NTBA Dealing Machine Instructions

Version 1.1
Stephen Fischer
22 October, 2005
Version 1.22
Amended by Fred Barlow
2 May 2013
Amended by Fred Barlow
8 April 2014

Assistance with purchase of Dealing Machine provided by

Table of Contents
1

Introduction

The Programs 3
2.1 Able Deal

3
3

2.2 DealMaster Pro

3

The Process

3.1 Starting Able Deal

3.2 Generating a set of hands

3.3 Dealing the hands
3.3.1

If there are problems 10

3.4 Saving the hands

3.5 Loading file into Dealmaster Pro

3.6 Creating and printing the hand record

3.7 Copying the hand records

10

3.8 Cleaning the dealing machine 12

1 Introduction
This document describes how to deal a set of boards and print out hand records for it.
The process is as follows:
Generate a new set of hands.
Deal the boards
Save the hands to a file.
Load this file into Dealmaster Pro.
Create the hand record, analysing the hands along the way.
Print the hand record.
Clean the dealing machine

2 The Programs
There are two main programs used in this process

2.1 Able Deal

Able Deal generates and deals the hands.

2.2 Dealmaster Pro

Dealmaster Pro creates and prints the hand records and a .txt file to upload to the
website.

3 The Process
3.1 Starting Able Deal
To start Able Deal, double-click on the bdeal icon on the desktop.

Figure 1: Able Deal icon

The program window will appear as shown below:

Figure 2: Able Deal Intro screen

The most useful button here is the right one (Events), and is discussed in section 3.2.
Also of interest is the second one (Default Settings), which allows you to set certain
features of the program such as whether the cards are visible when dealing them.
Please be careful when changing any settings.

3.2 Generating a set of hands

Click on the Events button to load an old event or create a new one. You should see:

Figure 3: Events screen

We shall return to this screen in a moment, but for now click on Lookup Category
and select the appropriate event eg. Wednesday Nights then click on Add Event.
In the new window, enter:
A name for the event
A category for the event (it doesnt seem to affect anything, but it is required)
The number of boards generally 28. It doesnt hurt to generate extra boards.
A description for the event (optional)
Click OK to generate the hands. This step is almost instantaneous and returns you to
the screen shown in Figure 3. Hands can be dealt at this time (see 3.6 Dealing the
hands) however considerable time is saved if the hand analysis is carried out while
dealing is in progress.

3.3 Saving the hands

You can print hand records directly from Able Deal, but no analysis is printed. To do
this, you have to export the hands to a file so that Dealmaster can use them.
From the screen in Figure 3, click Export. This window will appear.

Figure 4: Export screen

Take note of the file name on the last line. Here its D:\EBA\test.BRI, but the DBC
computer will save the files in C:\EBA.
Click Export Now. A message will pop up saying the file has been saved.
Close the Export window and minimise Able Deal.

3.4 Loading file into Dealmaster Pro

Start-up Dealmaster by clicking the icon on the desktop. The current icon is a foxs
head not as shown below.

Figure 5: Dealmaster icon

Click OK on the introductory screen.

Choose Miscellaneous -> Import Deal Files.
Choose the Autodealer (BRI) format and click OK.
In the window that pops up, navigate to the directory noted in Section 3.3 (C:\EBA)
and select the name of the desired file. Click Import File to load the file into
Dealmaster.

3.5 Creating and printing the hand record

After loading the file into the program, you may see an introductory turquoise screen.
Click OK to go past it, and you will see a screen like the one shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Hand Record screen

To generate the hands, select the first option in section C (labelled Print North,
South, East and West hands) and click OK.
When asked to Show makeable contracts on Hand Record, click Yes.
Choose More Comprehensive Tests (which should take 20 to 30 minutes to
complete).
The DeepFinesse Analyser window (Figure 7) will appear. Minimise this window if
you will be playing the hands so you dont see the hands or analyses beforehand.

Figure 7: DeepFinesse Analyser

Minimise Dealmaster and return Able Deal.

3.6 Dealing the hands

It is now time to deal the boards. First, make sure that your set of boards is
highlighted and then click View & Deal. The screen that comes up is shown in
Figure 8.

Figure 8: Dealing Screen

This screen has a lot of important features, so its worth becoming familiar with it.
The important parts are:
Message bar: Status messages appear in red text on the top black bar. The program
tells you when a hand has been successfully dealt and gives hints about what may be
wrong.
Table area: If the program is set to display the faces of the cards, the table will show
the current hand. It also shows the Board Number, which is important to check when
dealing a hand.
Card Counter: Displays how many cards have been dealt to each hand
Deal Cards: Allows you to deal one hand or to deal the rest starting from the current
hand.
Navigate Hands: Lets you move to a different deal
To start dealing the boards:
Put the cards in the card holder on the right of the machine
Unclip the top of the board and slide it in and click Deal Cards from Here
When the first board is completed, put in board 2 and the next board will start
automatically. The entire set can be dealt this way.

3.6.1 If there are problems

If you run into any problems, follow the messages on the screen. Problems include:
-

the card might be upside down (turn it over and hit continue)
the card might not be able to be read (rotate it 180 degrees and try again, or save it
for last and put it in the hand thats missing a card, or try another pack)
a duplicate card might be found (try redealing the entire pack one of the cards has
probably been incorrectly identified)
Occasionally the program will lock up. If this happens use Ctrl-Alt-Del to stop the
program then restart, select the event, click on View and Deal, select the board that
you were dealing when things went wrong and proceed from there.

You can always stop dealing by hitting Escape. Then you can use the Navigation
buttons to find the current hand, put the cards back in, and redeal.
When all boards have been dealt, minimise or close Able Deal and return to
Dealmaster.

3.7 Copying the hand records

When the analysis is finished, the window will disappear and only the Dealmaster
window will remain.
Choose Three across and click OK.

Figure 9: Hand record options

10

Make sure the options shown in Figure 9 are selected including Output TXT file.
Prepare HTML file should not be selected. To print multiple copies of the hand
records on the printer, select Show Printer Dialog(enables entering Copy Count
etc.). If only printing a master copy of the hand records for the photocopier this is
not necessary. Click on OK. If the Printer Dialog Box appears, select the Brother
printer then click on Printer Properties. Select the number of copies required and
select Duplex Manual. Follow the screen prompts to print on both sides of the
paper.
If Output TXT file has been selected, a Dialog box will appear (after hands are
printed), asking for the name of the file to save. Save in \EBA\Hand Records (or just
\EBA). After you click on save, the screen shown in Fig 10 will appear.

Fig 10.
Check Makeable Contracts for each deal (if available) and click on OK.
Once the master copy is printed and .txt file saved, exit Dealmaster Pro (or minimise
if you are going to deal a second set of boards). Attach the .txt file(s) to Results
Calendar on the DBC website either now or after copying the hand records. See 4.
Uploading Hand Records to Website. Copy one side of the hand records on the
photocopier first. There are two settings to be changed:
To set the number of copies, click the Number of copies button on the front. Use the
arrow keys to select the desired number of copies.
Put the first page of the master face down on the photocopier and click the Start
button.
Once they are copied, take the copies out and put them Face Up in the paper tray with
the top of the page towards you (and the front of the machine). Now put the other
11

side of the master on the photocopier, Face Down with the top to your left (when
youre facing the machine). This will ensure that the hand records are printed in the
normal fashion.
Set Number of copies as above and click Start.
Voila! Hand records! Remember to turn off the photocopier.

3.8 Cleaning the dealing machine

One final step cleaning the dealing machine. This task needs to be done at least
once a week, or whenever its getting dirty.
First, turn the dealing machine OFF.
All the cleaning is done with a damp Chux cloth. Each roller needs to be cleaned, and
it takes some force to get the built-up grime off. The eye (under the card hopper) also
needs to be wiped clean.
Then make sure to put the plastic card tray back in, put the protective cloth over it,
and youre done.

4.

Uploading Hand Records to Website.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

8.

12

Open the DBC website

Click on Administration.
Click on Web Admin Login.
Login using the password 7******. (If you dont know it or have forgotten ring
Fred Barlow.)
Select Results Calendar (on the left hand side of the screen).
Click on the event the dealt boards are for. Say Tues 30 April.
A screen will appear showing details of the event. About half way down the page in
the Hands section, click on Choose File and select the .txt file you have saved from
Dealmaster.
Click on Save (near the top of the page).
Exit the website.