Global Hockey League NHL 1999-2000 DRS File
For the FHL Hockey simulator.
01:11 25/09/00

CONTENTS:
1 - File name convention for the drs file.
2 - Current version of file
3 - Introduction
4 - Tech Notes
5 - How to update your player database
6 - Troubleshooting
7 - Contact info

2 - CURRENT VERSION
GHL9900.DRS

3 - INTRODUCTION
This file is for the FHL hockey simmulator. It was created using FRSC methods(FHL ratings and statistics council)from 1999. This version of the drs file was developed from scratch by a team GM's and Commish's representing 4 leagues. Coordination of the project was managed by the GHL (Global Hockey league). The GHL supports cooperative ventures like this and wishes to thank everyone for their time and effort. A special thanks to Wynn Fennwick whom we worked with to debug the CSV2DRS converter and who gave us support compiling our final DRS.

The primary objective of the project was to provide a consistant approach to ratings using standard calculations where possible. There are many methods to rate players if you don't like ours, then don't use them..
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4 - Tech notes,

1 - All salaries are based on the NHLPA site as of the end of the 1999-2000 season.
2 - Only players who registered a min of one NHL game (1999-2000 season)were rated.
3 - All vitals have been updated.
4 - Players posistions were determined from the NHL site (stats pages.
5 - There are 921 players rated in this database.
6 - Due to an unfound bug in the conversion program players contract length and Birthplace does not populate into the SIMM.
7 - All rookies in the DRS have been identified as per the NHL site.
8 - The GHL compiled all ratings using Excel and then created a CSV file based on the schema provided by the FHL. This file was used to assist the FHL team with debugging the CSV2DRS converter. The converter will be a great tool for Commish's when it is released.

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5 - How to update your player database:

It is reccommended you backup for league files before doing any data updates. While we are not the experts on the software, however we have done many uploads with few problems. We suggest you read all the notes below before starting the update.

a - Put the GHL9900.DRS file in your FHL main directory.
b - Open your simm and at the main screen select <File>, <update player stats>.
c - You will receive a warning telling you that all stats will be overwritten [warning read notes below], select ok.
d - You will then be asked if you want salary information updated as well, select yes to use new salaries and no to keep your old ones. [read note below]Make your decision accordingly.
e - Once you proceed from the step above the coversion will start. [read note below]
f - When process is complete <save>
Thats all thats to it, when completed your team rosters will contain the new player stats.

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6 - TROUBLSHOOTING:

SIMM HANGING ON CONVERSION
	Sometimes the simm will hang as it is processing a team. Simply stop the update process and close your simm with out saving, nothing will be changed. Make a note of the team that the simm hangs on, it is likely that a player that is not in the new database but is on a team roster is causeing the problem. As of SIMM version 1.1 if a player in the simm has a salarie of >3,000,000 and that player is not in the new database, the conversion will hang. The solution is to cancel the update. Go into the SIMM and edit the offending player(s)salary to less than 3,000,000 or release them. To help you with seeing what players are in the new database we have included a html file of all the players. We know that Wayne Gretzky will stop the process. The simm normally should take the guys that are on a roster and not in the new database and place them in your prospect list. Also note that you may find players with ratings end up in your prospect list, this is due to the fact they do not have a rating in this version or there is a difference in spelling of the name... note case sensitivity is important as well. LecLair and John McLean are two to watch for if you used last years GHL file.

CHECKING PROSPECTS:
	Use the <manager> <view team prospects> menu picks from the main startup simm screen to see who didn't update. If there are players that didn't update because of name spelling you can delete the players by highlighting the name and selecting the delete button. To get any players back to the team rosters that fell off as described above go to the appropriate edit team roster screen and select add player. A box will come up where you can find the players in the database that didn't have a team assigned to them. Highlight the player you want to add and hit <use selected>. The player will be assigned to the team.

UPDATING PLAYER DATABASE AFFECT ON STATISTICS:
Player injuries are cleared on a player stat update, if this is important you will have to save the injury info for each player and reenter it when the update is complete.

The update will erase player statistics, if you are updating in the middle of a season the players personal stats will be reset as well.

BUGS:
Birthplace and contract length will not come a cross across for some reason.

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We hope you find our work helpfull.
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7 - CONTACT INFORMATION:

Where can I find out more information about these ratings?
GHL web page: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Lodge/8728/ratings/

Where can I find out more information about the conversion program?
FHL web page: http://www.entrenet.com/batesoft/

Where can I get more information about the ghl9900.drs file?
Email: rabark@ns.sympatico.ca