Winboard Forum

Just an idea to throw out.

I'm wondering if there are any stand alone utilities for making Polyglot ini files.

On my Windows OS when I type uci into a UCI engine's window to find out out the UCI options the engine has, if the engine has a lot of options I am unable to see them all in the window. As an example, shown below in the graphic for the HIARCS 10 UCI engine. Most of the options fly past in the window until the list stops at the bottom. I am unable to scroll back in the list.


http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk11 ... shotii.png


To overcome this I have been using Alex Guerrero's WinMan program as it makes a full Polyglot ini file for an engine along with all of the particular engine's options listed in the ini file.

But would it be possible to make a bare bones utility thats only function is to make full Polyglot ini files for engines, something not dependent on having interaction with the Winboard GUI or any other separate GUI to function? Something simple, maybe even a utility that doesn't require installation as such?

A utility that could be used with either the original Fabien Letouzey Polyglot version, or the F. Bluemers and Jaap Weidemann modified ones?

Charles Browne wrote:Just an idea to throw out.

...Something simple, maybe even a utility that doesn't require installation as such?

A utility that could be used with either the original Fabien Letouzey Polyglot version, or the F. Bluemers and Jaap Weidemann modified ones?

If I install a new uci engine I start it from the command line, type "uci" and copy in paste the output to an editor.

I get for example:
"option name Hash type spin default 16 min 4 max 1024".

I globally change "option name" to "" and then globally replace "type spin default" by "=". I can then change the values as I like and I'm done. Adding engine name and so on could be easily done by copy, paste and modifying from an existing ini.

I doubt if there could be a more specialized tool for it, because the settings are different from user to user.


vp

As it is on my old Windows operating system there is no copy and paste for the engine options if the engine options exceed what is viewable in the window, and no scroll up feature for the window. A limitation of the operating system.


Alex Guerrero already has a Polyglot ini making GUI integrated in his WinMan program. I sent him an email to ask if he would have any interest (or time) in one day making it a separate utility.


http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk11 ... hotiii.png


Sure, after WinMan has created the initial ini file I do move it and edit it as needed.


Anyway, for me it is not a pressing need. Just a thought. Thanks.

Charles Browne wrote:As it is on my old Windows operating system there is no copy and paste for the engine options if the engine options exceed what is viewable in the window, and no scroll up feature for the window. A limitation of the operating system....

I'm doing that for years in every windows I have to work with. IIRC it work since Windows 95.

> C:\volker\glaurung21\Windows>dir
> Datenträger in Laufwerk C: ist System
> Datenträgernummer: AC89-BA57
>
> Verzeichnis von C:\volker\glaurung21\Windows
>
> 14.10.2008 05:07 <DIR> .
> 14.10.2008 05:07 <DIR> ..
> 14.05.2008 11:28 921'600 glaurung32.exe
> 14.05.2008 17:57 1'040'384 glaurung64.exe
> 14.05.2008 13:56 495'104 glaurung_2_1_x64_AMD.exe
> 14.05.2008 13:59 495'104 glaurung_2_1_x64_EM64T.exe
> 14.05.2008 14:36 587 Readme-Windows.txt
> 5 Datei(en) 2'952'779 Bytes
> 2 Verzeichnis(se), 10'027'077'632 Bytes frei
>
> C:\volker\glaurung21\Windows>glaurung32
> Glaurung 2.1 (JA). Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Tord Romstad.
> uci
> id name Glaurung 2.1 (JA)
> id author Tord Romstad
> option name Use Search Log type check default false
> option name Search Log Filename type string default SearchLog.txt
> option name Book File type string default book.bin
> option name Mobility (Middle Game) type spin default 100 min 0 max 200
> option name Mobility (Endgame) type spin default 100 min 0 max 200
> option name Pawn Structure (Middle Game) type spin default 100 min 0 max 200
> option name Pawn Structure (Endgame) type spin default 100 min 0 max 200
> option name Passed Pawns (Middle Game) type spin default 100 min 0 max 200
> option name Passed Pawns (Endgame) type spin default 100 min 0 max 200
> option name Aggressiveness type spin default 100 min 0 max 200
> option name Cowardice type spin default 100 min 0 max 200
> option name King Safety Curve type combo default Quadratic var Quadratic var Lin
> ear
> option name King Safety Coefficient type spin default 40 min 1 max 100
> option name King Safety X Intercept type spin default 0 min 0 max 20
> option name King Safety Max Slope type spin default 30 min 10 max 100
> option name King Safety Max Value type spin default 500 min 100 max 1000
> option name Queen Contact Check Bonus type spin default 4 min 0 max 8
> option name Rook Contact Check Bonus type spin default 2 min 0 max 4
> option name Queen Check Bonus type spin default 2 min 0 max 4
> option name Rook Check Bonus type spin default 1 min 0 max 4
> option name Bishop Check Bonus type spin default 1 min 0 max 4
> option name Knight Check Bonus type spin default 1 min 0 max 4
> option name Discovered Check Bonus type spin default 3 min 0 max 8
> option name Mate Threat Bonus type spin default 3 min 0 max 8
> option name Check Extension (PV nodes) type spin default 2 min 0 max 2
> option name Check Extension (non-PV nodes) type spin default 1 min 0 max 2
> option name Single Reply Extension (PV nodes) type spin default 2 min 0 max 2
> option name Single Reply Extension (non-PV nodes) type spin default 2 min 0 max
> 2
> option name Mate Threat Extension (PV nodes) type spin default 0 min 0 max 2
> option name Mate Threat Extension (non-PV nodes) type spin default 0 min 0 max 2
>
> option name Pawn Push to 7th Extension (PV nodes) type spin default 1 min 0 max
> 2
> option name Pawn Push to 7th Extension (non-PV nodes) type spin default 1 min 0

And yes it is scrollable.

This possibility is a bit hidden and not so easy to use. Also a bit hard to explain because I usually have windows in German.

<Ctrl+C> does not work there, instead mark the text and press <Return>. Also you have once to activate it. Please look http://www.ss64.com/nt/cmd.html and scroll down to "Copy and Paste".

vp

Thanks for the help. I suspect it is a Windows ME thing. Same operating system I have been using for the last six years, maybe some day I will upgrade to better.

I hope he doesn't mind my mentioning this but Alex Guerrero allowed me to take a look at a stand-alone ini maker that he put together. In my personal opinion, brilliance.

Polyglot GUI.

http://www.orbitfiles.com/download/id3433876565.html

Alex Guerrero wrote:Polyglot GUI.

http://www.orbitfiles.com/download/id3433876565.html

Very nice Alex!

Regards,
Guenther

Wow. This is a real time saver!

Thank you Alex.

Volker Pittlik wrote:

Charles Browne wrote:As it is on my old Windows operating system there is no copy and paste for the engine options if the engine options exceed what is viewable in the window, and no scroll up feature for the window. A limitation of the operating system....

I'm doing that for years in every windows I have to work with. IIRC it work since Windows 95.

Even though Alex's utility solved the problem I was having with making ini files due to my being unable to scroll in a DOS window, I did some further investigation and found a DOS software that allows scrolling for those unable to scroll. Not the best solution but tested and it works.

http://home.att.net/~short.stop/freesof ... htm#peruse