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                Variation Technical Notes      
                       File Structure
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The structure of files used to store setting and results is very 
simple, and is in ASCII format. Here is an example:

SHOTOPTIONMIDDLE  5 
SHOTOPTIONRIGHT  20 
DISPLAYDELAY  8000 
MANUALVELOCITYCENTRE  50 
MANUALVELOCITYSPREAD  20 
MANUALBOUNCECENTRE  50 
MANUALBOUNCESPREAD  20  
LAUNCHPOSITION  1000 
VARIPROGBEGIN
100     40      30      45      35      
200     35              40              
300             40              45      
400     50      50      50      50      
VARIPROGEND
RESULTSBEGIN
 5 
 218 
Launcher Position, 1000
 295 

 353 

 306 

 194 

RESULTSEND
There is a carriage return [CR] at the end of every line.

The section which contains the programmed variation changes is 
as follows:

VARIPROGBEGIN [CR]

shot no [TAB] velocity centre [TAB] velocity spread [TAB] bounce 
centre [TAB] bounce spread [CR]
shot no [TAB] velocity centre [TAB] velocity spread [TAB] bounce 
centre [TAB] bounce spread [CR]
shot no [TAB] velocity centre [TAB] velocity spread [TAB] bounce 
centre [TAB] bounce spread [CR]
.       (any number of programme entries can be included)
VARIPROGEND[CR]

The section containing the results is as follows:

RESULSBEGIN [CR]
the last shot number in the file [CR]
shot no1 landing position [CR]
shot no1 note[CR]
shot no2 landing position [CR]
shot no2 note[CR]
. (the number of results must be equal to the number indicated 
in the line under RESULSBEGIN)
RESULTSEND

No particular part of the file is compulsory. If a file is 
opened into "Variation" and parts of the file are omitted, then 
the previous setting will remain unchanged.

This makes it possible to produce large variation programmes 
quickly using a standard spreadsheet. Most spreadsheets can 
produce ASCII files with entries in the same row separated by 
[TAB] characters, and [CR] at the end of each line. (With EXCEL 
you use "Save as Text"). Proceed as follows:

a) type VARIPROGBEGIN in cell A1

b) put a series of shot numbers in column 1 starting in B1. 
If there is a regular sequence, you can use the "Series" 
command or the "Fill Down" command of the Spreadsheet.

c) put the variation factors in columns 2 to 5. If there is 
a regular sequence, you can use the "Series" command or the 
"Fill Down" command.

d) type VARIPROGEND in column 1 immediately below the last 
entry.

e) save the file as a tab delimited text file

This will produce a suitable file for opening into "Variation".

Steve Horn,
21 Benjamin Drive, Bo'ness, West Lothian EH51 0QS, United Kingdom
CompuServe 100116,3151
Internet steve@horn.demon.co.uk

4 January 1995