Meet Maestro - Setting Up Time Drops Timing System

» Note: Changes in each released version of Meet Maestro are documented in our Meet Maestro Version History, and we specify when updates apply to the desktop version required for a timing system.

Covered in this Article:

• Time Drops References
• Meet Maestro Windows Desktop App Installation
• Meet Maestro Timing Setup & Scoreboards
• Time Drops Setup
• Testing Before the Meet Starts
• Editing Time Drops Settings

Time Drops References

➧ Overview: https://youtu.be/O_VuwbtgSNA

➧ Time Drops Website: https://time-drops.com/

➧ Time Drops User Manual: https://time-drops.com/user-manual.pdf

➧ Meet Maestro with Time Drops: https://youtu.be/cA0vN0a-k68

Meet Maestro Windows Desktop App Installation

The Time Drops Timing System is supported via a downloadable Microsoft Windows Meet Maestro desktop application. Our desktop application enables tighter integration with Time Drops so that times can be detected and loaded automatically.

» Note: If you have a Mac with software that runs Windows, our Windows app can be run on a Mac.

When the installer is running, you will see this screen. This graphic will not show any installation progress or status. As long as you see this window, the installer is working. The installation may take several minutes. When the installation is complete, the app will launch automatically.

Once installed, log in with your SwimTopia credentials. You should be able to navigate to any of your meets that have been Merged under Merge/Export in your SwimTopia team management interface. You will only see meets that have been Merged in this interface.

For specific details on general system requirements to run Meet Maestro using a timing system ➞ See our Meet Maestro - Windows Desktop Application Installer & Details article. 

» Note: If you have previously installed Meet Maestro Desktop, please be sure to close any currently running version before installing a new version.

Meet Maestro Timing Setup & Scoreboards

➞ See the Meet Maestro Settings – Timing Setup & Scoreboards article to select your timing system in Meet Maestro and download the start list files for your scorebards as needed. You will be directed back to this article to complete the remaining setup steps below.

» Note: If you came here from the Timing Setup article, and have performed those steps already, continue below.

Time Drops Setup

➧ Time Drops MM-Link Download

➧ Time Drops Setup Cont.

After you have selected the Time Drops option from the Meet Maestro Timing Setup screen and downloaded the Time Drops MM-Link (above), follow the steps below to complete your setup:

Step 1 ➧ Select the Correct Directory

Maestro should default to the same directory as your timing system. If it does not you may see the following error and will need to use the CHANGE DIRECTORY button to resolve the issue. (There is a copy icon if you want to copy the directory location to your clipboard)

Step 2 ➧ Write the Timing System Configuration File You can change the directory to any folder on the computer (e.g. C:\TimeDrops), but it needs to match the folder you selected for MM-Link (assumes you already installed MM-Link). Then click 'Write Configuration File.' The program will be sent to the console which will generate a new meet number (if this is a new meet).

This timing system writes a ‘meet_details.json’ file which the timing system will use to configure event descriptions, number of heats, entries, etc.

Step 3 ➧ Set the Session Number

Click on CHANGE SESSION NUMBER

Then CHECK FOR NEW FILES and select the appropriate session number

Step 4 ➧ Select the Expected Number of Times per Lane

Available options are 1, 2, 3.

Step 5 ➧ Choose to "Publish current event & heat to SwimTopia Mobile App"

This setting is referencing the ability for Time Drops to automatically send information about the current event and heat being swum to the SwimTopia Mobile Live Event/Heat Bar. 

» Note: The SwimTopia Mobile Live Event/Heat Bar keeps your athletes and parents up-to-date on what’s happening in the pool in real-time. And when using a timing system, updates happen automagically! ➞ See Enabling the SwimTopia Live Event/Heat Bar to learn more.

Step 6 ➧ Click SAVE

Testing Before the Meet Starts

To support running tests prior to the start of the meet, but prevent premature delivery of upcoming swim reminders and live result notifications to Pro users of the SwimTopia mobile app, an early start warning will display to confirm whether or not you intend to start the meet early.

➧ This warning will only display if two conditions are met:

1. The "Publish current event & heat to SwimTopia Mobile App" setting is checked (Step #5 above)
2. The meet or session start time is in the future (not earlier than or equal to the current time)

» Note: This warning will display for each test performed until the confirmation to start the meet is selected (or start the session in a multi-session meet scenario). When "Yes..." is selected, the estimated start times will be adjusted, and the notification process will begin. There is no option to revert back to a pre-notification state.

Editing Time Drops Settings

All of the settings configured during setup can be changed by pressing the gear icon in the timing system bar. You do not need to go back to the main Timing Setup screen under the meet settings.

» Note: If there are any changes made to the meet, such as adding or deleting heats or changing swimmer assignments, you can update the program in the Time Drops system by clicking 'Write configuration file'

➞ Next Topic: After completing these steps ➞ See Running Meet Maestro with Time Drops Timing System