1.      Layout of the Online Partnership Desk program:

A.    The index page:

1)      When you click on the “Partnership Desk” tab, you will be brought to a list of Regional and Sectional Tournaments. The Regional Tournaments are at the top. Within each of the two sections the tournaments are sorted by date.

2)      The “On-Line Partnership Desk” column contains a list of the names of the tournaments. If the entry is underlined, an online partnership desk has been set up for that event.

3)      The column without a heading contains a link to a flyer for the tournament if one is available.

4)      The last column, “Location,” contains a link to a Google map for the venue hosting the tournament.

5)      To use the partnership program or to learn about it, you must click on a link to one of the tournaments.

B.     The tournament page consists of five sections:

1)      The usual tabs on the left allow you to access other portions of the NEBridge.org website.

2)      The NEBC banner is repeated in the text area.

3)      The area with a blue background has the tournament name and a link back to the index page. Although the tournament name is underlined, it is inert.

4)      The tan area has the registration information.

5)      The bottom area has the information about the tournament.

2.      How to learn about the program:

A.    The link to the FAQ will allow you to read and/or print a list of frequently asked questions.

B.     The link to the Tutorial shows a YouTube video explaining how to use the tournament section of the webpage. If this link does not work, you can just paste the following URL into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZm2q7G0DAk&feature=youtu.be.

C.     The link labeled “Need More Help?” allows you to send an e-mail to the developer.

D.    If you have a question about the implementation of the program for New England tournaments, you should send an e-mail to webmaster@NEBridge.org.

3.      How to register:

A.    You only need to register once.

B.     Fill in the information in the tan section of the page. The e-mail address and the phone number are not required, but if you want anyone to contact you, you should fill in at least one of them.

1)      If you provide an e-mail address, the program will send you an e-mail when someone indicates that they want to play with you. It will also send you a confirming e-mail when you indicate that you wish to play with someone. The e-mail address is NOT visible to other players.

2)      The telephone number is displayed as part of your player information when you register in the online partnership desk for an event.

C.     The selection that you make in the “Preferred System” pull-down menu is displayed as part of your player information when you register in the online partnership desk for an event.

D.    The selection that you make “MP Level” must match the number of points that the ACBL has on file for you as of the end of the previous month. It is displayed as part of your player information when you register in the online partnership desk for an event.

E.     When all the fields are correct, click on the Enter button. Your entry will be accepted unless:

1)      You did not enter a valid ACBL number.

2)      The Masterpoint level did not agree with the number on file with the ACBL.

4.      How to log in:

A.    In order to see who is looking for a team or a partner or to make known your own intentions, you must log in.

B.     Just enter your ACBL number and click on the “Login” button. The information on file for you will be displayed.

C.     When you have logged in, the performance of the bottom part of the page changes. When you click on an event that has a pull-down menu (a white box with a downward pointing arrowhead at the right, you will see a list of the people who are looking for teams or partners.

5.      How to look for a partner or team or make yourself available in the system.

A.    The video does a very good job of describing this process.

B.     Click on the event in which you want to play in the “Partnership Desk” column.

1)      If you want to ask someone to play with you, just click on the person’s name. An e-mail will be sent to them, and a confirming e-mail will be sent to you. If you prefer, you can, of course call them if they have provided a telephone number.

2)      If you want to make yourself available, click on the appropriate line in the “Need?” column.

a)      Enter 1 if you need a partner.

b)      Team games:

(1)   Select 1 if you have teammates but need a partner.

(2)   Select 2 if you have a partner but need teammates.

(3)   Select 3 if you need both a partner and teammates.

c)      Click on Enter and wait a few seconds. When the page refreshes, you should see your name and selection when you click on the event pull-down menu.

C.     Very important: When you no longer need a partner or teammates, go back into the event and select 0 in the “Need?” column.