Guide to Creating Logbooks

Go back to Creating Logbooks

This document should help you to get the most out of the logbooks available on this site.

If you're still having difficulty after reading this document, do get in touch with us and we'd be delighted to talk you through it.

We also welcome comments and suggestions that will help us to make this feature better.

Contents:

Introduction Training Logbook Trick Logbook Customize your Trick Logbook Predefined Templates Config Files & Creating Templates

Introduction

All the logbooks on this site are provided as PDF files that you can download and print on A4 paper. They are simply designed, you can print them in black and white or colour, and they don't have lots of graphics that will use up all your ink.

Training Logbook

Obviously you are free to use the logbook in a way that suits you. Here are some pointers...

Location	Where did you train?
Date	When was the session?
Training Notes	A space for your own notes. Maybe you want to record the tricks or techniques you worked on, training tips to remember, or anything memorable about the session.
Equipment	If you train at several different places, you might want to make notes about the equipment you used here. Was it a full sized rig or a mini-volant? Did you wear grips? Was the catcher swinging or in a cradle?
Catches/Timings	Record the catches you attempted, and the timings for new tricks you tried

Trick Logbook

This type of logbook is intended for you to record the different tricks you have achieved.

You can either download the logbook straightaway by clicking on the 'Download PDF' button, or you can choose to customise it to add or remove sections depending on how you want to use it. The PDF will be generated in a new window, so if you are not happy with the result, you can go back and change some settings before downloading again.

Below are two examples of different uses of this type of logbook, with different options enabled.

Trick_Logbook1

Location	Where did you train?
Date	When was the session?
Catcher	Who caught the trick?
Notes	A space for your own notes.

Customize your Trick Logbook

Before downloading your logbook, you have the option to customize how it will look. Once created, the logbook will be generated in a new window, so you can always come back, change some of the settings and then create it again until you get exactly what you are looking for.

There are four steps in the customization process. Once you have finished, click on the 'Download PDF' button to create the logbook.

Setup Structure

Here you can decide how your logbook should be laid out, and which features you would like to include. Remember that the more features you add, the larger your book will be (more pages).

Fill logbook with tricks from our database?	If you want to have a logbook where the tricks are already filled in, then check this box. If you would prefer a blank book where you can add tricks as you accomplish them, then uncheck it.
Number of blank pages	If you have asked for a blank book, enter the number of pages you would like.
Page numbers	Would you like page numbers of the bottom of the page? They will appear by default on a book filled with tricks, so you can keep track of the order of the pages, but you can choose not to have them on a blank book.
Trick Descriptions	A one-line description of each trick that appears under the trick name.
Statistics	Each trick will be displayed with the number of somersaults and twists.
Boxes for Date, Time and Catcher	This will display a line for you to enter the date, time and catcher for each trick. If you wish to record general information about each trick (rather than recording a specific occasion when you caught it), you probably don't want this.
Boxes for you own notes	This adds an empty box for you to write notes about each trick.

Setup Categories

Here you can decide which categories of tricks you want to appear in your logbook.

Check the boxes of each category that you wish to appear, and uncheck the ones you don't need. If you include a category, you can then select which tricks from that category you wish to include in the next section. If you don't include a category, then you can't include any tricks from that category.

If you aren't sure what each category means, click on the title and you will be taken to the tricks database where you can see which tricks it includes. This will open in a new window.

Next to each category there is an empty text box. If you want to change the category names on your logbook then enter a replacement name in the textbox. If you are happy with the default names, then leave it blank.

Setup Tricks

Here you can decide which tricks you want to appear in your logbook.

Check the boxes of each trick that you wish to appear, and uncheck the ones you don't need. If you uncheck a 'parent' trick, then you can't include any of the related tricks

If you aren't sure what each trick is, click on the title and you will be taken to the tricks database where you can see more information about it. This will open in a new window.

Next to each trick there is an empty text box. If you want to change the trick names on your logbook then enter a replacement name in the textbox. If you are happy with the default names, then leave it blank.

Predefined Templates

Rather than customizing your own logbook, you may prefer to use one of our predefined templates. We invited people to create logbooks based on tricks they teach and the names they use. If your school has not provided a logbook, then either encourage your teacher to do so, or create one yourself!

Once you have chosen a template, you can either download it immediately by clicking on the 'Download PDF' button. Or you can use the options to make further tweaks to the layout.

Some schools have also provided Training Logbooks for download. These are the same as our own logbooks, but just display the school logo at the top.

You can create your own templates using Config files (see below). Once you have created your template, contact us and we will reply by email to talk you through the simple process.

Config Files & Creating Templates

If you have spent ages creating your perfect logbook, you'll probably want to save the settings so you can come back and download it another time, or make further tweaks.

Please note: you can only download configuration files for Trick Logbooks, since Training Logbooks cannot be customized.

Once you have finished setting up all the options, scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the 'For Advanced Users' box. Click 'Create Config File'. This will create a text file that you can download to your computer. Do not attempt to edit the text file in any way - you will break it!

If you would like to create a template for your school you will need to email us your configuration file and your school's logo. Contact us through the site and we will reply to talk you through the simple process.

If you have already created your config file and would like to use it to download your logbook, you'll need to click 'Load Configuration File' under Trick Logbook. Use the form to upload your configuration file and it will be loaded back into the system where you can make further tweaks or download.
Go back to Creating Logbooks

This document should help you to get the most out of the logbooks available on this site.

If you're still having difficulty after reading this document, do get in touch with us and we'd be delighted to talk you through it.

We also welcome comments and suggestions that will help us to make this feature better.

Contents: