Can FinishLynx push results out live, and is there an API?
There is no API. Two ways get results out while a race is evaluated: the hidden setting Database\LIF\AutoSave rewrites the .lif every few seconds, and a scoreboard script can send results over the network.
FinishLynx writes each event's results to a .lif file, a plain text file any program can read. Meet management software (LynxPad, HyTek, RunMeet, MeetPro and others) reads it, scores the event and exports CSV, PDF and other formats. FinishLynx has no API, but there are two ways to get results out while a race is being evaluated:
- Auto-save the LIF. The hidden setting Database LIF AutoSave saves the .lif every few seconds (the value is the interval in seconds; 0, the default, turns it off). Another program can watch the file for changes. Use FinishLynx 13.20 or later, which fixed auto-save not writing the first .lif.
- Network scoreboard output. FinishLynx can send results over the network (TCP or UDP) through a scoreboard script, which is how live-results services and video boards receive data. See Results on a video board or TV.
The LIF layout is fixed: its columns can't be reordered and new fields can't be added, though Database LIF ExtraFields can drop the extra fields at the end. Writing your own lynx.evt, lynx.ppl and lynx.sch files is covered by Database files in the manual; Lynx support can send example files for testing.
Talk to Lynx Support
Tell the team what you’re seeing and what you’ve already tried. They’ll follow up by email or phone.
Goes deeper
- Results export and live data — Troubleshoot · Software · FinishLynx · Start lists and results
Related questions
- FinishLynx saves the race but no .lif results file appears. Why? — The .lif is written to the Output Directory in File | Options | Database when the event is saved. If it's missing, that folder is wrong, read-only or on a computer FinishLynx lost contact with (error 3002).
- Can I send data to my scoreboard over the Ethernet network? — Yes, with every display. The built-in Network COM Port feature adds Network (connect), (listen) and (UDP) to the serial port lists; a SeriaLynx converts Ethernet to serial for boards with a serial input.
- How do I access the FinishLynx hidden settings? — Hold Shift + Ctrl and click File | Options. Every setting, with FinishLynx's own description and default, is on the Other Settings page.