How to setup a position with the XBoard protocol?

[kinderchocolate]

Is the XBoard protocol stupid? It's common to have a FEN for a position. But unlike the UCI, the XBoard protocol doesn't understand FEN! So my question is, if I have a FEN, how do I setup it up on a XBoard engine?

[Pedro Castro]

Xboard protocol version 2 has "setboard" command. You must use a GUI like Arena or Winboard to configure the position and GUI send this position to engine in FEN format if engine supports the setboard command.

Some engines will have an option to set a position from the console, but most do not.

It is engine who understands the FEN format, not the protocol.

[kinderchocolate]

I need some help. I tried to edit a position with a king on h1 and a king on h8.


_adapter->write("new");
_adapter->write("random");
_adapter->write("force");
_adapter->write("edit");
_adapter->write("#");

_adapter->write("Kh1");
_adapter->write("c");
_adapter->write("Kh8");

_adapter->write(".");
_adapter->write("force");



The commands don't work... Anybody knows why?

[Pedro Castro]

It is difficult to help you if you do not give more information.

For example you are using a engine? Which?

you are using a GUI? Which?

It seems that the GUI is sending a position with the old edit command of xboard protocol, perhaps the engine you're using does not support the xboard protocol version 2 and therefore does not receive a FEN position with setboard command. And maybe the engine also not supports the edit command.