BELOW ARE THE WORK FLOW INSTRUCTIONS I USE WHEN ANALYZING TARGETS WITH THE ONTARGET TDS SOFTWARE:
The OnTarget TDS software is not bug or error free. There are some user quirks that you will have to get use to and navigate around. If you have any problems ready the user help guid included with the software. This is a brief rundown of the process I use to scan in target data:
1) Do not write anything inside the squares or around the target bull’s eyes. This throws the scanning software off and makes it think there are more than one bullet hole at/around that bull’s eye and it will compute an error.
2) You must scan your targets using a flat bed scanner. It must be a JPEG file (preferably 600 dpi but 300 or higher will work)
3) You can download the software and use the 15-day free trial. However, you will have to email Jeffrey Block (ontargetsoftware@msn.com) and ask for a link to the latest version. Tell Jeffery that you are conducting testing using the RAD DOE, and you need version 6.13.01 or higher because you are scanning in targets #47, #48 & #49.
4) Once you have the software installed (it’s only available for MS Windows computers by the way), you will have to save your targets to a folder that you can navigate to through the “Open Image File” icon.
“Open Image File”
5) Once you have the image of your scanned target opened (.jpg, .jpeg, .bmp, .tif, .png file formats) there will be a menu on the right-hand side with several tabs. Even if you don’t fill out the information on the Target Info Tab, go to the Group Info tab and make sure the Target Distance (yd): and Hole Size (in): fields are correct.
Note: If you forget to do this before Step #7 you may have to un-do the process and start over.
6) Next you will want to let the OnTarget software scan the target to see if it will recognize the target number. Click on the Bar Code looking icon “Set Target Info” button. You may have to manually enter the target number if it’s not automatically recognized. The target number is in the file name and also listed on the bottom of each target.
“Set Target Info”
Verify the target number is set by looking at the Target Info tab to see if the target number is entered in the “Notes:” field.
7) Next you will want to click on the red bulls eye target icon “Find Bull’s” (it looks like the target logo).
“Find Bull’s”
If the software didn’t find all the bull’s eyes, you may have to brighten the photo image. Click on the sun looking icon and then type the number “8” two times. Two usually works best for me. You may have to adjust the brightness as necessary. The number “7” darkens the image.
“Adjust Brightness”
Then use “8” to lighten or “7” to darken the image until all bull’s eye locations are recognized.
(The target will flash every time the brightness is changed)
Here is an example of a scanned target where the software didn’t find the bull correctly. Note the circle and cross hair in the upper left and not encompassing the blue bulls eye.
“Find Bull’s” error
Target point of aim correctly found. Note the circle and cross-hares located over each bull’s eye.
“Find Bull’s” good recognition of bull’s eye locations.
8) After all the bull’s eyes have been recognized, you will need to click on the “Analyze Target” button.
“Analyze Target”
Below is an example of an Analyze Target that did not recognize the bullet locations. Note the “error” message at the bottom of each target.
“Analyze Target” bad recognition of bullet locations.
When this happens, the first thing to try is to lighten the target image using the “Adjust Brightness” and entering “8” one or two times.
Below is an example of an Analyzed Target that did correctly recognize the bullet locations. Note the measurement of distance from bullet center to target point of aim.
“Analyze Target” good recognition of bullet locations.
9) Quickly review the entire target and make sure all bull’s and bullet holes are recognized.
Target #1 activated, and all target Bull’s and Bullet Holes are recognized.
10) Review the bullet hole locations closely and make sure the recognized location is accurate. This is when you can manually adjust the hole location.
11) Sometimes the bullet hole location needs to be finely tuned. For this, use the click-drag-zoom aka “Graphical Zoom In” button to zoom in on the first target. Click on the upper left of the region and drag a square to the lower right region of the area over the target you want to take a closer look at.
“Graphical Zoom In”
Note that there will be a dashed blue line around the active bull’s eye and associated group. You may have to use the menu on the right-hand side to activate the group you want to edit.
Use the slider and the up/down buttons on the right-hand side and click on the Group # you want to edit. You may have to select them one at a time until the bull’s eye and associated group you want to edit is activated. If the target is scanned in correctly the Group number will correlate to the number on the upper left corner of each bull’s eye target square. If the target is not scanned in correctly, It can be a bit of a trial and error.
Once you are zoomed in on a target and if you see a bullet hole location that is not accurately coincident with the bullet hole, you can use the “Move bullet holes” button to move the bullet hole location if necessary
”Move bullet holes”
Note, once the “Move bullet holes’ button is toggled on, you have to click in the bullet hole you want to move. Then the hole outline becomes sticky to your mouse location. When positioned correctly, left click the mouse one more time to place the bullet hole outline location where you want it.
12) With all bull’s eyes and bullet holes located correctly, you can now use the “Show Extended Target Data” button to create a virtual group which will automatically run the statical analysis on the group.
“Show Extended Target Data”
There is an Export Data Button and this will create a file you can print and keep with your target. I like to double check and make sure the target distance and shot count is correct and that there are no shots excluded or errors.
Highlighted with red square above are the key statistical measurements. I like to write down the Max Spread (CTC):, Mean Radius:, and SD Radius: measurements from this tab to the physical target page and sore it in a data book. Velocity CVx100 and how to calculate the Encompassing Cone of Fire are outlined with red boxes on the DOE targets for quick cross reference comparisons of groups. When you are done with the Extended Target Data, Exit from this window and save your work. You will be able to reopen and reuse the data if needed.
The Encompassing Cone of Fire (ECF) is the best measurement of a rifle’s (or rifle-system, when you include the shooter), ability to shoot precision groups. This measurement can be used to predict where 95% of your shots will likely go and the Group Offset Horizontal & Vertical will allow you to center up your zero at distance giving you the confidence you need whether your shooting competitions or hunting that trophy animal.