English Chess Forum

I don't suppose that I am the first nor last to hit a brick wall when trying to enter Manual Pairings from scratch into the Swiss Master pairing program. It apparently allows manual pairings and results to be entered for the first round but the frustration begins when you discover that you cannot create round 2.

It can be done, however, if you adopt a simple trick.

1. Create first round pairings automatically, then delete them! I don't know how Swiss Master works, but it seems that this procedure is required to prepare the database to accept the subsequent round.

2. Enter the set of manual pairings and results.

3. Select round 2 from the drop down menu. If you haven't done step 1 there will be no entry for round 2.

4. For each subsequent round perform steps 1, 2 & 3.

Also be aware of the need to constantly save because the database doesn't automatically update and a single slip will cause all work from the last session to be lost. The flip side is that if you do make a mistake the database can be closed and reopened in the state that it was last saved.

When you have to rely on a "black box", what do you do when it doesn't do what you want or acts in a way different to what you expect?

I have never encountered that brick wall.

There's a useful resource here

http://www.susendian.nl/swissmaster/

but manual pairings with any program can be a mystery!

IM Jack Rudd wrote:I have never encountered that brick wall.

Lucky you!

Michael Flatt wrote:I don't suppose that I am the first nor last to hit a brick wall when trying to enter Manual Pairings from scratch into the Swiss Master pairing program. It apparently allows manual pairings and results to be entered for the first round but the frustration begins when you discover that you cannot create round 2.

The only context I can see in which the entire round would have to be input by hand is if acceleration is in use, or completely random pairings. Otherwise get the computer to do the pairings. Even if you want to adjust these for players not to be paired, that can be done by modifying only the pairings needed to be adjusted.

I agree that it would be best to avoid having to enter Manual Pairings, but sometimes it happens:

Scenario A
The tournament has been run entirely using pairing cards and pairing boards, which is not uncommon in small Junior Tournaments. The results of the tournament are then handed over to A.N. Other to (i) publish the final rankings and cross-table on a website and (ii) create a grading/rating submission file.

Scenario B
The Organiser takes all entries, enters all information onto Swiss Master and does the 1st round pairings. On the morning of the event a paper copy of the first round draw is published but in the early morning rush the Swiss Master database is not available and has to be recreated from an earlier incomplete version. A number of entrants choose to not play and forget to inform the organiser. Not wishing to disappoint players and impose too many 1-point byes the players missing opponents are re-paired.

Scenario C
There is a catastrophic failure of the computer and no replacement is readily available. To avoid disappointing the players, the tournament proceeds using Manual Pairings, either with pairing cards, if available, but sometimes not. The results of the games are recorded as they finish. The tournament is recreated on Swiss Master as in Scenario A.

Michael Flatt wrote:I don't suppose that I am the first nor last to hit a brick wall when trying to enter Manual Pairings from scratch into the Swiss Master pairing program. It apparently allows manual pairings and results to be entered for the first round but the frustration begins when you discover that you cannot create round 2.

It can be done, however, if you adopt a simple trick.

1. Create first round pairings automatically, then delete them! I don't know how Swiss Master works, but it seems that this procedure is required to prepare the database to accept the subsequent round.

2. Enter the set of manual pairings and results.

3. Select round 2 from the drop down menu. If you haven't done step 1 there will be no entry for round 2.

4. For each subsequent round perform steps 1, 2 & 3.

Also be aware of the need to constantly save because the database doesn't automatically update and a single slip will cause all work from the last session to be lost. The flip side is that if you do make a mistake the database can be closed and reopened in the state that it was last saved.

When you have to rely on a "black box", what do you do when it doesn't do what you want or acts in a way different to what you expect?

Hi Michael!
I don't know what version of the Swiss Master you have on your computer. With Swiss Master 5.6 you just type the number of the player in the box (Left white, right black) and click on force pairing. It works with round two. You don't even have to worry about the table number, it will be automatically ordered correctly when you click " do pairings" for the remaining players.
I will show you on August 22nd ... or maybe you don't need it anymore.