WinBoard 4.3.15 released

[slobo]

I changed the names of my 4 small and addicional ini files: they all now star with @ character, as you suggested. As a consequence, when I Save Setting Now, from the Option menu, my small and additional ini file is not replaced by winboard.ini. So, one problem is solved. But there is another problem: Save Setting Now does not work anymore. I have to edit winboard.ini to change things.

Is there any way to use a small additional ini file from the command line without the /ini argument?

The names should not start with '@'. The way to use additional files from the command line is to prefix the filename with '@'.

So if you put @xxx amongst the arguments on the command line, WB will read the file with name xxx, and inserts its contents into the command line at that point (replacing any newline in the file by a space).

The /ini argument is not needed for all this: it is an argument mainly for specifying where the settings should be saved.

OK, but is it possible to save configuration
First use own book
Second use own book

in Winboard.ini?

It always chows both boxes checked, even if I save then uncjecked.

[hgm]

Indeed, the "HasOwnBook" options belong to the volatile options, which are not saved in the winboard.ini. Like, e.g. engine names and directories. These options always start at the compiled-in defaults.

It would not make much sense to save "has own book", as it is an engine-dependent option, and next time you run WinBoard it might be with another engine. If you always want these options to be false (the non-default), you should either put that in the command-line (e.g. in the short-cut you use to start up WinBoard), or edit them into the winboard.ini and suppress saveSettingsOnExit.

[slobo]

The string seems indeed not used inside WinBoard. No idea who added it and why. It seems a WinBoard menu definition, but it does not seem very sensible to define menus through command-line options.

It is difficult to say anything about the FICS problem, without seeing a debug file. E.g. is it sure that it is WinBoard that refuses the move, or was it FICS? Usually WinBoard gives a reason when it refuses a move, in the message area above the board. (Like: "It is black's turn" or "Illegal move".)

The debug file is this:

GameEnds(40, xboard exit, 2)
56641 >first : result * {xboard exit}
56641 >first : force
56641 >first : ping 2
56641 >first : quit

I remember, I used the congiguration of ICS options in the past, and it was very useful. Here is a site with instructions.

http://www.edcollins.com/chess/winb-config.htm

[hgm]

This is the debug output only for what happens from the moment you close WinBoard.

I must have made a typo when searching for icsTextMenuString in the winboard sources. Indeed this string does occur, and is used. You get the menu when you right-click the output field in the ICS interaction window.

Very useful info in that link you gave, btw!

[slobo]

Indeed, the "HasOwnBook" options belong to the volatile options, which are not saved in the winboard.ini. Like, e.g. engine names and directories. These options always start at the compiled-in defaults.

It would not make much sense to save "has own book", as it is an engine-dependent option, and next time you run WinBoard it might be with another engine. If you always want these options to be false (the non-default), you should either put that in the command-line (e.g. in the short-cut you use to start up WinBoard), or edit them into the winboard.ini and suppress saveSettingsOnExit.

Hi Harm,

I am examining a new winboard to see what is it good for?

For example, for me WB would be good for engine vs engine play only if I can always use the same book for both engines, and if I could manipulate the opening book, as I do in Arena. If Scid gives me this possibility, it would be OK. In this case it would be necessary some compatibility between WB, Poliglot and Scid. .

Other possible use is to play engine vs engine matches only in FRC or other variants, because there is book problems.

Third possibility: position analysis.

4th possibility would be play on free Internet Servers. But in this case I would need a possibility to creat my own menu with commands that I use more frequently, and with predefined messages.

5th possibility would be playing against engines.

For now I am satisfied only with the third and fifth options.

Regards.

[slobo]

This is the debug output only for what happens from the moment you close WinBoard.

I must have made a typo when searching for icsTextMenuString in the winboard sources. Indeed this string does occur, and is used. You get the menu when you right-click the output field in the ICS interaction window.

Very useful info in that link you gave, btw!

I did not get it. Could you explain step by step. I am very interested in that solution, and also in a possibility to configure the ICS menu using winboard ini.

[hgm]

If you want to play all engines always with the same GUI book, you should either install all engines with the HasOwnBook option cleared in the Engine Manager. Currently PSWBTM does not have a control where you could centrally switch on or off the book on all engines. But perhaps this would be a good feature to add. Current practice is to add such features to the winboard.ini just before the start of the tournament. (As PSWBTM suppresses the savinSettingsOnExit, the settings remain valid for the entire tourney.)

If you don't use a TM but always start WB by hand, you can putthe required options in the shortcut, or in an indirection file referred to from the shortcut command line.

I am not sure what you mean with the book problems for the second case.

For the ICS:

start up WinBoard with the option /debug on the command line, or press ctl-alt-F12 after startup before you do anything else. Only then login to FICS and start a game. Then everything you do will be recorded in the winboard.debug file.

[slobo]

If you want to play all engines always with the same GUI book, you should either install all engines with the HasOwnBook option cleared in the Engine Manager. Currently PSWBTM does not have a control where you could centrally switch on or off the book on all engines. But perhaps this would be a good feature to add. Current practice is to add such features to the winboard.ini just before the start of the tournament. (As PSWBTM suppresses the savinSettingsOnExit, the settings remain valid for the entire tourney.)

If you don't use a TM but always start WB by hand, you can putthe required options in the shortcut, or in an indirection file referred to from the shortcut command line.

I am not sure what you mean with the book problems for the second case.

For the ICS:

start up WinBoard with the option /debug on the command line, or press ctl-alt-F12 after startup before you do anything else. Only then login to FICS and start a game. Then everything you do will be recorded in the winboard.debug file.

>ICS: guest\012
<ICS: \012\015Logging you in as "GuestBYSR"; you may use this name to play unrated games.\012\015(After logging in, do "help register" for more info on how to register.)\012\015\012\015Press return to enter the server as "GuestBYSR":\012\015
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
>ICS: \012
<ICS: \377\374\001\012\015\012\015**** Starting FICS session as GuestBYSR(U) ****\012\015------------------------------------------------------------------------------\012\015 *** Message Of The Day ***\012\015\012\015\012\015Today's Scheduled Events:\012\015 0430: The Daily 5 0\012\015 0915: Wednesday Blitz\012\015 1315: CBW\012\015 1700: Standard\012\015 1900: The Nightly\012\015\012\015\012\015To join a scheduled tournament, join channel 49 (+channel 49)\012\015And be there for the scheduled start.\012\015\012\015For a complete tournament schedule, type "td help schedule"\012\015Regular tournaments are run all day, "td set tourneyinfo on" to see them.\012\015\012\015All times are server times.\012\015To check the current server time, use "date".\012\015==============================================================================\012\015FICS web page: http://www.freechess.org - add a link to FICS from your page\012\015==============================================================================\012\015\012\015\012\015Newcomers:\012\015 type 'help intro_basics' for some basic server commands and files.\012\015 type 'help chan
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4

<WONT ECHO ics_type 2
<ICS: _4' to learn how to ask for help on the help channel.\012\015 type 'help register' to learn how to get a registered account.\012\015 type 'help interfaces' for information on getting a graphical interface.\012\015 type 'showadmins' to see which admins (FICS administrators) are logged on.\012\015 type 'set shout 1' to see shouts (only registered users may shout).\012\015 type 'set seek 0' if receiving ads for matches bothers you.\012\015 type 'set open 0' if you do not want to be challenged to a chess match.\012\015 type 'set silence 1' if you wish to have quiet play.\012\015 type 'getgame' to get a blitz chess game.\012\015\012\015Special channels for guests:\012\015 type 'tell 4 <message>' if you need help\012\015 type 'tell 53 <message>' to chat with other users\012\015\012\015 A quick guide is available on our web page: http://www.freechess.org\012\015 as are facilities to register, connect via a java interface or download\012\015 interfaces, so that you get a graphical board and can use the mouse.\012\015\012\015NOTE: Guests with foul or abusive names may be 'nuked' without warning!!!\012\015\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
ics_type 2
>ICS: alias $ @\012$set interface WinBoard 4.3.15k\012$iset startpos 1\012$iset ms 1\012$iset nohighlight 1\012$iset lock 1\012$style 12\012
<ICS: \012\015ROBOadmin(*)(TD) tells you: Welcome to FICS - the Free Internet Chess Server. \012\015\ Please visit our homepage at http://www.freechess.org. From there you can \012\015\ register or download a graphical interface. You can get help by asking a \012\015\ question in channel 4 - use "tell 4 My question is...". Or you can get \012\015\ help from one of our service representives; these are marked (SR) and can \012\015\ be seen with "showsrs"\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
<ICS: Alias $ added.\012\015fics% fics% startpos set.\012\015fics% ms set.\012\015fics% nohighlight set.\012\015fics% lock set.\012\015fics% Style 12 set.\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
<ICS: \012\015GuestWXLS (++++) seeking 10 0 unrated blitz ("play 9" to respond)\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
<ICS: \012\015heehaw (++++) seeking 3 0 unrated blitz ("play 11" to respond)\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
>ICS: play 11\012
<ICS: \012\015Creating: GuestBYSR (++++) heehaw (++++) unrated blitz 3 0\012\015{Game 207 (GuestBYSR vs. heehaw) Creating unrated blitz match.}\012\015\007\012\015<12> rnbqkbnr pppppppp -------- -------- -------- -------- PPPPPPPP RNBQKBNR W -1 1 1 1 1 0 207 GuestBYSR heehaw 1 3 0 39 39 180000 180000 1 none (0:00.000) none 0 0 0\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
Ratings from 'Creating:' GuestBYSR 0, heehaw 0
Parsing board: rnbqkbnr pppppppp -------- -------- -------- -------- PPPPPPPP RNBQKBNR W -1 1 1 1 1 0 207 GuestBYSR heehaw 1 3 0 39 39 180000 180000 1 none (0:00.000) none 0 0 0

recognized 'ICS unrated blitz match' (-1) as variant normal
ParseBoard says variant = 'ICS unrated blitz match'
recognized as normal
Remembered ratings: W 0, B 0
load 8x8 board
Display title 'GuestBYSR (39) vs. heehaw (39) {3 0}, gameInfo.variant = 0'
release
7 0 4 7 0 4 Legality test? g1f3
CoordsToAlgebraic, piece=1 (6,0)-(5,2) -
move: g1f3
, parse: Nf3 (
)
>ICS: g1f3=Q\012
<ICS: Illegal move (g1f3=Q).\012\015\007\012\015<12> rnbqkbnr pppppppp -------- -------- -------- -------- PPPPPPPP RNBQKBNR W -1 1 1 1 1 0 207 GuestBYSR heehaw 1 3 0 39 39 180000 180000 1 none (0:00.000) none 0 0 0\012\015fics%
ics input 1, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
Parsing board: rnbqkbnr pppppppp -------- -------- -------- -------- PPPPPPPP RNBQKBNR W -1 1 1 1 1 0 207 GuestBYSR heehaw 1 3 0 39 39 180000 180000 1 none (0:00.000) none 0 0 0

load 8x8 board
Display title 'GuestBYSR (39) vs. heehaw (39) {3 0}, gameInfo.variant = 0'
release
7 0 4 7 0 4 Legality test? g1f3
CoordsToAlgebraic, piece=1 (6,0)-(5,2) -
move: g1f3
, parse: Nf3 (
)
>ICS: g1f3=Q\012
<ICS: Illegal move (g1f3=Q).\012\015\007\012\015<12> rnbqkbnr pppppppp -------- -------- -------- -------- PPPPPPPP RNBQKBNR W -1 1 1 1 1 0 207 GuestBYSR heehaw 1 3 0 39 39 180000 180000 1 none (0:00.000) none 0 0 0\012\015fics%
ics input 1, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
Parsing board: rnbqkbnr pppppppp -------- -------- -------- -------- PPPPPPPP RNBQKBNR W -1 1 1 1 1 0 207 GuestBYSR heehaw 1 3 0 39 39 180000 180000 1 none (0:00.000) none 0 0 0

load 8x8 board
Display title 'GuestBYSR (39) vs. heehaw (39) {3 0}, gameInfo.variant = 0'
release
7 0 4 7 0 4 Legality test? e2e4
CoordsToAlgebraic, piece=0 (4,1)-(4,3) -
7 0 4 7 0 4 Legality test? e2e4
movetype=33, promochar=0=-
move: e2e4
, parse: e4 (
)
>ICS: e2e4=Q\012
<ICS: Illegal move (e2e4=Q).\012\015\007\012\015<12> rnbqkbnr pppppppp -------- -------- -------- -------- PPPPPPPP RNBQKBNR W -1 1 1 1 1 0 207 GuestBYSR heehaw 1 3 0 39 39 180000 180000 1 none (0:00.000) none 0 0 0\012\015fics%
ics input 1, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
Parsing board: rnbqkbnr pppppppp -------- -------- -------- -------- PPPPPPPP RNBQKBNR W -1 1 1 1 1 0 207 GuestBYSR heehaw 1 3 0 39 39 180000 180000 1 none (0:00.000) none 0 0 0

load 8x8 board
Display title 'GuestBYSR (39) vs. heehaw (39) {3 0}, gameInfo.variant = 0'
<ICS: \012\015Your opponent has aborted the game on move one.\012\015\012\015{Game 207 (GuestBYSR vs. heehaw) Game aborted on move 1} *\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
GameEnds(40, Game aborted on move 1, 0)
<ICS: \012\015heehaw (++++) seeking 3 0 unrated blitz ("play 98" to respond)\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
<ICS: \012\015GuestTGPM (++++) seeking 2 12 unrated blitz ("play 112" to respond)\012\015fics%
ics input 0, castling = 7 0 4 7 0 4
GameEnds(40, Game aborted on move 1, 2)

[hgm]

I this XBoard or WinBoard?

It seems that a promotion suffix is added to each move, which is why FICS rejects them. I noticed this bug in XBoard 4.3.15 yesterday when I tried to play Xiang Qi on my own server, but it is apparently not specific to XQ. A source that fixed it is already on my website.

The Windows compile of the (which might be different from the 4.3.15 release, as I fixed it in the backend) is on my website as ICSclient for my variant server.

[slobo]

I this XBoard or WinBoard?

It seems that a promotion suffix is added to each move, which is why FICS rejects them. I noticed this bug in XBoard 4.3.15 yesterday when I tried to play Xiang Qi on my own server, but it is apparently not specific to XQ. A source that fixed it is already on my website.

The Windows compile of the (which might be different from the 4.3.15 release, as I fixed it in the backend) is on my website as ICSclient for my variant server.

It is Winboard from WinboardGoldPack.