Manual Ayuda Chesscat v1 (en)

Understanding the Main Screen This picture shows the various elements of ChessCat's main screen.

Understanding the Main Bar Understanding the Replay Bar Understanding the Caption Understanding the Menus Understanding the Heading Understanding the Move Indicator Understanding the Board Understanding the Labels Understanding the Status Bar Understanding the Game Score Understanding the Analysis Window (not shown above)

Understanding the Menus ChessCat uses menus to organize related actions. ChessCat disables menu items when the associated action is not available. The ChessCat menus are:

File Menu Edit Menu

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Board Menu Replay Menu Tools Menu View Menu Window Menu Help Menu

File Menu

The File Menu organizes file activities.

Menu Item Action

New Opens a new game window.

Open Opens an existing game stored in PGN format.

Close Closes the active game window. Prompts to save when the game has been modified.

Save Saves the active game.

Save As Saves the active game to a new file.

Open Selection List Presents the Select Game Dialog.

Open Next Game In List Opens the next game in the Select Game Dialog list.

Open Saved Query Presents the Windows standard file open dialog with ".pxq" as the file extension filter.

Find Games Presents the Find Games Dialog.

Export In Reduced Format Exports the active game in PGN Reduced Export Format.

Export In Standard PGN Format Exports the active game without ChessCat proprietary PGN Tags and ChessCat PGN escape mechanisms.

Page Margin Setup Presents the Page Margin Setup Dialog.

Print Prints the active game.

Print Preview Previews the print of the active game.



Edit Menu

The Edit Menu organizes edit activities.

Print Setup Presents the standard Windows print setup dialog.

Exit Quits ChessCat. Prompts to save any modified game files.

Menu Item Action

Undo Undoes the most recent edit action.

Redo Reapplies the most recent edit action.

Copy Game as PGN Copies the game in the active game window to the clipboard in PGN format.

Copy Game as Text Copies the game in the active game window to the clipboard as text. PGN tags are replaced with a heading formatted as specified by the Heading tab of the Properties Dialog.

Copy Position as Bitmap Copies the current position in the game in the active game window to the clipboard as a bitmap.

Copy Position as Diagram Copies the current position in the game in the active game window to the clipboard using the characters as specified in the diagram font key on the Notation/Diagram tab of the Properties Dialog..

Copy Position as FEN Copies the game in the active game window to the clipboard in FEN format.

Paste PGN Game/FEN Position Pastes the text contents of the clipboard into the game in the active game window. The text may be a game in PGN format or a position in FEN format. PGN tags may be omitted. The game in the active game window must be empty.

Delete Move Deletes the current move.

Game Tags Presents the Game Tags Dialog.

Move Annotation Presents the Move Annotation Dialog.



Board Menu

The Board Menu organizes board activities.

Replay Menu

The Replay Menu organizes replay activities.

Setup Position Presents the Setup Position Dialog.

Toggle Diagram Toggles the diagram indicator for the current move on or off.

Adorn Position Presents the Adorn Position Dialog.

Menu Item Action

Increase size Increases the board size to the next larger size.

Decrease size Decreases the board size to the next smaller size.

Reverse colors Exchanges the orientation of the Black and White pieces.

Board 1 - 21 X 21 Selects board size 1.






Set 1 - Linares Selects the Linares piece set.

Set 2 - Hastings Selects the Hastings piece set.

Set 3 - Zurich Selects the Zurich piece set.



Note: The main line is also a variation.

Tools Menu

The Tools Menu organizes activities which customize ChessCat.

Menu Item Action

Beginning of game Repositions the current move to before the first move. Keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+Home.

Prior variation Repositions the current move to the previous variation. Keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+Up Arrow.

First move Repositions the current move the first move in the variation. Keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+Left Arrow.

Prior move Repositions the current move the previous move in the current variation. Keyboard shortcut is Left Arrow.

Next move Repositions the current move the next move in the current variation. Keyboard shortcut is Right Arrow.

Last move Repositions the current move the last move in the variation. Keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+Right Arrow.

Next variation Repositions the current move to the next variation. Keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+Down Arrow.

End of game Repositions the current move to the last move of the main line. Keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+End.

Auto-Play Replays the game from the current move to the end of the variation, or selects move automation when ChessCat is in Solitaire. Keyboard shortcut is Alt+Shift+A.

Animation Toggles the sliding of pieces on or off.

Adjust Animation Presents the Adjust Animation Dialog. Also toggles the sliding of pieces on.



View Menu

The View Menu organizes viewing activities.

Menu Item Action

Properties Presents the On Open tab of the Properties Dialog. This dialog is where you change all preferences and options except for the Game List Preferences and Page Margin Setup.

Custom Tags Presents the Custom Tags Dialog. This dialog is where you add or delete custom tags.

Game List Preferences Presents the Game List Preferences Dialog. This dialog is where you customize the look of the Select Game Dialog.

Engines Presents the Engines Dialog. This dialog is where you specify the chess engines used for analysis.

Analyze Position Analyzes the current position of the game in the active game window using the default chess engine. Causes the Analysis Window to appear.

Switch Engine Presents the Switch Engine Dialog. This dialog allows you select a new engine for analysis.

Pause Analysis Output Toggles chess engine analysis output on or off.

Copy Analysis to Clipboard Copies selected text from the Analysis Window to the clipboard. All text is copied when no text is selected.

Menu Item Action

Main Bar Toggles the Main Bar on or off.

Status Bar Toggles the Status Bar on or off.



Window Menu

The Window Menu organizes activities for manipulating windows.

Help Menu

The Help Menu organizes activities for help and program information.

Replay Bar Toggles the Replay Bar on or off.

Labels Toggles the board Labels on or off.

Adornments Toggles board Adornments on or off.

Board Only Toggles Board Only option on or off. The game score is not shown when Board Only is on.

Legal Moves Toggles the coloring of squares which are legal moves on or off.

Solitaire Toggles Solitaire mode on or off.

Pawns Only Toggles the suppression of the display of pieces on or off.

Error Details Presents the Error Details Dialog. This dialog is only available when errors occurred loading a PGN game.

Increase Analysis Window Increases the size of the Analysis Window by a preset amount (moves the top of the Analysis Window up).

Decrease Analysis Window Decreases the size of the Analysis Window by a preset amount (moves the top of the Analysis Window down).

Menu Item Action

New Window Opens a new window for the active game.

Cascade Arranges all open game windows in a cascade.

Tile Horizontally Tiles all open game windows horizontally.

Tile Vertically Tiles all open game windows veritically.

Arrange Icons Arranges the icons for all game windows in the icon state.

Close All Closes all open game windows.



Understanding the Main Bar The Main Bar is a tool bar. A tool bar is a row of buttons you can click to make the program do some action. Every action available on the Main Bar is also available on a menu, but the Main Bar is usually more convienent. The Main Bar is dockable, which means you may reposition it to any side, or detach it and allow it to float.

Repositioning the Main Bar

To reposition the Main Bar, click on the bar itself (not on a button) with the left mouse button, and then drag the bar to the desired new position while holding down the left mouse button. Release the left mouse button to place the bar.

Menu Item Action

Contents Displays the contents of the ChessCat Help system.

Index Displays the index of the ChessCat Help system.

Search Searches the ChessCat Help system.

About ChessCat Displays program information, version number and copyright.

Button Action

Starts a new game.

Presents a file open dialog.

Saves the current game.

Copies the active game to the clipboard in PGN format.

Prints the active game.

Presents the Select Game dialog.

Opens the next game in the Select Game list.

Presents the Find Games dialog which builds a game selection list.

Deletes the current move.

Undoes the last edit operation.

Reapplies the last edit operation.

Presents the Move Annotation dialog.

Presents the Game Tags dialog.

Increases the board size by one size.

Decreases the board size by one size.

Reverses the orientation of the board.

Activates the default chess engine and submits the current position for analysis.

Hides all pieces but pawns.



When dragging, an outline of the bar will appear indicating the location of the bar. To dock on a side, approach the side to which you wish to dock. As you approach the side, the shape of the outline will enlongate. This indicates the bar is ready to dock. Releasing the mouse while the outline is enlongated will cause the bar to dock.

To float the menu, simply release the left mouse button before the outline shape enlongates. You may move the floating bar as you would any other window.

Understanding the Replay Bar The Replay Bar is a tool bar. A tool bar is a row of buttons you can click to make the program do some action. Every action available on the Replay Bar is also available on a menu, but the Replay Bar is usually more convienent. The Replay Bar is dockable, which means you may reposition it to any side, or detach it and allow it to float.

Repositioning the Replay Bar

To reposition the Replay Bar, click on the bar itself (not on a button) with the left mouse button, and then drag the bar to the desired new position while holding down the left mouse button. Release the left mouse button to place the bar.

When dragging, an outline of the bar will appear indicating the location of the bar. To dock on a side, approach the side to which you wish to dock. As you approach the side, the shape of the outline will enlongate. This indicates the bar is ready to dock. Releasing the mouse while the outline is enlongated will cause the bar to dock.

To float the menu, simply release the left mouse button before the outline shape enlongates. You may move the floating bar as you would any other window.

Understanding the Status Bar

Button Action

Positions the current move to before the the first move in the main line.

Positions the current move to the first move in the variation. The main line is also a variation.

Positions the current move to the previous move.

Positions the current move to the next move.

Positions the current move to the last move in the variation. The main line is also a variation.

Positions the current move to the last move in the main line.

Positions the current move to the next variation.

Positions the current move to the previous variation.

Replays the game from the current move to the end of the variation, or selects move automation when ChessCat is in Solitaire. The speed at which the replay occurs may be adjusted.



The Status Bar provides you with information about the status of ChessCat. The Status Bar is not dockable, but you may choose whether or not to display it.

Understanding the Board ChessCat displays the current position as a chess diagram.

When a piece is selected for movement, a black rectangle appears around the piece to indicate it is

Area Description

Program Message Area This area displays message texts. For example, if you type in an incorrect move, ChessCat informs you using this area. When you select tool bar buttons or menu items, ChessCat displays text describing the button or item selected.

Keyboard Input Echo This area displays keystrokes entered.

Solitaire Indicator This area displays ChessCat's solitaire status. Note: When in Solitaire mode, ChessCat does not accept new move input or allow you to do most editing operations. To enter new moves or commentary, switch off Solitaire mode.

Caps Lock Indicator This area displays the status of the keyboard Caps Lock key.

Scroll Lock Indicator This area displays the status of the keyboard Scroll Lock key.



selected. The legal moves for the selected piece display in a distinctive color when menu item View | Legal Moves is toggled on .

You may change the the following items of the board's visual appearance.

Board Context Menu

The Board Context Menu organizes activities for the current move. To display the menu, right-click on the board with the mouse.

Understanding the Game Score ChessCat displays the game score in a scrollable window. The picture below shows the elements of the game score.

Visual Item Action to Change

Size Board Menu or Main Bar.

Piece Set Board Menu.

Orientation Board Menu or Main Bar.

Colors Colors and Fonts Properties which are accessed by the Tools | Properties menu item.

Menu Item Action

! Good Move Annotates the current move with "!".

? Poor Move Annotates the current move with "?".

!? Speculative Move Annotates the current move with "!?".

?! Questionable Move Annotates the current move with "?!".

!! Very Good Move Annotates the current move with "!!".

!! Very Poor Move Annotates the current move with "??".

Toggle Diagram Toggles the diagram flag for the current move.

Annotate Move Displays the Move Annotation Dialog for the current move.

Adorn Position Displays the Adorn Position Dialog for the current position.



ChessCat automatically sizes the Game Score window to use all available space to the right of the Board window. Whenever the Board window is resized, ChessCat resizes the Game Score window.

ChessCat displays the game score in a traditional two-column format. White's mainline moves are in column one, and Black's in column two. These columns are left-justified and are spaced according the width of the text. The Game Score window provides a vertical scroll bar, but does not provide a horizontal scroll bar. The width of the Game Score window may be such that Black's moves are truncated. In that event, you must resize the either the ChessCat window or reduce the board size in order to see the Black moves.

Commentary is displayed as contigious text which appear on the line after the associated move. Commentary is automatically rejustified whenever the Game Score window is resized, and so does not require horitzonal scrolling. There is a limit, however, as the window is made smaller, at which

Element Description

heading Made from PGN tags.

game start The blank line between the heading and the start of the move text.

move text Chess moves in Short Algebraic Notation.

diagram indicator Indicates a diagram will be printed after this move

stamp Free-form text which appears on the same line as the move.

first variation The first variation appears on the next line.

second variation Subsequent variations appear on the same line.

move annotation Traditional move annotations appear after the move text.

current move The current move is high-lighted.

move commentary Free-form text which appears on the next line.

result PGN result tag; * means unfinished.



commentary is also truncated.

Using the Mouse

Virtually every element of the Game Score may be clicked with the mouse to effect some action.

Using the Keyboard

The keyboard may be used to scroll the Game Score window:

The keyboard may be used to naviagate within the game score. See also How to Replay a Game.

Error Details Glyph

When an error is found during the reading of a PGN file, ChessCat indicates the point in the game score where the error was found by displaying an Errors Detail Glyph on the game score. When you left-click on an Error Details Glyph, ChessCat displays the Error Details Dialog for the error.

Element Left-Click Right-Click

heading Positions game to start.

Displays the Game Tags dialog

game start Positions game to start.

Displays the Game Tags dialog

move text Positions game to selected move.

Displays the Move Annotation dialog with the focus on the Commentary text box.

move commentary Positions game to selected move.

Displays the Move Annotation dialog with the focus on the Commentary text box.

variation left parenthesis

(no action) Displays the Commentary Variation Start dialog.

variation right parenthesis

(no action) Displays the Commentary Variation End dialog.

stamp (no action) Displays the Move Annotation dialog with the focus on the Stamp text box.

diagram indicator (no action) Displays the Move Annotation dialog with the focus on the Diagram check box.

result (no action) Displays the Game Tags dialog.

Key Action

up arrow Scrolls up one line.

down arrow Scrolls down one line.

Ctrl+Home Scrolls to the start of the game.

Ctrl+End Scrolls to the end of the game

Page Up Scrolls up one page.

Page Down Scrolls down one page.



Understanding the Analysis Window ChessCat displays chess engine analysis in a scrollable window which appears on the Main Screen when analysis is started. Before you can analysis a chess position you must have a Winboard compatible chess engine on your computer and you must add it to ChessCat using the Engines Dialog.

See WinBoard Engines for information on how to get a WinBoard engine. See How to Use a Chess Engine to Analyze for detailed instructions on how to install the engine.

The picture below shows the elements of the analysis window.

Element Description

Copy Button

Copies selected text from the analysis window to the clipboard. The keyboard shortcut Ctrl-C will not copy the selected text. Use Tools | Copy Analysis to Clipboard to effect the copy action using the keyboard.



Discussion

The Analysis window cannot receive the focus using the keyboard. You must use the mouse or the Tools or View menus to effect all actions in the Analysis window. All Analysis window actions are available on either the Tools or View menus with the exception of selecting analysis text to be copied to the clipboard.

When you use the Tools | Copy Analysis to Clipboard menu item and no text has been selected, all text in the analysis window is copied to the clipboard. This gets around being unable to select text using the mouse. You can then edit the text for the desired selection by copying to Notepad or any other text editor.

ChessCat automatically sizes the Analysis window to use all available space below the Game Score and Board windows. However, ChessCat only uses the space below the Board window when the top of the Analysis window is below the bottom of the Board window.

The picture below shows the result of increasing the room below the Board window, and then lowering the top of Analysis window so that the Analysis window below the bottom of the Board window. ChessCat remembers the location of the top of the Analysis window for each board size.

Resize Handle

The gap between the bottom of the Game Score window and the top of the analysis window may be dragged with the mouse to resize the height of the analysis window. The cursor changes shape when moved over this area to indicate dragging is possible. To drag, click and hold the left mouse button then move the mouse verically. ChessCat resizes the Analysis window when the button is released. ChessCat automatically resizes the width of the analysis window when sufficient room exists below the Board window.

Title Bar Displays the name of the chess engine. Ply, time, and node information is also displayed on the Title Bar when the Format Engine Output option is selected. The values from the most recent engine thinking output are used. When you right-click on the title bar, ChessCat displays the Switch Engine Dialog.

Variation ChessCat displays analyzed variations in the form output by the engine. ChessCat does not format the moves.

Evaluation in Pawns

ChessCat formats the evaluation of the variation given by the analysis engine in pawns. A plus sign ('+') indicates the evaluation favors white, and a minus sign ('-') indicates the evaluation favors black. You may suppress this formatting using the Engines Dialog.

Analysis Window

The analysis window is where ChessCat displays chess engine analysis. The window has a title bar, a horizontal scroll bar, a vertical scroll bar, and a text box. You may not type into the text box, but you may use the mouse to select text and copy it to the clipboard. You may right-click on the text box to display the standard context menu for a Windows text box.

Pause Button

Toggles chess engine output on or off. When paused, the button will appear greyed-out and the analysis window text is not updated. When not paused, ChessCat automatically updates analysis window text as it is received from the chess engine. If you wish to cut a selection of analysis text to the clipboard, it's easier if you pause the output first. (Note: the screen shot shows the chess engine paused.)



Understanding the Labels Labels are letters and numbers which act as coordinates to identify squares on the board. You may turn the Labels off.

When menu item View | Labels is toggled on, ChessCat displays algebraic labels for the board along the left and bottom sides. Files are indicated with the letters a through h, and ranks with the digits 1 through 8.

Understanding the Move Indicator ChessCat denotes the side whose turn it is to move by a small square box on the bottom left side of the board.

The color of the box is white when it is the White's turn to move, and black when it is Black's turn.

Understanding Solitaire When you replay a game in Solitaire, ChessCat does not display the move text in the Game Score window until the move is made. You cannot enter new moves or commentary when ChessCat is in Solitaire.

To turn Solitaire on or off, select View | Solitaire. This is a toggle menu item. If Solitaire is off, it is turned on; if Solitaire is on, it is turned off.



When replaying a game in Solitaire, you may attempt to guess the next move on the scoresheet. ChessCat will tell you whether or not your guess was correct. To do this, simply make the move using either the mouse or the keyboard. If you enter the correct move using the mouse, the piece will stick. If you enter the correct move using the keyboard, the piece will move. Otherwise, the piece will return to where it started or not move at all.

You may automate either side of the game. If you wish to play the white pieces, you can have ChessCat automatically play the black moves. Or if you wish to play the black pieces, you can have ChessCat automatically play the white moves. ChessCat will automate the side whose pieces are at the top of the board. For example, if you wish to play the moves for the black pieces and have ChessCat automate the white pieces, reverse the board so that the black pieces are on the bottom.

You may turn move automation on or off at any time when ChessCat is in Solitaire. Also, you may set a preference to be used each time ChessCat opens a game in Solitaire. To turn the move automation feature on or off while ChessCat is in Solitaire:

1. Select Replay | Auto-Play, or 2. press the button on the Replay Bar.

To set your preference for solitaire automation:

1. Select Tools | Properties. 2. Select On Open. 3. Scroll to element Automate Solitaire Replay and set the item as checked.

Note: When opening a game as White with both Solitaire and Automate Solitaire Replay turned on, ChessCat will make the first moves for both White and Black.

Training

You can use ChessCat to help yourself memorize your openings. Simply enter your openings as games, and then replay them in Solitaire mode.

For more realism, use Automate Solitaire Replay. Put each variation in it's own game, and then put all the games in one directory. Use the Find Games feature to create a game list by specifying only that directory as the search criteria. Save your repetoire as a Query. Use the Shuffle button on the Select Game dialog to randomize the order of the games. This technique simulates playing with a training partner who plays your repetoire.

Understanding Adornments ChessCat can display special graphics called adornments which you can use to mark selected features of a chess position.



The adornments available are the Cross, the Bullet, and the Arrow. The screen shot above shows all three available adornments.

Each square may be marked with either a Cross or a Bullet but not both. You may specify as many arrows as you desire limited only by good taste and the amount of memory available. Adornments for one position do not carry forward to subsequent positions. Adornments do not display in diagrams.

The color for the Cross and Bullet may be not be changed, but you may select the color of the arrow using the Color/Font tab on the Properties Dialog.

You can control whether of not adornments for a position are displayed when the game is replayed (see View Menu.) To enable or suppress adornments each time a game is opened, use the On Open Properties page on the Properties Dialog (see Tools Menu.)

Use the Adorn Position Dialog to adorn a position.

Understanding Short Algebraic Notation Short Algebraic Notation (SAN) is a widely accepted standard for recording chess moves.

In SAN, each square of the chessboard is identfied by two characters: the first of which identifies the file intersecting the square, and the second which identifies the rank. Files are denoted as the letters a through h, always in lower case. Ranks are denoted as the digits 1 through 8. The square a1 is the square where White's queen's rook is placed upon initial setup.

In SAN, each piece indentified by a single capitialized letter. In English, the pieces are identified as follows: K=king, Q=queen, R=rook, B=bishop, N=knight, and P=pawn. The identifier for the pawn is usually omitted. (Note: ChessCat reads and writes games using English piece notation only, which is the PGN standard, but has the ability to accept and display moves using the piece notation of any language.)

A SAN move is constructed by listing the letter of the moving piece, except for pawns, followed by the destination square.

When the move is a capture, a lower case "x" is placed between the piece letter and the destination square. The captured piece is not specified. In the case of a pawn capture, the file of the pawn making



the capture is listed followed by the "x" followed by the destination square. En passant does not have any special notation, the destination square is enough to indicate the action.

Kingside castling is indicated by the notation "O-O", using uppercase letter O and not the digit zero. Queenside castling is indicated by the notation "O-O-O". (Note: ChessCat accepts zero in place of the uppercase O.)

Pawn promotion is indicated by following the pawn move destination square immediately with "=" followed by the letter of the piece for promotion.

There are cases where two or more pieces of the same type may move to the same destination square. When this happens the move must be disambiguated. The following rules are applied in order until the move is disambiguated. If any rule succeeds in disambiguating the move, the remaing rules are not applied.

Firstly, if the moves can be distinguished by means of the originating file alone, the originating file of the piece being moved is inserted immediately following the letter denoting the piece.

Secondly, if the moves can be distinguished by means of the originating rank alone, the originating rank of the piece being moved is inserted immediately following the letter denoting the piece.

Thirdly, since the move cannot be distinguished by means of the originating file or rank alone, the two character code of the originating square is inserted immediated following the letter denoting the piece.

Check is indicated by following the SAN move with a "+". Checkmate is indicated by following the SAN move with a "#". (Note: ChessCat does not require check or checkmate to be identified; ChessCat uses the rules of chess to identify checks and checkmate.)

Understanding the Keyboard Shortcuts A keyboard shortcut is a key or combination of keys which cause an action. All the keyboard shortcut actions are also available on menus.

Note: To effect a shortcut, all the specified keys must be depressed at the same time. Simply keep each key depressed until all keys have been pressed. The plus sign (+) character is used to indicate key combinations and should not be pressed.

Action Keys

Adorn position with symbols. Ctrl + R

Analyze position. Ctrl + A

Bring the next window pane to the top. F6

Bring the previous window pane to the top. Shift + F6

Copy analysis output to Clipboard. Ctrl + K

Copy the current position to the clipboard as a bitmap. Ctrl + B

Copy the current position to the clipboard as a diagram. Ctrl + I

Copy the current position to the clipboard in FEN notation. Ctrl + J

Copy the game score to the Clipboard as text. Ctrl + E



Copy the game score to the Clipboard in PGN, or copy the current selection to the Clipboard.

Ctrl + C

Copy the game score to the Clipboard in PGN. Ctrl + Insert

Create a new game. Ctrl + N

Cut the selection and put it on the Clipboard. Ctrl + X

Decrease the height of the analysis window. Alt + Shift + D

Decrease the size of the board. Ctrl + Shift + D

Edit annotation for the current move Ctrl + M

Edit player names, ratings, etc. Ctrl + G

Find games with matching PGN tags. Ctrl + F

Go to the end of the game Ctrl + End

Go to the first move of the current line of play. Ctrl + Left Arrow

Go to the last move of the current line of play. Ctrl + Right Arrow

Go to the next variation Shift + Down Arrow

Go to the prior variation Ctrl + Up Arrow

Go to the start of the game Ctrl + Home

Increase the height of the analysis window. Alt + Shift + I

Increase the size of the board. Ctrl + Shift + I

Insert Clipboard contents. Shift + Insert

Open a saved query. Ctrl + Q

Open an existing game. Ctrl + O

Open game from the selection list. Ctrl + L

Open next game in the selection list. Ctrl + T

Paste PGN Game or FEN Position. Ctrl + V

Pause analysis output. Ctrl + U

Print the active game. Ctrl + P

Redo the previously undone action. Ctrl + Y

Replay game as solitaire. Alt + Shift + S

Replay the next move. Right Arrow

Replay the previous move. Left Arrow

Reverse the board orientation. Ctrl + Shift + R

Save the active game. Ctrl + S

Select board size 1. Ctrl + Shift + 1





Game Tags Dialog

To enter game tags, ChessCat displays the Game Tags dialog.

Select board size 4. Ctr + Shift + 4



Switch Engine. Ctrl + W

Toggle adornments on or off. Alt + Shift + O

Toggle automatic game replay on or off. Alt + Shift + A

Toggle the diagram for the current move on or off. Ctrl + D

Toggle show board only on or off. Alt + Shift + B

Undo the last action. Ctrl + Z (also Shift + Delete and Alt + Back)

Use Hastings chess pieces. Ctrl + Shift + H

Use Linares chess pieces. Ctrl + Shift + L

Use Zurich chess pieces. Ctrl + Shift + Z

Menu Edit | Game Tags

Keyboard Ctrl+G

Mouse Right-click in game score window on heading.



Control Types

Control Name Type Usage

Event Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "Event".

Site Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "Site".

Date Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "Date".

Round Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "Round".

Board Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "Board".

Section Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "Section".

Stage Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "Stage".

White Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "White".

Title Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "WhiteTitle".

Rating Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "WhiteRating".

Rating Source Combo Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "WhiteRatingSource".

Black Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "Black ".

Title (2) Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "BlackTitle".

Rating (2) Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "BlackRating".



Discussion

To enter a Rating Source not shown in the Combo Box list selection, just type it in. ChessCat will accept the rating source.

ChessCat populates the Custom Tags list box using custom tags previously entered. Press the Add Tag button to access the Custom Tags Dialog.

To change a custom tag value, select the desired custom tag by clicking it. The selected tag's value will appear in the Tag Value text box. Make your desired changes, and then press the Set button to make your changes permanent. If you do not press the Set button, ChessCat will ignore your changes.

Move Annotation Dialog

To enter annotations and commentary for a move, ChessCat displays the Move Annotation dialog.

Rating Source (2) Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "BlackRatingSource".

ECO Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag "ECO".

... Push Button Presents the ECO Codes dialog.

Opening Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag " Opening ".

Annotator Text Box Specifies the value for PGN tag " Annotator ".

Unfinished Radio Button Sets PGN tag "Result" to value "*".

White won Radio Button Sets PGN tag "Result" to value "1-0".

Black won Radio Button Sets PGN tag "Result" to value "0-1".

Drawn Radio Button Sets PGN tag "Result" to value "1/2-1/2".

Custom Tags List Box Displays custom PGN tags and values for this game.

Tag Value Text Box Specifies the value of the selected custom PGN tag.

Set Push Button Applies tag value to selected custom PGN tag.

Add Tag Push Button Presents the Cutom Tags dialog.

Remove Tag Push Button Removes selected custom PGN tag from this game.

Menu Edit | Move Annotation

Keyboard Ctrl+M

Mouse Right-click in game score window on desired moved. Right-click in board window.



Control Types

Discussion


Good move (!) Radio Button Annotates the move with "!".

Very good move (!!) Radio Button Annotates the move with "!!".

Poor move {?} Radio Button Annotates the move with "?".

Very poor move (??) Radio Button Annotates the move with "??".

Speculative move (!?) Radio Button Annotates the move with "!?".

Questionable move (?!) Radio Button Annotates the move with "?!".

(none) Radio Button Removes existing annotation.

(extended - see below) Radio Button Indicates an annotation other than the standard six.

Untitled Drop Down Box Selects an annotation from the set of Numeric Annotation Glyphs (NAG).

Commentary Text Box Specifies commentary for the move; appears after the move text.

Stamp Text Box Stamps the move; appears on the same line as the move text.

Diagram Check Box Toggles the diagram indicator for the move.

Ok Push Button Closes the dialog and updates the game score.

Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without updating the game score.



ChessCat accepts annotations as Numeric Annotation Glyph (NAG) codes. You can enter annotations for each move. Use the radio buttons or the drop-down box to enter NAG annotations. The radio buttons provide quick access to the most common annotations.

ChessCat accepts commentary as free-form text. You can enter commentary at the beginning of the game, before and after each variation, and after each move. Use the Commentary text box to enter free-form comments. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V to paste into the box, Ctrl+C to copy the selection in the box, and Ctrl+X to cut the selection in the box.

ChessCat accepts small note for each move which is called a Stamp. The Stamp displays on the same line as the move text. You may use the Stamp for anything you desire. Example uses are to record the timestamp of a move for correspondence chess, or the elapsed time for OTB chess. For example, use the stamp to record the date and time you received a move on your opponent's moves, and the date and time you sent a move on your moves.

Check the Diagram check box to cause a diagram of the position to appear in printed output after the corresponding move text.

Using the Mouse to Enter Annotations and Commentary

Right-click in the game score window on the move text of the move you wish to enter commentary. Commentary is always displayed after the move text. To display commentary before a move, enter the commentary on the previous move. To enter commentary before the first move, right-click on the blank line preceeding the first move. You may click on the left and right parentheses to enter commentary for variations.

Using the Keyboard to Enter Annotations and Commentary

Select Edit | Move Annotation. ChessCat will display the commentary dialog for the current move.

Commentary Dialog

To enter commentary for the start of the game or before and after variations, ChessCat displays the Commentary dialog.

Menu (none)

Keyboard (none)

Mouse Right-click in game score window on desired element.



Note: For commentary before or after a variation, the title changes to Commentary Variation Start or Commentary Variation End, whichever is appropriate.

Control Types

Discussion

To enter commentary before the first move, right-click on the blank line preceeding the first move. You may click on the left and right parentheses to enter commentary for variations.

ChessCat does not allow for commentary at the end of the game because ChessCat stores games in PGN format and the PGN standard does not allow for commentary after the end of a game.

Find Games Dialog

To find PGN games on your computer, ChessCat displays the Find Games dialog.


(untitled) Text Box Specifies commentary to be displayed between the scoresheet heading and the first move.

Ok Push Button Closes the dialog and saves the commentary.

Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without saving the commentary.

Menu File | Find Games

Keyboard (none)

Mouse Left-click Find games button on Main Bar.



Control Types


Player 1 Text Box Limits game selection to those games where the value entered matches the corresponding PGN tag, based on the Colors criteria, according to the rules specified in the Rules section. Omit to allow all players.

Player 2 Text Box Limits game selection to those games where the value entered matches the corresponding PGN tag, based on the Colors criteria, according to the rules specified in the Rules section. May only be entered when Player 1 has been entered.

Player 1 As White Radio Button Limits game selection to those games where Player 1 had the white pieces.

Player 1 As Black Radio Button Limits game selection to those games where Player 1 had the black pieces.

Player 1 As Any Radio Button Allows games where Player 1 had either color pieces.

Player 1 Won Radio Button Limits game selection to those games where Player 1 won.

Player 1 Lost Radio Button Limits game selection to those games where Player 1 lost.



Game Drawn Radio Button Limits game selection to drawn games.

Any Result Radio Button Allows games with any result.

Unfinished Radio Button Limits game selection to unfinished games.

ECO Text Box Limits game selection to those games where the value entered matches the beginning of the value specified for PGN tag "ECO" (the Rules criteria do not apply to ECO). Omit to allow all ECO codes.

... Push Button Displays the ECO Codes and Descriptions dialog. Use this dialog to select a value for the ECO text box.

Event Text Box Limits game selection to those games where the value entered matches the PGN tag "Event" according to the rules specified in the Rules section. Omit to allow all events.

Site Text Box Limits game selection to those games where the value entered matches the PGN tag "Site" according to the rules specified in the Rules section. Omit to allow all events.

Date Text Box Limits game selection to those games where the value entered matches the beginning of the value specified for PGN tag "Date" (the Rules criteria do not apply to Date). Omit to allow all dates.

Round Text Box Limits game selection to those games where the value entered matches the beginning of the value specified for PGN tag "Round" (the Rules criteria do not apply to Date). Omit to allow all rounds.

PlyCount Text Box Limits game selection to those games which contain the PGN tag "PlyCount" and the plycount value of the tag satisfies the value entered with respect to the Lesser Than or Greater Than radio button selected. Omit to allow games without the PlyCount tag or to allow games with any plycount value.

Lesser Than Radio Button Specifies game plycount must be less than entered PlyCount.

Greater Than Radio Button Specifies game plycount must be greater than entered PlyCount.

Match Case Check Box Specifies whether or not text matching is to be case sensitive.

Look in Subfolders Check Box Sepecifies whether or not the search for games is to include subfolders.



Discussion

Fill in your desired selection criteria and press the Ok button. ChessCat will search your computer for PGN games matching your criteria.

While a search is underway, ChessCat disables the Ok button, and changes the Close button text to "Cancel". You can stop a search at any time by pressing the Cancel button. Press the Close button to dismiss the dialog. When the search completes, ChessCat presents the Select Game Dialog if multiple games were found.

If you wish to find games for a specific player, enter the name in Player 1. If you wish to find a specific game between two players, enter the name of one player in Player 1 and the name of the other in Player 2.

Select Game Dialog

Starts Text Radio Button Specifies that the text matching rule for the Player 1, Player 2, Event, and Site selection criteria is that the entered values match the beginning of the PGN tag values.

Occurs in Text Radio Button Specifies that the text matching rule for the Player 1, Player 2, Event, and Site selection criteria is that the entered values occur within the PGN tag values.

Matches Text Radion Button Specifies that the text matching rule for the Player 1, Player 2, Event, and Site selection criteria is that the entered values matche the PGN tag values.

Start Folder Text Box Specifies the folder where searching is to begin.

... Push Buton Browses the file system of the computer.

File Mask Text Box Limits file selection to those files whose names match the mask. The file extension ".pgn" is always assumed and must not be entered. Use the "?" character to specify a wild-card character. Use the "*" characer to specify a universal match. For example, "sicil*" would find all PGN files beginning with "sicil" such as "sicilian-dragon.pgn" and "sicilian-kan.pgn". Use a single asterisk ("*") to allow all files.

Ok Push Button Activates the search.

Close Push Button Dismisses the dialog; stops search action when button text is "Cancel".

Clear Push Bottom Clears the form except for Rules, Start Folder and File Mask.

Menu File | Open Selection List



To select a game from a PGN library, a Find Games operation, or a Query, ChessCat displays the Select Game dialog.

Control Types

Note: The selection list must first be created by opening a PGN library, a ChessCat Query, or by the Find Games Dialog.

Keyboard Ctrl+L

Mouse Left-click Open game from selection list button on Main Bar.


(untitled) List Box Displays available games.

Number of Games Display Area Displays the number of games in the list.

Number Selected Display Area Displays the number of games currently selected.

PGN Files Found Display Area Displays the number of files with extension ".pgn" examined during a Find Games operation.

Games Searched Display Area Displays the number of games examined during a Find Games operation.

Elapsed Time Display Area Displays the elapsed time in seconds for a Find Games operation.

Open As White Radio Button Places the white pieces at the bottom when the game opens.

Open As Winner Radio Button Places the winner's pieces at the bottom when the game opens.



Discussion

To select a game using the mouse, simply click on the desired game. ChessCat will highlight your selection. Click the Ok button.

You may click on a column heading to sort the game list by that column. The sort toggles from ascending to decending order. When the cursor is over a column heading, it changes to indicate the sort sequence.

You may temporarily resize any column by positioning the cursor over the column divider. Left-click and drag to resize the column. You may permanently resize any column by pressing the Customize button, and making your changes using the Game List Preferences dialog.

You may select more than one game by holding down the Ctrl key as you click. Use the scrollbar to see additional games in the list. You may also use the up and down arrow keys to scroll the list. Press the spacebar to select or deselect the first game in the list box.

Note: Tag values are not refreshed until the Find Games Dialog is rerun. If you change a tag value for a game in the selection list, the change will not be shown until the Find Games Dialog is rerun.

ECO Codes and Descriptions

To list ECO codes and their descriptions, ChessCat displays the ECO Codes and Descriptions dialog.

Open As Black Radio Button Places the black pieces at the bottom when the game opens.

Open As Player To Move Radio Button Places the pieces of the player to move at the bottom when the game opens.

Open As Solitaire Check Box Causes the game to open in solitaire mode.

Ok Push Button Closes the dialog and opens the selected games.

Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without opening any games.

Cutomize Push Button Presents the Game List Preferences dialog.

Save As Push Button Saves the list of games as a Query.

Shuffle Push Button Shuffles the order of the games in the list

Menu (none)

Keyboard Press the push button to the immediate right of the ECO text box on the Find Games Dialog.

Mouse Press the push button to the immediate right of the ECO text box on the Find Games Dialog.



Control Types

Discussion

To choose an ECO code for the Find Games dialog, select the desired ECO code and then press the Ok button.

ChessCat populates the list box from the file "eco.txt". You may edit this file with any text editor. Enter one ECO code and its description per line. Enter the ECO code at the beginning of the line followed by its description. Use a single tab character to separate the ECO code and its desription. Any line beginning with an asterisk (*) is ignored.

Setup Position Dialog

To setup a position, ChessCat displays the Setup Position dialog.


(untitled) List Box Lists ECO codes and their descriptions.

Ok Push Button Closes the dialog and returns the selected ECO code when a code has been selected.

Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without returning an ECO code.

Menu Edit | Setup Position

Keyboard (none)

Mouse (none)



Control Types


White to move Radio Button Specifies White as the player to move.

Black to move Radio Button Specifies Black as the player to move.

White O-O Check Box Specifies White may castle kingside.

White O-O-O Check Box Specifies White may castle queenside.

Black O-O Check Box Specifies Black may castle kingside.

Black O-O-O Check Box Specifies Black may castle queenside.

Enpassant at Text Box Specifies the capture square for an available en passant capture. For example, if white has a pawn at e5 and black just moved a pawn to d5, enter d6 as the enpassant capture square

Full move number Text Box Specifies the full move number at which move numbering is to begin.

Half-move clock Text Box Specifies the number of half-moves since the last pawn move or capture. This value is used when creating FEN strings and may be important for some chess engines. ChessCat does not care what value is entered as long as it not less than zero

Keyboard Interface Text Box Specifies the square and piece names to add or remove (note: the kings may not be deleted).

Set Push Button Applies the value in Keyboard Interface.



Discussion

You can only setup a position for a new game, and only before any moves are made.

Using the Mouse to Setup a Position

To set up a position using the mouse, you may:

Move the pieces on the board to any square by left-clicking the piece and dragging it. The piece is set when the mouse button is released.

Discard any piece by dragging it off the board (except for kings). Add additional pieces by selecting a piece from the piece set located below the board and then

setting the piece on the board by left-clicking the desired square. Left-clicking when the cursor is a king causes the corresponding king to be moved to the selected square.

When a piece is selected from the piece set, the cursor changes to represent that piece and remains set until another piece is selected or the arrow-cursor in the piece set is selected. When the cursor is set to a piece, clicking on a like piece removes the piece (except for kings).

Using the Keyboard to Setup a Postion

To set up a position using the keyboard, place the focus on the Keyboard Interface text box. Type in commands in one of the formats hown below, and then press the Set button to effect the command.

Command Format to Set a Piece: "square = piece"

Command Format to Move a Piece: "from - to"

Ok Push Button Closes the dialog setting the position.

Cancel Push Button Closes the dialog without setting the position.

Clear Push Button Removes all pieces from the board (except the kings).

Reset Push Button Restores the board to the position displayed when the dialog first opened.

Standard Push Button Sets the board to the standard starting position

(untitled) Piece Set Selects piece to be placed

Operand Description

square Algebraic name of the square such as a1, e4, h8, etc.

piece Single letter notation for the piece as specified in the Notation and Diagrams Properties. The black pieces are designated by upper case, and the white pieces as lower case. Omit the piece designation to clear a square. (Note: A square containing a king may not be cleared.)

Example Action

a3=N Sets a black knight at the square a3.

a3=n Sets a white knight at the square a3.

a3= Clears the a3 square.



Custom Tags Dialog

To specify custom tags, ChessCat displays the Custom Tags dialog.

Control Types

Discussion

ChessCat normally uses the following PGN tags:

Operand Description

from Algebraic name of the origin square such as a1, e4, h8, etc.

to Algebraic name of the destination square such as a1, e4, h8, etc. (Note: A square containing a king may not be a destination square.)

Example Action

e2-e4 Move the piece, if any, on square e2 to square e4. If there is no piece on square e2, the square e4 is cleared.

Menu Tools | Custom Tags

Keyboard (none)

Mouse (none)


(untitiled) List Box Lists available custom PGN tags.

Enter new tags here Text Box Specifies the name of a new custom PGN tag.

Add Push Button Adds the custom tag.

Ok Push Button Closes the dialog and saves all changes.

Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without saving changes.

Delete Push Button Removes the custom tag currently selected in the list box.



The Custom Tags dialog maintains a list of custom tags which are automatically included with the game tags listed above when entering a game. You may specify as many additional PGN tags as you desire as custom PGN tags.

Note: ChessCat displays all PGN tags found in a game regardless of whether or not those tags appear in the custom tags list.

Promote Pawn Dialog

To promote a pawn, ChessCat displays the Promote Pawn dialog:

Note: The dialog shows black pieces when Black is promoting.

Control Types

Black BlackRating BlackRatingSystem BlackTitle

Board Date ECO Event

FEN Opening PlyCount Result

Round Section Setup Stage

White WhiteRating WhiteRatingSystem WhiteTitle

Menu (none)

Keyboard (none)

Mouse (none)


(image of queen) Clickable Image Specifies a Queen as the promotion piece.

(image of knight) Clickable Image Specifies a Knight as the promotion piece.

(image of rook) Clickable Image Specifies a Rook as the promotion piece.

(image of bishop) Clickable Image Specifies a Bishop as the promotion piece.

Queen Radio Button Specifies a Queen as the promotion piece.

Knight Radio Button Specifies a Knight as the promotion piece.



Discussion

This dialog is displayed whenever a pawn is moved to its eighth rank. Select the desired piece for pawn promotion and press the Ok button. Double-clicking an image with the left mouse button selects the corresponding piece and closes the dialog.

Adjust Animation Dialog

To adjust the animation for sliding pieces, ChessCat displays the Adjust Animation dialog.

Control Types

Rook Radio Button Specifies a Rook as the promotion piece.

Bishop Radio Button Specifies a Bishop as the promotion piece.

Ok Push Button Closes the dialog and promotes the pawn to the selected piece.

Menu Replay | Adjust Animation

Keyboard (none)

Mouse (none)


Frame Delay Millisec Slider Specifies a delay in milliseconds to wait between each animation frame when animating moves (sliding the pieces)

Frame Stepsize Slider Specifies the number of steps each animation frame consumes. Each step is a single pixel.

Next Size Push Button Selects the next board size.

Restart Push Button Restarts animation of the current game.


Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without saving changes.

Defaults Push Button Resets all values to factory settings.



Discussion Important: You must open a game before you can adjust animation. File AVRO1938.pgn in the installation directory contains games.

Animation is the sliding of the pieces when a move is played. The Adjust Animation dialog allows you to adjust the animation to suit your preferences. Use the slider controls to adjust the speed of the animation. To operate a slider control, drag the slider using the left mouse button. If the Adjust Animation dialog obscures the board you can move the dialog by clicking the dialog's title bar with the left mouse button and dragging the dialog another position.

Animation is a combination of a frame stepsize and a frame delay. When a piece is moved from one square to another, ChessCat draws an invisible line from the corner of one square to the same corner of the other square. ChessCat animates the sliding by moving the piece along that invisible line. Each pixel along the invisible line is a step.

Not all computers operate at the same speed. Some are faster than others. On very fast machines, the sliding of a piece from one square to another can happen very quickly. To account for different computer speeds, ChessCat allows for a delay factor between animation frames. The delay factor is how long ChessCat waits between animation frames.

The animation speed selected is specific to a particular board size. Press the Next Size button to adjust the animation for the next board size.

If the game finishes replay before you have made all your adjustments, press the Restart button to restart the animation.

Adorn Position Dialog

To adorn a position, ChessCat displays the Adorn Position dialog.

Menu Edit | Adorn Position

Keyboard Ctrl + R

Mouse (none)



Control Types

Adornment Set

Discussion


Ok Push Button Closes the dialog adorning the position.

Cancel Push Button Closes the dialog without adorning the position.

Clear Push Button Removes all adornments from the position.

Reset Push Button Restores adornments displayed when the dialog first opened.

(untitled) Adornment Set Selects adornment to be placed.

Keyboard Interface Text Box Specifies the square and adornments to add or remove.

Set Push Button Applies the value in Keyboard Interface.



Use adornments to mark up a position. Adornments do not carry over into subsequent positions. You can control whether of not adornments for a position are displayed when the game is replayed (see View Menu.) To enable or suppress adornments each time a game is opened, use the On Open Properties page on the Properties Dialog (see Tools Menu.)

Using the Mouse to Adorn a Position

To adorn a position using the mouse, you may:

Add or remove adornments by clicking on the position using the mouse left-button. Draw arrows by clicking on the position using the mouse left-button and dragging the mouse.

When an adornment is selected, the cursor changes to represent the adornment selected and remains set until another adornment is selected or the Arrow Cursor is selected. When the cursor is set to an adornment, left-clicking a like adornment on the board removes the adornment.

To add an arrow adornment with the mouse, select the Arrow Adornment from the adornment set. Left-click on the square where the arrow is to startm and then drag the mouse while holding down the left-button to the square where you want the arrow to end. Release the left-mouse button.

To remove an arrow adornment with the mouse, select the Arrow Adornment from the Adornment Set and left-click on the square where the arrow starts. When more than one arrow starts in that square, the last arrow added is the arrow removed.

Using the Keyboard to Adorn a Postion

To adorn a position using the keyboard, place the focus on the Keyboard Interface text box. Type in commands in one of the formats shown below and then press the Set button to effect the command.

Command Format for Dots and Crosses: "square = adornment"

Command Format for Arrows: "start - end"

Operand Description

square Algebraic name of the square such as a1, e4, h8, etc.

adornment Use "." for a bullet, and "x" for a cross. Omit the adornment to clear a square.

Example Action

a3=. Sets a bullet at the square a3.

a3=x Sets a cross at the square a3.

a3= Clears the a3 square.

Operand Description

start Algebraic name of the starting square such as a1, e4, h8, etc.

end Algebraic name of the ending square such as a1, e4, h8, etc. Omit the ending square to remove the most recent arrow originating on the starting square.

Example Action

e2-e4 Draws an arrow starting on square e2 and ending on square e4.

e2- Clears the most recent arrow starting on square e2.



Page Margin Setup Dialog

To change the default margins for print output, ChessCat displays the Page Margin Setup dialog.

Control Types

Discussion

ChessCat accepts margin input in inches or centimeters.

Menu File | Page Margin Setup

Keyboard (none)

Mouse (none)


Top Text Box Specifies the margin at the top of the page

Bottom Text Box Specifies the margin at the bottom of the page

Left Text Box Specifies the margin on the left side of the page.

Right Text Box Specifies the margin on the right side of the page.

Gutter Text box Specifies the size of the space between the columns.

Preview Display Area Displays a scaled preview of current margins for both portrait and landscape paper orientations.

Ok Push Button Accepts the margins and closes the dialog.

Defaults Push Button Resets all margins to factory settings.

Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without accepting changes.



To specify inches, you may use any of the following methods:

Omit the unit of measure. Use the double-quote characer ("). Use the abbreviation "in" after the measure.

To specify centimeters, use the abbreviation "cm" after the measure.

Press the Ok button to cause ChessCat accept your changes, or the Cancel button to reject them. Press the Defaults button to restore the measurements to factory settings.

Note: This dialog does not select the paper size for printing. Use File | Print Setup to select the desired orientation for printing.

Engines Dialog

To install chess engines for analysis, ChessCat displays the Engines dialog.

Control Types

Menu Tools | Engines

Keyboard (none)

Mouse (none)


Default Engine Display Area Displays the name of the default analysis engine. The default analysis engine is the engine used to analyze when menu item Tools | Analyze Position is selected. After



Discussion

Winboard thinking output format is: ply score time nodes pv where:

the default engine is started you can switch another engine with menu item Tools | Switch Engine.

Available Engines List Box Lists installed engines.

New Push Button Adds an entry to the Available Engines list box via the New Engine Name Dialog.

Delete Push Button Deletes the selected entry from the Available Engines list box.

Engine Name Display Area Displays the name of the engine. This name is used to identify the chess engine in the analysis window title bar when the engine is running.

Default Engine Check Box Selects the engine as the default analysis engine.

File Name Text Box Specifies the full path to the chess engine executable. (Note: The File Name shown in the screen shot above is just an example. You must enter the location of the chess engine on your computer.)

... Push Button Browses the file system to select the file name for the chess engine executable.

Engine Parameters Text Box Specifies command line parameters to be passed to the chess engine when the engine is started.

Commands after xboard and post

Multiple Line Text Box

Specifies commands to be issued to the chess engine after it has been started and after ChessCat has sent the Winboard commands "xboard" and "post". Enter each command on a separate line. Use Ctrl+Enter to add additional lines.

Change to Engine Directory for Startup

Check Box Specifies whether or not ChessCat changes the current directory to the directory containing the chess engine before starting the chess engine.

Format Engine Output Check Box Specifies whether or not ChessCat formats the thinking output of the chess engine. When checked, ChessCat expects the engine's thinking output to be in Winboard format. (Please see discussion.)


Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog and discards all changes.



ply is an integer giving current search depth. score is an integer giving current evaluation in centipawns (ex: 100 = 1 pawn). time is current search time in centiseconds (ex: 1028 = 10.28 seconds). nodes is number of nodes searched. pv is freeform text giving current "best" line.

When Format Engine Output is checked ChessCat:

Displays the ply, time, and nodes information in the Analysis Window title bar. Reformats the score from centipawns to pawns. For example, 100 centipawns is reformatted as

"(+1.00)". Displays the pv as received from the chess engine. (Note: ChessCat does not support pv

continuation lines.)

Uncheck Format Engine Output to see all output from the chess engine.

New Engine Name Dialog

To enter a new engine name for the Engines Dialog, ChessCat displays the New Engine Name dialog.

Control Types

Discussion

Type the name of the engine in the text box and then press the Ok button.

Switch Engine Dialog

Menu (none)

Keyboard Press the New push button on the Engines Dialog.

Mouse Press the New push button on the Engines Dialog.


(untitled) Text Box Specifies the name of the engine.

Ok Push Button Closes the dialog and returns the name entered.

Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without returning a name.

Menu Tools | Switch Engine

Keyboard Ctrl + W



To switch to a new analysis engine, ChessCat displays the Switch Engine dialog.

Control Types

Discussion

Select the desired engine in the list box and then press the Ok button.

Note: This dialog is only available when an engine is already running.

Error Details Dialog

To display information about a PGN error encountered when reading a game file, ChessCat displays the Error Details Dialog.

Mouse Right-click Analysis window title bar.


(untitled) List Box Lists available engines. Use the Engines Dialog to add engines.

Ok Push Button Selects the high-lighted engine and closes the dialog.

Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog without switching engines.

Menu View | Error Details

Keyboard (none)

Mouse Left-click on an Error Details Glyph in the Game Score Window.



Control Types


Player to Move Display Area Displays the player on the move when the error was found.

Inferred Move Number Display Area Displays the inferred move number when the error was found. (Note: ChessCat determines move numbers using the rules of chess and ignores move numbers actually found in the input file. ChessCat starts with move number 1 unless the SetFen tag is found, in which case ChessCat starts with the full number specified in the tag. As a result, the move number inferred may differ from a move number actually in the file at the point the error is found.)

Text in Error Display Area Displays the text which caused the error.

Reason Display Area Displays an explanation of the error.

PGN Source Multiple Line Text Box

Displays the contents of PGN source where the error occurred. The text in error is shown selected. (Note: Only the first 64,000 characters are displayed. )

Close Push Button Dismisses the dialog.

Previous Push Button Selects error details for the previous error when more than one error was found, and



Discussion

When an error occurs during reading a PGN file, ChessCat captures the details of the error and attempts to continue loading the PGN file. ChessCat indicates the point in the game score where the error was found by displaying an Errors Detail Glyph on the game score.

When the error is in a variation, ChessCat reads the remainder of the variation as commentary and continues reading the file. When the error occurs in the main line, ChessCat simply reads in the remainder of the file as commentary.

When the dialog is accessed from the Error Details item on the View menu, ChessCat displays any main line error first. After the intial display of the dialog, any other errors may be accessed using the Previous and Next push buttons.

On Open Properties Use this panel to customize the settings ChessCat uses each time a game is opened.

Control Types

one of those errors occurred before the error currently displayed.

Next Push Button Selects error details for the next error when more than one error was found, and one of those errors occurred after the error currently displayed.



Discussion


Element List Box Specifies how the properties of various elements of the ChessCat user interface should be set when a game is opened. Checking the box sets the associated property on. Use the scroll bar to view elements not displayed.

Recently Used File List Entries (0-16)

Text Box Specifies the number of files to display as recently used files on the File menu.

Linares Radio Button Selects the Linares piece set as the default piece set.

Hastings Radio Button Selects the Hastings piece set as the default piec set.

Zurich Radio Button Selects the Zurich piece set as the default piece set.

Board 1 - 21 X 21 Radio Button Selects board size 1 as the default board size.







Cancel Push Button Dismisses the dialog with saving pending changes.

Apply Push Button Saves pending changes without closing the dialog.

Element Usage when Selected

Show Adornments Enables the display of adornments.

Show Board Labels Labels the board for algebraic notation.

Show Legal Moves for Selected Piece

Highlights available moves for selected piece.

Show Solitaire Style Gamescore Selects solitaire mode when all games are opened. This element is mutally exclusive with element Scroll Gamescore to Last Move.

Automate Solitaire Replay Selects automatic replay of the opposing pieces during solitaire replay.



Note: The Select Game Dialog may override some elements when opening a game. Elements not displayed in the screen shot are reached by scrolling the list box.

Colors and Fonts Properties Use thiis panel to customize the colors and fonts used by ChessCat.

Control Types

Show New Game when ChessCat Starts

Automatically opens a new game when ChessCat starts.

Scroll Gamescore to Last Move Scrolls the gamescore to the last move when all games are opened. This element is mutally exclusive with element Show Solitaire Style Gamescore.

Show Game Window Maximized Maximizes the game window when a game is opened.

Clear Position on Setup Clears the board first when setting up a position; Otherwise, the starting position for the setup dialog is the current position.

Reverse Colors Opens all games with the Black pieces on the bottom.

Show Board Only Opens all games with only the board visible.


Element List Box Lists all items for which colors may be



Discussion

The fonts shown in the preview area do not change size when the font size changes. The actual font size is shown in the Sample area.

Notation and Diagrams Properties Use this panel to customize the notation and diagrams displayed by ChessCat.

specified.

Choose Color Push Button Presents the standard Windows color choice dialog.

(untitled) Display Area Displays the color of the currently selected element.

Monochrome Board Check Box Toggles square colors on or off.

Black hand Radio Button Selects a black hand as the cursor used to move pieces.

White hand Radio Button Selects a white hand as the cursor used to move pieces.

Font List Box Lists all items for which a font may be specified.

Choose Font Push Button Presents the standard Windows font choice dialog.

(untitled) Display Area Displays the color of the currently selected font.

Synchronize Game Score Font Colors

Check Box Causes the color of all game score text fonts to be set to same color whenever the color of any game score text font is changed.

Preview Display Area Previews all colors and fonts.

Face Name Display Area Displays the face name of the currently selected font.

Size Display Area Displays the font size of the currently selected font.

Styles Display Area Ennumerates stypes of the currently selected font.

Sample Display Area Displays a same of the currently selected font.




Control Types


King Text Box Specifies the notation symbol for a king.

Queen Text Box Specifies the notation symbol for a queen.

Rook Text Box Specifies the notation symbol for a rook.

Bishop Text Box Specifies the notation symbol for a bishop.

Knight Text Box Specifies the notation symbol for a knight.

Pawn Text Box Specifies the notation symbol for a pawn.

Defaults (Notation) Push Button Resets Notation values to factory settings.

Fontname Display Area Displays the font name to be used for diagrams.

Size Display Area Displays the font size to be used for diagrams.

... Push Button Browses the computer for available fonts.

Key List Box Displays the font diagram key for a dialog element.

Usage List Box Displays the diagram element for an associated key.

Key Text Box Specifies the key code for the selected



Discussion

ChessCat reads and writes games in PGN using English SAN. ChessCat uses the notation symbols specified here when displaying or printing the game score.

ChessCat includes a diagram font called ChessCat Diagram. If you wish to use another font for diagrams, enter the keys for your font in the appropriate diagram elements.

Heading Properties Use this panel to customize the heading that appears at the beginning of a scoresheet.

Control Types

diagram font element. Enter a key's 3-digit decimal code for those keys which cannot be entered using the keyboard. When entering a key using its 3-digit decimal code, always enter the leading zero for key values less than 100. (Note: ChessCat converts the space character to its 3-digit decimal code "032".)

Set Push Button Sets the key code for the selected diagram font element.

Defaults (Diagram Font) Push Button Resets Diagram Font values to factory settings.



Discussion

ChessCat constructs the heading in Game Score window from PGN tags found in the game. ChessCat constructs the heading according to rules specified by meta-characters (a meta-character is like a command). The following table lists the meta-characters and their meanings:

A heading can be any text you desire. To specify a PGN tag, enclose the tag in "<" and ">" characters. You may use any PGN tag.

The "{" and "}" characters are used to denote sections that are shown only if all tags contained within those characters have values. If any tag between the braces does not have a value, the entire text between the braces will be suppressed.

Any character that is not a meta-character is displayed as entered, unless the section containing it is suppressed. To use any meta-character as itself, including the "\", preceed it with the escape character "\".

Caption Properties Use this panel to customize the caption that appears on the game window when ChessCat opens a game from a PGN library.


Work Area Text Box Specifies the format of the heading for scoresheets.

Preview List Box Previews the heading based on simulated data.

Suppress '?' in 7-tag roster Check Box Specifies whether or not the '?' default character in a standard PGN tag should be suppressed.

Data Simulation List Box Specifies simulation of data for PGN tags.

Preview Push Button Refreshes the Preview list box.


Meta-Character Meaning

"<" Marks the beginning of a PGN tag

">" Marks the end of a PGN tag

"{" Marks the beginning of conditional text

"}" Marks the end of conditional text

"\" Escapes the following character from any meta-character meaning.



Control Types

Discussion

For PGN files which contain only one game, ChessCat always displays the filename as the caption on the game window and this cannot be changed. However, for PGN files which contain more than one game, ChessCat constructs the caption on the game window from PGN tags found in the game.

ChessCat constructs the caption according to rules specified by meta-characters (a meta-character is like a command). The following table lists the meta-characters and their meanings:


Work Area Text Box Specifies the format of the caption for the game window of a PGN game loaded from a PGN library.

Preview Text Box Previews the caption based on simulated data.

Data Simulation List Box Specifies simulation of data for PGN tags.

Suppress '?' characters in 7-tag roster

Check Box Specifies whether or not the '?' default character in a standard PGN tag should be suppressed.

Preview Push Button Refreshes the Preview text box.


Meta-Character Meaning



A caption can be any text you desire. To specify a PGN tag, enclose the tag in "<" and ">" characters. You may use any PGN tag.

The "{" and "}" characters are used to denote sections that are shown only if all tags contained within those characters have values. If any tag between the braces does not have a value, the entire text between the braces will be suppressed.

Any character that is not a meta-character is displayed as entered, unless the section containing it is suppressed. To use any meta-character as itself, including the "\", preceed it with the escape character "\".

"<" Marks the beginning of a PGN tag

">" Marks the end of a PGN tag

"{" Marks the beginning of conditional text

"}" Marks the end of conditional text

"\" Escapes the following character from any meta-character meaning.



Documents

Manual Ayuda Chesscat v1 (en)