For users who do not have the time to browse the form on-line, we have provided a facility to download an entire meeting. This allows you to download Zip (compressed) files of all the 5 Start Form or 10 Start Form pages for a race meeting. These can then be 'unzipped' by an application linked to your browser. If you prefer, the same application can be used directly on the Zip files. Once 'unzipped' into the appropriate directory on your PC, you can access all the form files through your browser and do with them whatever you would have while on-line.

There are also software developers who provide you with the facility to use TVF form as data input for their programs. You should follow their instructions if you are using these programs. Go here to see links to the vendors of this software.

1. Create a new directory on your main working disk drive. It can be called anything, but perhaps TVF would be appropriate. Do not create any subdirectories.

2. If you don't already have one, you will need an 'unzip' utility installed on your PC. We recommend WinZip which you can get here. Macintosh users should get Stuffit Expander from Aladdin Systems. You can get the software from www.aladdinsys.com. It is not absolutely necessary (but is very convenient) if you have the unzip utility installed in your browser as the handler for files of type Zip.

3. Before you can gain access to TVF zip files, you must have a current TVF subscription for a service which includes Zip files. The main valid services are PUN1, PUN2, PRO1 and PRO2 although there are other services which include the Zip option. Check the Service Guide for the full list. If you have put funds into your Member Account with the intention of gaining access to Zip files, you'll need to firstly go to the Member Services area and Subscribe to a TVF service which includes Zip files. Merely depositing funds into your Member Account is not the same as subscribing.

4. Now you are ready to select the ZIP option on the meeting menu for the meeting you are interested in. To do this first log into the Member section of The Virtual FormGuide by clicking on the padlock icon in the top left hand corner at www.virtualformguide.com. Then click on the Download Zip Files link under the galloping horse graphic. You should then select the meeting date you want from those available if it is not today. To get your Zip files, tick the boxes for the meetings that you want to download. Click on the Email button and the selected zip files will be emailed to you. If there is no ZIP option there, you are not a current subscriber and you should go back to Step 3. above.

4. The contents of a Zip file are a number of HTML files which can be viewed in your browser. There is an Index file which acts as a pointer to all the files in the Zip file. There is one HTML file for each race for the meeting. The file naming convention is trkddmmr.htm where trk is a 3 character track code, dd is the day, mm is the month and r is the race number. Note that races 10, 11 and 12 are numbered a, b and c if they exist.

5. To open a disk based HTML file, just use the Open command in the File menu on your browser. Instead of specifiying a URL, just go to the individual form file you want under the TVF directory.

Zip Files are archived in the Historical Form archive 2 days after the meeting.

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