EHM The Blue Line

I see that challenge recording thingy is an excel file. What about people without Excel ?

hmm never thought about that really, just assumed that everyone uses excel. What alternative programmes are there to use?

If I don't necessarily need it I'll just do the calculation manually. It doesn't seem to hard to write all those things down in a simple txt file and the copy&paste into the recording thread.

A few more newbie questions though

1. I'm currently using the 3.0.3 database that's in the download section here. I assume I'm not allowed to use it in the challenge, or am I ? Because at one point it says it's the default 3.0.3 database then it says "unofficial" which is kinda confusing.
Where do I get the default database then ? I don't have it anymore since I was not aware the game supported multiple databases at first so I deleted it without backing up, I didn't think I'd ever need it. Doesn't the default database also have bugs like McCabe's salary set to 500k ? I would really like to avoid re-installing if possible.

2. Also, I've found the info that you're only allowed to trade picks for the upcoming draft, but I didn't find any info on trading away prospects, allowed or not ?

3. Since the season is divided into quarters, but there's no way in the game to filter stats for a certain period of time, like games 21-40, I assume I have to filter the stats like total wins, most goals etc. manually ?

Thanks for the patience

1. The database rules mean you can't edit the database whatsoever of your own accord or someone else's other than by an official SI games patch, the latest being the 3.0.4 which you are required to use.

2. You're allowed to do whatever you want with your prospects

3. This is why the excel file is so helpful as it does all of that for you. For the time being you may have to sort it all manually yes.

I thought that there was another option, other than excel. Some sort of calculation sheet, but I cannot recall for sure. Is it not here anymore?


Yep here it is. Windows Picture and Fax viewer opens it, once downloaded.

Oh and you have to get the 3.04 patch from SI to do the challenge. There is a link in a sticky at the top of their forums to the patch, so you can download it.

indeed, you can use that instead of the excel file

rubbish no edit. I forgot. So triple post. 3.04 fixed the McCabe salary bug. It is not a reinstall of the whole game, just a patch...makes the game work properly. Way better development of prospects, and no crashes that I have seen. Really should get it anyway.

hmpf alrighty

I guess I'll have to re-install to get the default database. Since it's the same PC I assume I don't touch the license at all, just uninstall the game and install it again without having to re-register ?

But I still don't get your point about the recording file, sorry
I mean, I only enter the best player for each category into it, so player X might be the best in +/- in games 1-20, how does the file help me to find who the best in +/- is in games 21-40 ? It might not be the same player as in games 21-40. Unless I have to enter all stats for all players into it and it calculates automatically. But I don't see this anywhere with my freeware excel viewer.

batdad, I do have patch 3.04, I've just downloaded the 3.03 database from here which is slightly modified. You mean that the 3.0.4 patch has overwritten those changes in the database ?

Not if you did 3.03 again afterwards, but if you go redownload 3.04 then it should give you that database as an option. Should be no need to uninstall reinstall....I think...but maybe not...not sure.

Yep..but say Sundin gets 20 goals in first 20, and Tucker gets 15. Then in the second twenty (21-40) sundin gets 15, and Tucker 21. The game will show you Tucker as 36 AND Sundin as 35. Tucker's 36 would go in the second one. For players it is just total for the season. For the other stats //// wins, losses it is for the specific 20 games.

yes it does overwrite the database, there may be a way of making your computer think that it's only got the 3.0.3 patch installed by editing something in the registry iirc(at least you can do that for FM) - you may want to ask on the SI boards.

With the best player in +/- it's the player who has the best +/- at the end of each quarter in total. So say Marleau is +10, and he is the highest in games 1-20 then you put him down. Then at the end of game 40 you looks at who has the highest in total, not the highest in those 20 games. Hope that makes sense.

batdad wrote:Not if you did 3.03 again afterwards, but if you go redownload 3.04 then it should give you that database as an option. Should be no need to uninstall reinstall....I think...but maybe not...not sure.

Yep..but say Sundin gets 20 goals in first 20, and Tucker gets 15. Then in the second twenty (21-40) sundin gets 15, and Tucker 21. The game will show you Tucker as 36 AND Sundin as 35. Tucker's 36 would go in the second one. For players it is just total for the season. For the other stats //// wins, losses it is for the specific 20 games.

Alright, so it was me just being a bit dumb (get used to it ), I thought you were supposed to give all stats from that period of time, including player stats. So it's actually just the current leader in a certain category as far as player stats go.

As far as the database is concerned, what I did was patch with 3.0.3, replace the database with the one I got from here and eventually patch to 3.0.4 the day it came out. Alright I will re-install, seems to be the safest method and I certainly don't want to be disqualified

Danny wrote:

batdad wrote:Not if you did 3.03 again afterwards, but if you go redownload 3.04 then it should give you that database as an option. Should be no need to uninstall reinstall....I think...but maybe not...not sure.

Yep..but say Sundin gets 20 goals in first 20, and Tucker gets 15. Then in the second twenty (21-40) sundin gets 15, and Tucker 21. The game will show you Tucker as 36 AND Sundin as 35. Tucker's 36 would go in the second one. For players it is just total for the season. For the other stats //// wins, losses it is for the specific 20 games.

Alright, so it was me just being a bit dumb (get used to it ), I thought you were supposed to give all stats from that period of time, including player stats. So it's actually just the current leader in a certain category as far as player stats go.

As far as the database is concerned, what I did was patch with 3.0.3, replace the database with the one I got from here and eventually patch to 3.0.4 the day it came out. Alright I will re-install, seems to be the safest method and I certainly don't want to be disqualified

If you haven't touched the database since you've installed 3.0.4 you sohuld be ok I think, as it overwrites the whole of the database IIRC.

Cool. Yes I definitely didn't touch the database after installing 3.0.4.
If there are some unique things in the "proper" database you know of I could check if mine has them too to be 100% sure.
Ok anyway, if you want me to provide any screenshots at any point just tell.
Sorry to be such a pain in the ass.

Ha, another question

"Finances: TBL Budget You are also still required to stay within one million dollars US of the TBL budget, currently $36mil."


Is that still up to date (I can be 1m over 36m without being penalized) ?
If yes, does that also apply for the second season (means 38 "+1") ?

You are right

Danny wrote:I see that challenge recording thingy is an excel file. What about people without Excel ?

I've never used it but I'd take a look at this...

http://www.openoffice.org/

thanks will give it a try

Hi! I use Open Office and it works fine. Good luck in the challenge..

Thanks for the confirmation, fishi! I had heard of it but never used it myself. I figured it was at least worth a shot for Danny to try it. Glad to know it works well.

Also, welcome to TBL! You should go over to the "Introduce Yourself" thread and say hello to everyone.

my excel dont work either. so i used that program openoffice with succes to

Is it too late to try Challenge 8? If not not a big deal, just been a way for a while.

First 20 games are due by May 20th. So no...not too late

Thanks, I'd better hurry then!

Where can I find all the rules for the challenges? I'm a little tired right now, but please help.