Tinkering with Winboard

[Alessandro Scotti]

Hi all,
there a new version of Winboard "X" at the usual address:

http://www.ascotti.org/programming/chess/winboard_x.htm

There are two new features: the "annotator" tag and customization of the game list headers.

Winboard can now save and read a PGN tag named "Annotator" (*) that contains move and score when an engine first went out of book. This is interesting info for engine authors, as it makes immediately apparent whether a book line is good or not.

Also, the list of tags shown in the game list headers (i.e. the "13. Fantasy Tourney, Scotti-Karpov, 1-0, ..." stuff that appears in the game list window) is now completely customizable. You get to choose which tags appear in the header, and in which order. (Of course, the new annotator tag is supported... that was the whole point!)

This time, all of the above feature and settings have a corresponding GUI so no need to manually edit the .ini file.

Many thanks to Guenther Simon for tipping the annotator idea and supporting it with tons of information on the PV of practically all existing engines and to Roger Brown for his help and feedback. (To Roger: BTW, there will soon be something very cool to manage your huge list of engines... )

Note: because of the relatively large number of changes, this version may be a little more "beta" than usual. It has also been tested more than usual and it seems ok so far, but as always it's better to play safe so make a copy of your winboard .ini and .exe before trying it!

(*) I know the name is maybe unfortunate, it is here for "compatibility" with existing PGN databases (see also the readme).

[Roger Brown]

Hi all,
there a new version of Winboard "X" at the usual address:

http://www.ascotti.org/programming/chess/winboard_x.htm

Many thanks to Guenther Simon for tipping the annotator idea and supporting it with tons of information on the PV of practically all existing engines and to Roger Brown for his help and feedback. (To Roger: BTW, there will soon be something very cool to manage your huge list of engines... )

Hello Alessandro,

Guenther is not fully human. The man is a WB fanatic beyond all hope of recovery.

Thank goodness!!

I can hardly wait to see what comes out of the bag next. All of this in time for the holiday season too!

Thanks for your work Alessandro. It is appreciated.

Later.

[Greg Simpson]

Thanks Alessandro!

Are you trying to hide the new source while still technically providing it? The odd link sure looks deliberate.

[Roger Brown]

Thanks Alessandro!

Are you trying to hide the new source while still technically providing it? The odd link sure looks deliberate.

Hello Greg,

The source is in a separate zip clearly given on the page.

Where is the attempt at hiding it?



Have you tried the new features yet?

Later.

[Alessandro Scotti]

Are you trying to hide the new source while still technically providing it? The odd link sure looks deliberate.

Hi Greg,
I can't understand your question... just checked the web page again and everything seems ok to me, what is it that you find "odd"?

[Greg Simpson]

The link to the 20051209 source is only through the letter r in "source code". The "sou" and the "ce code" link to the 20051129 version.

[Alessandro Scotti]

The link to the 20051209 source is only throught the letter r in "source code". The "sou" and the "ce code" link to the 20051129 version.

Ops now that's odd! What's even more strange is that when I verified the page I clicked on the correct link... and did it twice!
That's not intentional of course and I'll fix that in a few hours... thanks for the tip!

[Alessandro Scotti]

Hi guys,
yet another version (at the usual place).

Winboard has now a move history window. The "backend" part was already there and used by XBoard, but there was no Windows implementation.

It hasn't been easy for me to choose a design I liked and yet that wasn't too difficult to implement (considering you have to work in C and use the Win32 API, no abstraction layers or libraries) but eventually I'm quite happy with the current solution. At the very least, it's better than nothing!

Although very much useable (in my tests) this work is not finished yet, and there are many small touches to do. You'll find more details in the readme file.

With this feature, I've also started to work towards a sort of "layout" system where Winboard will be able to automatically open and position a number of secondary windows at startup.
Right now there's only the move history window but I plan to implement at least another two: an evaluation graph window and a redesigned analysis window. I think those are what Winboard needs most but as always I'm open to suggestions!

Thanks to all who sent feedback and especially to Guenther, who sent suggestions and found more bugs in Winboard (and Kiwi) than all other people together!

[Alessandro Scotti]

Nothing on the program, but a new monochromatic theme. This has been designed to make the "highlight move" square visible even when the gap between squares is reduced. Sometimes, these "little" details make a program more usable than a dozen other features.
There could be endless variations of course, but I hope you like this one anyway. Here's a screenshot:

http://www.ascotti.org/programming/chess/graphics/wbx_clouds.jpg

Download at:

http://www.ascotti.org/programming/chess/winboard_x.htm

[Alessandro Scotti]

Hi folks,
several bug fixes and small enhancements in this version, as well as three new features (no less! ):

1) evaluation histogram/graph window;
2) import of score/depth info from saved PGN files;
3) enhanced move highlighting (quite fun to watch).

Here's a screenshot (120K) showing the new windows and features in my (currently) favorite layout.

Download from the usual place.

Now I think I will dedicate some time to the new engine, although there are many thing still on my "todo" list. Will probably update at a slower pace...

[Edit] P.S. This time even Tim Mann will have a hard time recognizing his own program!

[Graham Banks]

Great work Alessandro!
Any chance in the future that we'll be able to have the engine logos displayed in Winboard?

Regards, Graham.

[Alessandro Scotti]

Any chance in the future that we'll be able to have the engine logos displayed in Winboard?

Yes, and much more...

[Graham Banks]

Great stuff. I might ditch the Shredder Classic GUI and use Winboard instead once this is implemented!

[Vladimir Xern]

Everything is looking phenomenal, Alessandro. I just wondered if I could make request as to the aesthetics of this overhauled Winboard. For the new windows (evaluation graph, move history, etc.) would it be hard to implement a "snap-to-window" feature for us tidiness freaks? I've no idea if it's worth the effort, but I just thought I'd throw that out there.

[Alessandro Scotti]

Hi Vladimir,
very interesting idea and I'm a tidiness buff myself! I will try to include that in the next release!

[Alessandro Scotti]

No time to update the page yet, but here's the latest dev snapshot:

http://www.ascotti.org/programming/ches ... _win32.zip

http://www.ascotti.org/programming/ches ... 22_src.zip

Several graphics issues with arrow highlighting have been fixed (this part of the base code is quite complicated and doesn't make my job any easier) and now also the arrow scales with the board size.

Two new features:

1) board (*), history, histogram and game list windows implement a "snapping" mechanism that makes it a lot easier to arrange them in a nice layout (I'm quite proud of the algorithm I've found so be careful with your criticism... );
2) you can export the game list to the clipboard, in CSV format (all info will be exported regardless of filters and tag settings, as the point is you probably want to process the data with something else): menu item is File | Copy Game List to Clipboard.

(*) the main window only "snaps" with respect to the desktop.

[Daniel Shawul]

Hi Alessandro
Can you add an analysis window like you did for the move list window?
I think this is especially important for programmers who want to debug their engine. And adding EPD capability afterwards will surely be a big step forward. I think that adding features where external tools are required like Bruce's Epd tool and different tourney managers to winboard itself is a good idea. I know this needs a lot of effort so i am not asking for all of it now. But at least you gotta give me the analysis window
I don't know this things are already on your todo list.
daniel

[Alessandro Scotti]

Hi Daniel,
a redesign of the analysis window is definitely on my todo list, in fact is what I would like to do now. What would you like to see exactly? I haven't decided on a design yet and could definitely use ideas and opinions.

[Daniel Shawul]

HI alessandro
i think that winboard should show the analysis of both engines in
engine - engine mode. Currently this is possible only in analysis mode.
Also only the latest pv is displayed, all the other guis i know display pvs starting from iteriation 1. I think that yous should remove the analysis bar below the menu and replace it with a floating analysis window.
daniel

[Marc Lacrosse]

No time to update the page yet, but here's the latest dev snapshot:

http://www.ascotti.org/programming/ches ... _win32.zip

Hi Alessandro,

Your improved winboard-x is more and more impressive !
I am really in love with it

Recording of the first evaluated value when leaving the book is a very interesting feature ! Maybe it could be interesting to have a simple utility for exporting all these positions in a EPD file (with the evaluations as opcodes).

And the new graphical improvements are very nicely implemented.

Thank you for all this and please continue this way !

Regards.

Marc