Festival Tipping Competition Application

Nulty · 25-02-2011 3:40pm #1

I'm in the process of building a festival tipping competition application that will eventually be deployed online. Before I get started on it though I have requirements gathering to do. Please fill out this short survey to heklp me get an idea of what the users would get out of such an application. Its only 10 questions.

Thanks.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M2FCNY9

Bluetonic · 25-02-2011 10:57pm

Done.

UrbanSea · 25-02-2011 11:23pm

I did as well Nulty.

Nulty · 25-02-2011 11:34pm

Good work, I'll need as much feedback as possible.

Questions with * beside the number are required.
Some questions are multiple selection answers, others you can choose only one answer. Try fill it out carefully.
Thanks

Any ideas for a name of the site/URL?

Bluetonic · 25-02-2011 11:47pm

Nulty wrote: »

Try fill it out carefully.

Surely you built it with the rules in it so you can only answer as you require?

HigginsJ · 26-02-2011 9:07pm

Nulty wrote: »

Good work, I'll need as much feedback as possible.

Questions with * beside the number are required.
Some questions are multiple selection answers, others you can choose only one answer. Try fill it out carefully.
Thanks

Any ideas for a name of the site/URL?[/QUOTE]

Sport of kings tipping

jimjackson · 26-02-2011 10:21pm

done...good luck with the venture

sonnky · 26-02-2011 11:33pm

http://www.hoganstand.com/Forum/MessagePage.aspx?PageNumber=0&TopicID=21661

http://www.hoganstand.com/Forum/MessagePage.aspx?TopicID=44932

Look at these Nulty

Nulty · 01-03-2011 12:46am

Bluetonic wrote: »

Surely you built it with the rules in it so you can only answer as you require?

I don't understand what your saying.

Thanks everybody for filling it out. I know the questionnaire could be better but times are tough and I'm under quite a bit of pressure. This is the first major formal software project I've undertaken on my own....and I've got a whole heap of other stuff going on. I'm looking forward to getting this done though. It's something I think should have been done properly by someone else a long time ago.

RT2010 · 01-03-2011 12:16pm

Done it too. Fair play for putting the time into it.

Lapin · 15-03-2011 8:17am

Done, best of luck.

Nulty · 25-05-2011 2:43am

Well folks, its been a long time between drinks but we're nearly there. I say nearly but theres still plenty to do on my end. Its coming along great and now I can focus all my energies on the application, progress will be faster.

Heres a taster of the application, which I must remind you, is still in development. Any graphic designers on here should speak up nowe because that is something I'm awful at and any input would be appreciated. Remember - it's your application too!

REGISTERING FOR A FESTIVAL

MAKING A SELECTION

LEADERBOARD

Nulty · 25-05-2011 2:44am

Also, thanks to all who did the survey

Denners.ie · 25-05-2011 2:53am

Looks cool Nulty, will you have it set up for Royal Ascot? Would be good to have a little competition on this.

Nulty · 25-05-2011 9:54am

Denners.ie wrote: »

Looks cool Nulty, will you have it set up for Royal Ascot? Would be good to have a little competition on this.

I might be able to get a beta version running for Royal Ascot. Its got base level functionality working right now but I'm sure there are tonnes of bugs in there somewhere. Royal Ascot is 3 weeks away? Can't promise anything but I'll try

Bluetonic · 29-05-2011 11:24am

There is critical information missing:

Selection number
Draw if applicable
Trainer

All these are very important and will save someone looking elsewhere.

Also you need to make the silks and selection name bigger than the other surround text as those are most important.

The add to selections button is too overbearing.

You don't need to display the date multiple times, it's only taking up space.

You need to design for a maximum of 18 characters in the horse name, not including breeding country.

Leaderboard should show results, both for the race and for the individual (through link)

Get some designer input as if its not accepted first off it'll fail.

Nulty · 29-05-2011 12:15pm

Bluetonic wrote: »

There is critical information missing:

Selection number
Draw if applicable
Trainer

All these are very important and will save someone looking elsewhere.

Also you need to make the silks and selection name bigger than the other surround text as those are most important.

The add to selections button is too overbearing.

You don't need to display the date multiple times, it's only taking up space.

You need to design for a maximum of 18 characters in the horse name, not including breeding country.

Leaderboard should show results, both for the race and for the individual (through link)

Get some designer input as if its not accepted first off it'll fail.

Thanks Bluetonic - much appreciated!

I accept that draw and saddle-cloth number etc. are useful but the user will be researching form and past performances on sites like the racing post, is it worth while for me to add extra columns to my database for redundant info?

All other points you make are great.

UrbanSea · 29-05-2011 12:15pm

Nulty don't take this as me trying to be smart but just to improve the site. Spell checks should be used. ''your'' logged in and ''glorius'' goodwood. Just for the professionalism aspect

Nulty · 29-05-2011 12:26pm

Actually saddle cloth numbers will make it much easier to order the horses in the cards...functional benefits!

Bluetonic · 29-05-2011 12:27pm

Nulty wrote: »

Thanks Bluetonic - much appreciated!

I accept that draw and saddle-cloth number etc. are useful but the user will be researching form and past performances on sites like the racing post, is it worth while for me to add extra columns to my database for redundant info?

All other points you make are great.

Surely everything is redundant then? Just have a race number in a drop down with selections with one "add to selection" button?

You want to enrich the user experience and give then a reason to visit your site. Not everyone will have the time to spend on other site, or the access to other sites.

Nulty · 29-05-2011 12:34pm

Bluetonic wrote: »

Surely everything is redundant then? Just have a race number in a drop down with selections with one "add to selection" button?

You want to enrich the user experience and give then a reason to visit your site. Not everyone will have the time to spend on other site, or the access to other sites.

I know your being sarcastic and its not necessary. Point taken. Thanks for your input.

Bluetonic · 29-05-2011 4:56pm

Nulty wrote: »

I know your being sarcastic

I'm not.

Nulty · 04-06-2011 1:10am

Fair enough, the internet causes a lot of misunderstandings!

I'm running a test competition for tomorrows racing at

http://bigracewinners.heroku.com

I'm trying to make things go smoothly but its been a night mare so far. Been fixing things all day. Have a go and make some selections. I'll update the leader board as quickly as I can.

Denners.ie · 04-06-2011 1:21am

Nulty wrote: »

Fair enough, the internet causes a lot of misunderstandings!

I'm running a test competition for tomorrows racing at

http://bigracewinners.heroku.com

I'm trying to make things go smoothly but its been a night mare so far. Been fixing things all day. Have a go and make some selections. I'll update the leader board as quickly as I can.

Looking forward to seeing this Nulty good man. Seems like the activation e-mail isn't being sent though, unless it takes 5 mins or more?

Nulty · 04-06-2011 9:40am

thanks for letting me know Denners.

It's working fine for me but i'm using a gmail account. Did you get it in the end?

UrbanSea · 04-06-2011 12:14pm

I tried to register,got this

We're sorry, but something went wrong.

We've been notified about this issue and we'll take a look at it shortly.

Denners.ie · 04-06-2011 1:54pm

Nulty wrote: »

thanks for letting me know Denners.

It's working fine for me but i'm using a gmail account. Did you get it in the end?

I didn't get it but set up a gmail account and received the same message that Urban got about an error. Not to worry anyway this is what trial runs are for.

Nulty · 04-06-2011 2:07pm

Thanks for the feedback, I'll get back to you when its sorted.

Royal Ascot is the aim so like you said, this is valuable testing

Nulty · 05-06-2011 5:05pm

I think I've got it working now. If someone wants to try resending their activation code (Help menu) or signing up it should work.

HigginsJ · 06-06-2011 12:51pm

Is it allowing people sign up now?

Register

8 errors prohibited this account from being created:

First name can't be blank
Last name can't be blank
Username can't be blank
Username is too short (minimum is 6 characters)
Email can't be blank
Email is invalid
Password doesn't match confirmation
Password Missing password

Get this everytime I try sign-up

Nulty · 06-06-2011 2:26pm

I appear to have coded my self into a corner....Its going to take a while to sort this out. Sorry about that.

HigginsJ · 06-06-2011 2:46pm

If its any help, i think the home page looks well. Very inviting for 1st timers and the fact you include that its not for money would encourage people to sign-up.

Keep up the good work.

UrbanSea · 06-06-2011 2:59pm

I'm getting the same Nulty.

Register

8 errors prohibited this account from being created:

First name can't be blank
Last name can't be blank
Username can't be blank
Username is too short (minimum is 6 characters)
Email can't be blank
Email is invalid
Password doesn't match confirmation
Password Missing password
*All fields are required

Nulty · 06-06-2011 4:21pm

My problem stems from security features I'm implementing (you don't want someone hacking into the application and getting at user records, do you? Especially later when I'll hope fully taking payment for the "payed game" option). They're a bit of a hack for now but they work, only problem is they're ****ing up the user access. Thats why signing up and activation emails are being affected. When I fix one thing, it breaks another. Especially when its deployed - things that work on my local machine break when uploaded and run on the web server which is much more picky about things than my test server.

I won't get my hopes up for getting it ready for Royal Ascot. I have a lot on my plate here so its gonna take time. I'll test and retest it before asking you to use it again.

I may take out the email activation and let users create an account just for Royal Ascot. It'll be a dumbed down version but it'll take selections, put them on a leaderboard and thats all that we need for that. And I can keep working on the main application in the background. If I can get that to work seamlessly then we can have a one-off Royal Ascot competition.

Nulty · 06-06-2011 4:22pm

UrbanSea wrote: »

I'm getting the same Nulty.

Register

8 errors prohibited this account from being created:

First name can't be blank
Last name can't be blank
Username can't be blank
Username is too short (minimum is 6 characters)
Email can't be blank
Email is invalid
Password doesn't match confirmation
Password Missing password
*All fields are required

Don't bother with it for now, its going to take time to get it working.

UrbanSea · 06-06-2011 4:24pm

Okie doke. Good luck with it.

Nulty · 07-06-2011 10:27pm

Try it again. It works for me. Even with non-gmail accounts.

HigginsJ · 07-06-2011 11:03pm

Fair play Nulty.

Nulty · 07-06-2011 11:07pm

:eek:

Its working?

:P

I'm starting to get the horses together for the G1s at Royal Ascot starting with Goldikova (ladies first!). I'll make the Royal Ascot registration available in the next couple of days. Looking forward to it!

If theres any thing you don't understand or think could work better (not look better, at least for now) then don't hesitate to drop a note here or to the email at the bottom of the home page.

UrbanSea · 08-06-2011 9:24pm

Signed her up last night Nulty

Nulty · 09-06-2011 4:36pm

Going to do another test competition on Saturday.

I really need a test to go smoothly before trying the Royal Ascot Competition.

Sign up today and the races for Saturday will be available at midnight (sharp!) tonight. I'll be able to update non runners fairly regularly so if you think you've selected a non-runner, I can destroy your selection so you can make a new one.

So sign up today or tomorrow and you can make selections right up until the off time of each race.

I haven't implemented a "Lost Password" function yet so try keep hold of your password until after next week at least!

These are the 6 races for Saturday:

Time|Track|Race|TV?
2:40| York| ladbrokes.com Stakes (Handicap) Cl2 1m208y |CH4
2:55| Sandown| totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap Cl2 7f16y|CH4
3:15| York| Bond Tyres Trophy Stakes (Handicap) Cl2 6f |CH4
3:20| Chester| Raymond Corbett Memorial Handicap Cl2 7f122y|-
3:30| Sandown| totesport.com Scurry Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 5f6y| CH4
3:55| Chester| Bet At corbettsports.com Handicap Cl2 1m2f75y|-

Far from easy races!

Bluetonic · 10-06-2011 11:15am

Haven't had a chance to register yet but the site could do with a lot of work SEO wise if you want it to turn up in search results.

If you need any pointers just ask.

Nulty · 10-06-2011 1:08pm

Thanks B. Very generous offer. I might just take you up on it in the future.

Nulty · 11-06-2011 11:11am

Nulty · 11-06-2011 12:25pm

Amateur error occurred - all fixed.

I'm not going to screw around with it anymore so it will definitely work smoothly throughout the afternoon.

Promise

If you're really interested (which I'm sure you're not) to know why the system wasn't working, heres why -

I changed my smtp password last night because it was blatantly guessable but forgot to tell the application about the change so it wasn't able to send the activation emails.

I have resent activation emails so check your inbox

Denners.ie · 11-06-2011 1:14pm

Nulty wrote: »

Amateur error occurred - all fixed.

I'm not going to screw around with it anymore so it will definitely work smoothly throughout the afternoon.

Promise

If you're really interested (which I'm sure you're not) to know why the system wasn't working, heres why -

I changed my smtp password last night because it was blatantly guessable but forgot to tell the application about the change so it wasn't able to send the activation emails.

I have resent activation emails so check your inbox

I think you have spoken too soon, I just registered again and still cannot get an activation e-mail.

Nulty · 11-06-2011 1:22pm

Are you sure? Its working as far as I can see. PM me your email address and I'll sort you out

Nulty · 11-06-2011 4:24pm

Nice one Crumbs, winner of the inaugeral Big Race Winners competition with a profit of 9.43pts

Things should be much smoother for the Royal meeting. This was a great trial run and I learned a lot from it and ironed out a lot of creases in the guts of the application but still have plenty to work on.

Thanks for taking part everyone.

mr.jingle · 11-06-2011 6:30pm

Well done Nulty very good trial even if i couldn't pick my nose never mind a winner! Roll on Ascot:D:D:D

Denners.ie · 11-06-2011 6:48pm

Just a suggestion Nulty but would it not be a good idea to enable users to go e/w on horses? Say they would get a quota of 20 points for a festival and could distribute them as they wish, even able to put more than 1 point on certain picks.

It might be too late now but it would keep the competition open until every race as someone could have a 20/1 winner in the last to go top or something.

Looks cool anyway I'll look forward to seeing the finished article.

Nulty · 12-06-2011 5:21pm

Each way betting is something I might to add later but not before Ascot. Its added hassle when calculating each way terms but its doable. I'm just not sure it'll add that much to the app. Finding winners is what the app is all about i.e. Big Race Winners .

I'm still undecided.

As for deciding your stakes, I think this is almost essential in making the effort to ensure there is a clear cut winner. As it stands now its too likely that there will be a tie, staking would make that less likely.

I'm going to tighten up what I've got for now though and think about expanding it later.

Any further suggestions are welcome

Festival Tipping Competition Application

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