ShowMan; current version 7.36

A computer program and database to help setup and run any Stamp Show in Australia

Hans Karman

• History;
• Disadvantages of the old way;
• Advantages of ShowMan;
• The ShowMan Data;
• Starting ShowMan;
• Problems Remaining;
• Computer Requirements for ShowMan.

Working with ShowMan

You have two ways of working with ShowMan. When you log in you will be asked if you want to use the essential commands only, or if you want to use the full TO DO list. The essential commands are the ones without which the use of ShowMan would be superfluous. The full TO DO list contains the essential commands, but also all the tasks needed to organise and run a successful Show.

The full TO DO list contains some 360 separate tasks, many of them reminders, but several with embedded information that might otherwise be a bit harder to come by, such as examples of a budget, a prospectus, a bulletin, etc.

It also has a mechanism for giving you a schedule of dates by which each of these tasks should have been addressed if your show is a big National show. These schedule dates are based on the starting date of your show. You can change these date and put your own ones in, and those will become permanent. There is room to record when you actually completed the Task.

The use of these dates is entirely optional. You can print a report showing the progress made to date.

Below is a list of some of the tasks covered by ShowMan. You may not have access to all of these:

ShowMan Detailed Explanations and Instructions

These include step-by-step instructions for every command available in ShowMan. Because the examples provided in the instructions contain personal data of exhibitors and their exhibits, as well as results achieved, this section is available only on the ShowMan Secure pages.

Access to the Showman Secure page is restricted to Exhibition Secretaries who have been issued with a username and password by the APF Database Project Officer (Hans Karman).  Click to proceed to the secure section. You must have a userid and a password.

A number of tasks are available only to some users; these are distinguished as follows:

• Tasks preceded by a $ can be used only by the APF using the Master Database
• Tasks preceded by a # can only be used by the jury in the jury room

Below are the tasks described in the secure section:

• Dealing with ShowMan itself
  • $ Make a Distribution Copy of ShowMan to be sent to the Show Secretary of a new Show
  • Installing ShowMan
  • Login
  • Make an electronic copy of the ShowMan database for the APF after the Show
  • $ Merge an exhibit's data with the Master
• Change the Rules for Judging Exhibits (FIP, APF, Local)
  • Update the tables of Awards and Points required for each award
  • Update the tables of Classes and their Criteria
• Extract data from ShowMan
  • $ Print Youth Exhibitors
  • $ Print all Exhibitors in an Australian State
  • $ Print Exhibits qualified for International Exhibitions
  • $ Print the judges and their qualifications
  • Print a sample of each Judging Sheet
  • Print the list of tasks for the successful running of a Show
• Update general purpose records
  • $ Update the table of Judges and their Qualifications
  • $ Check for and Eliminate duplicate People
  • $ Check for and Eliminate duplicate Exhibits
  • $ Enter results of Australian (& NZ) exhibitors
  • $ Make changes to the task list
  • Update the table of Shows with Australian Exhibitors
  • Update Dealer records
  • >Print the list of tasks for the successful running of a Show
• Mailing list processing
  • Update the names of the Mailing Groups you want to use as a basis for producing mailing lists
  • Update who is in which Mailing Group
  • Print mailing labels, on A4 sheets of 2 columns of 7 labels
• Preparing for your Show
  • Develop a budget
  • Prepare an Entry Form
  • Prepare your Draft Prospectus
  • Prepare Draft Bulletin 1
  • Prepare Draft Bulletin 2
• Getting Entries
  • Select Exhibitors from previous Shows who might submit Entries to your Show
  • Update headings and sub-headings for catalogue entries
  • Update People records on the database
  • Update Exhibit records on the Database
  • Register entries as they are received
• After entries close
  • Print the Catalogue Listing of exhibits
  • Print the alphabetic Listing of Exhibitors
  • Produce Merge Data Source for Acceptance Letters
  • Print acceptance letters
  • Produce Data Source for Envelope Labels
  • Print Exhibitors' Envelope Labels (A4 format)
  • Print Exhibitors' Envelope Labels (small format)
  • Produce editorial content for catalogue
  • Print the Judging Sheets
  • Produce Certificate Master
• Prepare for Judging
  • Update List of Special Prizes available to the Jury for allocation to deserving Exhibitors
  • Print the list of prizes for catalogue
  • Produce editorial content for awards list
  • Produce Data Source for Certificates
  • Produce Certificates
  • Print bin room labels
  • Print bin room tracking forms
• Setting up the Show
  • Receive containers with frames.
  • Install frames.
• In the Jury Room
  • # Enter Total Points on each call until all Total Points are Final
  • # Print Summary of points awarded
  • # Check Exhibits of a specific exhibitor and awards made to them
  • # Transfer an entry to another class
  • # Enter Criteria Points for an Exhibit after Judging for that exhibit is complete
  • # Allocate Felicitations and Special Awards
  • # Allocate the available special prizes to selected exhibitors
  • Print the Critique Sheets
• After judging is finished
  • Print the awards list (Palmares)
  • Print the Prize List
  • Print the Medal Tally
  • Produce Data source for Certificates
  • Print Certificates
  • Make a copy of results for your Website
• Close down the Exhibition
  • Take down exhibits
  • Pack Frames and dispatch