can login to your slot and provide all sorts of assistance – from setting up a game, correcting player names and score entry, to adding deal files, finalising and publishing game results to your dedicated website. We can also provide support with the laws and remedying carding errors remotely – if this is a good option for your game, ask us about how to hire a VIRTUAL Director.

How do I get a GAME CODE?

Go to https://ibescore.com and click on GET A GAME CODE. Fill in the form and select your preferred subscription. You will be sent a password to the E-mail which you specified (if this doesn’t happen please get in touch via admin@ibescore.com – mark it URGENT in the subject if your gametime is imminent).

You now have a trial account and your GAME CODE. You can log in to, upload hand records, and create a game.

Can I run a game if I have not set up a GAME CODE?

No, not on your own.

BUT we can help you – get in touch and we can create the game for you. A one-off payment will be needed before the game ends or it will not finalise and your input results will be lost. Or subscribe and we will get your access details to you as quickly as we can (or loan you a slot to use for the session).

But otherwise no FREE IBEScore is intended for use by players and directors ONLY AFTER an IBEScore slot account has been opened with us.

Technical support

In case of a technical problem or query, please use your slot account contact supplied to you when the account was created. To ask for modifications to your club’s account settings that need developer intervention, please email admin@ibescore.com in the first instance. If you do not receive a reply within 24 hours please try again and mark it urgent.

We undertake to respond to all email queries within 48 hours, but, in practice barring unusual circumstances or time of day, a few hours’ wait is the norm.

In case of a system-wide problem, we are likely to circulate updates to all users as a group, rather than responding to emails individually. However, we encourage you to continue to contact us in these circumstances as well, and we will give you the maximum individual attention subject to the exigencies of the outage.