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In-Arena Utility (IAU) guide

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    NCAA LiveStats In-Arena Utility guide

    NCAA LiveStats In-Arena Utility (IAU) is a program written by Genius Sports, designed to work in conjunction with NCAA LiveStats to create XML files in the same format as those created by StatCrew. 

    • These XML files can be used to continue to power scoreboards and websites as they had previously done through StatCrew.
    • Additionally, there is an option for a serial feed that matches what is produced from TasComm32.

    This guide uses terminology and screenshots from Basketball. However, the process for Soccer and Volleyball is identical.

    This software is a stop-gap solution and will not be supported forever. 

    The long-term approach should be to integrate the Genius Sports APIs, which will provide a better experience with more and richer data. However, Genius is committed to supporting the XML files and serial output through at least the 2021-22 academic year.

    Download links

    • IAU is designed to automatically check for updates. If prompted, please always accept and install the latest version of the software. 
    • From the main menu, choose the desired sport. 

    Currently, only basketball is enabled, but other sports will be rolled out in the future.

    Setup

    Watch the demonstration video here.

    IAU and NCAA LiveStats work together to provide the XML/serial data stream. So, before the game begins, make sure a number of things are set up appropriately.

    Step 1️⃣

    Make sure that NCAA LiveStats and IAU are either: 

    • running on the same network (wired or wireless),
    • or running on the same physical machine.
    Step 2️⃣

    1️⃣ In the main entry screen of NCAA LiveStats, click on SETTINGS → In-Venue Feed.

    2️⃣ This will bring up the LIVESTATS SETTINGS box - here proceed with the following: 

    • make note of the server port (7677 in this example),
    • and click on the START TV FEED button, which will start the export process of the game data.

    3️⃣ Close this dialog box - on the main screen, the TV FEED icon will turn green.

    Step 3️⃣

    Now go over to the IAU application.

    1️⃣ Fill in the IP ADDRESS box:

    • If NCAA LiveStats and IAU are on the same machine, enter “localhost” (without the quote marks).
    • If they are NOT on the same machine, enter the IP address of the machine running NCAA LiveStats.

    This information may need to be obtained from your IT department.

    2️⃣ In the PORT box, enter the number from the Server port box in NCAA LiveStats (7677 in this example).

    3️⃣ Click on the START button.

    4️⃣ Click on the CONNECTIONS box.

    This will open up the Output Destination Management box - click on NEW to set up a new connection.

    Adding new connections

    XML

    For XML files, there are two kinds of connections:

    • FTP
    • Folder

    FTP

    Use this option when it's needed to send a file to a specific FTP location.

    bhyiwoAJcu-C1T6TKbrAO3zc_sU3LCFeXg_1541343707.png

    Field

    Details
    NAME Name of the connection (just used for identification).
    TYPE Choose FTP.
    LOCATION FTP location.
    USER Username needed to access the FTP location.
    PASSWORD Password needed to access the FTP location.
    FORMAT STAT CREW XML.
    FILE NAME MODE

    There are 5 different options here:

    • Use Default File Name: this will make the file name "bbgame.xml".
    • Use Game Number: this will make the file name whatever is set up in NCAA LiveStats-- Game-- Game Information-- Game Number field.
    • Use NCAA Game ID: this will make the file name the NCAA Game ID, which can be found in NCAA LiveStats-- Help-- Game Information -- Conference Game ID.

    This won't work for practice games.

    • Use NCAA Match ID (Genius Sports): this should only be used in the rare instance when NCAA Game ID is not present.
    • Custom File Name: this can be any desired alpha-numeric file name. Make sure to put ".xml" at the end of the name.

    And this will send the XML file to that specified FTP location.

    Folder

    Use this option when it's needed to create a file in a local directory.

    Rp3zA2PD-3Q_waS9lkTlA0WX_UHSH2s4_w_1541343578.png

    Field

    Details
    NAME Name of the connection (just used for identification).
    TYPE Choose FOLDER.
    LOCATION

    Location on the local machine. 

    It is suggested to use a specific folder and NOT using the desktop, due to how permissions are assigned by Windows.
    USER Username, if required (typically not needed).
    PASSWORD Password, if required (typically not needed).
    FILE NAME MODE

    There are 5 different options here:

    • Use Default File Name: this will make the file name "bbgame.xml".
    • Use Game Number: this will make the file name whatever is set up in NCAA LiveStats-- Game-- Game Information-- Game Number field.
    • Use NCAA Game ID: this will make the file name the NCAA Game ID, which you can find in NCAA LiveStats-- Help-- Game Information -- Conference Game ID.

    This won't work for practice games.

    • Use NCAA Match ID (Genius Sports): this should only be used in the rare instance when NCAA Game ID is not present.
    • Custom File Name: this can be any desired alpha-numeric file name. Make sure to put ".xml" at the end of the name.

    And this will put an updated version of the specified XML file in that directory.

    Click on SAVE to put this connection in place or CANCEL to leave.

    Serial

    For serial output, make sure to use the FOLDER option.

    lS8ucomrIIksQagLiUWCy14OpxO7rP0iZQ.png

    Field

    Details
    NAME Name of the connection (just used for identification).
    TYPE Choose FOLDER.
    LOCATION

    Location on the local machine.

    It is suggested to use a specific folder and NOT using the desktop, due to how permissions are assigned by Windows.
    USER Username, if required (typically not needed).
    PASSWORD Password, if required (typically not needed).
    FORMAT STAT CREW SERIAL SCOREBOARD.
    FILE NAME MODE

    There are 5 different options here:

    • Use Default File Name: this will make the file name "bbgame.sb".
    • Use Game Number: this will make the file name whatever is set up in NCAA LiveStats-- Game-- Game Information-- Game Number field
    • Use NCAA Game ID: this will make the file name the NCAA Game ID, which can be found in NCAA LiveStats-- Help-- Game Information -- Conference Game ID.

    This won't work for practice games.

    • Use NCAA Match ID (Genius Sports): this should only be used in the rare instance when NCAA Game ID is not present.
    • Custom File Name: this can be any desired alpha-numeric file name. Make sure to put ".sb" at the end of the name.

    And this will put an updated version of the specified .sb file in that directory.

    Note that the scoreboard reader needs to be pointed to this location.

    Click on SAVE to put this connection in place or CANCEL to leave.

    If required, it is possible to go back and add as many connections as needed.

    AW8U4tNMqVfF2pugEeEKVySksh3Z_u8dhQ.png
    Editing connections

    To edit any of the information in a connection, click on the QY0eRJljnWx-ZfpJAqpyYKJeDzkwuDj1uA.png Edit icon and make necessary adjustments. 

    If a connection issue occurs, the status will display a red Failing box, the taskbar icon will turn red, and a red More Information box will appear in the app.

    5VoaldzcdTR2FeyuAKjPNToj89rbu4Og5g.png

    Clicking on the Z2EEu4MrWD293WfF-72V-1s0RrM1c1mr5A.png icon will provide the specifics of the issue:

    TBsVqv-hwWYiLUmzo0ENeavHappjNZBxNg.png

    At any time, an active connection can be turned off by clicking the orange 4rJ91lBU5wrJwEiifGH3Bo_m7Y2g-YgmJg.png button and re-enabled later. To permanently delete a connection, go through the Edit functionality.

    If any questions arise or something does not appear to be working correctly, please contact NCAA Support at NCAASupport@geniussports.com.