Introduction to Blue Card Manager
Scout Management Software LLC
Scout Management Software LLC
Introduction
• This course sequence for this training will cover the following:
▫ Blue Card Manager for Windows Desktop
▫ Blue Card Manager for Windows Tablets
Scout Management Software LLC
Purpose of Blue Card Manager
• Blue Card Manager is designed to improve the experience of merit
badge counselors teaching merit badges in large groups
• Reduces time counselors spend on paperwork
• Prints typed blue cards much faster than writing by hand, and with
fewer errors
• Generate reports of merit badge progress for event organizers
• Quickly generate summary reports for scout units after the event
Scout Management Software LLC
Part 1:
Using Blue Card Manager for Windows Desktop
Scout Management Software LLC
Training Outline
• Lesson 1: Terminology and Introduction
▫ Basic terminology used in Blue Card Manager and an overview of the
program
• Lesson 2: Recording Scout Information for Your Merit Badge Classes
▫ Learn how to track scout progress and attendance for your classes
• Lesson 3: Printing Blue Cards
▫ Learn how to print blue cards from the program
• Lesson 4: Report Generation and Export
▫ Learn how to generate Excel and CSV Reports
Scout Management Software LLC
Lesson 1: Objectives
• Learn Blue Card Manager’s user interface
• Learn and understand the basic file types used by Blue Card Manager
• Learn and understand the basic operation of Blue Card Manager
Scout Management Software LLC
File Types Used
• Merit Badge Template File
▫ File Extension: .mbt
▫ Used to store merit badge requirements for
creating Mastersheet files
• Mastersheet File
▫ File Extension: .msf
▫ Primary file type used by Blue Card Manager
▫ Used to store scout information and
requirements completed
▫ Divided into pages, each page is used for one
merit badge class
Scout Management Software LLC
Introduction to the Blue Card Manager Interface
Application Menu
Create/Edit Merit Badge Templates
Generate Reports
Merit Badge Name
Title of Page
Add Scout
to Mastersheet
Current Page Number
Print Mastersheet
Next/Previous
Page
Print Blue Cards
Scout Management Software LLC
Lesson 1: Wrap-up
• Blue Card Manager is used to reduce time spent on paperwork by merit
badge counselors at large scouting events
• Blue Card Manager primarily uses 2 file types, the merit badge template
file and the Mastersheet file
Scout Management Software LLC
Lesson 2: Objectives
•
•
•
•
Learn how to create a Mastersheet
Learn how to add scouts to the Mastersheet
Learn how to track scout progress in your classes
Learn how to track attendance in your classes
Scout Management Software LLC
Create a Merit Badge Template
• In order to create a Mastersheet, you must
first create a Merit Badge Template
• This template can then be reused to create
other Mastersheets for the same merit badge
Instructions
1. Navigate to the MB Templates tab and click
New
2. Add requirements and select a Merit Badge
3. Click Save
4. Name the file
5. Click Save
Scout Management Software LLC
Create a Mastersheet
• A Mastersheet is used to scout information,
attendance, and requirements completed
Instructions
1. Navigate to the Application Menu
2. Click New Mastersheet.
3. Find a Merit badge Template you created
earlier
4. Click Open
5. Save the Mastersheet
Scout Management Software LLC
Add an Individual Scout to the Mastersheet
• Click Add Scout
• Enter Information
▫ All fields are optional except for Scout
Name
▫ Fields correspond to fields on a BSA merit
badge application form
▫ Both scout name and troop # are required
to upload records to web portal
• Click OK
Scout Management Software LLC
Check Off Requirements
• There are 3 different ways to check off
requirements in Blue Card Manager:
▫ Check off a requirement by clicking the check
box under the column of the requirement
▫ Check off a requirement for all scouts on the
page by double clicking the requirement
▫ Mark off all requirements for a scout by right
clicking, and select “Mark As Complete”
• The tooltip of a checked requirement box
shows the date the requirement was marked
as complete
• Scout line turns green when all requirements
are completed
Scout Management Software LLC
Take Attendance
At many camps, class attendance is tracked to let
unit leaders know their scouts are going to the
classes they are supposed to. Blue Card
Manager can handle track this too.
• Click Attendance on the Home ribbon
• Check the check box for the current day
attended next to each scout
• Double clicking the day label above each
column will check the boxes for that day for
every scout listed in that column
Day label
Scout Management Software LLC
Lesson 2: Wrap-up
Scout Management Software LLC
Lesson 3: Objectives
• Learn how to Print Blue Cards on cardstock and official BSA stock
Scout Management Software LLC
Printing Blue Cards
• Blue Card Manager can print blue cards one of
two ways:
▫ On Official BSA Blue Cards
▫ On generic cardstock found at any office
supply store
• The fastest way to mass print blue cards is on
generic cardstock
• The cardstock option prints prefilled
duplicates of the official BSA Merit Badge
Application Form #34124
• Make sure your printer is configured for
duplexing if you are using cardstock
Scout Management Software LLC
Printing Blue Cards on Official BSA Stock
• Blue Card Manager can fill out standard BSA
Blue Cards from nationals using the manual
feed slot of the printer
• This process uses the standard BSA Merit
Badge Application Form #34124
• This process is not as time efficient for printing
blue cards for large groups. It is recommended
to use cardstock for groups of more than 25
scouts.
BSA Stock Printing Instructions
1. On the Home ribbon, under the Printing
heading click “Blue Cards”
2. Select “Official BSA Stock” from the
dropdown
3. Select a counselor to be printed on the blue
cards from the dropdown in the lower left
4. Feed the blue card into the manual feed-slot
with the barcode facing out
5. Click “Print Front”
6. Reinsert the blue card without changing its
orientation
7. Click “Print Back”
8. Click “Next Scout” and repeat Steps 4-7
Scout Management Software LLC
Printing Blue Cards on 8.5” x 11” Cardstock
• Advantages of Cardstock vs BSA stock
▫ Faster print speed
▫ 75% cheaper vs. official stock:
 $0.02 per card vs. $0.08 per card
▫ Ability to print blue cards for up to 30
mastersheets at once
• Printing on cardstock has several more print
options than BSA stock
Cardstock Printing Starting Instructions
• On the Home ribbon, under the Printing
heading click “Blue Cards”
• Select “Generic Cardstock” from the
dropdown
• Choose which group of scouts to print
• Select a counselor to be printed on the blue
cards
• Click the Printer icon in the upper left to print
Scout Management Software LLC
Lesson 3: Wrap-up
• Blue Card Manager can print blue cards much faster than filling out by
hand
• Printing blue cards on generic cardstock is cheaper than using official
BSA forms
• Make sure your printer is configured for duplexing if you are using
cardstock
Scout Management Software LLC
Lesson 4: Objectives
• Learn about Blue Card Manager reports
Scout Management Software LLC
Reports
• Blue Card Manager can generate several basic
reports in either MS Excel .xlsx format or CSV
• Not all reports are available in both formats
Available General Report Types
• Mastersheet Export
• Attendance (All Scouts)
• Attendance (By Troop #)
• Mastersheet Export (By Troop #)
Compiled Report Types
• Area Report
• Troop Progress Report
Scout Management Software LLC
Summary of Desktop Training
• Blue Card Manager can be used to increase the speed that Merit Badge
paperwork such as requirement tracking and blue cards can be done
• Reducing time on paperwork makes Merit Badge events more enjoyable
for all involved
• Blue Card Manager can be used to quickly generate summary reports
after the event to distribute to scout units