The "Pairing Numbers by" portion of the Add/Edit a Section dialog box allows you to control how pairing numbers are assigned to the players in that section. The choices are
1) Main Rating, Local if Unrated
2) Local Rating, Main if none
3) Main Rating, Local to Order Unrated
4) Higher of Main and Local Rating
5) Random (Ratings Ignored)
The example below shows how the first four choices would order a set of five players. The first column gives the main ratings, the second the local ratings, the third gives the rating used in assigning pairing numbers. This is also the number which will be provided on Cross Tables and Pairing Sheets.
Please note that the choice 2 (Local Rating, Main if none) should not be used in a USCF rated tournament if the main rating field is the USCF rating.
Main, Local if Unrated
1 873 837 (873)
2 nnnn 853 (853)
3 840 nnnn (840)
4 nnnn 805 (805)
5 nnnn nnnn (nnnn)
nnnn-853 is put between the 873 and 840.
Local Rating, Main if None
1 nnnn 853 (853)
2 840 nnnn (840)
3 873 837 (837)
4 nnnn 805 (805)
5 nnnn nnnn (nnnn)
Local rating takes priority if it's available, so 873-837 is put after 840-nnnn.
Main, Local to Order Unrated
1 873 837 (873)
2 840 nnnn (840)
3 nnnn 853 (nnnn)
4 nnnn 805 (nnnn)
5 nnnn nnnn (nnnn)
Those unrated in the main rating are put last, ordered by their local ratings.
Higher of Main and Local
1 873 837 (873)
2 nnnn 853 (853)
3 840 nnnn (840)
4 nnnn 805 (805)
5 nnnn nnnn (nnnn)