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CHESSBD
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(c) 1997 by Don Fong (dfong@igc.apc.org).  Updated february 1997


1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

CHESSBD is a chess game reader (or "viewer") for Windows, similar to PGNRD
by Keith Fuller.  It can read "almost any" game file.  It incorporates a
heuristic parser that attempts to handle sloppy "natural" input and poorly
specified formats.  The goal --- not quite attained --- is to parse
anything posted to the the rec.games.chess newsgroup, with no hand editing.
For example, CHESSBD can successfully parse the "Shamkovich benchmark"
posted by Steven J. Edwards in Jan 1994.  However, some files cannot be
parsed without hand editing.

CHESSBD can be used as a NETSCAPE helper app to view PGN files on the web.

CHESSBD also incorporates SLICS, a graphical client for the Internet Chess
Club (ICC) server and the Free Internet Chess Servers (FICS).

CHESSBD is shareware.  Please read "register.txt" for details.

Please read the file "install.txt" for installation instructions.
See the online help for usage instructions, or for information
about the CHESSBD parser.

The CHESSBD home page is currently at http://www.dfong.com/ .

2. FEATURES

* Recognizes both algebraic and descriptive move notation, eg,
	p-k4
	p-n8=Q+
	e4
	e8Q
* Recognizes PGN game headers
	[Event "..."]
* Recognizes "natural" game headers of the form
	White: XXX Black: YYY
* Handles nested variations between ()'s
	(14. Nxd5 Qxd5 (14...Nxd5 e5!))
* Heuristically recognizes variations embedded in commentary text
	15... d5
        If 15... dc, Black will be faced with the ...
* Interactive "drag and drop" moves using the mouse
* Interactive traversal of game tree
* Works under Windows 3.1; uses color
* Can function as a netscape helper app to read PGN files.
* Can cut & paste games from your comm program.
* Can function as an ICS interface via Winsock TCP/IP.

2.1 ICS features

* Works with both ICC and FICS type servers.
* Can observe multiple games.
* User programmable buttons.
* Board and pieces are scalable.
* Login scripts and "server profiles" make login a breeze.
* Easy to use chat dialog.

For further details, please read the online help and "relnotes.txt".

3. LIMITATIONS

* Windows 3.1 only; will NOT run under 3.0 .
  Requires a 386 or better cpu.  Will NOT run on an 286.
* Makes NO attempt to fix incorrect input moves (eg by capitalization)
  or guess ambiguous moves.
* See also the section "Implicit Header Recognition Failures"
  in the "Parser Heuristics" help topic.
* Probably will not look good unless you have a color monitor
  with at least 16 colors.

4. REGISTRATION INFORMATION

CHESSBD is shareware. If you find this program useful,
please send a contribution of $12.00 or more to:

	Don Fong/227 Alta Ave/Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA

Please read the file "register.txt" for further details.
If you registered an older version, you do not need to
register again.  The same key will work with all versions.

5. BUG REPORTS and COMMENTS

Please send bug reports, comments, and suggestions to:
	dfong@igc.apc.org
Please do not send me ICC or FICS messages - it is hard to reply to them.

To report bugs, please use the form provided in "bugform.txt".

Thanks.

5.1 SUPPORT and TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

CHESSBD/SLICS is shareware.  Unf i do not have time to provide technical
support.  Full documentation is provided in the winhelp and .txt files.
You can also ask for help on channel 1 (the support channel) on any server,
or ask the admins directly for help.

6. INSTALLATION

CHESSBD is a windows program; install it as you would any windows
program.  Decide what directory you want to put it in, and make that
the startup directory for the program when creating the program icon.
Put all the CHESSBD files in that directory.  For further details,
please read the file "install.txt".

7. INVENTORY

chessbd.exe - the executable - required
chessbd.hlp - winhelp file - required
options._d - data file for options dialog - required
optinfo._d - data file for options dialog - required
_chessbd.ini - initialization - recommended
icsprofs.dat - sample server profile directory - recommended
slics.ini - initialization for ICS mode - recommended

640x480.ini - initialization - recommended
1kx480.ini - initialization - recommended

dfong.ini - default "minimalist" pieces - doc
ericch.ini - alternative "staunton" pieces by Eric Churchill - doc
jah.ini - "modern" pieces by Jeff Hurt - doc
nicok.ini - alternative "baroque" pieces by Nico Koolsbergen - doc
toups.ini - alternative "classic" pieces by Harry Toups - doc

bitmaps.ini - ini file for bitmaps - optional
df_.dll - piece bitmaps - optional
toy_38.bmp - sample piece bitmaps - optional
toytest.ini - ini file for toy bitmaps - optional

sounds.ini - ini file for sounds - optional
*.wav - sound files - optional

ex_ics.rc - sample ICS login script - doc
dial_ics.rc - sample ICS login script for direct modem usage - doc
ex_fwics.rc - sample ICS login script for firewall usage - doc
_icc.rc - ICC login script - doc
_fics.rc - sample FICS login script - doc
_uicc.rc - sample ICC login script for unreg - doc
_ufics.rc - sample FICS login script for unreg player - doc

readme.txt - read this file - doc
register.txt - info about registering CHESSBD - doc
install.txt - installation instructions - doc
qanda.txt - misc questions and answers - doc
tmstamp.txt - info about timestamper programs - doc
bugform.txt - bug reporting form - doc
demofile.txt - sample games file - doc
relnotes.txt - release notes - doc
ficses - a list of Free Internet Chess Server (FICS) sites

tmstamp.exe - the executable for ICC timestamp.  this file
	may be present or absent.  if it is absent, please
	download the latest version from http://www.dfong.com/ .

tmseal.exe - the executable for FICS timeseal.  this file
	may be present or absent.  if it is absent, please
	download the latest version from http://www.dfong.com/ .
