Batch reporting allows you to print, e-mail, or upload to a web site any or all of the reports with the click of a button. The following explains how to do this, and explains all of the options on the Batch Reporting screen, providing examples when needed.

(NOTE: You do not have to use batch reporting to email reports or to upload them to a web site. You can use your favorite email program or FTP program instead. To use your own email program, export the reports and send them as attachments in an email message. Please consult your email programs help file for info on how to do send attachments. To use your own FTP program, export the reports and upload them. So, if you have trouble getting batch reporting to work on your computer, you have alternative ways of emailing the reports or uploading them to your website.)

Each tab on this form is described below:

Template - You can save your settings and retrieve them later. You can have multiple saved settings. This can be very useful if you send different reports out to your owners more than once a week. For example, you can save settings that use the fantasy standings report and the weekly results report. If you send these reports to the owners on Monday, you can call the template 'Monday'. You can also save settings that use the starting lineups report and fantasy rosters report and call it 'Saturday', since you will distribute those reports on Saturday. If you want to create a new template, make sure the template field displays 'New'. To choose a saved template, click the template field and choose a template from the dropdown list. Clicking the Save button will save the current settings to the template displayed in the template field. If the template field displays 'New', you will be prompted to enter the template name. To copy the template to another name, choose the Save As button. This is very useful, for example, if you have entered all the e-mail settings for a template and want to create another template without having to enter the e-mail settings again. To delete a template, choose the template to delete from the dropdown list and click the Delete button.

Select Reports Tab
Use this tab to select the reports you would like to create. For each report you want to create, select the checkbox next to the report name. To enter the options for the report, click the Options button (not all reports have options).

Local File Name - If you will be exporting or e-mailing the reports, you need to enter a local file name for each report. Each local file name should be unique, so make sure two reports do not use the same local file name. Use the folder button to enter the report name or enter the report name directly into the field. After each report is created, it will create the indicated file name on your computer and then export the report to the indicated file name. Make sure you do not enter the name of a Fantasy Commissioner support file (i.e. any file in the directory where Fantasy Commissioner was installed, like rosters.rpt) or it will cause problems!
Example: c:\ffreports\stand.htm - This would save the report in a file called 'stand.htm' in the directory 'ffreports' on the 'C' drive (NOTE: If you specify a directory, make sure the directory exists - in this example 'ffreports' must exists on your C drive). The filename must have an file extension (the above example used 'htm' as an example). You should name the extension according to the export type: 'doc' for MS Word,, 'txt' for Text Format, 'htm' for HTML and Plain-Text HTML, and 'rtf' for RTF.

Remote File Name - If you will be uploading the reports to a web site, you will need to enter the remote file name for each report. Each remote file name should be unique, so make sure two reports do not use the same remote file name. When each report is uploaded to a web site, it will be saved according to the indicated file name. For example, assume you are uploading the Fantasy Standings report, and have entered a local file name of 'c:\ffreports\stand.htm' and a remote file name of 'stand.html'. This means that when the report is exported, it will be saved as 'stand.htm' in the directory 'ffreports' on your C drive. It will then be uploaded to your web site, and saved with a filename of 'stand.html'. The directory on the web site that the report will be saved to is indicated by the "Remote Directory" field on the "Web Site Settings" tab (see below).

Define Output Tab
Here is where you define the destination of the reports.

Export reports to files - If this option is selected, that means after each report is created, it will be saved to a file on your computer. The filename that each report will be saved to is indicated by the "Local File Name" field on the "Select Reports" option (see above).

Export type - This defines the format that you want the report saved to when it is exported. The options are: Plain-Text HTML (HTML with no formatting to reduce file size), MS Word, RTF (Rich Text Format), Text, HTML. Please look in the Fantasy Commissioner help file and read the section "Exporting Formats" under the "Reporting" section for more info on the export types.

Upload reports to web site - If this box is checked, that means you wish to have the reports uploaded to a web site after they are created. You must fill out the "Remote File Name" for each report, and you must fill out all the fields on the "Web Site Settings" tab.

E-mail reports - If this box is checked, that means you wish to have the reports emailed after they are created.

Attachment type - When you send reports to the other owners via email, the reports will be "attached" to the email message. Use this option to define the format of these attachments: Plain-Text HTML (HTML with no formatting to reduce file size), MS Word, RTF (Rich Text Format), Text, HTML. The email recipient must have the proper software to read the attached report. For example, if you send the report with an attachment type of MS Word, the recipient must have MS Word on his computer. HTML and Plain-Text HTML can be read with any web browser. Any email program or any word processor can read the 'text' type, and RTF can be read by almost every word processor. Please look in the Fantasy Commissioner help file and read the section "Exporting Formats" under the "Reporting" section for more info on the export types.

Print reports - If this box is checked, that means you wish to have the reports printed after they are created.

Copies - Enter the number of copies to print.

E-Mail Settings Tab
This is where you configure you e-mail settings. Usually, you get these settings from your Internet Service Provider. You can also get these settings from the current software that you use to send e-mail. You only have to enter values for these fields if you are going to send email.

AOL Users: You can send email using Fantasy Commissioner only if you are NOT using AOL's dialer. If you are using the AOL option "Connect to the Internet", this means you are NOT using AOL's dialer. If you are using the AOL option "Use AOL Dialer", this means you are using AOL's dialer. See the 'AOL Users - E-Mail Settings' section below for more info.

SMTP Host - Enter here the name of a machine which can process outgoing mail on your behalf. The format of the address you provide here depends on your WinSock implementation: many will allow you to enter a normal internet name (for example, parnassus.pmail.gen.nz), but some may require that you enter the address in dotted notation (for example, 192.156.225.2). Fantasy Commissioner asks the relay machine to send outgoing mail on your behalf, so the machine you name must be running an SMTP server; your system manager or service provider will be able to tell you which machine or address to use for this field.

If you are currently sending email, you can find your SMTP Host name by looking at the email software you are using:

Netscape Communicator: From the menu, choose Edit, then Preferences. Goto "Mail and (News)Groups" and choose "Mail Servers"

Microsoft Outlook: Choose the Start button in Windows, then Settings, then Control Panel, then "Mail (& Fax)". Then either "Show Profiles" and goto "Profile, Servers" tab, OR "Internet Service", goto "Properties, Servers" tab.

Eudora Pro: From the menu, choose Tools, then Options, then goto "Sending Mail".

Microsoft Internet Mail: Fromo the menu, choose Start, then Programs, then Internet Mail, then Mail, then Options. Goto "Servers" tab.

From Name - Enter your name here.

From E-mail Address - Enter your email address here (i.e. support@footballsoftware.com)

E-mail Subject - Enter the subject for the email (i.e. Weekly Reports). You can leave this blank if you wish.

E-mail Message - Enter a message that you with to send along with the attached reports (i.e. Here are the weekly reports. Lineups are due this week by Wednesday). You can leave this blank if you wish

Attachment Encoding - Leave this selection at the default of Base64 unless other email recipients have problems reading your attachments that you have emailed them.

E-mail addresses to send reports - In this grid, list all the email addresses to email the reports to (i.e. support@footballsoftware.com)

NOTE: If you get the message "20002: Unknown error. Please make sure you are currently connected to the internet", please check the email addresses that are listed in this grid. Any invalid emails will cause this error. You might want to delete all the emails and enter just your email address and see if it works. You can delete the emails by clicking on the left side of each line in the grid and hitting the delete key.

Fill Using Owner Info - This button will grab each owners email from the Fantasy Teams screen and populate the grid with them.


AOL Users - E-Mail Settings
If you are using another dial-up connection besides AOL's (i.e An Internet Service Provider, or ISP), you can send mail using your AOL mailing address. However, on the E-Mail Settings Tab you must enter a non-AOL server for the SMTP Host, since AOL will not let you use their server. Use your ISP's server instead.

The following is from AOL about the limitations if you are using AOL's dialer (i.e. using AOL as your ISP):

AOL uses proprietary message exchange protocols that don't work with most other programs so there is no POP3 or SMTP address. AOL merely provides limited access to the internet through its' "gateway". At this time you must still use the AOL software, or Email Connection to read AOL Email.

While you can use alternate browsers for the WWW with AOL, you cannot use that browsers EMAIL or NEWSGROUPS option nor can you use any third party Email or newsgroup reader such as Eudora, Free Agent, MS Outlook, etc. because of AOL's proprietary system.

Until AOL switches from their proprietary system, this is your only option at this time.

Note that you can upload the reports to your AOL account if you are using AOL's dialer. So, you may want to upload the reports to your AOL web site instead of emailing them since AOL will allow uploads. See the Web Site Settings section below for info on uploading reports using AOL.

If you wish to get another dial-up connection from an ISP in order to be able to email directly from Fantasy Commissioner, you will still be able to connect to AOL using this dial-up connection. Some of the more popular ISP's are

Earthlink
AT&T

If you do not want to get another dial-up connection, you will need to take another step in emailing your reports:
1) Do not fill in the information on the E-mail Setting tab. Instead, use the Batch Reporting feature to do nothing more than create all the reports. The reports will be saved based on the settings in the "local file name" fields.
2) Then, go to AOL's mail program and create a mail message to send to all your league members. Use the Attach button and specify all the reports that where created in the previous step. Send this email, and all the owners will get the reports.

Changing Dialers in AOL 4.0:
On the opening screen of AOL there is a section called "Select Location". In that area is where you choose which dial up method to use. To get TCP/IP access (i.e. use an ISP to connect to the Internet instead of AOL), you need to go into Setup and then click "Add or change a modem or other connection device". You would then click "Next" and then AOL would search for a connection device. It will ask if you want to use TCP/IP. Then choose the TCP/IP option. You can then logon using your own dialer and then open AOL. In select location you will choose the TCP/IP entry and then you are logged on. If the "Select Location" box displays a phone number, you are using AOL's dialer.

Web Site Settings
This is where you enter the settings if you will be uploading the reports to a web site. You must have your own web site or web space. Most Internet Service Providers (ISP) provide you with free web space. You can get the settings for this tab from your ISP. If you are currently using a File-Transfer Protocal (FTP) program to upload files to your web site, you can also get these settings from that software. You only have to enter values for these fields if you are going to upload the reports to your web site.

Host Address - This is the address of the computer that you will be uploading the reports to. Usually something like 'fantasyinsights.com'. Don't put a 'http://' in this field.

Username - Your username.

Password - Your password.

Remote Directory - If you wish to store the files in a subdirectory, enter that here. For example, if you have a subdirectory called 'reports' on your web site, enter 'reports' in this field. All the reports will then be uploaded to the 'reports' subdirectory.


AOL Users - Web Site Settings
If you are an AOL user, here is information specific to you for the "Web Site Settings" Tab. Note that you can upload to your AOL account if you are using AOL's dialer.

Host Address - Only put "members.aol.com". Don't put a http://
Username - The AOL persons screen name, (i.e. john doe)
Password - This is needed. If the AOL user is not sure they can contact the "Personal Publisher" or "My Place" help areas. It is usually the sign on password.
Remote Directory - Leave this blank. Because the Directory name is ALWAYS the same as the AOL users screen name (i.e. johndoe)

Free Web Sites
You need to have your own web site to upload the pages. Many ISP's give your free web space with your account. However, if you don't have your own web site, there are many sites that will give you a FREE site to upload the HTML pages. Here are two of the best:

Geocities

If you are using Geocities, enter the following on the 'Web Site Settings' tab:
Host Address - ftp.geocities.com
Username - Enter your GeoCities Member Name
Password - Enter your GeoCities Password
Remote Directory - Leave this blank. Because the Directory name is ALWAYS the same as the GeoCities Member Name

Tripod

If you are using Tripod, enter the following on the 'Web Site Settings' tab:
Host Address - ftp.Tripod.com
Username - Enter your Tripod Member Name
Password - Enter your Tripod Password
Remote Directory - Leave this blank. Because the Directory name is ALWAYS the same as the Tripod Member Name


AOL Users - Reading Attachements
Here are the instructions for AOL users to unpack files. You may need to do this if you send email and the other owners receive the files in MIME format. Sometimes AOL will convert the attachments you send via email to MIMI format.

1. Download Mpack/Mumpack

2. Download the file to your Football folder in your Windows directory.(make one if you do not have one)

3. Run the file MPack15D.exe (Click on it twice)

4. You should now have two files created: Mpack and Munpack

5. Go to MsDos...... (Start-Programs-MS Dos Prompt)

Screen should read: C>windows

6. Type in: cd Football

Screen should read: C>windows/football

7. Type in: munpack week3.mim (or whatever file you want to unpack)

You should see the file names and extensions on the next line. Example: week3.htm

8. Type in Exit to return to Windows.

9. Load Wordpad or Notepad (or Word if you are using those files) and open the file.

10. Once you have downloaded Munpack you only need to do steps 7 - 11.


LEARNING HTML
If you do not know how to create your own web page, there are a number of sites that explain HTML. HTML is the language that the web pages must be written in. For more info, check out the following sites, which contain tutorials on HTML:

HTML Goodies
HTML Primer
Barebones
Web/HTML Documentation

For more sites, check out the link below for a list:

Yahoo

Also, you can create HTML pages using many other products, such as MS Word, FrontPage, etc.


SAMPLE LEAGUE WEB PAGE
The below link is a files that contains a sample web page along with a text file describing it. This web page can be used as the main page for your fantasy football league, as it contains links to all the reports created by Fantasy Commissioner. Click on the link below to download the file called SAMPLE.EXE. Once you download it, run it to unzip the two files. For more sample league pages, check out our Fantasy Football Leagues web page.

Sample league web page