My general impression is that one in particular can be useful for use with your regular partners.  The others had little value.

However, I feel that when used "as is" the one I recommend produces cards that are difficult for opponents to read.  This is primarily due to the use of the same fonts for the "body" of the card as for the "content."  But the program is very flexible and I have some suggestions for you that make the card better, in my opinion.

The program is the one that the ACBL web-site links to, and has been written with the ACBL's help by Lee Edwards of the Atlanta Duplicate Bridge Club.  Here is the link:  Lee Edwards' Convention Card Editor.  I have included some comments on installation below.

The interface for the program is eccentric, so it may not be easy for you to figure this out for yourself.  The first time I had a look, I missed a number of features that, together, allow you to make a pair of cards for you and your partner that are quite nice.

INSTALLATION

But first, for the computer-challenged, some words about installation.  The page of the above link has pretty good instructions.  Non-Vista users will most likely have no trouble getting the program to install and run.  I had no trouble at all, using XP.

But apparently Vista users may have trouble.  Try it and see what happens -- apparently some Vista users have no trouble.  If you, as a Vista user, have trouble there is a blurb that explains what you can do to fix the problem, but the blurb will be gobbledy-gook to most of you.

There is also an explanation on the page for another problem that apparently can occur, which directs you to download and run a "patch" regarding MSSTDFMT.DLL.  Its not clear whether this can happen with XP, Vista, both, or neither.

If you have trouble, let me know.  Maybe I can help you and update this article to help others.

USAGE

When you launch the program, a box is displayed in the center of the screen containing the file names of all your cards.  At first there is only a sample card listed.  As directed by a message above the box, you can use the right mouse button to choose what to do, or you can double click on any file name to view or edit it.

But before you choose to do anything, notice the Options menu item, located inconspicuously at the top of the screen.  I suggest you use the Options menu to change a couple of things.  Click on the word Options and a box will appear with things you can set.  Press the "Set Font" button and select Times New Roman, Size 10, Bold Italic and then press OK.  Then, in the next section, choose "Tick Mark" as your check-box style, and press the save "Save Changes" button and then the "Done" button at the bottom.  These choices apply to new cards you create.

Then, back at the card-list box, we have a few things to do.  First, to get familiar with the program, double click on the sample card's name.  The sample card's info will be shown.  For practice, you could just change it as you wish by clicking and/or typing in the appropriate places.  Once you are somewhat familiar with how it works, close the display window by clicking on the X in the upper right corner.

At this point, it would be nice if you knew your partner's ACBL number.  It will be shown on the partner's card and your number will be shown on yours.  Then, back at the card-list box, right click anywhere and select "Create New Card".  A box will open where you enter the file name you want to use, the names to be shown on your card and your partner's (reverse the order for each card, per the ACBL), and each of your ACBL numbers.  When you finish and OK this data, the program will open a blank card to fill out.  Go ahead and do so.  As with a "real" convention card,  its easy to miss things, so check it over for omissions.  You can then  save your work, and print out  a card for you and your partner.  Note that most CC card holders won't accept an 8½ x 11 page, so you should trim the printed pages to fit.

Polishing

You can improve the appearance of the card.  Its important, in my opinion, to have the "entered" text and numbers stand out from the "form" text.  That's why I suggested you use the Option menu to set up Times New Roman, Bold Italic, size 10.  But there some fields that can attractively be set to a different and/or larger font.  This you can do.  Open your CC by double clicking on its file name.  Right click on a field, such as the names at the top of the page.  There you can select a different font, or make the Times New Roman font larger.  If you do, you may find the text "slops over" the implied boundaries of the space available.  This you can correct to some degree.  At the top left is a menu called Shortcuts.  Among the choices is a "CTRL" key sequence to move the text of a field around, one pixel at a time.{easycomments}