Hi Susan and all you who have commented so far. In answer to Susan’s first question, I’m the developer of CallersCompanion which currently has over 120 registered users and has been in development since 2008. It is a stand alone app based in FileMaker Pro and runs on Mac/Windows, as well as iOS devices like iPad and iPhone using FileMaker Go (and yes FM Go running on Android is coming but there is no release date as yet.) Some of the folks you know who use CC are: Nils Fredland, Bev Bernbaum (early beta tester), Luke Donev, Cis Hinkle, Claire Takemori, and the late Linda Leslie who tested many new features over the years and had over 2500 dances entered plus a separate ECD file with several hundred more.
There are literally hundreds of features and options in CallersCompanion but I’ll just list a few here: Dances: Fast-entry buttons that allow you to enter a figure such as “Partner Balance & Swing (16)" with a single click and using your preferred language Smart search that allows you to find something like “All Becket dances with a chain in B1” or “all dances with a neighbor swing in A1 and a pass through in B2” Role/Position Term switching: change Gents/Ladies <-> Larks/Robins with a single click Link a dance to other dances (variations, etc.) Email a dance (or list of dances) to someone with a click Import from “The Caller’s Box” online database (just click the “Download JSON” link in the upper right corner of the dance) Sets: Create an evening's Set list with color coding for Improper, Becket, etc. Add “Plan B” alternate dances to the set list but hide them until you need/want them Separate “On-Screen Calling” layout with larger text and “next dance” queue “Program Matrix” - instantly see when you have “Larks allemande Left” in 3 dances before the break! Share the Set List via email, with our without full dance details, with one click A note about security and updates: Due to ever tightening security on the Mac platform, I’m going to need to create a “code-signed” version of CC that will run as an app and be allowed through the security gauntlet. If you have a new Mac or recently updated your OS to Big Sur and are having issues, contact me directly and we’ll see what we can do. I’ve been able to find workarounds with most people that will keep them going until I can work through creating the code-signed app. Regarding backups, I keep a copy of my dance database base on my iPhone as well as my computer and iPad, so even without internet or cell, I have everything there. The phone interface is obviously smaller and harder to use for actual calling than an tablet or laptop but it does work and it means you can have all of your dances available even just as a reference if you’re talking with someone or want to look something up. In addition, more than one CC user has had their iPad and or laptop crash, and has been able to download a saved copy of CC from DropBox or other online storage area. It might not have the set list for that night’s dance (if you haven’t updated the backup recently) but it will have most of your dances and previous Set lists to work from. You can check out CallersCompanion at http://callerscompanion.com <http://callerscompanion.com/> The demo is free to use up to entering 50 dances. Please contact me directly if you have any issues with the demo file (and Windows users, be sure to do an Extract All on the downloaded zip file or you won’t be able to make changes. Macs unzip this automatically.) Will > On Jul 28, 2021, at 9:45 AM, Susan English via Contra Callers > <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > As I begin to travel again, I want to leave my dance cards home and access > all my material virtually. I have 2 questions: > > 1. Which virtual method (or app) do you prefer for accessing your dance > instructions and notes? > 2. What is your back-up plan at a dance if you can't get on the internet? > > Susan > 330-347-8155 > woosterdance.com <http://woosterdance.com/> > > > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]> > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]> -- Will Loving 1769 Thomas Ave San Diego, CA 92109-4429 +1 413-221-8626 (iPhone) +1 413-253-7223 (Pacific, GMT –7/8) [he/him]
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