Showman is a computer program and database designed to help set up and run any philatelic exhibition in Australia.

It was developed primarily over a two year period by Hans Karman of the ACT and first fully trialled at Tasmania 2003 held in Hobart in April 2003.  Earlier iterations of the software had been used to assist in the running of exhibitions in Canberra.   The program and its accumulated data are now in regular use.

Features and Functionality

The basic structure of Showman consists of a set of actions needed to plan, organise, run and wind up a national philatelic exhibition.   The actions are arranged in groups and subgroups and are approximately in the right order to allow an exhibition Organising Committee to step through each of the actions to ensure that nothing is forgotten.  It uses Microsoft Access as well as Word and Excel for some of its functions.

Showman utilises a master database under the control of the APF.  On request the APF Database Manager can make a copy for an Exhibition Secretary, this copy is specially tailored to be suited to each exhibition.   It cannot be used for any exhibition other than the one for which it was issued.  The data collected during that exhibition is returned to the APF on completion.   Work is continuing to load and verify all exhibition results retrospectively to 1984.

Showman provides an extensive 'To Do' list.  The list has suggested target dates, worked back from the exhibition opening date and based on the time frame needed for a full National exhibition.   The operator can override the target dates and can also record completion dates.

Data for an exhibition is collected once only by data entry and is then re-used as required throughout the exhibition process.   Once details of accepted entries are recorded in Showman it is able to produce an initial Catalogue listing.   It is also capable of printing all the necessary Bin Room documentation, the exhibitor’s envelopes, Acceptance Letters, and Judging sheets.

A key job of Showman at the exhibition itself is in the Jury Room.  By operating Showman in conjunction with a data projector, the jury can follow the allocated points and medal results as they are decided.  Once results have been completed, Showman produces Critique sheets, the Awards List, Medal Tally, Certificates for each exhibitor and generates html listings suitable for posting on websites.

Showman also has many sample documents and letters as well as other useful utilities.  It can maintain a mailing list and print address labels for one or any combination of the mailing lists (without duplicating labels).

How Showman is distributed

The APF provides Showman on a CD on request for a specific exhibition only. 

Further Guidance

Detailed operating instructions for Showman are included as Help Screens with the program.  Many of these Help Screens contain personal data of exhibitors and are therefore not appropriate for open display.  They are provided in a secure section of these web pages.

For a more comprehensive overview of Showman, click here.