Manual: Introduction-History

Evolution and History... Not always tremendously useful or interesting, but it does offer some insight into the heritage of the Interactive Site "approach". Following is a basic chronological snapshot of the evolution of our efforts through Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 9:00pm PST:

June 2011: Version 4.7 can now operate as a full fledged SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) XML site to provide data to authorized requestors (other websites), upgraded the system to Google Maps Version 3, permits User based Photo album management, stores Geocoded values for Locations from Google, generates NACHA type files for ACH purposes, and permits the BulkMail feature to utilize SMTP protocols (for speed improvements).
September 2010: Version 4.6 eliminates all transmission (via Email) of Passwords, changes the Agreement(s) to Consent indicators, adds an option for Google Translation (to other written languages), modified the Rules specifications to the term Patterns, permits a desktop based Javascript mechanism to select names in forms, as well as the creation of customized RSS Feeds by Users.
November 2009: Version 4.5 adds support for the PersonalMeter, flexible PageHeader formatting under Administrator control, the ability to accept and track User related Paperwork, as well as moving all User Photos into the Users table as a database field.
April 2009: Version 4.4 changes the cosmetics of the complex User form to a tabular layout, adds an internal Site based Mail mechanism, a detailed Match Audit and generalized Bulk Delete mechanism in the Manage type pages.
August 2008: Version 4.3 completes the migration to full XHTML compliance. Several ease-of-use features were added (simplified SiteName, extended Help for Messages support, a Site Index, etc.). The Assignor can now test SelfAssignment Rules for an Assignment being considered, the Directory was expanded to support a few social networking concepts, and the Forum completely replaced with a more structured approach.
September 2007: Version 4.2 continues the progress towards further XHTML compliance (insofar as the current Browsers can handle). There are significant upgrades to password management, OptIn list support, multiple Session support, as well as several usability aids (ShortCuts, dynamic mapping, and optional pop up calendars)
February 2006: Version 4.0 represents completed conversion to published XHTML standards. Also included upgrades to the Topics mechanism, additional Action symbols, dynamic Availability, and significant upgrades to the storage and handling of passwords (upgraded Security).
February 2005: Version 3.2 represents an incremental improvement over the cosmetics, configurability, and usability of the Referee Management Site. New action symbols, Options, and dynamic creation of Acrobat Reader files were added.
March 2004: Version 3.1 of the Referee Management Site was defined and initial implementation of the key concepts were implemented in the first of the Sites. Accounting interfaces, as well as Permissions for access to specific Pages were added to the system.
November 2003: Version 3.0 of the Referee Management Site was defined and initial implementation of the key concepts were implemented in the first of the Sites. Keep in mind that each Referee Management Site IS unique to the Chapter and not all concepts, functions, or implementations necessarily apply to all Chapters.
January 2003: The hosting environment was changed from IIS/Access on Windows/NT platforms to Apache/MySQL on Linux platforms. Referees.biz went first to act as a development platform and was followed by existing Sites. This was internally named Version 2.7 of the Referee Management System.
September 2001: Referees.biz was activated to provide a web-based demonstration and to assist existing RidgeStar sites. The Sites were gradually modified to conform to a more flexible Search and Display criteria (we have named this variation Version 2.0 of the Referee Management Sites)
March 1998: East King County Soccer Referees Association (EKCSRA) activates the first interactive Referee Management Site. It consists of FrontPage images and a few "interactive" pages. We internally reference this incarnation as Version 1.0 of the Referee Management Site. The evolution of this site continues to this day.
August 1996: NorthshoreSoccer.org (NYSA) goes production with RidgeStar's first interactive Operations Site with customized access by the User.
March 1994: North Ridge Software, Inc. diversifies by starting a new division named RidgeStar to service Internet service requests. One Windows/NT based system is placed into production.

Why did RidgeStar get involved in this at all?

The short answer: one of our programmers was involved as a participating Referee with EKCSRA and it occurred to him and the EKCSRA Chapter Administrator that there just had to be a better method for assigning than the old-fashioned paper and pencil system.