In this section we will introduce you to some specific features of GoDraw, which are outside the scope of the manual, but which help you to run a smooth tournament.
There is a field in the register called Group - it is to the right of the Rounds field. You can use this field to prevent family members from playing each other. This is done by tagging each family member with a group code consisting of a group identifier(a single letter from A to Z) followed by a group attribute. There are 5 possible group attributes, each one is shown below in []:
[~] MUST NOT play [-] PREFER NOT to play [+] PREFER to play [*] MUST play [:] TOP Group or Supergroup
So, by setting the group code of each player in your family to say A~ the draw will never pair players in the same family. If you have two families, give them different group identifiers.
The MUST and MUST NOT attributes are strictly enforced, and if the program cannot satisfy the requirement it may terminate with some players unpaired. The PREFER and PREFER NOT attributes attempt to modify the strict definition of same club or same country, but if they can't be satisfied they are ignored.
The top group above the bar is automatically given the group code 0: You promote players to the supergroup by giving such players the group code 1: It is possible to have up to 9 supergroups, and the score difference between groups can be set in Rules.
Please see the Glossary for the full meaning of all the group attributes.
As Drawmaster it is your duty to be fully conversant with the tools you are using to do the draw, be it cards, a computer or some other device.GoDraw provides training facilities via the Settings | Training menu. If you set the Draw Mode to Model in this menu, then when you do the Draw you will get a noddy pairing, which may include repeat pairings, or some players may not even be paired! The purpose of this feature is to ensure that you become familiar with the process of editing the draw. If you use the feature on your actual tournament entry, don't forget to set it back to Normal when you are finished.
You can also set the Draw Mode to Test. In this case you get a proper draw, but now when you come to enter results, you have the opportunity to simulate the results. They get entered without you having to key in every result manually. To simulate results right click on the results grid and choose Simulate results from the pop up menu. You can also Clear results from the same menu.
Plausible results are generated based on the player's grades and current performance in the tournament. You will also notice that all types of result are generated, so again you can get practice editing results, and finding out what the codes mean from the Result Field in the Glossary.Hint: by clicking a result field and then hovering, you will get a summary of all the possible result codes.