Database - Overview

Overview

The system, by default, creates a single database (called Tourney.mdb) which will be in the ‘My Documents’ folder. Additional databases can be created if required. On start up the system always reopens the database that you were last working on.

If a database doesn’t exist when you start up Tournament Director for Windows, the system will give you the option to use a Demo database or to create a new database.

The system allows you to organise yourself so that different groupings of Tournaments can be run in different databases. For instance if you are involved with chess with a particular school you could create a database specifically for that school. If you also run national tournaments you could run a separate database for those tournaments. This allows you to organise the tournaments and players as you want.

There isn’t any facilities for moving data between databases. If you run multiple databases you will have to load the ECF Grading list and FIDE Rating list on each database (using Master->Load Grading/Rating Lists ).

The database is created as a Microsoft Access database in Version 2003 format. Note: Pervious versions on Tournament Director created the database in Microsoft Access Version 97 format. It is not possible to convert a database from Access 97 to Access 2003 via Tournament Director for Windows. A database can be converted by using native Microsoft Access.

Menu

The menu options allow you to create new and open existing databases. The databases can be backed up, restored or tidied. The menu also provides a list (maximum of 4 entries) of the most recently opened databases.

File
     New Database...
     Open Database...
     Close Database...
     -------------------------
     Backup database...
     Restore database...
     Tidy database
     -------------------------
     Most Recent List
     -------------------------
     Exit

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New Database...

This allows new empty databases to be created or data from an existing DOS Tournament Director for Windows database to be imported via the New database dialogue.

New databases are created in Microsoft Access Version 2003 format.

Open Database...

This provides a standard Windows open file dialogue to allow you to open an existing Windows Tournament Director for Windows database (*.mdb).

Close Database...

This closes the currently open database (and all open tournaments). Once a database is closed, the only options available are Open Database... and New Database...

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Backup database...

All databases should be backed up on a regular bases.

It is best to back up your database to some form or removable media. If you have a major failure of your computer, your backup is the only way that you will be able to recover your data. Get in the habit of regularly backing up your data.

Restore database...

This will allow you to restore a database to the current database.

Warning:
If you use multiple database be very careful when using Restore. Restore will restore and database backup over the top of the current database. There is no check in the Restore function that the database backup was taken from the current database. So be extremely careful when using Restore as there is no method of undoing a restore except restoring another backup!

Tidy database

All Microsoft Access databases become disorganised internally as records are added and deleted. Tidy database reorganises the database internally. To keep your database and Tournament Director for Windows operating efficiently you need to Tidy your database on a regular basis.

It is also recommended that you Tidy the database whenever you import a ECF Grading or FIDE Rating lists due to the large number of updates that these processes perform.

The system will automatically Tidy the database when every you install a new version of the software which updates your database.

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Most Recently Used List

A list of the four most recently used databases will be displayed on the file menu between Tidy Database and Exit option. To open one of these database just click on the database name.