Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a doze

[Dann Corbit]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:
I am not able to get operational (Under Windows NT 4.0!) the following programs:
1. Colchess (nothing happens, both engines start and just take up memory, flag falls)
2. Fortress (works as white only -- fails as black)
3. Francesca (crashes)
4. InmiChess (crashes)
5. MFChess seems to be intermittent.
6. Noonian (crashes)
7. Olithink (makes illegal moves and rejects legal moves)
8. Pierre (makes illegal moves and rejects legal moves)
9. Queen (Not a winboard program, as far as I can tell)
10. Snailchess (Winboard dialog simply goes away, but snailchess runs from the command line)
11. Tristram (crashes)
12. Also, TCBishop does not seem to be using its opening book (though Gromit3 does and Gromit3 uses the same sort of book...)
Here is my TCB init file:
E:\PROGRA~2\winboard\TCBishop>type tcbxinit.cui
prompt off
; Eugene Nalimov's EGTBs
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chesslib
nalimov
init e:\programme\winboard\nalimov
cache 2097152
x
p
special
; Opening-Book
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~
fbkbook fritz4.fbk
; Hash-Tables
; ~~~~~~~~~~~
size 33554432
x




My FTP site

[Volker Pittlik]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Volker Pittlik at 12 May 2000 07:12:25:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:
Hi Dann,
short answer now, details in the (German) evening

1. Colchess (nothing happens, both engines start and just take up memory, flag falls)
2. Fortress (works as white only -- fails as black)
3. Francesca (crashes)
4. InmiChess (crashes)
5. MFChess seems to be intermittent.
6. Noonian (crashes)
7. Olithink (makes illegal moves and rejects legal moves)
8. Pierre (makes illegal moves and rejects legal moves)
9. Queen (Not a winboard program, as far as I can tell)
10. Snailchess (Winboard dialog simply goes away, but snailchess runs from the command line)
11. Tristram (crashes)
12. Also, TCBishop does not seem to be using its opening book (though Gromit3 does and Gromit3 uses the same sort of book...)
Here is my TCB init file:
E:\PROGRA~2\winboard\TCBishop>type tcbxinit.cui
prompt off
; Eugene Nalimov's EGTBs
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chesslib
nalimov
init e:\programme\winboard\nalimov
cache 2097152
x
p
special
; Opening-Book
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~
fbkbook fritz4.fbk
; Hash-Tables
; ~~~~~~~~~~~
size 33554432
x

same to me
works fine here
plays only with n moves in m minutes
don't works under NT
Has lots of bugs. I will test it again
Crashes when it gets the "computer" command from WinBoard 4.0.7, same when you start it in a dos box an type "computer". Works only with WB 4.0.5
Only with winboard. Oliver Brausch knows this but has no time/do not want to change it.
see MFChess
don't know
last time I tested it it works. I will try again
I don't have it.
Looks fine. In the evening I will look closer.
Volker

[Mogens Larsen]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Mogens Larsen at 12 May 2000 07:15:59:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:

I am not able to get operational (Under Windows NT 4.0!) the following programs:
1. Colchess (nothing happens, both engines start and just take up memory, flag falls)
2. Fortress (works as white only -- fails as black)
3. Francesca (crashes)
4. InmiChess (crashes)
6. Noonian (crashes)
12. Also, TCBishop does not seem to be using its opening book (though Gromit3 does and Gromit3 uses the same sort of book...)
Here is my TCB init file:
E:\PROGRA~2\winboard\TCBishop>type tcbxinit.cui
prompt off
; Eugene Nalimov's EGTBs
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chesslib
nalimov
init e:\programme\winboard\nalimov
cache 2097152
x
p
special
; Opening-Book
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~
fbkbook fritz4.fbk
; ~~~~~~~~~~~
size 33554432
x

Have you tried everything? Like reducing the name and rebooting?
Yes, it is unreliable on my machine too.
It has to be x moves in y minutes to avoid crashing. Game/x doesn't work.
I don't think it runs under NT.
Should work with Winboard 4.0.5, but not 4.0.7.
I don't think TCB reads *.fbk format, but it can convert it to *.pgn and then use it. Download Fritz4.pgn from Franks site and try this instead:
pgnbook ; Hash-Tables
Sincerely,
Mogens

[Mogens Larsen]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Mogens Larsen at 12 May 2000 07:23:32:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Mogens Larsen at 12 May 2000 07:15:59:

; Opening-Book
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~
fbkbook fritz4.fbk

I don't think TCB reads *.fbk format, but it can convert it to *.pgn and then >use it. Download Fritz4.pgn from Franks site and try this instead:

Should be "pgnbook < Fritz4.pgn" (minus space between arrow and Fritz, but space was used because it was interpreted as html code on this page).
Sincerely,
Mogens

[Dann Corbit]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 07:24:01:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Mogens Larsen at 12 May 2000 07:15:59:

I am not able to get operational (Under Windows NT 4.0!) the following programs:
1. Colchess (nothing happens, both engines start and just take up memory, flag falls)
2. Fortress (works as white only -- fails as black)
3. Francesca (crashes)
4. InmiChess (crashes)
6. Noonian (crashes)
12. Also, TCBishop does not seem to be using its opening book (though Gromit3 does and Gromit3 uses the same sort of book...)
Here is my TCB init file:
E:\PROGRA~2\winboard\TCBishop>type tcbxinit.cui
prompt off
; Eugene Nalimov's EGTBs
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chesslib
nalimov
init e:\programme\winboard\nalimov
cache 2097152
x
p
special
; Opening-Book
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~
fbkbook fritz4.fbk

Have you tried everything? Like reducing the name and rebooting?
Yes, it is unreliable on my machine too.
It has to be x moves in y minutes to avoid crashing. Game/x doesn't work.
I don't think it runs under NT.
Should work with Winboard 4.0.5, but not 4.0.7.
I don't think TCB reads *.fbk format, but it can convert it to *.pgn and then use it. Download Fritz4.pgn from Franks site and try this instead:
pgnbook

You simply would not believe all the things I have tried. Since I did a port of this program and since I like it very much, I have an emotional stake in getting it to work. I have the advice from 4 top experts and nothing seems to make it operational. The only thing I have not done is move the whole operation to the C drive from the E drive, but I won't do that.
Ack. That goofs up my format. I'll probably have to disqualify this program if a new version that knows how to run G/n is not created in time.
Mph. Maybe I can get volunteers. I don't like to go backwards.

[Mogens Larsen]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Mogens Larsen at 12 May 2000 07:39:17:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 07:24:01:

You simply would not believe all the things I have tried. Since I did a port of this program and since I like it very much, I have an emotional stake in getting it to work. I have the advice from 4 top experts and nothing seems to make it operational. The only thing I have not done is move the whole operation to the C drive from the E drive, but I won't do that.

It is a very sensitive operation. When the patch for ColChess 6.2 was released, I renamed the executable to CChess621.exe, which worked fine. Then I felt courageous and tried ColChess621.exe, which didn't. So I'm back with the tried and functional name.
I hope you understood my TCB advise, even though it got screwed up by html the first time. If you "pretend" to reply it should be readable.
Sincerely,
Mogens

[Gabor Szots]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Gabor Szots at 12 May 2000 07:51:53:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:

12. Also, TCBishop does not seem to be using its opening book (though Gromit3 does and Gromit3 uses the same sort of book...)
Here is my TCB init file:
E:\PROGRA~2\winboard\TCBishop>type tcbxinit.cui
prompt off
; Eugene Nalimov's EGTBs
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
chesslib
nalimov
init e:\programme\winboard\nalimov
cache 2097152
x
p
special
; Opening-Book
; ~~~~~~~~~~~~
fbkbook fritz4.fbk
; Hash-Tables
; ~~~~~~~~~~~
size 33554432
x

There is a '

[Gabor Szots]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Gabor Szots at 12 May 2000 07:54:17:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:

pgnbook

[Gabor Szots]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Gabor Szots at 12 May 2000 10:30:01:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:

2. Fortress (works as white only -- fails as black)

Maybe you have not changed fd to sd at second chess program names.

[WYx]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: WYx at 12 May 2000 10:52:44:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:

[Volker Pittlik]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Volker Pittlik at 12 May 2000 11:28:48:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: ...a piece of good advice: forget WinNT !! .. (no text) geschrieben von: / posted by: WYx at 12 May 2000 10:52:44:
There are _a lot_ of good reason to use NT. For example multi processor support, secutity features, network support, stability. Please consult a _good_ book, magazines or search on the web to learn more...
vp

[Dann Corbit]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 11:46:33:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: ...a piece of good advice: forget WinNT !! .. geschrieben von: / posted by: Volker Pittlik at 12 May 2000 11:28:48:

There are _a lot_ of good reason to use NT. For example multi processor support, secutity features, network support, stability. Please consult a _good_ book, magazines or search on the web to learn more...

I have been programming since 1976, and used more operating systems than I can even remember. I really like OpenVMS. I like some flavors of UNIX. I despise Windows 95, but I really like Windows NT.
Most of the "problems" with Windows NT that show up with these programs will definitely turn out to be bugs in the programs that other operating systems simply allow to go unnoticed.
People like to Microsoft bash just because it's popular. But they do make some very good products such as their compilers and Windows NT.
They do have some quality problems with commercial end-user applications, but overall, they produce enormous benefit for the average consumer.
Consider:
They compete directly against the Linux operating system that is *free*, and comes with source code.
They compete directly against the GCC compiler that is *free* and comes with source code.
How do you compete with *FREE*?
By producing a very high quality product that fill the real business needs of the end users.
I worked at Microsoft as a subcontractor for about 9 years. Let me tell you that they have:
1. The best technical library in the world, by a landslide.
2. Excellent equipment, training, and fascilities.
3. Some of the smartest people on earth.
They are not the most successful computer software company in the world by accident. They have done some real sleaze-ball things, and I am not totally enamored with everything about the company. But overall, they get a lot more bashing than logic would dictate.


my FTP site

[Inmann Werner]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Inmann Werner at 12 May 2000 12:32:27:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:

I am not able to get operational (Under Windows NT 4.0!) the following programs:
4. InmiChess (crashes)

I was never able to create a dialog between Inmi and NT under WB.
Under WIN2000 (also NT???) it seems to work.
crazy thing....
Werner

[Inmann Werner]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Inmann Werner at 12 May 2000 12:36:42:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Inmann Werner at 12 May 2000 12:32:27:

I am not able to get operational (Under Windows NT 4.0!) the following programs:
4. InmiChess (crashes)

I was never able to create a dialog between Inmi and NT under WB.
Under WIN2000 (also NT???) it seems to work.
crazy thing....
Werner

If anybody has some idea why the protocol between Inmi and NT does not work, please tell me!!!!
Werner

[pete]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: pete at 12 May 2000 12:41:50:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 06:57:16:

2. Fortress (works as white only -- fails as black)

Does it not work at all or does it fail sometimes ? On my Windows98-system Fortress will refuse to play with Black against certain opponents always and against others sometimes . Maybe no OS-specific thing .

[WYx]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: WYx at 12 May 2000 13:41:59:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: ...a piece of good advice: forget WinNT !! .. geschrieben von: / posted by: Volker Pittlik at 12 May 2000 11:28:48:

There are _a lot_ of good reason to use NT. For example multi processor support, secutity features, network support, stability. Please consult a _good_ book, magazines or search on the web to learn more...
vp

Seit 1987 programmiere ich in unterschiedlichen OS, und schenke mir Glauben, ich kenne diesen! (DOS, win 3.x, win 9x, Win NT, Linux)
Ich war WinNT Administrator fruher.
WinNT plante man nicht fur Winboard!
Naturlich ich liebe auch WinNT besser, wie Win 9x,
aber WinNT absolut kein Stabil! *in Network*.
Danke deine *Comment*
Gruss
WYx

[Volker Pittlik]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Volker Pittlik at 12 May 2000 14:14:49:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: ...Danke deine Mitredung, Volker !... geschrieben von: / posted by: WYx at 12 May 2000 13:41:59:

Seit 1987 programmiere ich in unterschiedlichen OS, und schenke mir Glauben, ich kenne diesen! (DOS, win 3.x, win 9x, Win NT, Linux)
Ich war WinNT Administrator fruher.
WinNT plante man nicht fur Winboard!
Naturlich ich liebe auch WinNT besser, wie Win 9x,
aber WinNT absolut kein Stabil! *in Network*.
Danke deine *Comment*
Gruss
WYx

Ok, ich programmiere auch hauptberuflich und auch auf verschiedenen OS (von BS2000 über verschiedene Unixe bis WinNT alles vertreten). Ein offizielles Zertifikat von MS über NT-Administration und einige Zeit Praxis kann ich auch vorweisen. NT ist das stabilste, was man von MS bekommt. Nicht mehr und nicht weniger.
Schönes Wochende
Volker
(nach Posting in den Urlaub)

[Colin Frayn]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Colin Frayn at 12 May 2000 15:27:08:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Mogens Larsen at 12 May 2000 07:39:17:

You simply would not believe all the things I have tried. Since I did a port of this program and since I like it very much, I have an emotional stake in getting it to work.

I have the advice from 4 top experts and nothing seems to make it operational. The only thing I have not done is move the whole operation to the C drive from the E drive, but I won't do that.
It is a very sensitive operation. When the patch for ColChess 6.2 was released, I renamed the executable to CChess621.exe, which worked fine. Then I felt courageous and tried ColChess621.exe, which didn't. So I'm back with the tried and functional name.

Heheh Thanks.
Lots of people say that this makes it work. I really don't know why. The only possible explanation is that it's something to do with my compiler or with Winboard - but seeing as all the other programs seem to work under Winboard the latter seems unlikely.
Are you using my .exe or your own? If it is a compiler problem that you should try your own. Does my version work in DOS mode OK? I really can't find anything in the code which suggests that it shouldn't work from any drive.
That's so incredibly strange. Unfortunately I don't have NT and I hardly ever use Windows at all, and more importantly it works on my machine, which only has one DOS partition (c:).
I do hope that you can get it working. I'll have another look tonight, but I really don't know enough abour Windows to know why it refuses to work. At least we know that if it's working then it should have managed to load the data files correctly (or else it would have quit straight away)
How confusing.
Cheers,
Col
P.S. I fixed a few opening book errors and I'm currently running a 50 game Blitz/10 match vs. SSEChess in which ColChess is currently 8-1-3 up.

ColChess Homepage

[Dann Corbit]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 19:51:02:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: pete at 12 May 2000 12:41:50:

2. Fortress (works as white only -- fails as black)

Does it not work at all or does it fail sometimes ? On my Windows98-system Fortress will refuse to play with Black against certain opponents always and against others sometimes . Maybe no OS-specific thing .

You may be on to something here...
Maybe (for instance) it does not like to get e2e4 first or maybe e2-e4 or e4 or whatever since it might expect a single nomenclature. Perhaps some opponents use a nomenclature it is not familiar with. I will check this out.
Excellent tip!


My FTP site

[pete]

Geschrieben von: / Posted by: pete at 12 May 2000 22:27:02:
Als Antwort auf: / As an answer to: Re: Problems and setbacks setting up Winboard programs -- a dozen NT oddities geschrieben von: / posted by: Dann Corbit at 12 May 2000 19:51:02:

2. Fortress (works as white only -- fails as black)

Does it not work at all or does it fail sometimes ? On my Windows98-system Fortress will refuse to play with Black against certain opponents always and against others sometimes . Maybe no OS-specific thing .

You may be on to something here...
Maybe (for instance) it does not like to get e2e4 first or maybe e2-e4 or e4 or whatever since it might expect a single nomenclature. Perhaps some opponents use a nomenclature it is not familiar with. I will check this out.
Excellent tip!

Yes , this was also my conclusion ; I already studied some logfiles and had some initial ideas but as my C abilities are really limitted I didn't take time to look at Fortress' source code yet.
Fortress is such a nice engine ; unfortunately these problems make it a very problematic contender in a tournament .
see also :
http://f11.parsimony.net/forum16635/messages/4086.htm