Guide

Getting started

From download to your first coached shot in about ten minutes. All you need is a Windows PC, a webcam and your bow.

1. Install it

  1. Download the installer from the download page.
  2. Open it. Windows shows a blue box saying “Windows protected your PC”, because the installer isn't code-signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway.
  3. Windows asks to allow changes to your PC: click Yes. Follow the installer. A desktop shortcut is optional; you can always find OpticArchery in the Start menu.
  4. On the last screen, leave Launch OpticArchery ticked and click Finish.

2. A quick look around

The bar on the left is where you find everything:

PageWhat it's for
LIVE ANALYSISThe camera view with your form overlay and live coaching. This is where you train.
PERFORMANCEYour saved shots, scores and progress, and the PDF report. Needs a subscription.
RULE TUNINGMake each check stricter or looser for one archer. Needs a subscription.
SETTINGSCamera, replay, data folder, shot detection and your license.

Below the pages, USER shows who is shooting and DISCIPLINE shows the rule set in use.

The first time you open the app, a welcome card lists the first steps. Click Got it, let's shoot to close it.

3. Free version or subscription

Without a subscription, OpticArchery runs as the free version: live coaching and the instant replay on every shot, as Guest. Nothing is saved, and PERFORMANCE and RULE TUNING show an example archer instead of your own data. Archers who already have saved sessions can still open theirs. The line under DISCIPLINE in the left bar says which version you're on.

A subscription saves every shot with its video, and unlocks your performance history, PDF reports, rule tuning and archer profiles. It's 12 euro a month or 99 euro a year, VAT included. See pricing.

Your license key

After you subscribe, Creem emails your license key with your receipt. It is also always on your Creem order page, creem.io/my-orders. Can't find it? Check your spam folder, or email contact@opticsystems.be.

Activating your subscription

  1. Click Enter licence key in the left bar (under DISCIPLINE).
  2. Paste the license key from your email and click OK. This needs an internet connection.
  3. When it says “Licence activated. Restart OpticArchery to unlock saved sessions and rule tuning.”, close the app and open it again.

From then on OpticArchery works offline. It checks your subscription whenever your computer is online, and needs to connect at least once every 30 days. Problems activating? See troubleshooting.

Managing or canceling your subscription

  1. Go to creem.io/my-orders and sign in with the email address you subscribed with. Creem emails you a sign-in link. The link in your receipt works too.
  2. Choose your OpticArchery subscription, then Manage Subscription. To stop it, click Cancel Subscription.

After canceling you aren't charged again, and you keep everything until the end of the period you paid for. Then OpticArchery continues as the free version. Your recorded sessions stay on your PC: you can still open and review them in PERFORMANCE. Exporting PDF reports needs a subscription.

Moving to a new computer

A license activates one computer at a time. To move it, first release it on the old PC:

  1. On the old PC, go to SETTINGS → Licence and click Deactivate this computer. This needs an internet connection.
  2. Confirm, then enter your license key once more. It says “This computer has been deactivated.”
  3. On the new PC, install OpticArchery and activate it with the same key.

The old PC keeps working until you close OpticArchery, then continues as the free version. Your shots, videos and reports on it are not touched. Old PC broken or already gone? Email contact@opticsystems.be and we'll release it for you.

4. Add yourself as an archer

Archer profiles are part of a subscription. In the free version the + is grayed out and you train as Guest.

  1. Click the + next to USER.
  2. Type your name under Username:.
  3. Under Archery Stance:, pick Right-Handed (Bow in Left Hand) or Left-Handed (Bow in Right Hand). This chooses the right set of checks for you, so pick carefully.
  4. Under Experience Level (Goal Profile):, pick Beginner, Intermediate or Professional. It sets how strict the checks start out. You can fine-tune it later.
  5. Click OK.

Coaches: add one archer for each person you coach. Everything is saved per archer: shots, calibration and rule settings.

5. Calibrate, then shoot

  1. Set up your camera and calibrate with a T-pose: press Calibrate camera (or C). The camera setup page walks you through it.
  2. Press Start shooting (or Space) and shoot as normal. OpticArchery follows every arrow on its own: there's nothing to press between shots.

As Guest, calibration isn't kept, so calibrate each time you open the app. How the coaching and the replay work is on the training page.

6. Updates

When a newer version is out and your PC is online, a line at the bottom of the left bar says “Version x is available. You have y.” Click Get the update: OpticArchery downloads the new version and asks before it installs. Choose Install now, and when Windows warns about an unknown publisher, click More info, then Run anyway. Your archers, sessions, settings and subscription all stay. (In older versions the button opens the download page instead: run the new installer over your current one.)