Question:

How to use the On/Off-line features on the tablet? (Basic) NOTE – For app version 8.00 to 8.33 

For app version 8.34 and later. This is also for version 1.0 and later versions of the new app version – see here 

For app version 7.xx – see here 

Answer:

The On/Off-line features ensure your bridge games continue “whatever happens”. You also have the option to manual select Off/line to play your game of bridge without internet – we label this our “Beach feature”

Background:

We have analyzed the eventual issues that could pause or stop a game. We can group these risks as follows:

  • No local internet/unstable local internet
  • No local Wi-F /unstable local Wi-Fi
  • Handling errors/misuse issues
  • Programming errors

The On/Off-line feature can ensure the game continues in all these situations and ensure the game and/or board details are saved and can be synchronized. 

  • Access to server issues  – internet provider errors
  • Server issues – no access to the server

The use of the Backup server under Settings ensures your wanted game can be played in these situations.

The purpose is to prevent – but the On/Off-line feature also helps you if you have unstable internet and/or Wifi coverage – improved in version 8.00

Principles for and limitations on the On/Off-feature

The creation of the tournament has to be done on the webserver or by the webserver (when you use the Fast & Easy feature on the tablet) – therefore, a working communication is required to create the game.

But you can create any game in another place and/or at another time – when created on the webserver all you need to do is on the tablet with our app is to click Select tournament and refresh the game list. The tablet saves all tables boards details in a tournament you have created.

If the tablet is Off-line there are certain features you cannot use and certain game information that will not be available while Off-line – for example:

  • Central server managed card eject from Game live will not be possible while Off-line. The app will show a button for eject control on the tablet
  • Swap and register player name by label or by federation number, email, etc. Names entered while On-line or entered on the webserver will be shown
  • Results for the complete tournament – results are calculated on each tablet
  • Corrections on the result pages. Correction must be entered on the tablet or await synchronization is complete   
  • Swiss pair games, team, and Swiss pair will initially not be supported as the webserver manage and calculate the game.

Some of the above-mentioned examples can be changed in later app versions.  

Principles for the backup server feature

If you have not been able to start the game because the access to or the server itself is down – you can now select the Backup server under Settings – Select server.

The backup server will have a copy of your club details. If you have to use the backup server we will transfer your details to your server afterwards.

The backup server is placed in a different geographical area than your standard and hereby, also protects if the normal server’s ISP’s hub is being bombarded by hackers and slowed down.

How to use the On/Off-line feature

The use of On/Off-line game mode can either be selected at the Select Tournament app page or during the game at the Play Screen Dealer Menu (see below).

The Select Tournament mode option is – as shown on the picture on the left – the Game Mode options below Step 1, Step 2, and  Step 3 for selecting the tournament and table.

If the connection is lost on you have chosen On-line you will be shown via the following pop-up,

that either the internet, Wi-Fi or the server communication is lost.

You can at the pop-up switch from On-line to On/Off-line and continue to play. The app will also try to re-establish the connection if you press Cancel (Reconnect). The app will and synchronize results if reconnected. Else or if not let you synchronize results after the game.

Please notice in On/Off-line mode you can also select Quiet – none / limited pop-up to be shown to the players.

If you are uncertain which game mode you have selected – On-line or On/Off-line – you have selected you can see it here

and also in the upper right corner of the play screens  as illustrated below Here we also show the Card Eject Round option.

The green dot indicates you have chosen On-line and the CM stand for Central managed Round card Eject – All Manual option. CMA – first board manual, following rounds Automatic. CAM – First board automatic. Following rounds Manual Round Eject. CT – managed by the tablet.

The red dot indicates you have chosen On/Off-line game mode. TA – All Automatic while Off-line. TM – Next – first board – next round ejects Manual Round.

It is easy to change between the mode – see below how to use the Play Screen Dealer menu – or simply stop the tournament via the Skip button – select Stop Games in the menu shown and then select Select Tournament and repeat the selection of tournament (Step 1) and table (Step 2) and remember to select the wanted Game mode before clicking on step 3.

How to use the On/Off-line feature

The use of On/Off-line game mode can also be selected during the game at the Play Screen Dealer Menu (see below).

You can see the exploded menu items below.

You have similar Off-line options under Setting at the main menu as shown below

Play Screen Dealer menu items – Advanced level

As always with the Bridge+More solution, we also offer a number of options for the advanced user. We have added  a new Play Screen menu as shown on the pictures below

Round Eject Card Principle – If Off-line you can control the Round Eject card principle. If On-line you can see the principle chosen on the web server (at game creation or as check marked at Game Live).

Select Off-Line to change automatiucally … As it says the app controls if Off-line is required and it switched Off-line the app will try to reconnect and sync when possible

Select Off-Line to change manually … As it says the user controls the switch to Off-line. After Off-line has been selected you can unselect Manual Off-line again by selecting the menu item again. When On-line sync will be carried out if possible.

Adjust Off-line Sensitivity – if you have unstable communications you can decide how sensitive the go into Off-line should be

Synchronize Status – shows the number of non-synchronized boards – as shown on the red dot

Synchronize now – as stated

Result view – see the unaynced boards game details (same view as at Result button)

Server speed data – as stated. In ms. Similar to Settings Option

Wi-Fi quality – as stated

Internet speed data -as stated. In ms. Similar to Settings Option

Restart Bluetooth – as stated. Notice dealer connection will be lost but should be reconnected

Locate dealer – as stated. The dealer N S E W diodes will blink. Similar main menu button.

Reset dealer – as stated. Notice dealer connection will be lost but should be reconnected

Log size – as stated. Similar to Settings Option

Delete log – as stated. Similar to Settings Option

How to see the On/Off-line status

In the upper lift corner, you have either 3 dots showing Server communication, Wifi router, and Internet connection is stable and fast. In orange there are stability issues and if a red circle the communication is lost.

In the same upper lift corner, you can also have a red dot showing no communication – illustrating somewhere in communication – local internet, Wi-Fi, internet provider, access to server or server is down.

You can let the tablet handle the eventual Off-line if needed (Basic) or select /handle it yourself manually (Advanced) – we now show the Off-line Mode – as illustrated below (you will only see one of the 3 illustrated).

On the left, you will either see 3 green dots (On-line) or one red dot (Off-line).

Notice the small A or M for automatic Off-line (it can automatically switch back if communication improves) or M for manual selected Off-line.  The Manual option is selected at the Play Screen Dealer menu (keep pressing the 3 green or the red circle) – see more above.

The game will not be stopped unless for those certain game types that require the server involvement – Swiss games for example.

If you click the red dot it will also try to re-establish the connection.

In the picture above we have also shown the button for selecting Eject Options.

How to use the On/Off-line 

Simple and easy – you don’t need to know how to use the Off-line game handling features as first you might never need them. If you are Off-line you can just continue to play bridge as nothing has happened and wait for the communication comes back.

The first effect from being Off-line you will see is if/when you start a new round if you have selected server controlled card eject – because you are Off-line will you need to eject the cards manually or select automatically eject for this Off-line table

How to use the automatic On/Off-feature – Basic level

The red dot can also show a number – as shown on the left –  illustrating the number of boards that are not synchronized. A blinking large red dot with a number illustrates that the communication is working fine and that the number – which will decrease over time – shows the number on boards the app still has to synchronize but are synchronizing.

How to use the manual On/Off-feature – Advanced level

As always with the Bridge+More solution, we also offer a number of options for the advanced user. We have added  a new Play Screen menu as shown on the picture at the right

Adjust Off-line Sensitivity – if you have unstable communications you can decide how sensitive the go into Off-line should be

Round Eject Card Principle – If Off-line you can control the Round Eject card principle. If On-line you can see the chosen principle on the server

Change Round Eject Card principle – If Off-line you change the chosen principle. This line is not shown if On-line

Synchronize now – as stated

Synchronize Status – shows the number of non-synchronized boards – as shown on the red dot

Server speed data – as stated. In ms. Similar to Settings Option

Internet speed data -as stated. In ms. Similar to Settings Option

Restart Bluetooth – as stated. Notice dealer connection will be lost but should be reconnected

Locate dealer – as stated. The dealer N S E W diodes will blink. Similar main menu button.

Reset dealer – as stated. Notice dealer connection will be lost but should be reconnected

Log status – as stated. Similar to Settings Option

Even if you were not able to synchronize the On/Off-feature allows you to do it later – Basic level

We illustrated above the red dot can show a number illustrating the number of boards that are not synchronized. Even if you are not able to synchronize you can still play all the boards anf synchronize later when possible.

After you have finished the table you will see the following button – simply click to synchronize.