FAQs -- Square Rotation Program (SQROT)

Cards

5 Couples in a Square!
I used SQROT to create 2 decks of cards for 6 squares. Somehow both decks ended up with some errors (5 couples in a square). Have you experienced this before or could I be doing something wrong?

You're doing something wrong. The program has been well tested, and is used by many people. As a sanity check, the program always internally verifies that there are exactly 4 couples per square whenever a rotation is generated.

Most likely, you are somehow creating two sets of cards and mixing them.

From the SQROT main menu, select 'Cards'
Enter the Min & Max number of couples (e.g., 5 and 20).
Enter the number of tips (e.g., 10).
Select the appropriate destination and format options
Click the 'Print' button.

The above example creates 20 cards, one for each couple number (1 thru 20). This is a complete set of cards.

You should also generate a set for (20 to 40) couples, and another for (40 to 60 couples, etc.)

You can not take a card from set A and use it with set B.

last modified: 30-August-2008

ID: 199

Having one extra dancer

How do we use 'computer cards' when we have an extra single lady?

Assign a computer card to the single lady.
Then, for each tip, have one of the men designated to sit out dance with that lady.
last modified: 08-November-2018
ID: 116

How to interpret cards

I went to your web page and downloaded your Square Rotation Cards. I printed out the ones that cover 5 to 25 couples, 8 tips.

I've never used these things before and I need to understand them.

As I look at these cards there are letters vertical on the left side of the cards. I assume those are the tips.

Then I look at the numbers across the top. I assume those are the couple numbers.

The part that I don't understand is the numbers across the top start with 5. What happened to couples number 1,2,3, & 4 ?

Do I need a different set of cards ? The advance clubs that I call for usually run from 1 to 3 squares.

A typical card looks like this:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
                5 to 25 Couples, 8 Tips                   Couple # 2

   2|  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
  --+---------------------------------------------------------------
T  A|  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1
i  B|  1  1  1  1  1  2  -  2  2  2  1  4  3  4  -  4  3  3  4  3  6
p  C|  1  -  -  2  2  -  1  3  2  2  -  2  1  2  4  2  3  2  2  2  2
   D|  -  1  1  1  -  2  1  1  3  -  2  1  2  -  4  3  4  -  3  6  3
  --+---------------------------------------------------------------
   E|  1  1  -  2  1  1  2  1  -  1  3  1  1  2  1  2  5  2  -  4  4
   F|  1  -  1  1  2  2  -  2  2  1  1  4  2  3  4  3  4  5  5  5  -
   G|  1  1  -  1  1  1  1  3  1  1  2  3  3  2  1  3  -  5  3  6  2
   H|  1  1  1  2  1  -  1  3  2  2  -  2  3  1  -  5  1  4  4  2  4

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The couple number (e.g., Couple # 2) is displayed in the upper right corner. This number is also displayed in the far left column at top.

The top row (e.g., 5 to 25 Couples, 8 Tips) indicates the range of couple numbers and the maximum number of tips to which this card set applies.

In the example above, the first number is 5 since a card set for fewer than 5 couples is meaningless.

Tips are shown at left as letters (e.g., A to H).

Number of couples are shown at top (e.g., 5 to 25).

Prior to each tip, a dance representative (often the caller) announces the tip and number of couples (e.g., B-16)

Each couple then looks at their card for the corresponding tip row and couple column to find their square number. A dash indicates a sitout. (e.g., for B-16, Couple #2 is in square 4).

Prior to the dance or tip, a dance representative explains how squares are oriented in the hall (e.g., 3 rows of across, starting at the top of the hall, with square #1 to caller's left).

If cards are passed out prior to the dance, start with tip A.

Otherwise, after the first tip, have the couples hold their squares and pass out cards in sequential order to those couples. Then pass out cards to couples who did not dance the first tip.

Couples in square #1 are given cards 1 thru 4,

couples in square #2 are given cards 5 thru 8, etc.

Couples arriving late are given the next sequential card.

Often, the first tip and last tip of the dance are not on numbers, as dancers often arrive last or leave early. These are known as 'Open Tips'. Sometimes one or more open tips are also held during the dance.

At the last tip on numbers, cards are often collected from the squares prior to the caller starting the tip.

last modified: 30-December-2021

ID: 784

Miscellaneous questions
Does your card rotation program allow you to not have a Tip A? Can you print cards in color? Can you print cards that are an appropriate length for laminating and fitting in a shirt pocket?

The answer to all your questions is "Yes, but you have to do it yourself".

The program allows you to specify the number of tips, number of couples, and number of columns (couples at the dance) for the card set. In this manner, you can make the width of the cards to whatever you'd like. In addition, the program allows you to create a text file instead of sending the card data to the printer. You can then use a program such as Microsoft Word to edit the file, change colors, delete tip A, etc. The only thing you must watch out for is to use a fixed-pitch font such as Courier.

last modified: 01-September-2008

ID: 110

Missing one dancer for the last square

How do we use 'computer cards' when we are missing one dancer in the last square?

The trick is to add an extra 'phantom' couple to the rotation.
For example, if you have N couples + one extra dancer, use the rotation for N + 2 couples.
(e.g., if you have 15 and 1/2 couples, use a rotation for 17 couples)
Whichever couple gets the 'sitout' has one dancer dance with a phantom, and the other dancer dance with the leftover single dancer. The square with only 7 people can then decide to either sitout or dance with a phantom.
last modified: 24-December-2021
ID: 15

Playing card-sized computer cards
I am looking for computer cards for small number of squares. I would like to be able to size it to fit a card about the size of a playing card. Both sides of the card showing the tip number.

The SQROT program can be used to produce and print cards. With a little bit of cutting and pasting, and laminating, you should be able to create whatever style of cards you want.

I know of one caller who uses the program to print a set of slips for each dance. After the dance, the slips (made of standard computer printer paper) are thrown away. This seems to be a good solution, since inevitably someone will eventually walk away with a card from the card set.

last modified: 01-September-2008

ID: 185

Single dancers

Does your program write computer cards for single dancers?

The SQROT program generates computer cards for couples, not for single dancers.
last modified: 30-August-2008
ID: 255

If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to E-mail Vic at

Having one extra dancer
How do we use 'computer cards' when we have an extra single lady?

Missing one dancer for the last square
How do we use 'computer cards' when we are missing one dancer in the last square?

Single dancers
Does your program write computer cards for single dancers?