Robot/Robot2 Suggestion (minor)

[Roghaltz]

It would nice if the output showed how long a run in Robot/Robot 2 took (either showing start and finish time or elapsed time).

On my machine tests can take 15 minutes or more. It would be nice to know in advance (I forget to look at the clock or leave the room for a while, so I am not sure how long it took in most cases).

Thanks
Ezra

[NC Tony]

Rog..sounds like you need more RAM, if not a newer machine. I know, it's not my money, just a suggestion.

FWIW, mine runs in less than a minute but I have lots of RAM 4G.

[Roghaltz]

Quite possibly. If I am the only one with the problem then I am not looking for a fix :D

[Rick]

I think it depends a lot on how much data you are asking the Robot to digest.

I have a pretty fast computer but if I am running the Robot on a full year of data at all tracks under Learn All it takes about 40 minutes. If I run it on one track it takes about 40 seconds.

[km]

I think Rick pointed out the min - max for the Robot. One track is a flash, all of them is molasses.

Although 40 minutes sounds too long for an "all burger" for 1yr, but i rarely ever run it with no filters and usually have at least Purse 10k+ checkmarked.

I writing a chapter in the new Robot User Guide on speeding it up. Here are the key methods of speeding up the Robot =

1) one track or as few as possible
The Robot starts by looking at the file name extension (track abbrev) and can just skip the ones you don't need without ever opening the file.

2) Race Filters
These filters will open the file, but reject it as soon as something is found unchecked on the Race Filters screen. The more items left unchecked with regard to race conditions (Class, Age, Sex, Purse, Statebred, etc.) the faster the Robot will process.

3) Distance and Surface
Any reduction in distance and surface items will speed up the Robot as it will be able to skip more races.

Once the Robot makes it past any of the above - it now must go through the entire process of evaluating every horse in the race for the all items on the report. That's what takes the time. Remember , that unlike a db, the Robot has to use a full field handicapping factor spread on every race, not just a specific data match.

[Roghaltz]

Thanks Ken. I will be more aware of how the filtering works when running tests.

Ezra