We've got answers...
Here's a place to keep updated on PiM and a great page to check before calling for support.
Who knows--maybe someone else already asked your question and got the answer you were looking for!
General
How will I learn the program?
There are three sources of info:
- The Quick Start Guide (QSG)--a PDF booklet you can refer to as you begin
- TutorCam™ videos included with purchase
- The integrated Help File that has complete details on all aspects of the program
Why can't I just download the program when I buy it?
Now, you can! See the downloads page for complete details.
What is the 'Players' version of PiM?
If I have to buy PiM for myself and all of my players, it's going to be way too expensive--you guys must be crazy!
No, we'd be dreaming! We don't expect your players to purchase or your school to provide personal copies. Instead, we have a "player" version of the program which takes the plays you create and allows athletes to study them at home for free.
Players just need to download and install that program for free right here.
I'm really just looking for a play printing program and PiM seems to be all about animation, right?
No, animation is optional.
PiM is an excellent play printing program all by itself and just because we promote PiM's animation capability doesn't mean you have to use it. If you want to do both, you'll build plays using multiple Frames.
If all you want to do is publish, you can do a play in a single Frame (and use the Symbol drawing tool to draw the paths) or in a series of Frames that show a progression.
If you think you might want animate a particular play someday, you're better off planning for it now.
We need custom formations; how about that?
For football users, we give you ways to lay out a multitude of basic formations depending on how many receivers, how many backs, what kind of defense ("4-3", goal line, etc.). From there, you can "tweak" the positions as necessary by adjusting the position of individual players or spreading / shrinking the spacing of all players at once.
Once that is done and you have the formation just the way you like it, save your work calling it something like "formation_1" or anything else that makes sense to you. Now, anytime you need a play based on that formation, simply open the formation as a new play then save it under a different name. The original "formation_1" play still exists and you're ready to go right away without having to repeat the steps above.
We aren't playing 11-man Football, what about formations for the rest of us??
No problem. Just start a new play, move players into positions within the formation, and save the play under any name you choose. When you want to do a play out of that formation, open it up and save it under a new name--the original formation play is still available.
How do I customize a play for a specific player?
One of the easiest ways is to change the depiction colors for that player. Players automatically "wear" the colors of the Offense or Defense as applicable, but are easily over ridden if needed. Just right-click a player, choose Depiction, mark the "Use custom color" check box and select the colors.
PiM seems to have a lot of options for drawing and labeling players; won't that be a hassle every time I do a new play?
In a word "no" because PiM learns (or you tell it) the preferences you use and then applies those settings when creating new plays. For example, if you label your offense as players 1, 2, 3, ... and the Defense as X, X, X you can have PiM use that scheme. If you have a custom scheme such as WR, TB, WB or h, T, 4P...it can use that too.
PiM can automatically generate easy schemes like 1, 2, 3 or O, O, O and apply them to all players on the team in one step. More complicated labeling requires manual settings.
What about other settings not related to players?
Same deal. If, say, you orient your play's Orientation (view) from left to right versus up and down, new plays will be drawn the same way. PiM "watches" your basic preferences and applies them to new plays automatically.
What's different about doing drills versus plays?
The only difference between a play and a drill is how you might choose to depict certain players. For example, to incorporate pylons for obstacles or use extra balls, pucks, etc., simply depict a player using those features. By deciding how many players you'll need, taking into account that some of them need to look like obstacles or balls.
Would I really get a refund if I wanted to return the program?
Sure. All we ask is to get the materials in like new condition and be assured that you've uninstalled all software. Kindly tell us why, also, as this helps us improve the product.
Should I wait to buy until the next version is out?
Good question and without sounding biased, we'd recommend against that for a couple of reasons. First, unforseen issues often delay software rollout estimates and second, we usually offer special upgrade pricing to customs who register with us--another good reason to do so!
PiM for the Mac
Will Plays-in-Motion run on a Mac?
Yes, if you have a Mac that can run Windows™ software via an emulator program, like Boot Camp™. Although there were plans earlier on to progam directly for Mac, that effort was abandoned as emulator software became more capable
Display
I can't see anything on screen other than the ball and maybe a few players. It all seems dark!
This can occur if the default color data becomes corrupted. Here's how to fix it:
- Start PiM and choose Options Menu>Colors
- Make sure the Use Black and White check box is checked
- Click the Restore button
This resets the black and white color scheme (mainly for printing)
- Make sure the Use Black and White check box isn't checked
- Click the Restore button
This resets the full-color color scheme (mainly for editing but also for color printing)
- Click the OK button to close the window
When exiting the program (Plays Menu>Exit) the changes will be saved.
Help File
I'm running Vista™ and I can't get the Help File to work.
The Help File currently offered has been completely re-written and works with Vista and beyond. If you have an older version of the Help File, you have two options:
- Contact us for a new Help File
- Use the procedures below...
Microsoft® no longer allows developers like ESA to distribute software that can display a Help File (.hlp) using older technology.
However, it has made the software avaiable here for direct download.
ESA apologizes for the inconvenience.
Downloading PiM
I can't get the program to install after downloading!
Download errors aren't common but when they occur, it's often the result of an incomplete download--usually pertaining to the Part 1 file. The file is large and takes a while to download, so interruptions in the transfer process can corrupt the file. If this happens, simply try the download again and make sure you VERIFY the download (below).
Did you follow the instructions EXACTLY??
Did you VERIFY that all files (89 of them!) were present in c:\ESAsoftware_pim4314_download before trying to install?
(Windows Explorer will count them for you but...if you have AANIMATE.AVI and SETUP.EXE then chances are...you're probably 'OK')
Did you get an error such as "xxx is not a Win32 application"??
(Windows Explorer will count them for you but...if you have AANIMATE.AVI and SETUP.EXE then chances are...you probably have them all)
Did you EXPLICITLY note any error messages??
(Tech Support will want to know! The more detailed information you can provide...the better and faster we can help!)
Did you SAVE either / both downloaded files versus RUN??
(If you did, you'll have to locate and run those file(s) in order to extract their contents. You MAY have to right-click a file and 'Run as Administrator' in this case.)
