winboard engine config popup

[Will Singleton]

Hi,

The new winboard looks great. How do I configure my ini file to allow the user to use the configuration window?

Thanks.

Will

[Michel]

The new winboard looks great. How do I configure my ini file to allow the user to use the configuration window?

For the moment this window works only for UCI engines and a few winboard engines (Gaviota, Fairy-Max and the upcoming new
release of GnuChess).

[H.G.Muller]

The new winboard looks great. How do I configure my ini file to allow the user to use the configuration window?

I am not sure what exactly you are asking. One thing to keep in mind is that the configuration engine only works when the engine is actually loaded, and that WinBoard only loads the second engine when you use Two-Machines mode. Before that, the Engine #2 Settings window will be empty. (Perhaps I should make WinBoard start up the second engine already when the user opens that dialog.)

To use the configuration window, the engine must be configurable through WB protocol, i.e. it must support the option future, and actually define a few options. Polyglot does this, translating all UCI options to WB protocol and back, so all UCI engines running through Polyglot (of the proper version) will have their options accessible. Most WinBoard engines still need to be configured through obsolete means (engine ini files or command-line parameters), and as their is no standard for those, the configuration dialog cannot be used.

[Will Singleton]

The new winboard looks great. How do I configure my ini file to allow the user to use the configuration window?

To use the configuration window, the engine must be configurable through WB protocol, i.e. it must support the option future, and actually define a few options. Polyglot does this, translating all UCI options to WB protocol and back, so all UCI engines running through Polyglot (of the proper version) will have their options accessible. Most WinBoard engines still need to be configured through obsolete means (engine ini files or command-line parameters), and as their is no standard for those, the configuration dialog cannot be used.

Aha, I didn't know about using feature to set options. I'll try it. But for other gui, like arena or whatever, I wonder if they work with the option feature?

btw, is using ping really that important? I never seem to have issues without it.

Will

[H.G.Muller]

Ping is highly recommended, unless your engine processes commands it receives while it is thinking immediately. Especially if you use WinBoard in match mode, an engine without ping can still be thinking on its previous move (when the opponent resigned after giving its move) when the next game is already started. WinBoard will not be able to see that the move it comes with does not belong to the game, and the move could be legal. (Leading to an illegal move later.)

I dont know if Arena supports a configuration dialog for WinBoard engines. In fact I know nothing about Arena. If it doesn't, it will not be possible to change engine parameters during a game. Nothing that can be done about that, I guess.