Movement files in the format .ASC

version 1.0

A movement file is a text file with extension '.ASC' or '.asc' and consists of a header followed by further data.

The header is the first line of the movement and contains 5 numbers, namely:
number of contestants (pairs or players)    number of tables    number of rounds    number of board groups    Individual.
The number Individual is 0 for a pairs movement, 1 for an individual movement.

In a pairs movement the header is followed by a number of sets { NS-pair, EW-pair, board group }, each specifying a table.

In an individual movement the header is followed by a number of sets { N, S, E, W, board group }, each specifying a table.

The sets described above are grouped in rounds, each containing an equal number of tables as specfied in the header, in the order table 1, table 2, et cetera. Every round consists of one line.

The contestants are indicated by consecutive numbers, starting with 1.
Board groups may be indicated by consecutive capital letters, starting with A, or by numbers starting with 1. In one and the same movement board groups are indicated consequently, either by capitals or by numbers.

separators

As separator an arbitrary number of the following may be used:

Empty tables

The number of tables may be larger than strictly necessary, in particular to achieve that boards remain stationary. Then in every round there are one or more unused tables. These are indicated in the movement by the number 0 for contestants and board groups. Thus 3 zeroes for a pairs movement 5 zeroes for an individual movement.

Comment

After a # the rest of the line is comment. This is not part of the movement. A program that reads the movement may neglect comment completely, or store it as extra information. Also empty lines are comment. Comment is not allowed before the header.

Remarks.

Example

14  7  6  6 0
 1- 2 A  3- 4 B  5- 6 C  7- 8 D  9-10 E 11-12 F 13-14 A 
 6- 3 A  7- 2 B 11-13 C  9- 4 D  5- 8 E  1-10 F 14-12 B 
12- 9 A  5-13 B  7- 4 C 11- 2 D  1- 6 E  8- 3 F 14-10 C 
 7-10 A  1- 8 B  3- 2 C  5-12 D  4-11 E  9-13 F 14- 6 D 
 4- 5 A 11-10 B  9- 8 C  1-13 D  3-12 E  6- 7 F  2-14 E 
11- 8 A  9- 6 B  1-12 C  3-10 D 13- 7 E  2- 5 F 14- 4 F