Error importing FTP HHs

[RandomUser]

I'm getting random import errors that appear to be caused by misformed hand histories:

"Format error - negative rake calculated for game #21770358889. This is usually indicative of the hand history missing player betting actions, possibly because of a disconnect problem. To import the hand you would need to contact Full Tilt support and ask them to send you a correctly formatted version of this hand."

While I realize this is probably not a Poker Tracker issue, I thought I'd post since you may know what the cause may be.

This problem did not appear until a couple of weeks ago. But since then, I've had over 100 of these errors over the course of 1500 hands.

While I can contact FTP to get the hand histories, it would be annoying to have to do it for over 100 hands.

Any tips/suggestions on how to deal with this problem are appreciated.

[ptrack mike]

You are right, this is usually not a PT issue, but the only way to be sure is to request a few hands from FTP and see if they import. What version of PTS are you using?

[RandomUser]

You are right, this is usually not a PT issue, but the only way to be sure is to request a few hands from FTP and see if they import. What version of PTS are you using?

I'm using 1.05.07a. I think that is the latest version, but the copyright date says 2008 in the 'About' screen.

When I request the hand histories, are they going to send me a separate file for each one or will it be combined into a single one?

And do I simply import it from the new file and it will automatically update/overwrite the broken HHs?

[ptrack mike]

First try again using this beta patch:
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=21690

You will probably get the same errors, but it's worth a try.

When I request the hand histories, are they going to send me a separate file for each one or will it be combined into a single one?

I'm not sure. If you tell them you want certain hand numbers they may be individual files. If you give them a date range it will probably be in one file. If it's one huge file you will have to use Utilities>File Splitter to break it into smaller files so PT can import them.

And do I simply import it from the new file and it will automatically update/overwrite the broken HHs?

Use File > Import Hand Histories to import the file(s) then send. The broken ones were never imported so it will import the new ones as long as the format is correct.

[Creosote]

I'm getting random import errors that appear to be caused by misformed hand histories:

"Format error - negative rake calculated for game #21770358889. This is usually indicative of the hand history missing player betting actions, possibly because of a disconnect problem. To import the hand you would need to contact Full Tilt support and ask them to send you a correctly formatted version of this hand."

I have the same issue, it's not FT, and it's new. I downloaded that patch before, I think, when the USD issue came up on Stars. Has it been changed re: FT since and should I do it again? It's odd, because it isn't most of the hands, only a few out of a couple hundred each time. .

[ptrack mike]

Post one of the hand histories that gives you that error here.

[RandomUser]

I've narrowed it down a bit.

It appears that, in some cases, the saved hand histories do not include the *** 7th street *** breakline.

This only happens on hands that reach 7th street and in which I've already folded, which accounts for the low number of errors.

I played against last night and got 14 errors out of 700 hands (13 negative rake, 1 positive rake error).

I contacted FTP again and they sent me their copies and they were different.

Their copy:

*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to draaucafe [9d Qc 8c] [9s]
Dealt to royalflush3388 [7c As 7h] [8h]
Dealt to LK1120 [Jc 2s Qs] [2c]
draaucafe bets $10
royalflush3388 calls $10
LK1120 calls $10
*** 7TH STREET ***
draaucafe bets $10
royalflush3388 has 15 seconds left to act
royalflush3388 raises to $20
LK1120 folds
draaucafe calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***

My copy (which caused error):

*** 6TH STREET ***
Dealt to draaucafe [9d Qc 8c] [9s]
Dealt to royalflush3388 [7c As 7h] [8h]
Dealt to LK1120 [Jc 2s Qs] [2c]
draaucafe bets $10
royalflush3388 calls $10
LK1120 calls $10
draaucafe bets $10
royalflush3388 has 15 seconds left to act
royalflush3388 raises to $20
LK1120 folds
draaucafe calls $10
*** SHOW DOWN ***

The rest of the hand histories were the same.

While I'm not sure why that missing line would cause the error (the actual betting action is correct), it is what popped out at me when I was trying to figure out the problem.

FTP says it isn't their problem and to contact PTS, though something is definitely wrong with their program. I'm just not sure if it is the same problem that is causing the errors or not.

[RandomUser]

One final thought.

When I'm in the pot on 7th, the HHs are fine. It shows my cards as well as the cards of the other player.

It makes sense from an efficiency standpoint for FTP *not* to resend the final cards when I've already folded since there is nothing new for me to see.

However, they should be saving the ***7thstreet*** line, so I expect the problem still lies with them even though it is the parser that is probably balking on their new format.

[ptrack mike]

Well, your analysis is correct, the missing 7th Street line is the problem. The fact is PTS doesn't create the hand history files, FTP does, so there's nothing PTS can do and you will always have problems importing incorrectly formatted hand histories. The program needs to know when each street occurs whether you are still in the hand or not.