Schedule frustration?

[GNDN]

OK, up in the 3rd party area, Let's Play has been trying to help me work a "problem" generating a 2008 schedule.

I am frustrated only by the fact I cannot seem to get it to work. Manipulating the data into the correct format is easy. I have used Crash's utility to verify naming and am still at a loss.

What I have attempted thus far:

I want to use 1998's schedule as 2008. I have just finished spring training but have not played any games. So, I download the schedule zip from Retrosheet and extract the 1998 sked to my desktop. I dump the data into excel (keeping the format, quotes and all), change all the MON's to WAS and all the ANA's to LAA. I change the year from 1998 to 2008. I change the days of the week to match the 2008 days of the week. Copy into notepad and save in Mods folder as 2008SKED. I try to import it. The config is good but PS is unable to import.

Ok, fine. Delete the files and re-try except without importing. I go to Opening Day. No luck, it is still the same schedule.

Ok, fine. Delete the file but not change year. Ah, now I learn that file is not compatible and will not import. So, I know the date is important.

Ok, fine. Delete the file but change only the year but not the day of the week. No luck, compatible but will not import.

In all cases, I have changed the team abbreviations for WAS and LAA.

What didn't I do to make this work? Or is it not possible to import a future/customized schedule?

Thanks

[LetsPlay2]

Hey GNDN,

I am inclined to think its the 2008 date. I may be wrong but PS may not see that until the new version comes out !

[CrashDavis]

I'm going to take a guess here...and thats all it is...a guess.

The latest Lahman database that is available with PS is current through 2007...not 2008. I think this has something to do with not being able to import a retro schedule.

I can definitely confirm this is why when you use PS_TEAMS and input the year 2008 nothing will show.

Crash

[GNDN]

I had a feeling the date was one of the culprits but I do not know enough about the game to be sure.  That's a shame because I am halfway through putting the actual 2008 schedule in a retrosheet format.  I was hoping to get the 1998 schedule working in one association and than start another using the actual schedule.

Ah, well, such are the plans of mice and men, eh?

I will just add this to the 'wish list', I suppose.

So, the next logical question is can I edit the existing schedule? It looks like it just pulls the 2007 schedule and applies it to the next year. Is that a mod-able file?

Thanks for the input and support. 

[motnahp]

It is possible, although time-consuming, for you to edit any valid schedule. As long as you know your team numbers, you can edit an Excel file schedule, import it, and then run it. I have done so on many an occasion. Here is how I did it. Some other way may be better for you:

(1) Open up the imported schedule document (Excel or Notepad) and check the games on a particular date. Find a date where all teams are playing. Write down the games in the order in which they appear in the sked document. Check your PS schedule of games on that same date. The order of games is the same order you saw on the sked document. This is your method for finding team numbers. The skeds I edited and used were from OOTP's site. I recommend backing up a schedule you KNOW works (your 1998 sked, for example). After that, edit the copy. At any point, you can re-name the sked whatever you want.

(2) Print out a version of the 2008 MLB sked that you can read clearly. If there's room and you can see your own writing, you can use this sked for #4 below, instead.

(3) Print out blank monthly calendars for March (or April) through October. I use myfreecalendarmaker.com. If you can print a calendar with Julian dates already on them, you will save a step later.

(4) Using your printed calendars, write in the games manually. For example, you might have 1 @ 13 and many other games on opening day. MAKE SURE YOU ARE ACCURATE!!! You also need the # of the day of the year. For example, April 1, 2008 is DAY # 92. You need to write these on your calendar (or use the Julian dates provided in Step #3 above).

(5) I usually did mine a month at a time. Once you're through April (or March and April), take the calendar from #4 and open up the Excel document with the VALID sked you've already imported.

(6) Manually go into the Excel document and make your changes. YOU MUST BE COMPLETELY ACCURATE HERE ALSO. Do not leave out any commas. What you are changing are the dates and the team numbers. I have included a sample attachment.

It's really a simple process, but a bit time-consuming when you do it for the first time.

In the first game of the sample attached:

98 is the day of the year.
5 is the visiting team.
4 is the home team.
7 is the time of the game. This doesn't really matter in PS, but if you want the game played at 1 PM, your line would be: 98,5,4,1. It would be played before a game labeled: 98,5,4,7.

The order of how games appear on the "Games" screen in PS will depend solely on what you type. They'll be resolved in AutoPlay in the same order.

JAN=31 days
FEB=29 days
MAR=31 days

April 1 = day # 92

Have fun!

Edit: I just realized that the sample shows a Notepad sked. I've edited both Excel and Notepad versions. For some reason, the Notepad ones were easier to deal with. You just have to have a strong comma key, as you will be entering 2,430 lines of data and each has 3 commas.

FYI: It doesn't matter what year you're using, as long as your team numbers match up. You can edit any valid schedule, save it, then import it into PS after spring training. The year of the schedule as seen in the PS program comes only from the PS calendar itself. The program won't care if you're using an "edited 1998 sked" in the PS year of 2008. The only thing that matters is that the number of teams in the schedule document matches the number of teams in your assn. PS will give schedule the games based solely on what's on that document. This is why you have to be 100% ACCURATE. If not, you will end up with some teams playing more games than others. I've been there, done that. It was embarassing.

[motnahp]

Here's what the Excel one looks like. I just found it easier on the eyes to use the other one.

[GNDN]

Wow, thanks all.  I will give it a shot.
 
I know I am new here but I must say I am continually impressed by the level of support and help available from the "Old Timers".  You guys should have your own day or something  [:)].
 
I will let you know how I make out.

[GNDN]

ORIGINAL: motnahp

It is possible, although time-consuming, for you to edit any valid schedule. As long as you know your team numbers, you can edit an Excel file schedule, import it, and then run it. I have done so on many an occasion. Here is how I did it. Some other way may be better for you:

(1) Open up the imported schedule document (Excel or Notepad) and check the games on a particular date. Find a date where all teams are playing. Write down the games in the order in which they appear in the sked document. Check your PS schedule of games on that same date. The order of games is the same order you saw on the sked document. This is your method for finding team numbers. The skeds I edited and used were from OOTP's site. I recommend backing up a schedule you KNOW works (your 1998 sked, for example). After that, edit the copy. At any point, you can re-name the sked whatever you want.

Quick question: using Crash's utiltity, I found the team numbers for each team in my association. Should I be using them?

[motnahp]

Yes, if you've located the team numbers as assigned to the teams in your assn, those are the numbers in a schedule that will tell PS who is playing.

I can't emphasize enough how important accuracy is. After a little trial and error, I ended up doing a week at a time, then checking my work after each week.

I recommend transposing your team numbers a month at a time (onto your calendar or copy of the MLB sked). After that, edit the document a week at a time. Use your Enter/Return key to separate old data from your new data. You can always delete the old stuff. You just need to keep those numbers away from YOUR numbers, so you don't go blind trying to decipher them later.

Let me know how it goes. I am not responsible for any damaged or worn out comma keys : )

[GNDN]

Just an update.  I think I have the format right but I have not tried it yet.  Was up late last night working on it and did not have time today to test.
 
By the by, baseball1.com has printable schedules with who palyed who each day.  A real God send here.
 
Also, I used excel to re-format, it turned out to be quite simple.  Used find and replace to change my dates and to change from team name to number.  The pop-up "162 changes were made " was a nice sight at 1 AM.  What I did was put each requiremenet in its own cell.  I end up across 4 columns in excel.  Once all the changes are made, excel has a function called contcate or some such that allows me to merge all the cells with commas separating the numbers.  From there copy paste into notepad and I am off to the races. 
 
I hope.  Stay tuned, film at 11.
 
Or I should say "let's go to the video tape!"

[motnahp]

I wonder how many hours some of those shortcuts could have saved ME. I manually edited/entered 10-12 skeds, at an average of about 3-4 hours per sked.

I know very little of Excel beyond the basics. I consider myself an old dog, and you know what they say about old dogs and new tricks.[&:]

[GNDN]

I am doing something wrong.  Below is the format of the first 3 days in my new 2008 season.  It is titled 2008SKED.txt, I keep it in the mods folder.  I went through this twice, making sure I had the day numbers right.  If the format is right, I have no problem detailing how I went about it in excel.  If what I am doing is resulting in incorrect data, I won't share a bad process.
 
Mon, you mentioned you do this a week at a time, checking your work.  Where is the file you are working on inside PS?
 
91,18,23,7
91,20,24,7
91,22,21,7
91,26,17,7
91,28,16,7
91,27,15,7
91,5,9,7
91,4,14,7
91,3,13,7
91,29,30,7
91,2,10,7
92,8,11,7
92,20,24,7
92,19,25,7
92,26,17,7
92,28,16,7
92,29,30,7
92,5,9,7
92,2,10,7
92,7,7,7
92,6,12,7
92,4,14,7
93,20,24,7
93,19,25,7
93,27,15,7
93,18,23,7
93,22,21,7
93,26,17,7
93,28,16,7
93,29,30,7
93,5,9,7
93,2,10,7
93,7,7,7
93,6,12,7
93,8,11,7
93,3,13,7

Thanks

[motnahp]

What I worked from was a schedule I imported from the OOTP site. Since PS recognizes OOTP skeds, I simply d-loaded a sked and altered it to suit my needs.

The only reason I didn't simply use the sked "as is" was because I was only replaying one league and not the entire MLB.

You should be able to go to their site, grab yourself any 30-team sked, then make the changes to match this years' schedule.

I haven't done this in about a year. There may already be a 2008 sked on the site.

http://ootpdevelopments.com/board/showt ... hp?t=63714

Don't worry about the warning. The skeds you need are the ones prior to OOTP's 2006 version. There are hundreds of them.

I would be happy to e-mail you one that I have altered. It will show only 14 teams. Here is a sample screen of what I mean:





All you would need to do is delete everything starting with the 97, type out your own dates and team numbers, save the file anywhere you want, then import it into PS after spring training. It might be helpful if I told you that I opened/edited this file with Notepad.

[GNDN]

I see errors in my conversion.  Check out days 92 and 93:  I have Toronto at the Blue Jays.  Must be a late split squad game. 

Sigh.

I need to fire my proof-reader.  Or do this at a more reasonable hour.

>Edit<
Yes, I see what I did. I got carried away with my find and replace. Turned all my 1's into 7's and completly messed up the Twins and the Jay's schedule.

[motnahp]

I well remember my trial and errors. Since 100% accuracy is required, you should get a great sense of satisfaction (and relief) once you get this done, imported, tested, and into use.

In the meantime, some free advice from motnahp. Try to avoid:

(1) Slamming your mouse down on the desk.
(2) Creating any new curse words, specifically using two or more known curse words and combining them together into one word.[:-]
(3) Having any bad thoughts about motnahp for his part in #1 or #2 above.[;)]

[GNDN]

Schedule Import Complete!&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I have not read sweeter words in a long time.
&nbsp;
Mon, Let's Play, Crash, thanks all for your help.&nbsp; My wife thought I was really losing it, for a while there when I was coming to bed muttering "I just don't understand, it should work dammit.&nbsp; What am I not doing right?"&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I am going to begin my title defense and&nbsp;I will post for you Mon the steps I used to mass change values in Excel.&nbsp; They may not work for you since you are working off a template but you never know, right?

[CrashDavis]

WTG GNDN!!!!

[LetsPlay2]

YAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!&nbsp;[&o]

[GNDN]

I mentioned I would detail how I did this in Excel to hopefully save time for those who wish to convert schedules.

I write this assuming you have a beginner's knowledge of Excel. Some of these tips came from my IT people at work when I posed the qusetion to them of how to do this.

First, I took a Retrosheet schedule and copied the year I wanted into Excel.

Once in Excel, do the following:
1)  Highlight the column and select "Text to coulmns" under Data on the menu bar.
2)  On step 1, select delimited as the file type, click next
3)  On step 2, de-select tab and select comma as the de-limiter, click finish

Your schedule should not be split out over 12 columns.  Delete the columns you will not need.
Insert 2 columns in "front" of column A (your dates) or cut the entire schedule and paste in column C.  The 2 new columns are for dates.
In column A, I put the normal date (3/31/08, for example) and in column B, it Julian number (91).  Using the fill feature, I populated my dates down to the last day of the regular season.  I did the same on the Julian numbers.

The next part is a bit tedious but I did it to make sure I had my dates lined up.  Going forward, my spacing will only need tweaking.

In the columns where your dates are, you need to insert cells (yes, cells.  Inserting cells will not move the rows downward) so the days correspond to the games.  It looks like this:  >Keep in mind this look is after I changed from calendar to Julian.  I wanted to illustrate the format the data was in when I worked on it<

[GNDN]

Now that your dates and games are lined up, I used a combo of copy/paste and find/replace to make my changes.&nbsp; I am providing the keyboard short-cuts I used since I found it easier than mousing all over my screen.
&nbsp;
For dates:&nbsp; ctrl-C (copy)&nbsp;on a date (for example, cell D2 above contained&nbsp;used to have the&nbsp;calendar date), ctrl-F (find), ctrl-V (paste) in the find what field, click on replace, enter Julian date in "replace with", select match case and find entire cells only.&nbsp; Click replace a couple of times to make sure the logic is working, selct replace all when you are comfortable it is working.
&nbsp;
For teams:&nbsp; Highlight the column (yes, this is important and what got me into trouble.&nbsp; I forgot to highlight the time of game column when making all the games at 7.&nbsp; Excele went through the entire sheet and made all the 1's a 7.)&nbsp;and ctrl-c on a team name, ctrl-f, ctrl-v, click on replace, enter your team number to replace with , select match case and find entire cells only.&nbsp; Click on replace or replace all.&nbsp; The column should stay highlighted so you can do the copy replace over and over until all teams are changed.
&nbsp;
To merge the columns back into one cell:&nbsp; the formaula is called CONCATENATE and can insert commas between values.&nbsp; For example, the formula is =CONCATENATE(D2,",",E2,",",F2,",",G2) for my data above.
&nbsp;
Lastly, copy the column of data you just merged and select the next free column,&nbsp; from PASTE SPECIAL, select values only.&nbsp; That will copy the results of the formula, not the formula itself.
&nbsp;
Copy paste the values into notepad and you all know how to do the rest.
&nbsp;
I know it sounds like a lot but it is straight forward and was a heck of a time saver for me.