Pace Calculator 0.6

By Joe Viola

VSoft
pace.calculator@bigfoot.com

http://bigfoot.com/~pace.calculator

 

 

 

Table of contents

 

1.0 Introduction *

2.0 Installation *

3.0 General Operation *

4.0 Specifying the Distance *

5.0 Specifying a Time (Calculate Pace Mode) *

6.0 Specifying a Pace (Calculate Time Mode) *

7.0 Start Another Pace Calculator Program *

 

 

1.0 Introduction

The Pace Calculator Version 0.6 is a FREEWARE program. The program is FREE and has been designed to run on WIN95 (Windows 95) and NT (Windows NT). The latest copy of the Pace Calculator can be obtained from:

http://bigfoot.com/~pace.calculator

The email address is:

pace.calculator@bigfoot.com

You MUST read the legal disclaimer BEFORE using the Pace Calculator. The legal disclaimer is located in the readme.txt file that is included with the program.

 

2.0 Installation

The easiest way to install the Pace Calculator is to use the installation program that is included in the zip file. To use the installation program, just double click on the "setup.exe" file. If you desire, you can specify the destination directory and/or the program group. Or, you can use the defaults (easiest to do).

All the pace calculator needs to run is the existence of the current version of the Microsoft system file: "MFC42.DLL". MFC42.DLL stands for Microsoft Foundation Class (version) 4.2 Dynamic Load Library. Older versions of WIN95/NT may not have the system file "MFC42.DLL", or they may have a very early version (that contained errors).

I have the installation program take the VERY SAFE approach and copy the latest version of "MFC42.DLL" into the Pace Calculators Directory (folder). Any version of "MFC42.DLL" that you have in your system directory or any other directory is left untouched! While this approach may potentially waste approximately 500K, it is the SAFEST way. This is also the approach that more software vendors are beginning to take. If you are very windows knowledgeable and would like to try to save approximately 500K, you can try deleting the "MFC42.DLL" file in the Pace Calculators Directory, I REPEAT - in the Pace Calculators Directory.

Installation programs that copy newer versions (and sometimes OLDER versions!) of system files into the system directory is one of the reasons why some programs (and sometimes WIN95 itself) cease to work correctly after a new program is installed.

 

 

3.0 General Operation

The pace calculator has been designed to be very versatile, intuitive, and easy to use.

All calculations are done in "real time" (on the fly). This makes it VERY easy to see how a change in your pace affects your finishing time or how a change in your finishing time would affect your overall pace.

There are two modes of operation, Calculate Pace Mode and Calculate Time Mode. The current mode is displayed in the bottom status/help box. Each mode requires that a distance is selected.

 

4.0 Specifying the Distance

The user can select one of the common race distances from the distance list box in the Distance Section, or the user can select the "Other" option at the end of the distance list box and specify a custom distance.

The distances listed in the distance list box are ordered by absolute distance. This means that 8km is listed before 5 miles. As a distance is selected, the equivalent Miles and Kilometers distance is display in the two boxes at the bottom of the Distance Section.

If the "Other" option is selected from the distance list box, the edit box that is just below the distance list box is enabled and two "radio buttons" are displayed. The radio buttons allow for the selection of either miles or kilometers. Examples of the accepted formats for the custom distance are as follows:

- .9 (specifies 0.9 miles/Kilometers)

- 0.9 (specifies 0.9 miles/Kilometers)

- 2 (specifies 2.0 miles/Kilometers)

- 2. (specifies 2.0 miles/Kilometers)

- 2.0 (specifies 2.0 miles/Kilometers)

- 2.3 (specifies 2.3 miles/Kilometers)

- 2.1234567 (specifies 2.1234567 miles/Kilometers)

Note that up to the first SEVEN digits in the fractional portion of the distance (after the decimal point) are used in the calculations. However, only the first FOUR digits of the fractional portion of the distance are displayed in the miles and Kilometers boxes at the bottom of the Distance Section. Any additional digits that are entered past the SEVENTH digit in the fractional portion of the distance are ignored.

 

 

5.0 Specifying a Time (Calculate Pace Mode)

In this mode, the user enters the Time. As the Time is being entered, the Pace for that distance is calculated on the fly and displayed.

There are three ways to enter in the time. Use which ever method you prefer. You can even mix and match methods!

1) Enter the Time in the box at the top of the Time Section. You can use the arrow keys to move around in the field, you can edit/change the time anywhere within field, and you can cut and paste by using the right mouse button. The accepted formats for the time are as follows:

Hours:Minutes:Seconds (example: 1:20:13)

Minutes:Seconds (example: 23:02)

Seconds (example: 19)

2) Enter the Time by using the "spinners" that are on the right side of the Hours, Minutes, and Seconds boxes in the Time Section. You can also use the arrow keys to increment and decrement the spinners. You can use the tab key and shift-tab to move between boxes.


3) Enter the Time in the Hours, Minutes, and Seconds boxes in the Time Section. You can use the tab key and shift-tab to move between boxes.

 

As a Time is entered, the Time in Hours:Minutes:Seconds format is display in the time box at the bottom of the Time Section and the Pace for that distance is calculated and displayed in the Pace Section.

 

6.0 Specifying a Pace (Calculate Time Mode)

In this mode, the user enters in the Pace. As the Pace is being entered, the Time for that distance is calculated on the fly and displayed.

There are three ways to enter in the pace. Use which ever method you prefer. You can even mix and match methods!

1) Enter the Pace in the box at the top of the Pace Section. You can use the arrow keys to move around in the field, you can edit/change the time anywhere within field, and you can cut and paste by using the right mouse button. The accepted formats for the pace are as follows:
Minutes:Seconds (example: 23:02)

Seconds (example: 19)

2) Enter the Pace by using the "spinners" that are on the right side of the Minutes, and Seconds boxes in the Pace Section. You can also use the arrow keys to increment and decrement the spinners. You can use the tab key and shift-tab to move between boxes.


3) Enter the Pace in the Minutes, and Seconds boxes in the Pace Section. You can use the tab key and shift-tab to move between boxes.

 

As a Pace is entered, the Pace in Minutes:Seconds format is display in the pace box at the bottom of the Pace Section and the Time for that distance is calculated and displayed in the Time Section.

 

 

7.0 Start Another Pace Calculator Program

If you'd like to compare multiple scenarios at once, you can start another copy of the Pace Calculator by choosing "File" and then "New Pace Calculator" from the menu picks at the top of the program.