pages/release-v2.md
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-# What's New in Pageant Pass Version 2
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+# What's New in Pageant Pass v2.0
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-Pageant Pass Version 2 is the biggest update to the platform since launch. It introduces dedicated websites for national pageant programs, simplifies your plan choices with a free trial, and replaces older workflows — like collaborator invitations — with easier, more secure alternatives. If you're a returning user, this page covers every meaningful change so you know what to expect.
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+**Version 2 is the biggest update we've ever shipped.** It's not a collection of small improvements — it's a foundational change to how Pageant Pass works, built on everything we've learned from Directors and Candidates since launch.
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+The platform now runs as two distinct websites so Candidates can discover competitions without an account. National programs like Miss America and Royal American Miss have their own branded homes. Plans are simpler. Compliance sharing no longer requires anyone to create an account. And a new six-month free trial means new Directors can experience everything Plus has to offer before spending a dollar.
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+If you've been with us from the beginning, thank you — this release is built for you. If you're new, welcome to the version of Pageant Pass we always wanted to build.
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+This page answers the questions Directors and Candidates are most likely to have about what changed and what to do next.
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---
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-## Two Separate Websites
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+## General Questions
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-Pageant Pass now runs as two distinct websites, each with its own address.
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+**Is Pageant Pass at the same web address?**
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-**pageantpass.com** is the public-facing site. Anyone can visit it to browse upcoming competitions, view details, and apply — no account or sign-in required. This is the address to share with Delegates who are looking for competitions to enter.
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+Mostly, but things are now split across two addresses depending on what you're doing.
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-**app.pageantpass.com** is where all account work happens. Directors manage their competitions here, and Delegates track their applications, access their paperwork templates, and manage their profiles. You'll sign in at app.pageantpass.com.
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+- **pageantpass.com** — Browse and discover competitions. Anyone can visit without signing in.
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+- **app.pageantpass.com** — Your account. Directors manage competitions here; Candidates track applications, access paperwork templates, and manage their profile.
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-Previously, both browsing and managing lived at the same address and signing in was required to find competitions. That is no longer the case.
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+If you bookmarked the old address to sign in and find competitions, update it to **app.pageantpass.com**.
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---
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-## Dedicated Websites for National Programs
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+**I compete in (or direct) Miss America or Royal American Miss. Has anything changed for me?**
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+Yes — each of those programs now has its own dedicated website.
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+- **Miss America system** — [missamerica.pageantpass.com](https://missamerica.pageantpass.com)
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+- **Royal American Miss** — [royalamericanmiss.pageantpass.com](https://royalamericanmiss.pageantpass.com)
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-Pageant Pass now hosts branded storefronts for national pageant programs. Each program has its own web address that shows only that program's competitions and uses that program's look and feel.
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+When you visit a program's address, you'll only see competitions in that program. The page reflects the program's own look and registration details. The main pageantpass.com address continues to list county fairs, festivals, and other independent competitions.
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-**Miss America system** — missamerica.pageantpass.com
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-**Royal American Miss** — royalamericanmiss.pageantpass.com
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+---
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+## For Directors
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-When you visit a program's address, the competition search is automatically filtered to that program. The landing page reflects the program's branding, copy, and registration requirements.
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+**My plan was called Standard — what's it called now?**
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-The main pageantpass.com address still shows all other competitions — county fairs, festivals, and independent local systems.
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+It's now called **Core**. Nothing else changed — it's still free, and all your competitions, applications, and data are exactly as you left them. The name was simplified alongside the new **Plus** plan.
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---
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-## Simplified Plans: Core and Plus
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+**What's the difference between Core and Plus?**
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-Your plan options are now called **Core** and **Plus**.
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+| | Core | Plus |
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+|---|---|---|
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+| Price | Free, forever | $49/year |
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+| Create & manage competitions | ✓ | ✓ |
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+| Review applicants & record results | ✓ | ✓ |
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+| Export paperwork | ✓ | ✓ |
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+| Early registration pricing | ✓ | ✓ |
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+| Online entry fee payments (Square) | | ✓ |
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+| Compliance tracking & secure links | | ✓ |
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+| Judge's book script builder | | ✓ |
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+| Interview planner | | ✓ |
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-If your plan was previously called **Standard**, it is now called **Core**. Nothing else changed — it's the same free plan, now with a cleaner name. All your competitions, applications, and data are exactly as you left them.
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+See [Plans & Upgrading](plans-and-upgrading.md) for full details.
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-**Core** is free, forever. It includes creating and managing competitions, reviewing applicants, recording results, and exporting paperwork.
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+---
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-**Plus** costs **$49 per year** and adds online payments, [compliance tracking](compliance-tracking.md), the judge's book script builder, and the interview planner.
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+**I'm a new Director — do I have to pay for Plus right away?**
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-### Free Trial for New Directors
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+No. New Directors can try Plus free for **six months** — no credit card required, no payment information needed. Pageant Pass sends reminders before the trial ends. When it expires, your account returns to Core automatically and nothing is charged.
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-New Directors can now try Plus free for six months before committing. The trial requires no credit card and no payment information. Pageant Pass sends you reminders before it ends, and when it expires your account returns to Core automatically — nothing is charged. See [Plans & Upgrading](plans-and-upgrading.md) for step-by-step instructions.
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+> **Note** — The previous "free year" promotion that used to apply at sign-up has been retired and replaced by this six-month trial. You claim it from your profile rather than it applying automatically.
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-> **Note** — The previous "free year" sign-up promotion has been retired. It has been replaced by this six-month free trial, which new Directors claim from their profile at any time rather than automatically at sign-up.
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+See [Plans & Upgrading](plans-and-upgrading.md) for how to claim your trial.
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---
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-## Improved Application Payment Confirmation
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+**What happened to the Collaborators I invited?**
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-> **⭐ Plus feature** — This is available on the Plus plan. See [Plans & Upgrading](plans-and-upgrading.md).
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+The Collaborator role no longer exists. It has been replaced by **compliance links** — a simpler, more secure way to give helpers access without requiring them to create an account.
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-When a Delegate submits an application that requires a fee, how payment works has changed.
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+**What you need to do:** Compliance links you previously shared are no longer valid. Go to your competition's [Compliance Tracking](compliance-tracking.md) page, generate a new compliance link, and email it to your helpers. When they click the link, they can view and check off compliance items immediately — no account, no password, no sign-up.
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+---
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-**Before:** Square emailed the Delegate a plain invoice. Directors had to manually refresh the application to check whether payment came in.
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+**How does entry fee payment work now?**
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-**Now:** Pageant Pass sends the Delegate a branded confirmation email that includes a **Pay Now** button. Payment status updates automatically — Directors no longer need to refresh or check manually.
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+> **⭐ Plus feature** — Online payments require a Plus plan and a connected Square account.
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-This applies to all new applications submitted through competitions that have Square connected. Existing unpaid invoices from before Version 2 are not affected and remain in Square for collection.
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+When a Candidate submits an application that includes a fee, Pageant Pass now sends them a **branded confirmation email** with a Pay Now button. Payment status updates automatically on your end — you no longer need to manually refresh the application to see whether payment came in.
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+This applies to all new applications. Existing unpaid invoices from before v2.0 are not affected and remain in Square for collection.
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---
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-## Compliance Links — No Account Required
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+**Can I offer a discounted price for early registrations?**
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-> **⭐ Plus feature** — This is available on the Plus plan. See [Plans & Upgrading](plans-and-upgrading.md).
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+Yes — on both Core and Plus. When setting up a competition, you can configure an early-bird entry fee and a deadline. Candidates who apply before the deadline are automatically charged the lower rate; those who apply after pay the standard fee. The application form shows which price applies before the Candidate submits.
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-The way Directors share compliance access with helpers has been completely redesigned.
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+---
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-**Before:** Directors invited "Collaborators" by email. The helper had to create a Pageant Pass account, accept the invitation, and log in to view compliance data.
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+## For Candidates
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-**Now:** Directors generate a **compliance link** from the competition dashboard and email it directly to the helper. The helper clicks the link and can immediately view and check off compliance items in their browser — no account, no password, no sign-up required. The link is unique and secure; only someone who has it can access that competition's compliance view.
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+**Do I need an account to look for competitions?**
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-If you previously shared collaborator invitation links, those links are no longer valid. You'll need to create a new compliance link from your competition's [Compliance Tracking](compliance-tracking.md) page and send it to your helpers. Anyone receiving a link for the first time can follow the instructions on [Using a Secure Compliance Link](using-a-compliance-link.md).
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+No. Visit **pageantpass.com** to browse and search competitions without signing in. You only need to sign in at app.pageantpass.com to submit an application, track your existing applications, or access your profile.
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---
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-## Early Registration Pricing
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-Directors can now set an early-bird entry fee and deadline on any competition.
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+**How do I find competitions near me?**
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-When an early registration deadline is configured, Delegates who apply before that date are automatically charged the lower early-bird fee. Delegates who apply after the deadline pay the standard entry fee. The application form shows the current applicable fee clearly before the Delegate submits.
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+On program storefronts — like the Miss America system — the competition search now includes a **State** filter. Select your state to narrow the list. Competition cards also display a state or region label so you can see at a glance where each one is held.
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-This is available on both Core and Plus.
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+On the main pageantpass.com search, you can filter by state or browse by program type.
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---
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-## Region and State Filtering on Competition Search
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+**I applied to a competition. How do I pay the entry fee?**
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-On program storefronts that have regional information configured — like the Miss America system — the competition search page now includes a **State** filter. Delegates can narrow results to competitions in their state without scrolling through the full list.
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+After submitting, Pageant Pass emails you a confirmation that includes a **Pay Now** button if an entry fee is required. Click it to complete payment. Your application status updates automatically once payment is processed — you won't need to do anything else.
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+---
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-Competitions in those programs also display a state or region label on their listing card so Delegates can see at a glance where a competition is held.
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+**I noticed a lower price for registering early — what's that?**
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+Some Directors offer an early-bird rate for Candidates who apply before a set deadline. When you open an application, the form clearly shows which price currently applies. If an early-bird deadline has passed, you'll pay the standard fee instead.
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---
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-## What Was Removed
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+## Quick Reference
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+
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+### What Was Removed
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-| Feature | Replacement |
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-|---------|-------------|
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+| What's gone | What replaced it |
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+|---|---|
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| Collaborator role and invite-by-email | [Compliance Links](compliance-tracking.md) — no account required |
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| "Standard" plan name | Renamed to **Core** — same free plan, new name |
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| Free year sign-up promotion | Six-month free trial, claimed from your profile |
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----
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-## Links That Have Changed
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+### Links That Have Changed
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-| Old | New |
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-|-----|-----|
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-| Signing in to browse competitions | Browse freely at **pageantpass.com/competitions** — no sign-in needed |
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-| Collaborator invite links | No longer valid — Directors create a new compliance link from the competition dashboard |
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+| Before | Now |
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+| Sign in to browse competitions | Browse freely at **pageantpass.com** — no sign-in needed |
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+| Collaborator invite links | No longer valid — generate a compliance link from the competition dashboard |
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| Miss America competitions | **missamerica.pageantpass.com** |
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| Royal American Miss competitions | **royalamericanmiss.pageantpass.com** |
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| All account work (competitions, applications, profile) | **app.pageantpass.com** |
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| [Plans & Upgrading](plans-and-upgrading.md) | Compare Core and Plus, claim your free trial, and upgrade |
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| [Compliance Tracking](compliance-tracking.md) | How Directors generate and manage compliance links |
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| [Using a Secure Compliance Link](using-a-compliance-link.md) | For helpers — how to check off compliance items using a link |
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-| [Finding Competitions](finding-competitions.md) | How Delegates search, filter, and bookmark competitions |
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+| [Finding Competitions](finding-competitions.md) | How Candidates search, filter, and bookmark competitions |
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| [Accepting Payments with Square](accepting-payments-with-square.md) | Connect Square to collect entry fees online |
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