What are lynx.evt, lynx.ppl and lynx.sch, and where do they go?
The files every meet program exchanges with FinishLynx through one shared folder: lynx.evt is the seeded events (the only one required), lynx.ppl the athletes, lynx.sch the event order. FinishLynx writes a .lif back.
Every meet program (LynxPad, HyTek Meet Manager, MeetPro, Athletic.net RunMeet through AthleticLOCAL, OpenTrack) connects to FinishLynx the same way: through files in one shared folder. The meet software writes the start lists into the folder, FinishLynx reads them, and FinishLynx writes a results file for each race back into the folder.
- lynx.evt: every seeded event, heat and athlete with lane. It is the only file FinishLynx needs to open events with names already filled in.
- lynx.ppl: everyone in the meet database, so you can add an athlete who isn't in the start list by typing their ID (bib) number.
- lynx.sch: the order of events, so FinishLynx can step to the next event. It is optional.
- .lif: the results file FinishLynx writes when you save an event, named event-round-heat (for example 003-4-01.lif). It is plain comma-separated text.
- .evn: the race and image file FinishLynx saves for every race. It is not a results file.
Keep the folder on the FinishLynx computer (a Meets folder on C: is the recommended layout), share it with read and write access, and point both programs at it: in FinishLynx, File | Options | Database, Input Directory and Output Directory. Empty it between meets so old event files don't mix with new ones. The file formats are in Database files in the manual.
Goes deeper
- How meet software shares files with FinishLynx — Troubleshoot · Networking · Meet management connections
Related questions
- Why aren't the athlete names loading into FinishLynx events? — FinishLynx isn't reading the folder your meet software writes to. Point the Input and Output Directory in File | Options | Database at the competition folder, then load the event again.
- 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).
- Which computer gets 192.168.0.5, and what do the others get? — The FinishLynx capture computer takes 192.168.0.5; the cameras take the addresses just above it. Put an evaluate computer at 192.168.0.15 and the meet management computer at 192.168.0.90.