Data Nerds - Looking for A Couple of Testers

Ithikial

FGM 2ND IN COMMAND
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FGM Community,

I'm looking for a group of testers for the upgraded battle result recorder I've been working on. It's an updated automated excel workbook that will allow you to easily record all your CM WW2 battle results. Also when the war dies down and it's time to reflect on your days in the field over a cigar and brandy you can look back and work out what aspect of the game you're good at, and what areas badly need improvement and then gloat in web forums with pretty pictures. It's also a good little recorder of how many Pixeltruppen you've sent to the digital grave and in what fashion!

This is Version 2 of the data tool. The first was not exactly user friendly (I'll admit that). An example of what Version 2 is capable of doing can be seen from this thread showing carnage across 50 games linked to the Operation Overlord Campaign.
http://www.thefewgoodmen.com/thefgmforum/threads/close-of-june-8th-a-calendar-of-carnage.18179/

(The sales pitch)
The one I want you guys to help test is much larger in scale and includes:
- CMBN and CMFI support (inc all modules).
- All games, modes - SP/MP, are all now inputted into one worksheet!
- Easily updated (by me) when Battlefront release new titles and modules. (So down the track you can compare Ost Front recorded results alongside Western and Mediterranean).
- Will be able to display data going all the way back to 1939 if Battlefront ever goes that far back with their releases.
- Compare your results between different rivals opponents.
- Lots of behind the scenes calculations. eg. Average Pixeltruppen deaths per Battle.
- Not a single mathematical calculation by the user.
- Lots of drop down selection boxes so you don't have to type (much)!
- Personalised Graphs (with your name on it!)
- The more battle results you input the better the tool works.

So are you:
- someone who plays Combat Mission and can input a good number of battle results. (Ideally need one person who is a mad Multiplayer gamer with lots of MP results).
- someone with more ideas on what type of results/outputs you think CM players would be interested in.

Honestly guys all you need to to do is copy a few details like opponent name, battle type and the numbers from each AAR screen at the end of a battle. I aim to email out the testing workbook later this week.

Any queries and sign ups please post below. Thanks in advance.

(I don't work in advertising and marketing).
 
I can help you test this because I have a lot of of the version 1 stats still recorded. Plus, I'd like to try out the new version!
 
I'd love to test it. I always have a bunch of games going and could get some data quick.
 
Mad Mike 220 battle results inputted into this would be a good ultimate stress test and you'd probably get the most out of it immediately. More data = better results in this instance. Hopefully it won't be too painful.

Good news is if there are any additions and tweaks before a final release it will be easy to transfer over, just a copy and paste. This is because the individual battle details are stored in the datasheet, so you may also be able to free up some HD space.
 
man, this sounds great and I will definitely use it when/if it becomes available :) However, I don't think I will be any use as a tester due to my low number of games and lack of stored results. I just wanted to give you a shout of support.
 
Email sent you three above with a copy of the workbook to test. Let us know how it gets on.

Anyone else that wants to join in just drop me a line below.

First 54 results put into the Excel sheet, no anomalies so far.
Still some way to go to do the rest of the 220 total... :eek:

Just one question:

Is there one central place to update all the calculation worksheets / graphics when I input new data?
Currently, I'm updating each worksheet individually. Just wondering if there is an easier way in Excel that I don't know about.
 
If you are talking about updating the graphs and tables that read off the one data sheet yes there is.

This is for Excel 2010 but pretty sure previous Excel versions have a similar feature.
- Highlight a cell within one of the tables (not the graph).
- Up the top on the toolbar / ribbon is a pink highlight called Pivot Tables.
- Under 'Options' (click on it) there is a 'Refresh' button in the center.
- Click on the arrow that is underneath 'Refresh' icon and click on the 'Refresh All' selectable in the pop up menu.
- All tables and graphs across the workbook should auto update as this forces them to do another read off the data sheet therefore picking up any new inputs.

You only need to do this after you enter all of your data (all 220 games). No need to refresh the tables and graphs each time you enter a single new result. o_O That would be painful. :D

I can set it up for the public release to auto refresh the tables/graphs each time the workbook is saved and reopened by the user. Probably safer. Good idea?
 
If you are talking about updating the graphs and tables that read off the one data sheet yes there is.

This is for Excel 2010 but pretty sure previous Excel versions have a similar feature.
- Highlight a cell within one of the tables (not the graph).
- Up the top on the toolbar / ribbon is a pink highlight called Pivot Tables.
- Under 'Options' (click on it) there is a 'Refresh' button in the center.
- Click on the arrow that is underneath 'Refresh' icon and click on the 'Refresh All' selectable in the pop up menu.
- All tables and graphs across the workbook should auto update as this forces them to do another read off the data sheet therefore picking up any new inputs.

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. Works like a charm.

You only need to do this after you enter all of your data (all 220 games). No need to refresh the tables and graphs each time you enter a single new result. o_O That would be painful. :D

No, I don't do that after each entry. Just after inputting a dozen or so, I usually take a break and check the effects. That's where I was coming from with my question above.

I can set it up for the public release to auto refresh the tables/graphs each time the workbook is saved and reopened by the user. Probably safer. Good idea?

Sounds great. :)
 
No, I don't do that after each entry. Just after inputting a dozen or so, I usually take a break and check the effects. That's where I was coming from with my question above.

Good to hear!

As for the auto update feature, as someone who works in data next to every working day of his life, I understand and support why it doesn't update the data each time you open the workbook by default. It makes professional sense, but that's exactly the kind of feedback. I'm bound to skip over things that would make it easier to use for the 'Joe Blogs' on the street.

@Facman - Will email you a copy tonight.
 
OK, I've entered 217 results .. phew, quite some work, but some interesting results:

Average Pixeltruppen Deaths per Engagement: 181,2
Average Pixeltruppen Deaths Caused: 104,9
Average Pixeltruppen Deaths Suffered 76,6

Average Number of Vehicles Destroyed per Engagement: 10,6
Average Vehicles Destroyed Caused per Engagement: 7,1
Average Vehicles Destroyed Suffered per Engagement: 5,6

So, quite positive for me :)

Also, the number of total casualties in my battles so far is 39.311.

@Ithikial

There seems to be an error in the pivot table which calculates the casualties in the "Casualties by Country" sheet, there under "When I play as Allies" .. The total number of Casualties is calculated instead of only the casulaties when playing as Allies. Any idea how to fix this?
 
Thanks Mad Mike. That does sound like a bug but I know where to look. It's either the pivot chart is reading the wrong column of data as a source or the hidden area of the datasheet has a formula error. The datasheet has formulas and cells hidden to the right of the input area which works out a whole lot of numbers automatically based on your inputs in the visible section. Can check when I get home.

If you don't mind when you've finished inputting into the data sheet can you email it back to me. Will be good to see what it looks like with 200+ entries listed and I can do some solid data validation on my end. :D
 
Thanks Mad Mike. That does sound like a bug but I know where to look. It's either the pivot chart is reading the wrong column of data as a source or the hidden area of the datasheet has a formula error. The datasheet has formulas and cells hidden to the right of the input area which works out a whole lot of numbers automatically based on your inputs in the visible section. Can check when I get home.

If you don't mind when you've finished inputting into the data sheet can you email it back to me. Will be good to see what it looks like with 200+ entries listed and I can do some solid data validation on my end. :D

EMail sent, maybe you can correct the bug and also pass it back to me, please?
 
EMail sent, maybe you can correct the bug and also pass it back to me, please?

Error has been identified and fixed. I'm going to test copying your data over to the new version and then I'll email it back to you.

Update: All works, emailed back to you.

Anyone else have some updates?
 
Last edited:
Just an update. Worked on this a bit over the break and it's about ready to release. Looks a little prettier now. However whenever Ost Front is released by BF I'll need to update on my end.

Just got try and record a sober demonstration video and then I'll publish.
 
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