Troubleshooting

Find the message shown on screen below, then follow its cause and fix. Most event day problems are network problems, so if several client devices misbehave at once, start with Network Requirements.

Connection Lost

You have been disconnected from the server. We will try to reconnect in the background.

The client device cannot reach the host computer. It keeps retrying and recovers on its own once the connection returns, so you usually do not need to reload.

Check, in order:

1. Is the host computer still running, awake, and showing Event Server Running?
2. Is the device still joined to the event network? Devices often roam to a different network or fall back to cellular data without warning.
3. Has the host computer's address changed? This happens when the host computer reconnects to the network or the router restarts.

If the message stays for more than a minute, click Reload Now. If that does not help, confirm the host computer's address still opens in the device's browser.

Device Disabled

This device has been disabled. Please ask the event host to re-enable it.

An Admin disabled the device, or it was disabled automatically after an hour without use.

On an Admin device, open Devices, find the device, and choose Re-Enable. To stop idle devices from being disabled at all, turn off the automatic disable setting on that page. See Client Devices.

Awaiting Assignment

Assign this device to a group to start the display.

The device has the Display role but is not in a display group yet, so there is nothing for it to show. On an Admin device, open Displays and assign the device to a group. See Displays.

Display Group Missing or Not Found

The display group assigned to this device no longer exists.

The group this device belonged to was deleted. Assign the device to another group from the Displays page.

No display group is registered at ...

A display address was opened for a group that does not exist, usually a bookmark from an earlier event or a mistyped address. Copy the current address from the Displays page and use that instead.

Authorization Failed

Could not communicate with the server to start the authorization process.

The device could not reach the host computer to begin authorizing. This is a network problem rather than a role problem; see Network Requirements.

Port Is Already in Use

Port 53243 is already in use. An event server may already be running on this computer.

Shown in the launcher when Start Event or Open Event cannot begin. Another copy of Competition Control is usually running on the same computer, sometimes minimized or on another desktop. Close it and try again. If nothing else is open, restart the computer.

Authentication request expired. Please try again.

The device code was not entered on an Admin device within 10 minutes. Reload the device to get a fresh code and enter it promptly.

Teams Must Be Assigned Before Scoring

Teams must be assigned to this match before it can be scored.

The match is on the schedule but has no teams in it. On the Matches page, use Assign Teams to Matches. See Field Control and Scoring.

Not Present Teams Excluded

Shown when assigning teams to matches. Teams that have not been marked present are left out of the schedule.

This is usually what you want, since it keeps no-shows off the schedule. If a team has arrived but was never checked in, click Go to Check In, mark them present, then assign teams again. See Team Check In and Inspection.

Team May Not Be Ready

Shown on the Solo page when a team that has not passed inspection is selected. The warning names the team's current status.

Either finish the team's inspection, or continue if the Head Referee has approved it. See Team Check In and Inspection.

Only One Alliance Match Can Run at a Time

... is currently running an alliance match. Only one alliance match can run at a time.

Another alliance field has a match queued or running. Finish, Abort Match, or Reset that field before queuing this match.

Match Has No Field

This match cannot be queued because it has not been assigned a field.

Give the match a field from the Matches page, then queue it again. See Fields.

Score Change Rejected

This score is finalized. Unfinalize to make changes.

The score has been saved and locked, so the host computer refused the edit. Click Unfinalize, make the change, then Save Score again. Unfinalizing an elimination match is blocked while a later round has already been scored; unfinalize the later round first. See Field Control and Scoring.

Score Not Finalized

Save Score failed. The most common cause is a match without its full set of teams. Confirm every alliance slot is filled and try again. If the message repeats, check the device's connection.

Scoring Values Unavailable

The scoring configuration has not loaded on this device. Reload the page. If the message returns, confirm the device is connected to the host computer.

Cannot Send to Displays

Finalize the score before sending it to the displays.

Send to results displays only works with a finalized score. Click Save Score first.

No audience displays are configured.

No display group of the audience type exists. Create one on the Displays page. See Displays.

Bracket Will Run Past Its Block

Only time for ... matches, but the bracket needs ...

The elimination block on the schedule is too short for the number of matches the bracket requires. Creating the bracket anyway means eliminations run past their scheduled time. Lengthen the block or shorten its cycle time on the Schedule step, or accept the overrun. See Schedule and Alliance Selection.

The Event File Cannot Be Opened

This event file was created by a different version of Competition Control and can't be opened.

Event files are tied to the version that created them. Install that version, or open the file on the computer that created it.

The event file could not be opened.

Failed to open the event file.

The file may be in use by another program, on a disconnected drive, or damaged. Copy it to the local disk and try again. If it still fails, open the most recent backup from the backups folder. See Host Computer Setup.

Failed to Start Event Server

The event could not start. The dialog explains why: a version mismatch, an unreadable file, or an unexpected stop. Close any other copy of Competition Control, then try Start Event or Open Event again. Click Open Log Location to find the log files if you need to contact Support.

An Update Will Not Install

Stop the event server before updating. Installing an update restarts Competition Control.

Installing an update restarts the application, so the event must be closed first. Do not update in the middle of an event; wait until the event is over.