This page describes the usage of the various sections of the Control Panel. When you click the buttons at the top, you bring different panels into the left-hand region of the applet. When the Control Panel starts, the Setup panel is visible on the left, and the preference schedule displayed is for the MAS election (Excursions p.5).
First of all, notice the Messages box near the top right-hand corner. A number of hints and error messages are
reported here. For instance, if you try to accept 0 as the number of candidates in the Setup panel, the Messages
box lets you know that you need to use a positive integer. The working of the other function panels are described
below.
The Setup panel allows you to select the number of candidates and number of ballot types for a new schedule. When you enter number in the boxes and click Accept, a new blank schedule is created. To put values into the schedule you click the Edit Ballots button.
You can also make a random schedule. It will have from 4 to 6 candidates and from 4 to 6 ballot types. The candidate orders in the ballot types are generated randomly, and there may be two ballot types that are actually the same.
The other possibility in the Setup panel is to return to the MAS schedule.
Use this this panel to create or change ballots. Note that when you enter candidates in the third box, each of the candidates must appear one time. For example, if there are four candidates, then you cannot enter ABCB, or ACD. Also, you can type in small letters (which is a lot easier!), and they will be changed to upper case. The Messages box in the Control Panel will usually let you know if you have made a mistake.
When you have the ballot information the way you want it, click the Accept button to update the schedule.
Clicking the buttons in this panel shows the winners under the various methods. If there is a tie for first place, then all the candidates tied for first place ar shown (in alphabetical order).
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