chessdb-users — User mailing list - used by developers too.

Re: [Chessdb-users] Piece graphics

[Stu O. <st...@go...>]

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. The pdf has links to
all the fonts for the current pieces plus many more. I've had a little
play about in Gimp and after playing about with various settings the
results are good once i embed them into chessdb. Infact I think the
existing piece graphics could be improved following my technique.

Depending upon free time I'll see what I can do over the next few days.


cheers,
Stu


>
> I believe the graphics are fonts available in a vector format. So if you
> print the font to a bitmap it should be a lot better than trying to
> scale a pre-existing bitmap.
>
> For example
>
> http://ftp.ktug.or.kr/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/chessfss/chessfonts_gallery.pdf
>
> has a list of chess fonts, most of which are truetype fonts. I'm no
> expert, but believe that is a vector format
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueType
>
> so should be scalable to any size.
>
> If you could provide larger ones of the current fonts it would be good.
> Adding another font would be great too, but it would be a shame to not
> be able to use larger ones in the current font. I'm pretty sure they are
> available in a vector format.
>
>
>
>
>

Re: [Chessdb-users] Piece graphics

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

Stu Owen wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm looking at modifying some code to allow for larger board sizes
> than the current maximum. The current maximum looks pretty small on
> 1600x1200. Code wise this looks fairly straightforward, but expanding
> the maximum pieces image stored as base64 in bitmaps.tcl leads to
> stepping effects and generally looks pretty naff.
> 
> Before I start brushing up on my non existent graphic artist skills, I
> was wondering if there is an original source of these images?,
> hopefully larger so I can reduce rather than shrink. I know this is
> unlikely but theres no harm in asking :)
> 
> 
> cheers,
> Stu


I believe the graphics are fonts available in a vector format. So if you 
print the font to a bitmap it should be a lot better than trying to 
scale a pre-existing bitmap.

For example

http://ftp.ktug.or.kr/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/chessfss/chessfonts_gallery.pdf

has a list of chess fonts, most of which are truetype fonts. I'm no 
expert, but believe that is a vector format

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TrueType

so should be scalable to any size.

If you could provide larger ones of the current fonts it would be good. 
Adding another font would be great too, but it would be a shame to not 
be able to use larger ones in the current font. I'm pretty sure they are 
available in a vector format.

[Chessdb-users] Piece graphics

[Stu O. <st...@go...>]

Hi,

I'm looking at modifying some code to allow for larger board sizes
than the current maximum. The current maximum looks pretty small on
1600x1200. Code wise this looks fairly straightforward, but expanding
the maximum pieces image stored as base64 in bitmaps.tcl leads to
stepping effects and generally looks pretty naff.

Before I start brushing up on my non existent graphic artist skills, I
was wondering if there is an original source of these images?,
hopefully larger so I can reduce rather than shrink. I know this is
unlikely but theres no harm in asking :)


cheers,
Stu

Re: [Chessdb-users] Link on web site is wrong - I can't change

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

Jeremy White wrote:
>>It has now been two days since I've been able to update the web site, 
>>which is rater annoying. I think my next open-source project might be 
>>hosted somewhere else, as Sourceforge has too many ads and their SSH 
>>servers are too unreliable.
> 
> 
> You might consider Savannah:
> 
>   http://savannah.gnu.org/
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Jeremy
> 
Thank you for the suggestion Jeremy. A look at the Sourceforge site 
status page makes depressing reading. Looks like it is going to take 9 
days to fix (goes down on the 12th, not expected back to the 21st).

----
2007-02-12: The shell server was taken offline for unscheduled 
maintenance. Due to a need to replace the old hardware and some 
unforeseen problems in getting the new hardware setup, we estimate that 
the shell service may not return until the 21st of February. We 
apologize for the inconvenience.
---

Re: [Chessdb-users] [Scid-users] Castling problems

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

Magnus Larsson wrote:
> Hi!
> 
> I've been using scid on Ubuntu Edgy Linux for a while, and notice that 
> at least sometimes when I start a game from an arranged start board, I 
> cannot castle. I'm using scid 3.6.1.
> 
> Anyone got ideas or advice on this?
> 
> 
> Magnus L
> 

How are you starting from a specific position? Are you entering an FEN? 
If so, post it.

dave

Re: [Chessdb-users] Link on web site is wrong - I can't change

[Jeremy W. <jw...@co...>]

> It has now been two days since I've been able to update the web site, 
> which is rater annoying. I think my next open-source project might be 
> hosted somewhere else, as Sourceforge has too many ads and their SSH 
> servers are too unreliable.

You might consider Savannah:

  http://savannah.gnu.org/

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Chessdb-users] Link on web site is wrong - I can't change

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

The downloads page on the ChessDB web site


http://chessdb.sourceforge.net/downloads/

says the latest version is 3.6.12-beta-7 and provides links to it. This 
version has a bug which causes a hassle as you exit (it is OK until try 
to exit). Unfortunately, Sourceforge's ssh servers are once again not 
working. This seems an almost constant problem with them. Anyway, I am 
unable to update the web site and correct this error.

So if you want the latest version, go to

http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=chessdb&filename=ChessDB-3.6.12-beta-8.exe&use_mirror=osdn
http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?groupname=chessdb&filename=ChessDB-3.6.12-beta-8.tar.gz&use_mirror=osdn


It has now been two days since I've been able to update the web site, 
which is rater annoying. I think my next open-source project might be 
hosted somewhere else, as Sourceforge has too many ads and their SSH 
servers are too unreliable.

Re: [Chessdb-users] [Scid-users] Scid mailing list archives

[Michal R. <mr...@kd...>]

Dr. David Kirkby,  =C5=9Broda, 14 lutego 2007:
>Are you by any chance logged in to Sourceforge when you find that link?
>If so, it is possible that you have permission as a developer, but the
>vast majority do not. I think I recall Jeremy mention he could not see
>the archives, so I don't think I am the only one.
You are right, I was logged in.

The simplest way will be to ask any of project admins, asking him to make t=
he=20
list public.


=2D-=20
Michal Rudolf

Re: [Chessdb-users] [Scid-users] Scid mailing list archives

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

Michal Rudolf wrote:
> Dr. David Kirkby,  środa, 14 lutego 2007:
> 
>>If one goes to
>>
>>http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/scid-users
>>
>>once can see "To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit
>>the Scid-users Archives."
> 
> 
> Try this link:
> http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?forum_id=1830
> 

I'm getting the same problem;

Are you by any chance logged in to Sourceforge when you find that link? 
If so, it is possible that you have permission as a developer, but the 
vast majority do not. I think I recall Jeremy mention he could not see 
the archives, so I don't think I am the only one.

I can see the scid-develop list, but there is no content on that.

Re: [Chessdb-users] [Scid-users] Scid mailing list archives

[Michal R. <mr...@kd...>]

Dr. David Kirkby,  =C5=9Broda, 14 lutego 2007:
>If one goes to
>
>http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/scid-users
>
>once can see "To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit
>the Scid-users Archives."

Try this link:
http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?forum_id=3D1830

=2D-=20
Michal Rudolf

Re: [Chessdb-users] [Scid-users] Takeover denied -> Let us move forward

[Michal R. <mr...@kd...>]

>So I will switch naming of my releases from scid-pg to scid as I have the
> right to. As chessDB is a fork of Scid (2004), and until anybody else is
> better placed than me to continue Scid, I request things to be strictly
> separated : given Kirkby's attitude, I hope he'll be honest enough to
> continue his fork in a strict separated way than mine : I deny him the
> right to use my own code, as I'll never use his own code (I never heard of
> a forking project whose that was in conflict with the mainline take code
> from the original).
I don't think you can deny anybody to use your code in GPL project. If you 
like to do it, start your own database, not reuse somebody else GPL-ed code.

The fact you don't use his code has nothing to do with it.

-- 
Michal Rudolf

Re: [Chessdb-users] [Scid-users] Takeover denied -> Let us move forward

[Jean-Renaud S. <tit...@fr...>]

Pascal, David,

Now, enough has been said.
Everybody know you won't work together.
Everybody know your both positions.
Everybody can make its own opinion.

So, please, please, stop it.
If you have constructive things to send to the list(s), do it. 
Otherwise, do it private, or better don't do it.

Look at the future not the past.

Jean-Renaud

Re: [Chessdb-users] Takeover denied -> Let us move forward

[Michal R. <mr...@kd...>]

Dr. David Kirkby,  =C5=9Broda, 14 lutego 2007:
>Does Michal have access and feel comfortable about making such a change?
>That would be better.
Unfortunately I don't have access to Scid site. But there are two admins ap=
art=20
from Shane, so the easiest will be to ask one of them.

=2D-=20
Michal Rudolf

[Chessdb-users] Takeover denied -> Let us move forward

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

As you are aware Pascal submitted an application to gain control of Scid.

I objected to this to Sourceforge:

http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1658454&group_id=1&atid=200001

and have received this back:

"I have marked the takeover request as denied (at least for now), and
mentioned both the sub-problems in the project's description."

(I think he means sub-projects).

Looking carefully one sees Scid's description

http://sourceforge.net/projects/scid/

has now been changed to:

"Scid is a chess database application (cross-platform, for Unix/Linux 
and Windows) with many search and database maintenance features. Two 
related projects you may find interesting: ..... 
http://prolinux.free.fr/scid/ ..... http://chessdb.sourceforge.net/"

I would like to see something on the Scid homepage

http://scid.sourceforge.net/

as the text on the summary page is small. But it is progress at least.

I was going to ask nicely if Sourceforge staff would add the following 
to the Scid homepage, it is OK with others (including Pascal of course)

Does Michal have access and feel comfortable about making such a change? 
That would be better.

Anyway, this is what I was thinking of proposing.

_______________________________________
_______________________________________-

*** News - February 2007  ***

Although there have not been any recent versions of Scid released by 
Shane, admiration for Shane's work is very high. Two groups have 
developed Scid further. These projects can be found at <link to ChessDB> 
and <link to Scid-pg> (Neither developer has the slightest objection if 
Shane wishes to remove this comment).
_________________________________________
_________________________________________


Note

1) I make no reference to forks, since whether you believe Scid-pg 
and/or ChessDB are a fork depends on ones view and a small addition to a 
web site is mot a good place to debate that one.

2) There should be no reference to specific changes, as those would soon 
be outdated.

3) I feel it needs to be short and sweet - just let people know of 
ChessDB's and Scid-pg's existence and let them find out what they want.

4) We should make it clear we don't mind Shane removing it.

5) I'm open to a better wording.

I suspect if something could be agreed on between myself and Pascal, and 
others feel it is reasonable too, we might be able to get Sourceforge 
staff to make the change. Or if someone here is able to do it, all the 
better,

[Chessdb-users] Advanced Feature Requests

[Jared A. <jar...@gm...>]

Hi,
  I was very nearly going to purchase an expensive database program
when I ran across this software from a RedHotPawn forum link.
  I'm excited about this development and have walked through most of
the tutorials, but a few things I don't see, so I wanted to make some
feature requests.

1) Is it possible to assign an analysis engine to an entire database?
I am around a 1500 USCF player which means I've got the basics, but
lack advanced skills.
I have a database of my most recent games and I'd like to find out
which games I might have missed major themes... which leads me to my
second request.

2) There is already a theme report, so from the results of request
one, it seems that it might be possible to analyse a particular
persons games and create a report of "missed" themes.  Themes that the
user seems weak on.  This would help me focus on my weakest tactical
area.

Is this already possible?  I'm excited to have a reasonable database
system, but now the tricky part is converting the data to an
improvement in my own games.

And lastly a couple of question, how many games can this system
reasonably handle in a single database?

Can someone suggest a link to a discussion of efficient database
structure?  i.e. Theory of huge vs. specific databases.

Thank You,  I hope somebody else finds these topics interesting too.
Jared

[Chessdb-users] Fwd: LCD

[David P. M. <dav...@gm...>]

First of all, thanks to both David and Pascal (and also the rest of
developers) for they great job, either continuing Scid or making a
fork.

Their contribution is great, because Free Open Source programs were
losing ground in chess databases to commercial, closed, only-Windows
ones.

As I see them as two great developers, and with only a practical point
of view in mind, for me it is a pity that they can't unify efforts.

If the unification is impossible, I agree with Michal Rudolf, his
opinion seems to
me a sensible one.

Regards,

David Paleo.

2007/2/13, Michal Rudolf <mr...@kd...>:
> I think current situation can be described as below: we have two people
> seriously willing to spend their time developing and enhancing Scid. On the
> other hand, it is clear that both find hard to work together. While I can
> understand calls for peace, I am a bit skeptical about them. If you spend
> your own time developing free software, you obviously want some fun from it -
> which probably won't be the case if you work with somebody you don't like.
>
> I will try to suggest Lowest Common Denominator for current situation.
>
> 1. Continue your projects separately.
> 2. Do not takeover abandoned Scid project now - instead, add links on the main
> page.
> 3. Do not argue. Just ignore things you don't like in the other project.
> 4. Agree to share patches. Obviously some of changes in the other project may
> be useful in both. (I know GPL allows to use the patches anyway, but if you
> both agree not to complain about it, it makes it smoother, I think).
> 5. Let the time decide.
>
>
> --
> Michal Rudolf
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Using Tomcat but need to do more? Need to support web services, security?
> Get stuff done quickly with pre-integrated technology to make your job easier.
> Download IBM WebSphere Application Server v.1.0.1 based on Apache Geronimo
> http://sel.as-us.falkag.net/sel?cmd=lnk&kid=120709&bid=263057&dat=121642
> _______________________________________________
> Chessdb-users mailing list
> Che...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/chessdb-users
>


--
Un saludo,

                    David Paleo Magdaleno.


-- 
Un saludo,

                    David Paleo Magdaleno.

[Chessdb-users] LCD

[Michal R. <mr...@kd...>]

I think current situation can be described as below: we have two people 
seriously willing to spend their time developing and enhancing Scid. On the 
other hand, it is clear that both find hard to work together. While I can 
understand calls for peace, I am a bit skeptical about them. If you spend 
your own time developing free software, you obviously want some fun from it - 
which probably won't be the case if you work with somebody you don't like.

I will try to suggest Lowest Common Denominator for current situation.

1. Continue your projects separately.
2. Do not takeover abandoned Scid project now - instead, add links on the main 
page.
3. Do not argue. Just ignore things you don't like in the other project.
4. Agree to share patches. Obviously some of changes in the other project may 
be useful in both. (I know GPL allows to use the patches anyway, but if you 
both agree not to complain about it, it makes it smoother, I think).
5. Let the time decide.


-- 
Michal Rudolf

Re: [Chessdb-users] [Scid-users] Scid on source forge

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

Pascal do you have a Sourceforge ID number associated with your request? 
I would like to make a formal objection. It seems I'm not the only one 
to feel it is inappropriate.


I feel Michal Rudolf's proposal, or links to the two projects is a good 
one.

Re: [Chessdb-users] [Scid-users] Scid on source forge

[Jeremy W. <jw...@co...>]

> I agree, especially that there are two independent versions being developed.

I do not understand why there are two efforts underway.

Specifically, Pascal, I do not understand why you have decided
to start your own effort.  As far as I can tell, Dr. Kirby is
leading the older and more vibrant effort at this point, and
it seems to me that his is the logical project to back.

I am still unable to view the archives of the scid-users list, so forgive
me if I've missed some history that occurred before I joined the list.

Obviously, the beauty of open source is that forks are possible,
so that the quality of the result, and thus the end user, can
be the deciding factor on which approach is better.

But forks are a waste of time and energy; is there not some way
we can all work together?

I also agree that it is better to start a new effort,
away from the name scid, for many of the same reasons already articulated.

Cheers,

Jeremy

Re: [Chessdb-users] man pages

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

Christian Pinedo Zamalloa wrote:

> 
> There is one manpage for chessdb and another generic one for the rest of 
> binaries. The generic man i only copy one time (for example tcchessdb.6.gz 
> and for the rest i only make a link to this generic manpage, 
> tkchessdb.6.gz -> tcchessdb.6.gz).

I see. That seems sensible.


>>Some are pretty damm simple, so at some time I will perhaps write a
>>proper man page for them,
>>
> 
> 
> IMHO is not so necesarious. I only create manpages because in Debian 
> it's "recomended" that each binary has its manpage. But in this case is more 
> useful  for the end-user the tutorial and your code :). (Really in the 
> generic manpage we talk end-user to see the tutorial)

Given their simplicity, I might well do it. Just for completeness, but 
it is not a high priority.


>>If someone is really keen, there is a programmers reference manual too.
>>
>>http://chessdb.sourceforge.net/tutorial/programmers-reference.php
> 
> 
> I will do.

Cheers.

>>As a matter of interest, what changes would you like to see in ChessDB?
> 
> 
> Recenlty I began playing chess and i'm never used a chess database until now 
> so i'm not the right person to make proposals. However, when the package is 
> in Debian Repositories and it's used i will get requests from users about 
> problems and whises that sometime i will can to solve because they are 
> packaging issues and others i will send you. How do you prefer to recive this 
> questions? Through email or the bug tracking system of Sourceforge?

The chessdb mailing list (che...@li... after you 
register) would be a good place, but bugs, should to onto the 
Sourceforge bug system too.

> One more thing. Feel free to reuse the manpages i sent you yesterday. You can 
> reuse them deleting my mentions (it's not important :)).

Cheers. As I say, it not a high priority, but I might just make a few 
for the other binaries.



> Cheers,
> 

[Chessdb-users] Anyone got a UNIX box with telnet I can use?

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

I'm looking to develop the code to connect to the chess servers (ICC and 
FICS) which both use telnet.

I'd like to do some of the initial development by using a UNIX box 
somewhere which allows telnet connections. Unfortunately, the Tcl code 
I'm using for the development will not connect to host on the local 
domain, so I can't use one of my many UNIX boxes here.

Hence the question! Has anyone here got a UNIX/Linux box that I could 
log into using Telnet? Access to a C compiler on it would be nice. I 
have a fixed IP address, so firewall rules could be set up. I just need 
basic shell access via telnet and file transfer by either ftp or ssh.

Re: [Chessdb-users] ChessDB & Scid-pg version

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

Richard & Hilary Dickinson wrote:
> Hi David & all,
>  
> I came across Scid-pg on the internet (Scid upate by Pascal George).
> This has some interesting added training & engine features, to Scid  (& 
> so to ChessDB).
> Have you considered incorporating or adding these features to ChessDB?
>  
> Best wishes,
>  
> Richard

Hi,

Yes some will no doubt be incorporated at some point. Pascal started 
Scid-pg after I started ChessDB. He was originally going to contribute 
to ChessDB, but I decided not to add some code given some concerns I 
had. (If you look at the CVS on ChessDB, or some of the language files, 
you will see some is still there.)

There were faults on both sides and I did try to get him back before he 
decided to go alone and start scid-pg. His insistence I change the name 
from ChessDB to something else was one I felt I could not agree to, 
after I'd already registered the project, the mailing lists were set up 
etc.

Anyway, you can be assured any changes that are worthwhile will be 
added, but of course, I don't have an infinite amount of time!!

For now I wish to concentrate on things that can not possibly be done 
any other ways, such as downloads from ICC and FICS. Things like 
tactics, which I feel are better served with places like the tactics 
server,

http://chess.emrald.net/

would be lower on my priority list.

BTW, if you have not seen the chess tactics server

http://chess.emrald.net/

take a look. The Java interface is not too good, but the ideas behind it 
are very good.

You get a rating for your tactical ability. The rating goes up as you 
solve more difficult problems in shorter time periods. The difficulty of 
the problem is not rated by some individual (which is very subjective), 
but is generated automatically based on the number of people that solve 
it and the time it takes them to do it. So problems that lots of people 
solve quickly get a low rating, so if you manage to solve them quickly, 
it will not increase your own rating much.

Conversely, if a lot of people have fail to solve a problem, or it takes 
them a long time, and you solve it quickly, so your own rating will 
increase quite a bit. A very interesting idea I feel.

[Chessdb-users] ChessDB & Scid-pg version

[Richard & H. D. <ri...@di...>]

Hi David & all,

I came across Scid-pg on the internet (Scid upate by Pascal George).
This has some interesting added training & engine features, to Scid  (& =
so to ChessDB).
Have you considered incorporating or adding these features to ChessDB?

Best wishes,

Richard

Re: [Chessdb-users] O4 in Linux

[Dr. D. K. <dav...@on...>]

Jared Allen wrote:
> Hi, I compiled the stable and beta-12 release in Centos Linux with the
> results being segmentation faults upon opening the sample.pgn from the
> tutorials.  Once I changed the Makefile to -O instead of -O4 all was
> well.
> Thank You,
> Jared


Yes, I'm aware of that one. The most recent releases set it to O2. Is O2 
ok for you, or do you need -O ?

[Chessdb-users] O4 in Linux

[Jared A. <jar...@gm...>]

Hi, I compiled the stable and beta-12 release in Centos Linux with the
results being segmentation faults upon opening the sample.pgn from the
tutorials.  Once I changed the Makefile to -O instead of -O4 all was
well.
Thank You,
Jared