offeringinfo.csv

The file offeringinfo.csv holds all information related to the schedule of events for the year. This file must be copied to the web server about the beginning of each year; it can be updated as more events are added to the schedule. The information is in the form of a spreadsheet that has been saved in .csv (comma separated value) form.  Each row of the spreadsheet has 14 values (columns).  Each row represents one event. The rows must list the events in chronological order; however, the first row is for column labels.  The following describes the contents of each column - the titles used are the labels to be used in row #1.  It is VERY important that all cells used in the spreadsheet have a Text format and that NO commas are used in any cell. The descriptions below are for what should be entered in the cells of an Excel spreadsheet which will be converted to offeringinfo.csv

Col 1:   Cancel Status
A single letter - Y to indicate "Yes" the event is canceled; T to indicate the event is "Tentative", i.e., does not have all elements arranged yet; N to indicate the event is not canceled and not tentative, i.e., that it is confirmed.

Col 2:  Payment Code
This is a code to indicate what a person pays to participate in an event.   The payments are for non-WPOC members.
Code 0:  $6 per map (groups can then share maps)
Code 1:  $5 per person (everyone must have his/her own map)
Code 2:  FREE (there is no payment)
Code 3:  $6 for two maps (used for sprints)
Code 4:  $18 per person (for the 3-hr course at a mini-rogaine)
Code 5:  $30 per person (for the 6-hr course at a mini-rogaine)
Code 6:  $18 or $30 per person (when both 3-hr and 6-hr courses are on the same day of a mini-rogaine)
Code 7:  For non-WPOC events

Col 3:  Offer Code
This is a code to indicate the structure of the event, the kind of courses offered.
Code 0:  Cross-country courses, usually five ranging from Beginner (White) to Advanced Long (Red)
Code 1:  Cross-country courses for beginners and a score course for intermediate and advanced
Code 2:  Instruction for beginners and intermediates and exercises for advanced
Code 3:  Ski-orienteering, usually with two or three cross-country courses
Code 4:  Night orienteering, usually with one multi-level score course
Code 5:  Street orienteering, usually with one multi-level score course set on the streets
Code 6:  A single multi-level score course, controls set at all skill levels
Code 7:  Sprints, usually two beginner-level and two advanced-level courses
Code 8:  Special (used for mini-rogaines)
Code 9:  Unknown - the type of courses has not been decided yet
Code 10:  Score course for beginners and novices; cross-country courses for intermediate and advanced
Code 11:  Beginner and Novice courses and two scramble courses
Code 12:  Beginner and Novice courses and two scatter courses
Code 13:  For non-WPOC events

Col 4:  Date
This is the date of the event.  Many formats are possible; I use d mmm yyyy  or dd mmm yyyy where mmm is the month abbreviation as in 25 Apr 2021

Col 5:  Park
This is the name of the park or area where the event will be held.  This must be at least two words long and the first word must be the first word in the name of the park or area. For parks with divided areas or uses, an additional word is required. For example, for Yellow Creek, the words North or South must be included; for Laurel Ridge, the word Ski must be included for a ski-o event and must not be used for foot-o. Also, to distinguish the Babcock Bog & Boulder Challenge from regular event at the Babcock Division, the word Bog must be included when scheduling the former. If two events are to be held in the same park during a year, the last character of the name must distinguish them with a number, for example North Park 1 and North Park 2 Park names are case-sensitive. See the file parknflyernames.htm

Col 6:  Shelter
This is the name of the facility (shelter/pavilion) we will use.  This may be blank; but it is probably better to say something like TBA.

Col 7:  Times
This is a description of the registration/start times.  There is no required form, except no commas allowed; all of these are reasonable:  11 am to 2 pm  or  7:30 pm  to 8:30 pm check-in; 9:00 pm mass start   or  Instruction:  beginner 11 am and 1 pm; intermediate Noon

Col 8:  Sequence
A number showing the order in which the events are entered into this file. The first event is number 0. Most of the time, this information is not used for anything. However, this column is used as a flag to indicate an event will offer a bike-o course in addition to whatever courses there are. The flag works like this: Instead of whatever sequence number would normally be in this column, to indicate there is a bike-o just add 100 to the sequence number; for example, enter 106 instead of 6.

Col 9:  Notes
Any additional information related to registration.  For example, you could have Special pricing for score course or you could have a link that leads to details of the training event.  Links must be written in HTML, as in <a href="trainingpreview.htm">details</a>  This creates a link that looks like details which when clicked on goes to the file trainingpreview.htm

Col 10:  Courses
This is where you specify exactly what courses will be offered, not just the general category like the offer code. You may describe the courses anyway you want (again, except no commas allowed).

Col 11:  Director
Specify the last name of the person responsible for designing and setting the courses.

Col 12:  Flyer
Name of a file that gives driving directions and shows a one line entry for the event similar to what is shown in the calendar (schedule).  Flyer files generally have names that begin with the park name and contain the word "flyer" however, some parks have multiple flyer files because we use different facilities.  For example, here are a couple flyer file names for North Park:  northparkflyerdonora.php  and   northparkflyergrant.php. Flyer names are case-sensitive.  See the file called parknflyernames.htm Whatever is put in this column is used to form the link in the schedule page so that when someone clicks on the park name in the schedule it goes to the directions page (or for non-WPOC events it goes to that event's description page)..

Col 13:  Near/In
Specifies the name of a town near the event or that the event is in to help people find it.

Col 14:  !
Column 14 must contain an exclamation point and nothing else.

A word of warning about putting certain HTML in any of the columns.  I have found that when Excel converts my spreadsheet to .csv form, it handles anything in double quotes badly.  For example, above is an example of how to make a link for column 9; it contains double quotes around the file name - a requirement for the HTML.  In the .csv file, the text is changed to the following:
 "<a href=""trainingpreview.htm"">details</a>"
  During uploading, these extra double quotes in this situation are removed; however, in general you should avoid using double quotes unless they are syntactically required.

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