Frequently Asked Questions

Please checkout our Tutorials link under the Support Menu. Many user questions are answered in the tutorials.

What is the purpose of FA_Start in System Form Analysis Parameters?
BS Selector Prices have not changed?
What happens if track conditions change during the day?
Can I test PPFA over old data?
I don't have Bet Selector, can I get the ratings?
Can I keep my own Jockey ratings?
What do I do about System Parameters on installation?
Can I run Bet Selector and PPFA at the same time?
What do I have to do to apply PPFA adjustments?
What difference will PPFA make to the Bet Selector ratings?
ERROR whilst processing Low Grade Track Updates
NEW What do I do if track conditions change during the day?
NEW How do I license my software?
NEW Why is my Jockey name "Missing Jockey"?
NEW How do I apply reversals to PPFA adjustments?


What is the purpose of FA_Start in System Form Analysis Parameters?
In system parameters Form Analysis you will find FA_Start and FA_Last. The FA_Start determines the date of your oldest data. This is set at 01/01/2000 as a default when you first install PPFA. If your form does not go back that far then it doesn't matter as long as the FA_Start is prior to your oldest downloaded BS Form Date. PPFA will find the frst BS form file from there. If you DO NOT WISH to use data that old, change the date to the date you wish to start with. The FA_Last date will automatically update when you run Update Horseform ALL or Selection #3, Update Horseform New in Update Selections.
BS Selector Prices have not changed?
After you run the Updates in PPFA, you must run either Race Tab live to re-calculated the changes or you can manually re-calc by going into Bet Selector, Select appropriate Meeting, go to Edit Scratchings and click NEXT through the meeting. This will re-calc BS based on th updated data.
What happens if track conditions change during the day?
In the event the track conditions change, go to Bet Selector and the in Meeting, Edit Scratchings, manually change the track conditions for the races that it applies to. Close Bet Selector and open PPFA. Select File, Update Selections and ONLY RUN Process #6. This will re-adjust the ratings for the new track conditions. Close PPFA and re-open Bet Selector, go to race Meeting, Edit Scratchings and manually click NEXT through the races you would like the changes applied to.
Can I test PPFA over old data?
You can test PPFA over old data, the problem you may encounter is two fold. The time factor may be significant as you will be required to manually go to every meeting and click next through every race to implement all the adjustments. Secondly, the Jockey ratings that are applicable now would in most cases not have been applicable in the past and if you have made any adjustments manually on the old data, this may also affect the outcome. Testing over the last few months would be easier and the recommended method of testing old data. Don't forget that Track Conditions are critical to the outcomes so if you do noy have th correct Track Conditions in Bet Selector then you won't be getting the right updates from PPFA
I don't have Bet Selector, can I get the ratings?
We will be releasing in the near future PPFA Rating Sheets by Subscription for those in the punting fraternity that do not have Bet Selector.
Can I keep my own Jockey ratings?
If any of you had the old Jockey Program and wish to keep your own Jockey Ratings, just follow the prompts after installing and when the question relating to Keep Old Jockey File is asked, make sure you respond YES.
What do I do about System Parameters on installation?
As part of the installation process, PPFA will install a default System Parameters File, ( the same one we use ). Anyone that had the Old PPJ Jockey Program will be asked if you wish to retain your System Parameters. YOU DO NOT WANT TO KEEP THEM as the new System Parameters have all the New Adjustments. If you do decide to keep them, then whatever existed in your Old File we imported into your New File and whatever did not exist will have PPFA's default values.
Can I run Bet Selector and PPFA at the same time?
As both programs use common files, you CANNOT have both programs open at the same time.
What do I have to do to apply PPFA adjustments?
On a day to day basis, I do the following and have never had a single problem, run Race Tab Live, Close BS, open PPFA run functions 1,2,3,4,5,6. Close PPFA, open BS and run Race Tab Live again. All changes will be implemented. Nothing else is required. In the event track conditions change during the day, go to BS, then the meeting and manually adjust the track conditions for the races affected. Close BS, open PPFA, run FUNCTION 6 ONLY. This will only adjust the races that have different track conditions. Close PPFA, re open BS and go to the appropriate meeting again. Go to relevant races, Edit Scr and click Next Race until all races are done. The changes will be implemented for the races that have new track conditions.
What difference will PPFA make to the Bet Selector ratings?
I can not stress enough that this program is designed to do form analysis and attempt to get the horses rated in the correct order based on our criteria. Any filters you apply after that via System Selector are a personal choice but when you run your systems, you can be confident that you are running them across analyzed data with the ratings correct based on that analysis.

Obviously we cant select every winner, ( although we would like to think we can ), and sometimes you will miss a winner because of the adjustments but in the long term, and this is what we look at, this sound strategy will pay dividends for you, as it has for us.
ERROR whilst processing Low Grade Track Updates
ERROR whilst processing Low Grade Track Updates is caused by "Dirty Data" in one of your downloaded form files. Either delete the meeting from Bet Selector where the error ocurred or skip the date of that meeting when processing. A fix for this error will be available for download soon.
What do I do if track conditions change during the day?
If the track conditions alter during the day, it is recommended that a manual adjustment be made in Bet selector to alter track conditions, then run PPFA Function Update Form Analysis and then re-run Bet Selector, go to edit scratchings, select the 1st race where conditions have changed, then click next race until meeting completed. The TAB's are very slow in updating track conditions, in most cases they do it at the end of the day. DONT RUN RACETAB LIVE AFTER YOU HAVE MADE MANUAL ADJUSTMENT TO TRACK CONDITIONS
How do I license my software?
If you have not already sent your License Details please follow the below instructions:

When you run the program it will open up a License Information Window. Please enter your details and click the SEND button. Your email client will open a message ready to send to orders@ppfa.com.au. Click on the SEND button in your email client and your details will be emailed to PPFA. Once your payment has been verified you will be sent a Serial Key by return email.

This procedure may not work if you are not using Outlook or Outlook Express. If this is the case simply create an email and type in your registration details as per the PPFA Licensing Window then email to orders@ppfa.com.au Make sure the Seed Number is included.

Once you receive your Serial Key, you may enter it manually in the Serial Key field or copy & paste it from your email to the Serial Key field in the Licensing Window. Now simply click the REGISTER button and your PPFA will be permanently registered and you will no longer be bothered by the Licensing Window.
Why is my Jockey name "Missing Jockey"?
PPFA has recognised that Race tab Live updates overwrites the jockey adjustment if it is blank, by putting missing rider in the box, no changes are made the blank space for jockey name reverts the rating back to default of 5.
How do I apply reversals to PPFA adjustments?
After you run the PPFA Reversal Function, you must re-open BS and reset the markets. This can be achieved either by running RACE TAB LIVE if you are resetting today's data or running Price Predictor, select the meeting/s you are resetting, then Edit Scratchings and clicking NEXT through each race.

You may also use a recorded macro to achieve this, however, you would need some advanced PC knowledge to achieve the correct results.

If you are running PPFA over old data, you are limited to using the Edit Scratchings Method as the Run Race TAB Live method will only apply to today's meetings.

The same applies if you want to reset the markets to PPFA's ratings. After running PPFA over the data, you must recalc the markets.

SUMMARY

  1. When PPFA applies the adjustments to BS, although the Base Ratings, Jockeys, etc have changed in BS, the actual market in BS hasn't.
  2. When you run Race TAB Live in BS, it automatically recalculates the market for those meetings you have selected in Race TAB Live.
  3. When you Reverse PPFA's adjustments, you must do the same thing, that is, recalculate the markets.
  4. If you do any adjustments for past data, the market still has to be recalculated and the only way we know how to achieve this is with BS Edit Scracthings.
  5. If you are analysing past data, you are forced to do the Edit Scratchings procedure for ALL meetings and ALL races you are applying adjustments to.
  6. If you only apply PPFA on a daily basis, then, after printing, viewing the PPFA adjustments, from within BS, you can delete the meetings and re-Download them which will obviously give you a clean set of data.
  7. It is pertinent to understand that BS will not adjust the markets simply because you make a change to the ratings. You may notice than within BS itself, it has three UPDATE buttons in the View Past Form / Edit Ratings Screen. This is because BS itself requires you to click the appropriate UPDATE button after you make changes. This applies whether you have PPFA or not.
If you read the PPFA manual on this subject it will become clear why you have to run RACE TAB LIVE twice to achieve the desired results. In fact, three times if you want to use PPFA's Reversal It is also stated in the manual that running over past data, although possible, is not a recommendation of PPFA. The reason the Reversal was included was mainly for past data as although possible, most people would not have access to past data thus preventing them from deleting then re-Downloading past meetings.