TascBase 1.0


Realization            Wil Sparreboom

Software team          Hans Kuijf
                       Nico Kuijf
                       Johan de Koning
                       Marc Derksen
                               
General support        Eric van der Schilden
                       Jessica Harmsen
                       Cor van Wijgerden


Copyright and registered trademark 1994 TASC B.V.

All rights reserved. No part of these products, the manual or the software
may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form
or by any means: electronic, magnetic, tape, mechanical, photocopying or
otherwise, without prior permission in writing from TASC B.V.
TASC B.V. will in no event be liable for any damage caused by the abuse or
misapplication of the software.

TASC B.V. 
P.O. Box 55178
3008 ED Rotterdam
Netherlands
Fax: +31 10 4866964
Contents

        1.      Introduction
        2.      Getting started
        3.      Terms and techniques
        4.      Replaying a game
        5.      The file selector
        6.      Entering games
        7.      The search environment
        8.      The search mask
        9.      The search environment (menu options)
        10.     The chess program analyses
        11.     The database
        12.     View database (menu options)
        13.     Database keys
        14.     Database keys (menu options)
        15.     The gamefile (menu options)
        16.     TascBase to your own taste
        17.     Game (menu options)
        18.     Annotating a game
        19.     View game
        20.     Printing
        21.     The pattern
        22.     Set up a position
        23.     Copying games
        24.     Optimize the database
        25.     Tools
        26.     Error messages
        27.     Super user
1. Introduction


This first chapter need only be read once. It deals with:
       the TascBase package
       hardware requirements
       the installation
       conventions in the documentation


Hardware requirements
       MS-DOS 3,3 or higher.
       An IBM PC or compatible 286-based computer or higher.
       7Mb free hard disk space for a full installation, 10Mb recommended.
       640 memory (of which 520 free)
       VGA video adapter card + VGA monitor
       A mouse (MS compatible)


The TascBase package
       Documentation
       Program disk
       Data disks
       Registration card
       License agreement

If something is missing you must contact the dealer from whom you purcha-
sed the package.


Installation
The database-program must be installed on the hard disk first. You need the
registration number on disk 1.
1       Insert disk 1 into a disk drive
2       Type a:<Enter> (to go to drive a:, if necessary replace a with b).
3       Type install <Enter>.
4       Read the text on the screen.
5       Follow the instructions on the screen.

In case you are faced with problems during the installation or functioning of
the TascBase which you cannot solve with the help of the manual, contact
TASC Technical Support.
For that purpose you must return your completed registration card.


Conventions in the documentation
The menu titles in this manual are always printed bold and in italics; the
contents of the menu only in italics.
-       TascBase/About TascBase
-       Click on the menu title TascBase and select then About TascBase.
The first line should be read as the second.
We assume that the database files are installed on the hard disk in the
directory \TASCBASE\TBBASE and the gamefiles in the directory
\TASCBASE\TBGAME on the C-drive. This is the case if you did not
change anything during installation.
For mouse commands you must use the left mouse button if not stated
otherwise. Text on buttons is in square brackets [...], keyboard entries are
between angle brackets (<...>. 

[ok]            The button with ok
<F5>            The function key F5 of the keyboard

In the instruction book you will find references that deal with other portions
of the instructions. In the place cited you will find more information on the
specified subjects.
2. Getting started

Welcome to TascBase, the most remarkable database program up to now.
This manual deals with all the basic functions of the database-program step
by step.


Starting
If the program and the other files have been installed the program can be
started by typing at the DOS-prompt: TASCBASE (with capital or small
letters).

If you want to use this program later on:
-       Start your computer as usual.
-       Type: cd tascbase <enter>.
        On the screen appears: C:\TASCBASE
-       Type: tascbase <enter>

You see the main screen.


TascBase is easy to use. Nevertheless, it is recommended for the less
experienced user to read first chapter 3: Terms and techniques.
The program can be controlled with the mouse or with the keyboard.
TascBase has menus and buttons to select commands or to recall functions.
A brief preview follows.

Help
Move the pointer around the screen. On the status line appears information
about the menus, the buttons or the fields in the frame. This help will be a
welcome aid during the first weeks.

Enter moves
-       Click with the mouse on e4.
        The pawn moves to e4.
-       Drag the e7-pawn to e5.
        The pawn moves to e5.
Entering games is very simple.
See chapter: Entering a game.

Load a game
-       Click on Database to open the menu Database 
        (We assume that the database is loaded. In this case you did not
        change anything during the installation)
        The menu is opened.
-       Click on Database game list.
        The main screen disappears. On the screen there appears a list with
        information about the games from the database. They are ordered by
        opening.
-       Double-click on a game.
        The game is loaded. You are back to the main screen. In the frame
        next to the board are the game statistics.
        Extensive information can be found in the chapter: The search
        environment.

Replay a game
A game can be replayed with the mouse of with the keyboard.
-       Press arrow right. The first move is executed on the board.
-       Click on the arrows in the board control window on the right next to
square h1.
See further the chapter: Replaying a game.

Open a gamefile
A gamefile is a collection of games that is not necessarily arranged by
opening. Gamefiles are handy to use because they are smaller than the
database. You open the gamefile with games from Tilburg 1993 as follows:
-       Click on Gamefile to get the menu Gamefile
-       Click on Open gamefile
        The file selector appears (see chapter 5)
-       Double-click on 93tilbrg.tbg in the left-hand window
        You are back on the main screen. The game is loaded.
The gamefile is dealt with in almost every chapter. See especially the
chapters Search, Mask, Gamefile.

Search games
With TascBase you can search quickly among many games for the desired
ones. The gamefile 93tilbrg.tbg has already been opened.
-       Click on Gamefile to get the menu Gamefile
-       Click on Gamefile game list 
        The contents of the gamefile appears.
-       Click on the button [mask]
-       Type by White: timman
-       Click on [ok]
        All the games of Timman, both with White and Black from this
        tournament appear in the list.
        See chapters 7 and 8: The search environment and The search mask.

The menu is important to be able to approach all the commands. The most
important commands are selected with buttons. They are presented here in
brief with reference to the chapters where they are discussed fully.
The first five buttons and the last two refer to the frame next to the board.
Buttons six, seven and eight leave the environment of the main screen and
switch over to another environment with its own menu. Button 9 is your
opponent! The database program becomes a chess playing program.

        [Game information]
        In this frame you can find all the information about the game loaded.
        It is not necessary that all fields be filled in. After a click you can
        type some text in a field

        [Alternatives]
        A game can be analysed (e.g. by the chess program).
        The alternatives of the game are shown in this frame.
        See chapter 18: Annotating a game.

        [Game notation]
        The moves of the game appear. From the game statistics only the
        names of the players are visible.
        See chapter: Replaying a game.

        [Comments]
        An analysed game can also contain text. The text appears in this
        frame.
        See chapter 18: Annotating a game.

        [Analyse position]
        The program analyses the current position. The four best moves are
        shown.
        See chapter 10: The chess program analyses.

        [View database]
        You view the database as a tree. The opening variations are the
        branches. You also find the statistical information concerning the
        games in the database.
        See chapter 11: The Database.

        [Database game list]
        The information on all the games in the database appears in one long
        line. There is one line available for a game, therefore only a small
        part can be seen. In this environment you can search in the database
        on any criterion.
        See chapter 7 and 13: The search environment and Database keys.

        [Gamefile game list]
        This button is active only if there is a gamefile loaded with the
        command Load gamefile in the menu Gamefile.
        All the information of the games in the gamefile appears as a long
        line. 
        See chapter 7: The search environment.

        [Play mode]
        In this mode you can play any kind of game against the computer:
        blitz games, rapid games, serious games.
        See chapter 10: The chess program.

        [Opening book]
        The key from the database is shown in this frame. In this way you
        can see, when replaying a game whether the position on the board
        exists as a key in the database.
        See chapters 11 and 6: The database and Entering a game.

3. Terms and techniques

For an unexperienced computer user this is not going to be easy. Everything
is new and this makes it difficult in spite of the fact that everybody says that
operating a computer is child's play.
This chapter deals with the techniques that are needed to use TascBase. If
you have some experience in using Windows or other graphic user-interfaces
(GUI) you can skip this chapter.
The user-interface is the part of a computer program by means of which the
user controls the program.

Mouse
The mouse is an indispensable aid. The arrow that moves around the screen
with the mouse is called the pointer. The pointer is used to move the pieces,
pressing the buttons and selecting.
Actions with the mouse button:
Click:          Press the left mouse button quickly and release it immediate-
                ly.
Double-click:   Press the left mouse button twice immediately after each
                other.
Drag:           Press the mouse button and hold it, move the pointer to the
                desired place.
                Dragging is used by scroll bars (see the following unit).

Buttons and scroll bars
On the main screen there is a row of buttons on the right. The buttons
represent commands that are used frequently. It is enough to click once with
the mouse on the correct button to activate the command.
There are also buttons on the right below next to the board. They are
separated by a scroll bar with a slider (the button without arrow). This
button can be dragged to-and-fro.

Menu bar
The horizontal bar at the top of the screen is the menu bar. The six menu
titles represent the commands within the menus. They appear on the screen
when you click on a menu tiel.
You can also open a menu with a Alt+Letter combination. You press on
<Alt> (and keep it pressed) and press once the letter which is underlined
in the menu title.
<Alt T> opens the menu with the title TascBase. A list with items appears.
You can select an item (open and activate it) by a mouse click within the
item.
The items can be marked with the up and down arrow keys and opened
afterwards by pressing <Enter>. This goes quicker with the mouse because
a mouse click marks and opens at the same time.

All items contain an underlined letter. Typing this letter is enough to open
an item. You do not need the <Alt>-key here.
If a menu has been opened you can open the other menus with the arrow
keys left and right.
A menu disappears if you click with the mouse outside the menu or press
<Esc>.
In this manual the menu titles are always printed bold and in italics, the
menu contents only in italics.

-       TascBase/About TascBase
-       Click on the menu title TascBase and select About TascBase after-
        wards.


Menu features

The items in menus are sometimes different. 

Disabled items
The grayed items temporarily cannot be activated. The marking bar is in a
contrasting colour.
-       Gamefile/Load next game
It is obvious that a game cannot be loaded if there is no more selected game.

Triangle
The item with a triangle contains a submenu with further specifications.

Check mark
Some items can be switched on and off. While activated a check mark
appears ( ). One more click within the item deactivates it.

Key combination
With the key combinations behind the items you can execute the items
quickly.
With <Ctrl x> you can close the program from the main screen without
opening a menu first.

Three points (...)
After selecting items with three points a dialogue box appears. There is more
information needed to execute the item. See the following paragraph.

Dialogue boxes
-       TascBase/Customize TascBase
        A dialog box appears.
In this box we distinguish text boxes, option buttons, check boxes and
command buttons.
You can change values, switch on or off or enter text.

Text box
After a click in a text box the colour changes. You can enter or change text
or numbers now.

Option button
The activated option is black. You can select another option with a mouse.
Only one option can be active at a time.

Check box
The check box serves to switch options on or off. Options with a cross are
active.

Command buttons
Buttons occur often in TascBase. After a click on a command button the item
is executed at once.
Click on [ok] confirms desired modifications, click on [cancel] leaves
everything unchanged.
The button with the thicker edge is the default one. It can be also executed
by pressing <Enter>.

Windows
After you have selected a command a window can appear with:
        a warning
        You get a warning with actions that cannot be undone easily, e.g. by
        deleting games. 
        information
        You get more information concerning the action which is or has been
        carried out, e.g. the number of copied games.
        error indication
        An error indication in a window is a sort of message. While setting
        up a position you have put two black kings on the board. An error
        indication appears which you can restore after clicking on [ok].

Error indications
The error indications that appear on the status line mostly have to be
answered. They can be totally harmless. You try to read drive a but there is
no floppy disk inserted.
On the status line appears: 
Not ready reading drive a: Abort A), Retry R) or Fail F).
Press one of the letters on your keyboard.

4. Replaying a game

Replaying a game in the database is one of the actions that will occur with
greatest frequency. There is a minimal number of steps necessary to replay a
game, either with the mouse or with the keyboard.
In replaying a game there are two buttons on the button bar that are of
importance.

        The game-info with all data concerning the game.

        
The game notation for reproducing the moves.



We first load a game from the database:
-       Database/Database game list
-       Select the uppermost game with a double-click.
        The game appears on the main screen.
        All information concerning the imported game is shown in the
        Info-window. Some fields have not been filled in. There is no
        annotator because the game has not been analysed.
        (For an extensive discussion of the various fields, see chapter 8: The
        Search Mask)

Click on [Game notation] to obtain the move notation into view. The moves
from the game appear.

On the board is the initial position. It is White to move. This is shown by a
white dot to the right of square h1. When it is Black to move, a black dot
will appear to the right of square h8.
The game can be replayed by using either the mouse or the keyboard.

Mouse
In replaying games with the mouse there is a panel to the right of the board
by which one has complete control over the game. At the beginning of the
game some of the buttons are inactive. The similarity to the operating panel
of a tape- or videorecorder is great. The operation is also similar.

-       Click on 
        The first move of the game is executed. In the game notation the
        first move is denoted with bold letters.
        The 'return' button is now also active.
-       Click on 
        Three moves forward are executed.
-       Press on the slider in the middle (between the forward and backward
        buttons) and move it slowly to the right. The slider can be moved
        back and forth with the mouse. In this fashion the game can be
        played backwards and forwards quickly.

A click with the right mouse button on jumps to the end of the game.
A click with the right mouse button on jumps to the beginning of the game.

Replaying automatically
At the far right in the panel are two buttons for replaying a game automati-
cally.
-       From the initial position click on the button .
        The game is replayed automatically with a delay of 1 second between
        each move. The time between each move can be set with
        TascBase/Customize TascBase. The animation can be interrupted at
        any moment.
-       Click on .
        The animation stops. Only at that moment the move list will be
        updated. Also when executing other actions, before the game is
        completed, a click on stop will be necessary.

Alternative methods
       Small jumps forwards or backwards can be made with the assistance
        of the move list. To make full use of this possibility the following
        setting is of importance:
        TascBase/Customize TascBase: r Show moves ahead
       A click on the periods (....) in the move list also plays one move
        forwards (r Show moves ahead).
       A click on a move in the move list jumps to the corresponding
        position.

Keyboard
The cursor-keys (the arrows on the keyboard) can be used to replay the
game.
Right arrow:           1 move forwards
Left arrow:            1 move backwards
Up arrow:              3 full moves forwards
Down arrow:            3 full moves backwards
Shift right arrow:     12 moves forwards
Shift left arrow:      12 moves backwards
Shift up arrow:        to beginning of game
Shift down arrow:      to end of game
5. The file selector

The window with file selector serves to select a file for a specific command,
e.g. loading or saving.

All actions with the hard disk or a floppy lead to the same file selector. Only
the title bar will be different and with that also the type of file which will be
shown. When the action Open gamefile has been executed there will be only
files with the extension .tbg.

The figure indicates:
There are two floppy-disks: a:\ and b:\
There are 4 logical drives: c:, d:, e: and f:
The opened and activated directory on c:\ is tascbase\tbgame.
There are no directories opened on other drives.
An entry field: the file 93tilbrg.tbg has been selected.

Selecting files
There are different ways of opening a file.

Method 1:
-       Click on the name of the desired file.
        The line changes colour and the name appears in the entry field.
        After a click on [OK] or <enter> this file is loaded.

Method 2:
-       Type in the name of the desired file.
        After a click on [OK] or <enter> this file is loaded.

Method 3:
-       Double-click on the desired file.
        The desired action is immediately started.

There is only one way to create a non-existing file.
-       Gamefile/Create gamefile
-       Type the new name in the entry field.
        After a click on [OK] or <enter> this file is loaded.
Sometimes it is handy to take an existing name and alter it slightly.

Other selections
On the left side of the file selector there are also names with capital letters.
These are the subdirectories of the active directory and they come at the top.
You can view the contents of the directory by selecting it just like any file
(click on the name). 
You can reach the higher directory by clicking on the correct name on the
right side or by clicking on the two points on the top in the left side.
The letters indicate the drives. You can select another drive with them.
In case of many directories and/or file names you can use the scroll bar.
Each part of the selector can be called on to the screen. With the help of the
scroll bar you can find any file quickly.
Clicking the single arrow scrolls file by file, the double arrow scrolls screen
by screen. 
The keys [Page Up] and [Page Down] take one screen up or down.

[Delete]
In the file selector files can also be deleted. In case of deleting gamefiles or
databases the companion files are also deleted. You do not need to be afraid
that a careless click can delete files. A warning message window first
appears. At this stage you really must click on the right button.


Information
In the lower part of the file selector you can see information about the size
and the date of the selected file.
The size is in Kb. By gamefiles and the size is in brackets [ ]. The number
(in the figure, 318) indicates the number of games in the file.

The file selector appears after the following commands:


Menu                                  Menu-option            Ext.

TascBase                              Save settings                  tbs
                                      Load settings                  tbs
Game                                  Export game                    txt
Edit/Define pattern/Pattern           Load pattern                   tbv
                                      Save pattern                   tbv
Database                              Open database                  tbd
                                      Create database                tbd
Database/Database key list
/Selections                           Export TXT games               txt
                                      Export TXT game lines          txt
Database/Database key list/
Database                              Print key                      txt
Gamefile                              Open gamefile                  tbg
                                      Create gamefile                tbg
                                      Compile gamefile               tbg
Gamefile/Gamefile game list
/Selections                           Export TXT games               txt
                                      Export TXT game lines          txt
Tools                                 Import TCM games               gam
                                      Import NIC games               g30
                                      Import CB4 games               cbf
                                      Import TXT games               txt
                                      Export CB4 games               cbf
                                      Export TXT games               txt
                                      Backup database                tba
                                      Restore database               tba
                                      Player repertoire              txt
                                      Compile TCM book               obk

The file for copying games has the extension .tbq
6. Entering games

New games (e.g. own games) can be entered easily with the keyboard or
with the mouse. The games begin with the initial position.
-       Game/New game
or
-       Game/Start other game


Entering with the mouse
Entering the moves with the mouse is the most natural means and therefore
not difficult. There are many possible ways to enter moves and each compu-
ter chess program has its own way of entering and executing moves. In
TascBase you will certainly find something to fit your own taste. There are
no fewer than three ways to enter moves with the mouse. In two of these a
simple chess program in the background thinks along to determine the
correct move. with the help of 'PAM' (propose a move) a click on a single
square is sufficient. This can be of enormous assistance in entering games.
To make things easier we alter the settings:
TascBase/Customize TascBase: w Replace.


1. With PAM (default setting)
The initial position appears on the board.
-       Click with the left mouse on e4.
        The program will execute the move immediately. It is obvious that
        the e-pawn is the only piece that can move to e4.
-       Click on g6.
        The g-pawn moves to g6.
-       Click on pawn d2.
        Without hesitation the pawn will move to d4, although d2-d3 would
        also be legal move.
-       Click on g7.
        For the move Bf8-g7, a click on g7 self-evident, but a click on the
        bishop on f8 is also 100% certain: the bishop moves to g7.

The following move is c2-c3. The chess program would not make this move;
we shall. A click on c3 produces Nb1-c3 and a click on c2 produces c2-c4.
There is an easy possible to execute the move c2-c3.
-       Take back first White's 3rd move (c4 or Nc3) with the left arrow.
-       Click on c3 (the program plays Nc3).
-       Click on the right mouse button.
        The correct move is made.

Summary:
A left click plays the move of the program, a right click replaces the move
by the second best move, another right click plays the third possibility. Each
following right click plays the following possibility until all legal moves (to
the square on which is clicked) are exhausted. After the last move a right
click has no effect, i.e. the legal moves do not begin again.

'Player strength'
The strength of the suggested moves and the speed with which they appear
on the board can be adjusted somewhat.
In the figure, strength is indicated by the figure 3, which indicates a level of
play. The higher the number, the better the suggested moves will be; the
speed with which the move is executed will diminish slightly.
At setting 1, the program immediately comes up with a proposal, but the
chance of finding the desired move is less than if a higher setting is used.
At setting 3 the chance that move corresponding to the desired source and
target squares will be found increases to about 90% for normal games. The
second choice is even more likely the desired move.
PAM is reasonably intelligent, but that may be counterproductive in certain
positions. Play the following moves from the initial position 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4. Now Nf6 would be a good move. After a click on g8
the knight jumps to e7. The program sees that pawn e5 is in danger and
therefore indirectly protects the pawn. At level 7 the knight would indeed
jump to f6.
A click on f6 produces f6 as first choice, Qf6 as second and Nf6 as third.
Level 8 is necessary before Nf6 is found as the first choice.

The right click for the following move is quickly learned. This right click
may take place at any place on the board. With experience the person
entering the game will already have moved the pointer to the following
move. The time loss due to the wrong move having been made, is held to a
minimum in this case.
Only once in a while (e.g. with a queen sacrifice if there are many alternati-
ves) is it better to transport the piece directly as described below in 2.
Without PAM (See below).
The speed of the computer determines in part the strength of PAM. Each
user will be able to determine the best setting after some games have been
entered.
Remember then to save the settings!
TascBase/Save settings: boot.tbs


2. Without PAM
Without PAM a piece can be moved by 'dragging' it. You move the pointer
to the piece and press on the left mouse button. The mouse button must be
held down. Move the chosen piece to the proper square and release the
button.
Castling must be executed by first moving the king.
Pawns automatically promote to a queen. A queen flashes on the screen, but
will stop flashing after a click on the mouse. For a minor promotion the
right mouse button must be held down. The queen changes into a rook,
bishop, or knight. The left mouse button serves for confirmation.


3. PAM with confirmation
The initial position is again on the board.
-       Click on square g1.
        Square f3 is highlighted. That indicates that PAM suggests moving
        the knight to f3. However, he waits for confirmation; a click (on g1
        or, if preferred, on f3).
-       Click on f6
        The knight on g8 is highlighted. This means that after another click
        the knight will move to f6.
-       Click on c3
        The knight on b1 is highlighted. (If you wanted the move c2-c3, it is
        not possible to click on c2, as this is not a possible square for the
        knight. The convention is that the clicked square must be a possible
        target square for the piece highlighted. Thus to obtain c2-c3, you
        must first click on c2 -which highlights c4- and then on c3. This will
        execute the move c2-c3.)
-       Click on c5
        The pawn moves to c5. If there is only a single legal move, the
        program does not wait for confirmation.

Pawn promotion is automatically to queen. For a minor promotion picking
up the pawn and dragging it is the only way. The flashing queen changes
after a right mouse click first to a rook then a bishop, and the knight. A
click must confirm the promotion.

We change the settings again
-       TascBase/Customize TascBase
-       Predict a move w Confirmation
-       [ok]
The initial position again appears on the board
Enter the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6. You then realize that the
position is correct, but the order of moves is wrong. On the second move
Black played Nf6. Take the moves back to the position after 2. Nf3. Click
on square g8. The warning window pictured in the figure appears. The old
and the new moves are given in the window.

[Alternative]   The move 2. ... Ng8-f6 becomes a subvariation of 2. ...
                Nb8-c6. Then it is clear what has happened. See also the
                chapter: Annotation of a game.
[Replace]       Replaces the move Nb8-c6 with Ng8-f6. The rest of the
                previous entries are now lost.
[Keep line]     The move Ng8-f6 is executed. TascBase will attempt to
                salvage the rest of the moves. 
                In this example playing forward will show that only the
                move Nb1-c3 has been salvaged.
[Cancel]        Leave the moves entered intact. The situation before the
                move was entered is restored.

Entry with the help of the database
Click on (opening book). The standard database must be open.
The moves from the database appear in the window. You can execute a
move by clicking on it. Transpositions are indicated.


Entry via the keyboard
The initial position is on the board
-       Click on [game notation]
        Entering moves with the keyboard only works with the game notati-
        on on screen.
-       Type: e4
        The move e2-e4 is executed automatically.
-       Type : e5
-       Type: nf3
        The knight goes to f3

The move is executed as soon as the short notation is completed. If the
wrong key is touched, a <backspace> will repair the damage. A move
already executed can be removed with <Esc>.
Castling can be entered with the king's move or the notation for castling
(Kg1 or 0-0). Captures can be written without the x-sign. For promotion the
desired piece must be added, e.g. fg8Q.
The letters of the pieces are defined by TascBase/Customize TXT export.
7. The search environment

The games in a database or a gamefile can be made visible as a long list. We
can view all the games in a list or only a selection thereof. You can determi-
ne yourself which selection that will be. With the assistance of the search
mask you can specify the desired conditions. 
It does not matter whether we search in a database or a gamefile. The
procedure is identical. The examples will therefore be given for a relatively
small gamefile. This will illustrate the principles.

-       Gamefile/Open gamefile: 93tilbrg.tbg
-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list
        The search environment appears.
        The first 12 games of the gamefile become visible. The screen is
        shown in the figure.

The search environment plays an important role in finding the desired games
quickly. But there is more. Games can also be replayed on the screen, not
only after the search is completed but even during the search!

All aspects will be treated extensively:
        the game list
        the info window
        scrolling in the game list
        replaying the games
        selecting games
        selected games 


The game list
The heading on the Info-line indicates what is found in the various columns.

Key:            The code of the opening
White-Black     The names of both players and the country code.
Place:          The place where the game was played, sometimes with the
                name of the tournament.
Rnd:            The round in which the game was played.
Year:           The year in which the game was played.
Rst:            The result can be 1-0, 0-1, 1/2. If there is no result, an
                evaluation may be given, e.g. +-.
Lng:            The number of moves in the game.

This layout is one of the standard settings. A second possibility can be
viewed quickly.
-       TascBase/Customize game line
        This screen will be discussed in detail below. For the moment only
        definition is of importance. Click on 2 and on [ok].

The small font allows more text to be presented in the same width. In this
setting there is extra space for:
Elo:            The Elo of the players is attached to their names.
Country:        The country of the player (at the time the game was played).
Title           The title of the players.
T               The letter T indicates special games. The games with
                an R are rapid games.
Type            Type indicates a fragment or an analysed game.
Number:         The number of the game. In a clean file the numbers are
                sequential, such as here. If games have been deleted, gaps 
                will appear in the numbering. This is normal.

The settings can be set to the individual taste (see screen layout later in this
chapter).
Clicking on a game changes the colour. The game is active on the small
chess board, the names of the players appear on the screen. With a dou-
ble-click the game is loaded and appears on the main screen.


The info-window
The window provides various information. In addition, there are several
buttons to be used for actions that occur frequently.

File
The name of the collection of games that is currently active.

Games
The number indicates the total number of games in the game file.

Tested
The number indicates the number of games that has been searched. In small
gamefiles this number and the total number of games will quickly be equal.
In a large database this may take some time. That is in part dependent upon
the speed of the computer.

Found
The number of games that satisfy the search criterium (more about this later)
is indicated. Without a search mask all games will be found.

COMMENT:
There are various situations possible in which with search mask the number
scanned is larger than the number found.
1.      The memory of the computer is full. This is indicated by an asterisk
        (*).
2.      The gamefile or database includes games that have been deleted.
        This is not unusual. Only if the difference becomes great is it 
        necessary to take action.
        See the chapters Copy games and Optimize Database.

Selections
The number under the [clear]-button indicates the number of games selected.

Buttons
A click on [exit] returns one to the main screen.
The other buttons will be discussed below.

Game-info
The names of the players and the result of the last game selected are inclu-
ded in the list. If the selected game is clicked, the game will automatically
become active on the board. With no selections, nothing appears.


Scrolling in the game list
With the vertical scroll bar each part of the gamefile can be brought into
view. The slider-box can be used to move quickly to the end of the file. The
arrows scroll per game or per screen.
On the keyboard [PageUp] and [PageDown] scroll one screen forwards and
backwards.


Replaying games
Click on any game in the list. The game is then highlighted in another
colour. The game selected becomes active on the small board. The names of
the players and the result are in the window.
The game can be replayed by using the control panel or the cursor keys.
This occurs in exactly the same fashion as in chapter 4: Replaying a game.


Selecting games
Selected games are loaded into memory.
The selection of a specific game can be done most easily with a click on the
left mouse.
At the above right is a button with which all games can be selected simulta-
neously. That is the number under 'found'.
The [clear]-button nullifies all selections, after which no games are selected.
A click in the menu on TascBase/Select visible games selects the games that
are visible on the screen at that moment.


Selected games
What can be done with the selected games?

       Replay on the main screen
        After a click on [end] the selections are transported to the main
        screen. They can be loaded there one by one with the help of F9.
        After a double-click on a game this game will be loaded directly.
        This saves pressing F9 one time.

       Requesting statistical data
        [all]
        Selections/Selected games info
        The results of the Interpolis tournament become visible in the in-
        fo-window:
        The result for White:
        Won 108                Draw 119               Lost 91
        Percentage 52.6%       Average number of moves 45.9

       Delete
        Selections/Delete selected games
        Choose this option if the games selected are to be deleted from the
        gamefile or the database. A warning will be given.
        Even if the games are deleted by accident, nothing has been lost. See
        the section on Undelete selected games.

       Export
        Selections/Export TXT games
        The games are sent to a file or a printer.
        For this option, see the chapter Print.
        Selections/Export TXT game lines
        A game consists of the game data and the moves. With this option
        only the game line is sent to a file or the printer. Again, see the
        chapter Print.

       Show selections
        Selected games remain selected until the selections have been cleared
        or deleted.
        After a click on [show] only the selected games in the list are repro-
        duced.
        It is then possible to search in the selected games. See in chapter 8:
        The search mask.

       Sort
        TascBase/Sort buffer
        The selected games are selected according the settings which have
        been specified at that moment.
        Sometimes it is handier to first sort the non-selected games and then
        to selected the games.
        See the discussion of Menu's, Sorting in chapter 9.  

8. The search mask

One of the most important and most powerful tools of a database is the
possibility of searching for games that satisfy any possible criterium. This
could be all the games of a specific player, all winning games from the 4th
round of the Russian championship in 1933, or all rook endgames with 4
against 3 pawns on one side.
-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list

After clicking on [mask] a screen appears as in the figure in which the
options can be filled in. The search mask contains the same fields as the
window with the game data in the main screen. There are 3 extra frames in
the upper right corner: pattern, game-type, and other options.
In the search mask the requirements that must be satisfied for selection are
specified. The games with these specific characteristics are selected. A few
simple examples will help to clarify this.

1. By player
Search for all the games of Karpov in the Interpolis tournament 1993.
-       Click on [clear] to clear the search mask (that is, the standard
        options are restored)
-       Click in the field with White
-       Type Karpov or karpov
-       Click on [ok] or press <enter>
Eighteen games are found.

-       Click on [mask]
-       e Ignore colour
-       Click on [ok] or press on <enter>
Now only those games in which Karpov had white are included. There are 9
such games.

2. By length of game
Search for all games of less than 25 moves in which there was a winner.
- Click on [clear] to clear the search mask
- Result: r 1-0 ; r 0-1; e 1/2; e Other
- Type next to game length: 1-25
- Click on [ok] or press on <enter>
There are two games that were decided in less than 25 moves, Hertneck-Pi-
ket and Cvitan-Smirin.

3. By country
Search for the games of Dutch players in order to calculate their results with
White.
-       Click on [clear]
-       e Ignore colours
-       Type next to country of the White player: ned
-       Click on [ok] or <enter>
There are 31 games in which a Dutch player had the white pieces.
-       Click under selections on [all]
-       Selections/Selected games info
The score of the Dutch players appears:
With White: +6 +5 -20, a score of 27.4%. The average game length was
45.4 moves.

4. By game
Search for the rapid game between Curt Hansen with White and Christopher
Lutz with Black.
-       Click on [clear]
-       Type next to White: Hansen
-       Type next to Black: Lutz
-       e Ignore colour
-       Type by ? R (Type of tournament)
        Do not type a small letter.
-       Click on [ok] or press on <enter>
Only the rapid game between Hansen and Lutz is found.

Conventions
       Jokers are allowed.
        ? represents any random letter
        * represents anything (no letter, one letter, or different letters)
        Kor*no? thus represents: Korchnoj, Kortsjnoi, Kortchnoi.

       A capital letter at the beginning of a word indicates that the name
        must begin with a capital.
        No distinction is made between capital letters and small letters in the
        middle of a word.
        hort results not only in the games of Vlastimil Hort, but also of
        Nigel Short.
        Hort yields only the games of Hort.

       Complete similarity must be indicated with an equals sign at the
        beginning (=).
        Search for Tilburg also yields the tie-break games (indicated by
        Tilburg 20'). Only =Tilburg will give the games with a normal time
        length.

       A ^ in front of a word indicates the complementary set.
        ^Timman thus searches for all games, except those of Timman.

       For those items with two fields (such as Elo and Date) a range can
        be given. The range 2300-2500 will report only players with an
        Elo-rating between 2300 and 2500.
        To search for players with a specific Elo or games in a single year,
        the same value must be filled in twice. If only one value is filled in,
        the implication should be obvious. If it is the first value (e.g. 1970)
        the search will begin with that year and continue to the present. If
        only the second value is filled in, the search will end at this year.

Search Options

White
The name of the White player.

Title
Official titles are IGM, IM, WGM, WIM, etc. It is possible to request other
titles, with a maximum of 4 letters.

Elo
We make use of the Elo rating list of the FIDE, the world chess federation.
This list appears two times each year. It previously included only the names
of players with an Elo of 2200 (for women 2000) or more. Currently the list
begins with Elo 2000.
The range of values for TascBase is between 1 and 4000. This is sufficient
to also provide a beginning player with an Elo rating. The maximum value
should also be sufficient for the foreseeable future. Until now only Kasparov
has broken the 2800 barrier.
The range ^1-3000 yields all those players without an Elo-rating.

Nationality
The nationality of the player is given in a three-letter code. We use the same
list as the FIDE. 

Time used
The time can be stated in either hours and minutes or only in minutes: 4:00
or 240. the program calculates internally only in minutes. A colon is
recognized as the distinction between hours and minutes.

Black
The name of the Black player. For title, Elo, and country, see above.

Place
The place where the tournament took place. Often additional information is
necessary to describe the tournament. In a city as Budapest, many important
tournaments are held each year.

Date
In the majority of games only a year is given. That is the reason that the
order year, month, day has been chosen. the month is important in order to
find the correct Elo. The new Elo lists appear on 1 January and 1 July.
Either 1994 04 05 or 1994 4 5 is acceptable for 5 April 1994.

T
The letter represents: type. There are many sorts of games. Games with a
normal game length, rapid games, blitz, blind, etc. They can be indicated by
a single letter. A distinction is made between capital and small letters.

Round
The number of the round in which the game was played. For matches it
indicates the number of the game within the match.

Result
Clicking on the desired result is sufficient. Default includes all results.
Others is reserved for those games for which the result is unknown. The
'results' can also be position evaluations as  or =.

Keycode
The code of the opening. When games are entered in the Standard database,
the code is set automatically.

Annotator
The analyses of a game are almost never prepared by both of the players.
The name of the individual making the annotations can be one of the player
or any other person.

Remark
A square with space for various sorts of comments. In TascBase games,
'time' might be written here to indicate that the game was lost on time.
Sometimes it is not possible to reconstruct a game because many moves were
made under extreme time pressure. This can be indicated here, for example,
'last moves not available'.


Pattern
The choice is:
No pattern (the standard setting)
The board position
Set pattern (standard inactive)
The board position is the position that is shown on the main screen. If other
fields have been set, these remain in force. For example, it is possible to
search whether a position has ever occurred in one of Kasparov's games.
Another chapter deals with searching on a pattern.

Type of game
Normal:         Games which begin in the initial position.
Analysis:       Games with commentary (either concerning the moves or
                textual commentary)
Fragment:       Portions of games beginning from a specific position. These
                may be constructed or arise from games from which the opening 
                moves have been eliminated.
In the default settings they all are active.


Other options

Length of game
The minimum and maximum number of moves that a game may have.
Examples:
50 -   Search for games that were longer than 50 moves.
- 20   Search for games that were shorter than 20 moves.
24-24  Search for games that had exactly 24 moves.

Ignore colours
All settings for White (including title, Elo, country and time used) also apply
to Black. The standard settings are active.

Start search with game
The number entered here indicates the number of games that are ignored in
the search action. In a large database it saves time if 100,000 games can be
ignored if you know that the games for which you are searching are at the
end of the dataset. That is the case if a game has been added recently.



Buttons

[pattern]
Allows for the possibility of defining a pattern (see chapter The Pattern).

[clear]
This button erases all input and settings. The standard settings are entered.
These cannot be saved with Save settings. It is a good habit to always click
on [clear], because there is always the possibility that a field has been set in
a previous action.

[cancel]
Leave the mask; all actions are cancelled.

[ok]
Accepts the search mask as filled in. The search for the designated characte-
ristics begins immediately. The games that satisfy the criteria appear in the
list.
The [Mask] button obtains a checkmark ( ) to indicate that the search mask
has been filled in.


Search in selected games
Searching in a database of 100,000 games can take some time. It is frustra-
ting to discover just before the search is completed that the mask has not
been filled in satisfactorily. Too many games are found. No problem. By
using the [show] button you can search in the selected games.
-       Database/Database game list
-       Click on [mask]
-       Type by White: Kasparov
-       Confirm this with a click on [ok]
        All of Kasparov's games with White and Black are found.
-       Select all games with [all]
-       Click on [show]
-       Click on [mask]
-       e Ignore colours
-       Confirm with a click on [ok]
        Kasparov's games with White are displayed almost immediately.
        TascBase searches only in the selected games.
        The button [show] gets a checkmark. Don't forget to click again on
        [show] after the search action.
9. Search environment (menu options)

The menus are treated with the help of the gamefile with Interpolis games.
-       Gamefile/Open gamefile: 93tilbrg.tbg
-       Gamefile/Gamefile games


TascBase

Sort buffer
The list with games appears numbered. That is not always the desired order.
With the sort option this list can be arranged in any order.
The default sort setting is alphabetical. With the following action arrange the
list of Interpolis in an alphabetical order.
-       TascBase/Sort buffer
        The program puts the list in alphabetical order in the memory of the
        computer. The new list appears after a few seconds. Now at the top
        are the players with white with letter A.

The sorted list will be lost after an action outside the search environment. To
keep the Interpolis games in this order you must do the following:
-       Select all (i.e. after sorting)
-       [exit]
-       Gamefile/Create gamefile
-       Enter a name: e.g. int-alp
-       [ok]
-       Tools/Copy games
-       Source: 93tilbrg.tbg   Target: int-alp
-       318 selections
-       [Copy]

View database
A side-trip to the database overview. After leaving the database environment
you return to the present environment.

Customize game line
For some users the numbers of the games are completely unnecessary and
they need a magnifying glass to read the small letters. Others want only
small letters to get as much as possible in view. Taste is an individual
matter. It is impossible to get all the information on one line. You must
always make a choice. Fortunately, each user can choose 3 options without
much difficulty which can be switched easily.
There are 3 defined settings. Changing the settings is done as follows:
-       TascBase/Customize game line
The screen with the possible settings appears.
The settings in the figure correspond to the headings shown:

Pos
Pos indicates position and gives the number of the column. The game
number is in the first column. The item with the number -1 is placed behind
the item mentioned above.

Len
Len indicates the length of the words and width of the column in number of
characters. There are six characters available for the game number.
 
Description
The text that is written in the columns or in the information line can be filled
in here. The width of the column controls how long the word can be. There
is enough space for the players and the place. Round and result must be
abbreviated or the width must be adjusted (which is inefficient use of space).

Information line
The information line can remain empty.

First names
While saving a game it is recommended to give the names of the players
together with the initials. There are several strong players named Gurevich.
In the game list the initial letter is not necessary. It saves at least two
characters and with chess players such as Georgiev,Kr and Georgiev,Ki
three characters.

Large letters
TascBase comes with two fonts: large letters and small letters. When the
large font is used, 76 characters (including spaces) fit on a line, with the
small font 130.
The small font can be read easily by anyone with normal eyesight.

Definition
Three different settings can be defined. They are permanently retained after
the default settings have been saved (Save settings).

[boot]
The settings from boot.tbs are restored.

[clear]
A click on [clear] removes the numbers for Pos and Len.
The descriptions are retained. They must be deleted by hand by activating
the line and pressing <Esc>.

[reset]
A click on [reset] restores the changes to the original settings.

[cancel]
Return to the search environment. Possible changes will not be executed.


[ok]
A click on [ok] accepts the settings. To make them permanent the default
settings on the main screen with TascBase/Save settings must be saved in the
file boot.tbs.

Customize sort options
The standard setting is simple. The players with white mainly control the
sequence. Only if the same player plays more than once with white in the
list, will the black player have some influence on the sequence.

By priority you have the possibility to put 17 numbers, although one can
hardly imagine that the last one will be of any influence.
It is realistic to sort by round to have an overview of the whole tournament.
To sort the players by Elo can also be useful.
Rising means           Descending means
from A to Z            from Z to A
from low to high       from high to low
The number of games that can be sorted depends upon the amount of
memory available. It is not possible to sort thousands of games simultane-
ously.

Continue search
In larger files it is possible that the buffer is full. This is indicated by the
asterisk next to the number in found. If one desires to view the list further
then this option is suitable. You do not have to activate the menu, <Ctrl
n> on the keyboard is just as easy.

Define search mask
A click on this option is the same as a click on [mask]. More about this
extensive possibility can be found in chapter 8.


Search mask active
When the search mask is 'empty' all games appear in the list. If a search
criterium has been given in the search mask, than all the games in the list
will satisfy that criterium.
This option (or <Ctrl m>) switches the masker off. All games thus appear
in the list. The search mask remains filled in as it was.

Exit with game
The game that is active at the moment on the small board is carried along to
the main screen. The quick key is <Ctrl e>.

Exit
This option returns one to the main screen. Nothing is changed. The quick
key is <Ctrl x>.


Selections

Select visible games
The games on the screen (maximally 12) are selected. Existing selections are
retained.

Auto select visible
This option is handy to select a number of games but not all of them. After
activation (or <Ctrl o>) the games on the screen are selected. By scrolling
in the game list using the scroll bar all games that appear on the screen will
be selected.

Delete active game
A game that is active on the small board can be deleted with this option.
Only one game is deleted, whatever the number selected.

Delete selected games
All selected games are deleted. This is dependent upon the settings under
TascBase/Customize TascBase on the main screen, or you get a warning.

Show deleted games
Games can be deleted by accident. They can be made visible again with this
option. These games can be selected and replayed. They can even be
exported. A lot can be done but not everything, selecting games and then
copying does not work.
Fortunately the games can be promoted to normal games. Choose the games
you want back and select them. 
Choose then Selections/Undelete selected games. Do not forget to switch this
option off when finished!

Undelete selected games
The deleted games must be recalled with Selections/Show deleted games.
Select the games in the list and activate this option. The games are normal
again.

Export TXT games
All information concerning this option can be found in chapter Print.

Export TXT game line
All information concerning this option can be found in chapter Print.

Selected games info
After activating this option the score for the White player is given in the info
window: the number of wins, draws, or losses is indicated and also listed as
percentages. At the end the average number of moves for these games can
be seen.

10. The Chess program 

The chess program that is included in TascBase is the program by Johan de
Koning 'The King'. It can be employed to analyse a position or a game. The
various ways that are possible are:
       analysis mode
       analysis of a position
       analysis of a game
       analysis of more games


Analysis mode
With <Ctrl a> (or TascBase/Background analyses) you start the back-
ground analyses . The chess program begins its analysis from the position
that is on the board at that moment. It does not matter what happens on the
board, whether a game is being replayed or a game is being entered. As
soon as the position changes the chess program begins its search. The
variations that are calculated appear in a large frame under the board. After
some time for calculation you see something like the following.

We first examine each of the columns from left to right.

Time (0:08 ... 1:54)
The time used is given in minutes and seconds. The last time it the total time
until then.
Instead of the time you can change to the number of positions the programm
is examining. A click in the time column wil do.

Search depth (2/6 ... 3/8)
The search depth is represented by two digits separated by a slash. 3/8
indicates that the program has calculated ahead three half moves brute force
and eight half moves selectively. Generally brute force means 'everything'
has been examined and selective means 'all moves that the program consi-
ders worthwhile'.

Value (0.72 ... 0.95)
The value of the position can be given in two modes: an absolute and a
relative.
They are adjustable in TascBase/Customize settings:
For the database the first is handiest.
        a positive number indicates that white has the advantage.
        a negative number indicates that white has poorer position.
        the entity is the pawn.
        the numbers after the decimal point give a positional value
A value of -0.40 means that Black is not ahead in pieces, but does have
better position. A value of 4.6 can mean that White has a rook more (5
points), for which Black has some compensation.
With a relative evaluation the program looks at which player is to move. A
value of -1.2 means that White is slightly worse off, if it is its move. After a
normal white move has been played the value of +1.2 appears: the evaluati-
on from the perspective of Black.

Variations
The best line of play for both players is given in the right column. The line
given is the best possibility for the search depth given at the left. The longer
the computer is allowed to search, the deeper he will come and the more
accurate the evaluation will be.
As the computer adjusts its evaluation, a new line will appear at the bottom
of the frame. The variations at the top of the variation frame then disappear.
The top line is then always the oldest variation (and therefore the least
reliable).

Main variation
The most important variation is in the next to last line: the main variation
(with a different colour). This is the variation in which White and Black play
the best moves found so far (according to the chess program).
You can see any position within this main line. Click somewhere on the
moves in the analysis window. The position from the main line appears on a
small board right to the normal chessboard. In the text window you can
enter the number of plies to specify which position you want to see.
For the ChessMachine the maximum is 8 plies; the PC-Programm can
handle 16 plies. 

Current variation
The last line is the variation which the program is considering at the mo-
ment. The two numbers, which are separated by a slash, do not give an
evaluation. 3/36 indicates that the computer is considering the 3rd of in a
total of 36 legal moves. The first number will continue to increase rapidly
because the computer examines moves that are hardly worthwhile. These
moves will be rejected rapidly.

Searching for mate
When background analysis (<Ctrl a>) is switched on, the position on the
board can be examined for a forced mate. The emphasis is on the search (not
on playing chess).
The program searches very fast for the shortest mate. It decides for itself the
minimum number of moves to mate. When the mate is found the following
information appears on the screen (White: Kh4, Qa7, Ba2; Black: Kf6):
0:00    3/1     #3     1. Qc5
Respectively the time, mate in 3 with 1 solution, mate in 3 by 1. Qc5. If
there are more solutions the number of solutions will be given behind the
slash.
The matefinder only searches for the side to move.


Analysis of a position

A thorough search of a position aims at more than just the best move.
-       Click on [position analysis]
The chess program begins immediately with its calculations.
The best moves are found one by one and listed on the screen.

The time the computer uses to think about a move can be adjusted to your
specifications:
        p stands for ply
        6p means that every move is calculated to a depth of four full
        moves. This guarantees a thorough search.
        s stands for seconds
        10s means that on the average the program considers a move for 10
        seconds.
        m stands for minutes
        3 minutes per move amounts 40 moves in 2 hours, the time available
        in most tournaments.
        pi stands for ply iterative
        1 pi means that first all possibilities are examined at one ply, thereaf-
        ter at 2 ply, 3 ply, etc.


Analysis of the game
Playing a serious game can easily take close to four hours. For a thorough
analysis of a full game, the computer will also therefore need a substantial
amount of time. This option can be found in the menu.
-       Game/Analyse game

The game shown comes from the Interpolis-gamefile. You can chose to
analyse the game fully or in part. W10 - B37 means that the analysis begins
with the 15th move by White. The analysis ends with the 45th move by
Black. That is not necessarily the end of the game.
The depth of a sub-variation can be set to between 0 and 9 half moves.
Standard is 3p (1 moves). For moves which in its view are better moves,
the computer will give a variation to a depth of 1 moves.
How to set the amount of time that the computer will be allowed to calcula-
ted has already been given above under Analysis of a position.

Give best move
At a minimum the computer gives its best move with an evaluation. He gives
more moves if the depth sub-variation has been set to a higher value and no
moves if its best move is the same as the move played in the game.

Evaluate game move
If this option is active an evaluation of the game move will always be given.

After a click in a field, changes can be indicated. If all the settings are
satisfactory you type <enter> of just click. The programm will start again. 
A few hours later the analysis of the game is provided. You get a nice
overview in the View Database environment.


Analysis of more than one game
Letting the computer think all night about one game is too much of a good
thing. In the same time he could also analyse three. This is also possible
with TascBase.
Nothing could be easier.
This option is found in the menu.
-       Gamefile/Analyse gamefile

All games in the active gamefile will be analysed. The screen is similar to
that for the analysis of a game. The possible settings are the same. They
remain constant for all of the games that are included in the analysis, unless
you change them. You can adjust the settings by clicking in a text window.
If all the settings are satisfactory you type <enter> of just click. The
programm will continue. 
The analyses are stored in the same gamefile. The old game is retained in its
original state. The analyzed game is saved at the end of the file with analy-
ses. This occurs automatically. The counter reports the progress.


Play chess against the computer
The chess program not only helps you analyzing games, it can also become
your opponent.
-       Click on 

In the default settings you are playing with white and the computer with
black. By clicking on a button the settings can be changed.
Underneath the buttons the chosen level is displayed. How to change this
with will be discussed later. A click on forces a move.
The clocks start running immediately. The computer will reply very fast if it
plays with an opening book (a database has to be opened). Otherwise it will
think for the allocated time. The computer will automatically play the first
move if it plays with white.
This is briefly the procedure for playing a game.
While playing you can 'leave' the game and go to other environments in TascBase.
Your game will be kept in memory. You cannot take steps that will endanger
the game without getting a warning. During the game it is useful to consult
the opening book or the database overview to have a glance.
In the search environment you can replay games. Only after loading a new
game on the main screen (after a warning!) your game against the computer
will be lost.
Of course it is possible to alter the playing style, speed of playing, the level
and others. They will be described now one by one.


Play settings
-       TascBase/Customize playing



Style

Opening book
The opening book can be switched on or off. When activated it is only
effective when a database has been opened. With book usage you can select
how to the opening book must be used.

Brute force
In this mode every move will be analysed equally deep. Normally the chess
program analyses selectively. The moves which are considered good are
analysed more deeply.

Easy
The playing strength will diminish because the program is only calculating
when it is its turn and not the opponent's.

Beginner
This option is extremely useful for beginners. The program adjusts its
playing strength to the opponent. When the computer is a piece up, it
sometimes leaves a piece en prise.

Agressive
If possible the program will activate its pieces even more. Attack is the key
word.


Book usage
Which move should the chess program choose from the database? Its choice
can be directed.

Repertoire
The chessprogram will only play moves from the defined repertoire (see
chapter 12). If no repertoire has been defined the next option is automatical-
ly chosen.

Frequency
The playing frequency determines how often the move which belongs to will
be played. In the database the frequency will be displayed after:
-       Database/View database 
-       Key/Show book frequencies
In the database you can give the frequencies for each key. There are four
choices:
Often    The move is played twice as much as the next frequency.
Average  The move is played twice as much as the next frequency.
Seldom   The move is played twice as less as the previous frequency.
Never    The move is never played by the computer (except when it is
         the only legal move or all the other moves have the same frequency).

The frequency can be changed with Key/Change book frequency or <Ctrl i>.

Weighted
The move to be played is chosen on account of the number of subkeys. The
more moves there are the greater the chance that the move will be played.

Random
The program chooses random one of the alternatives.

Score
This setting is especially useful with a big or very specific database. The
chess program examines which move has the best score. This move will be
played more likely.


Various
Tournament
When this option is activated PAM is turned off (see next option) and taking
the moves back is not allowed. You cannot play moves for the computer and
the sliderbar cannot be used either.

PAM active
Entering moves with the help of PAM is so addictive that some people use it
also playing a game. (See chapter 6)

Sound
The computer will beep after playing a move. This is useful if you have
other things to do during the game. You will hear when it is your turn.
A high beep means you are in check. Mate and stalemate are welcomed with
three beeps.

Rotate board
If you want to play with the black pieces click on the arrows between the
buttons. The board also turns when this option is activated.

Transposition
You are playing 1. c4 and the computer answers 1. ... Nf6. If this option
has been activated the computer can play 2. d4 with a transposition to 1. d4.
If the option is inactive the program remains as long as possible within the
English opening.


Playing level

With you determine the thinking time and due to it to a great extent the
playing strenght of the chess program. There is a number of predefined
levels, but you can adjust all settings to your own wishes.
In the window by white and black you must make your choice by clicking on
one of the option buttons. After that you can activate a predefined setting
with the buttons or by typing your own value in a text field. Black and white
don't require the same settings.

5       minutes per game
        This setting is for 5 minutes per game. The two other predefined
        settings are 10 minutes and 30 minutes.
        The maximum number of minutes that can be set is 999.

40      moves in 120 minutes
        With this option a tournament level is selected. You choose the
        number of moves that has to be played within a certain time. The
        standard value of 40 moves in two hours is the most frequently used
        level in tournaments.

10      initial minutes + 30 seconds per move
        The Fischer clock. You start with 10 minutes on your clock. After
        each move played you get an additional 30 seconds. The Fischer
        clock gaines popularity worldwide. It prevents losing a winning
        position due to lack of time.

        unlimited time
        This setting is only possible if [human] is selected. You won't be
        bothered by the annoying message White loses on time.

        5 fixed ply search
        This setting is only activated if [computer] is selected. The chess
        program searches not deeper than the chosen ply depth. The depth is
        indicated in plies. Ply depth 1 is very useful for beginners. The
        computer will not look further than one ply. This setting can also be
        useful for solving mate problems. Although, the mate finder in
        TascBase/Search for checkmate is much quicker.
        Ply depth 3 solves a mate in two (5 for mate in three; 7 for mate in
        four; and so on).

11. The database

Openings play a more and more important part in the contemporary chess at
the top level. Formerly a grandmaster could keep his openings repertoire up
to date by means of a card-index box, in which the boundary between two
different openings was indicated by an index card. It was quite a job not
only to add new games but also to find the desired selections quickly.
Database-programs have now come to assistance. Thanks to them games can
be easily entered, replayed and retrieved. Keeping up a repertoire is no
longer a problem. Moreover, databases offer a large number extra possibili-
ties. For example the repertoire of the opponent can also be found accurately
in no time at all.

The database can be approached in various ways. It depends what you are
looking for.
a particular player                           Database game list
all games with the Kieseritzky gambit         Database key list/Show index
the score of a variation                      View database 
define the repertoire                         View database

We begin on the main screen.
-       Database/Open database: standard.tbd (probably already open)
-       Enter the moves on the board 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
-       Database/View database

A new environment appears
The position on the board is the same as on the main screen. An information
window is on the right and on the screen below is an enormous variation
tree. The latter catches the eye mostly and we are going to play with it for a
while.

The variation tree
The largest part of the screen is taken up by the move area. The subsequent
moves of a variation are shown in a horizontal line. Every line contains a
single variation. If a variation is split because a move has more than one
continuation this is shown by means of connecting lines. The alternatives are
below each other.

-       Press <arrow right> on the keyboard.
The position on the board and in the information window are updated at
once. You can get everywhere within the variation tree with the cursor keys.
With the help of <Page Up> and <Page Down> you can jump immedia-
tely to an alternative (if present).
Clicking on a desired move is also possible.


Information window

Key name + key code
Openings have names. They are named after players (Alekhine defence),
after places or countries (Scheveningen, Spanish) or after specific actions on
the board (Exchange variation). But there are by far not enough names for
all the openings. Moreover, they often differ by country. The problem has
been solved by providing the openings and opening variations with codes. At
this moment the most frequently used is the openings classification from the
openings-encyclopedia. There are 5 main groups (A, B, C, D and E). Each
letter is subdivided into 100 codes, e.g. A40, C12 and E45.
In the figure you can see the code for Spanish. This is an opening played
frequently. The code is C60 through C99.
As a base the 500 possibilities are more than enough. We shall see that an
extension according to individual preferences is very simple.
The supplementary Database is provided with the encyclopedia-code (also
called Informator code).

Alternatives
After the move 3. Bb5 Black can choose from 8 moves.

Games
The number of games with 3. Bb5 is 2. This may seem strange but is in fact
quite normal because this is just the game with 3.Bb5 without the alternati-
ves. In these games 3. ... Bb4 is played. This move is not important enough
to be a key.
The number refers to games in which the given alternative is not played.

Moves
The alternatives each have their own continuations. The number refers to all
the moves together in the Spanish.

Total games
The number of games played games with Spanish (Ruy Lopez) in this
database.

Score
The score of White is shown. The number of won, drawn and lost games, to
make things easy the percentage is also given.

Elo
The average Elo of the player with white and with black.
The statistical data is updated immediately as soon as new games are added.
Players without Elo are not considered.
The setting in TascBase/Customize TascBase: 'Instant update dbs statistics'
is important. 

A new database
Creating a new database is child's play. It doesn't take much time either.
You are on the main screen.
-       Database/Close database
-       Database/Create database
-       Enter a name
-       TascBase/Customize TascBase:          Confirm add keys to the
                                              database
                                              directly to the database
-       Database/View database

Enter the moves on the small board. Take back a move to enter alternatives.
Give in the name of an opening of a code. You can do this immediately or
later on.
In the next chapter you will find more about deleting keys.
If the tree is finished you return to the main screen. The key is automatically
saved.
You can import games with Tools/Copy games (see chapter 23) or enter the
games yourself and save them to the database.

If you have a ChessMachine you can compile the opening book:
        Tools/Compile TCM book

There are several other ways to create a new database:
        Gamefile/Compile gamefile     See chapter Gamefile
        Tools/Import CB4-games        See chapter Tools
        Database/View database/       See chapter The database
        Key/Copy key                  (menu options)
        

The database viewed 
On the main screen the keys from the database can be shown after clicking
(the right button).
During replaying games you can notice when the moves played are no
longer keys in the database.


Backup database
There is considerable time involved in building and maintaining a database.
It is therefore important that a copy of the database be made occasionally
and retained on diskette. In the menu Tools there is a handy help program:
Backup.
-       Tools/Backup database
The instructions on the screen should be self-explanatory. After a click on
[start] the file selector appears. Choose the correct disk drive (or the hard
disk if sufficient space is available) and assign a name for the backup. After
a click on [ok] a request appears to place a diskette in the drive. You need
do nothing more than exchange the diskette and click on [continue].
The diskettes you use must be empty. Only if the same database is already
on the backup-diskettes can the option r Replace old backup be of assistance.


Restore database
The opposite of backup is restore. The database can be copied from the
backup-diskettes to the hard disk with this command. When carrying out this
action, no database may be open.
-       Tools/Restore database
The file selector appears. Choose the correct drive and select the file with
extension .tba.
After a click on [ok] the file selector appears again with Destination database
in the header.
Select the correct drive and directory on the hard disk and assign a name.
After a click on [ok] the copy process begins immediately. Follow the
instructions on the screen.
The database will not be opened automatically. You must do this yourself.


Repertoire of a player
The database can be a great asset in determining what opening an opponent
may be expected to play. This can be done in various ways. A handy way is
the following: Gamefile/Compile gamefile (see chapter 15).
A good overview is also given by:
-       Tools/Players repertoire
You must type in the name of a player. Next to <Source> you indicate
whether the information is to be found in a database or a gamefile. There is
a choice if both a database and a gamefile have been opened. Only the active
gamefile counts. 
In the sort option you can indicate whether the keycode of the Gamefile or
the Database must be used.
The score with White, Black and with both are shown as a percentage. The
number by # indicates the average number of moves per game.
The overview (including what can not be shown for lack of space) can be
printed to a file. The repertoire of a player becomes clearly visible if the
database key is selected. The number 6 indicates the number of half moves,
the first three moves. Under key is the number of the key in the database.
The following is a portion of the output.


Export with Keycode

Key     +       =      -       %      #

E12     3       4      0       71.4   49
D58     0       4      2       33.3   46
D36     2       2      0       75.0   59
B99     3       0      1       75.0   41
C42     1       2      1       50.0   43
D55     0       3      0       50.0   35


Export with Database key

Key     +       =      -       %      #

5032    9       7      4       62.5   47      1. d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 
44      8       4      0       83.3   37      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Bg7 
1925    7       2      1       80.0   35      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3
Bb4
3753    3       2      4       44.4   37      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6

12. View database (menu options)


TascBase

Add position as keys
The position on the small board is added to the opening tree. This can be
one or more moves.


Get game position
By moving through the database with the cursor keys the game position may
have disappeared from the screen. This option returns the position to the
main screen on the small board. The cursor points to the proper move.


Follow game
The moves of the game or variation from the main screen can be indicated
by another colour in the tree. With the cursor on a game move, <Ctrl f>
jumps to the following move. If the cursor is somewhere else in the tree
<Ctrl f> brings the cursor to the final move.


Display database root
This option or <Ctrl r> returns one to the initial position with the first
move.


Exit with position
The position on the small board is carried along to the main screen.


Exit
The position on the main screen remains intact.


Key

Delete keys
The key under the cursor and all sub-keys will be deleted. A confirmation
must be given if the setting Confirm delete keys from database under
TascBase/Customize warnings is active.


Delete games
The direct games and the subgames will be deleted. There must be a confir-
mation if the setting 'Confirm delete games in database' is active under
TascBase/Customize warnings.


Add to repertoire
The professional chess player obtains some 20.000 new games per year on
floppydisk. To this, as many as 1000 games from the past will have been
entered. The management of the database costs a lot of time.
This handy option can save an enormous amount of time in such cases.
One's own repertoire need only be defined once. The procedure is simple.
Set up the correct position on the board and activate this submenu. The
position on the board and all variations that follow are added to the repertoi-
re. A warning window appears.
In future cases when new games are copied to the database the option
Repertoire should be set on. Only games with the repertoire defined will be
imported.


Delete from repertoire
After 6 defeats in a row with Scandinavian it is perhaps advisable to play a
different opening. Enter 1. e4 d5 on the board and activate this option. A
warning window keeps the possibility of going back open.


Show book frequencies
This option is explained in chapter 10: The chess program (Play against the
computer).

Change book frequency
This option is explained in chapter 10: The chess program (Play against the
computer).


Split key
The number of games in a key can become quite large. This is unhandy
because the list of games becomes too long.
This function is only active if there are direct games. Otherwise there is
nothing to split.
-       Place the cursor on a move with a large number of direct games.
-       Key/Split key
        The split-action is accomplished in three phases:
        1. TascBase analyzes the possible alternatives.
        2. TascBase suggests splitting on the most frequent move.
        3. TascBase copies the games in the correct key. A key code can be
           given.
Summary:
The option split seeks out the most frequently played move and suggests
making a new key for this move. After confirmation the correct games are
automatically placed in the new key.


Copy keys
In order to study an opening thoroughly it is useful to create a specialized
database. Setting up a new database is not difficult, but it is easier to extract
the opening from the standard database.
The standard database is open and you are in View Database.
-       Move the cursor to 5. ... Nxe4 in the Open Spanish (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
        Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4)
-       Keys/Copy keys
        The file selector appears.
-       Give the name of the new database, for example, spa-open
-       Click on [ok]
        All keys from the Open Spanish are copied. The name of the ope-
        ning and the variations are also included.
        The games are not carried along; this can be done with the following
        option.


Copy keys with games
This options works similarly to the previous option except that all games in
the key are also copied.


Reclassify key
A new key that is added via the small board does not yet have any games.
This option classifies the games and places them in the correct key. It is not
always the case that a new key contains games. This can be illustrated by an
example:
-       Move the cursor to 4. Ba4
-       Execute the move 4. ...Bc5 on the board (or click on c5)
-       TascBase/Add position as keys
        A warning appears.
-       Confirm with a click on [Yes]
        The move 4. ... Bc5 is added to the database, but as yet contains no
        games.
-       Move the cursor again to 4. Ba4
-       Key/Reclassify key
        The games that have been played with 4. ... Bc5 now stand under
        the correct key.


Database key list
The database can be approached in another fashion. This option can be
chosen from the main screen. The only difference is that the way back to the
main screen goes through environment (View database) in this case.

13. Database keys

We begin with the main screen. The standard-database is loaded.
        Database/Database key list
        A new environment appears.
        Click on 1. e4
        Clicking on a key executes the move on the board.
        Click on 1. ... e5
        Click on 2. Nf3
        Click on 2. .. Nc6
        Click on 3. Bb5
        The code for the opening appears in the Info-window (C60) above,
        the name Spanish opening.

A click on the right button takes back a move.
A double click on a key has no effect.


The key list
The heading on the Info-line indicates what can be found in the various
columns.
Key:            The code of the opening is indicated in this column. C60 is
                the first code in the Spanish opening (which continues to
                C99).
Moves:          The moves within the key.
Alt:            The number of alternatives following the move. With the
                move 3. ... a6 two alternatives are indicated, undoubtedly 4.
                Ba4 and 4. Bxc6.
Games:          The number of games in which another move than the one
                shown was played. If present these then appear in a list at
                the bottom of the screen. In the games Bb4 will have been
                played as the 3rd move.
SubK:           The move 3. ..a6 has two 2 alternatives which in turn are
                divided into 35 subkeys. The size of the number indicates
                how deep the key still is.
TotGam:         The total number of games after this move in the key.
Elo:            The average Elo for the White players.
Elo:            The average Elo for the Black players.
+               The number of victories for White.
=               The number of draws.
                The number of losses for White (thus the number of wins for
                Black)

These headings are one of three standard settings. The second can be found
by doing the following.
        TascBase/Customize keyline
        This screen will be treated in the next chapter. For the moment only
        definition is of importance. Click on 2 and on OK.

The small font can allow considerably more text to presented. In this setting
there is extra space for:
Name:           The name of the opening.
Analysis:       The analyses by the chess program.
Key:            The number of the key. Not the most interesting information.
                The only place the number returns is with the print key.

The settings can be adjusted to satisfy one's own wishes (see screen settings
later in this chapter).


The Info-window
This window provides various information.

Key
The code of the opening with thereunder the name of the opening.

Tested
This number indicates the number of games that have been searched.

Found
The number of direct games in the key.

Selections
The number of games that have been selected.

The buttons
[exit] returns to the previous environment. That can be the main screen or
View database.

Scrolling in the keylist
The keylist is usually not longer than the screen, but as soon as games have
been found not everything can fit on the screen.
All portions of the keylist can be brought into view with the scroll bar. By
using the slider bar one can quickly move to the bottom. The arrows scroll
per three lines or per screen.
On the keyboard <PageUp> and <PageDown> scroll forward or back-
ward one screen.

Games
The games each have their own info-line. This has been treated extensively
in chapter 7: The search environment.

Replaying the games
As soon as games appear in the game list, they can be replayed on the
board.
Click on any game in the list. The game is indicated by a different colour.
The game is selected and becomes active on the small board. In the in-
fo-window the names of the players and the result appears.
This game can be replayed by using the control panel or the arrow keys.
This occurs exactly as has been explained in the chapter Replaying a game.

14. Database keys (menu options)

TascBase
Almost all of the menu options in this menu are also treated (often more
extensively) in chapter 9: The search environment (menu options).


Sort buffer
This option sorts the games according to the sort setting that is specified at
that moment.


View database
A side-trip to the database overview. After leaving the database environment
you return to the present environment.


Customize game line
The installation of the game line for database-games is exactly the same as
for gamefile games in the chapter 9. It does not matter in which of these the
installation is made. It holds for both.


Customize key line
There are 3 settings which can be chosen.
Changing the setting is done as follows:
-       TascBase/Customize key line
The screen with the possible settings appears.

Pos
Pos indicates position. It indicates the order of the columns from left to right
in the screen.

Len
Len indicates the length of the word and the width of the column in number
of characters.

Description
The text that is written in the columns of the information line can be filled in
here. The width of the column controls how long the word can be. There is
little space for columns so that large numbers cannot be utilized. These must
be abbreviated or the width must be adjusted (which is inefficient use of
space.)

Large letters
TascBase comes with two fonts: large letters and small letters. When the
large font is used, 76 characters (including spaces) fit on a line, with the
small font 106.
The small font can be read easily by anyone with normal eyesight.

Definition
Three different settings can be selected.
These are permanently retained after the settings have been saved via the
main screen TascBase/Save settings.

[boot]
The settings from boot.tbs are restored.

[clear]
A click on [clear] removes the numbers for Pos and Len.
The descriptions are retained. They must be cleared by hand by activating
the line and pressing <Esc>.

[reset]
A click on reset restores the changes to the original settings.

[cancel]
Return to the search environment. Possible changes will not be executed.

[ok]
A click accepts the installation. To make them permanent the standard
settings (in boot.tbs) must be saved on the main screen with TascBase/Save
settings.


Customize sort options
The standard setting is simple. The games are sorted alphabetically.
Any desired ordering is possible. Number 1 gets priority.
Ascending means                Descending means:
from A to Z                    from Z to A
from low to high               from high to low.
The number of games that can be sorted depends upon the amount of
memory available. It is not possible to sort many thousands of games
simultaneously.


Continue search
In keys with very many games it is possible that a buffer is full. This can be
seen by the asterisk found by the number. If one desires the view the list
further then this option is suitable. You do not have to activate the menu,
<Ctrl n> on the keyboard is just as easy.



Define search mask
A click on this option is the same as a click on [mask]. More about this
extensive possibility can be found in chapter 8.


Search mask active
When the search mask is 'empty' all games appear in the list. If a search
criterium has been given in the search mask, then all games in the list will
satisfy that criterium.
This option (or <Ctrl m>) switches all the selections in the search mask
off. All games thus appear in the list. The search mask remains filled in as it
was.


Exit with game
The game that is active at that moment on the small board is carried along to
the main screen. The quick key is <Ctrl e>.


Exit
This options returns one to the main screen. Nothing is changed.
The quick key is <Ctrl x>.


Selections

Select visible games 
The games on the screen (maximally 12) are selected. Existing selections are
retained.


Auto select visible
This option is handy to select a number of games but not all of them. After
activation (or <Ctrl o>) the games on the screen are selected. By scrolling
in the game list using the scroll bar all games that appear on the screen will
be selected.



Delete active game
A game that is active on the small board can be deleted with this option.
Only one game is deleted, whatever the number selected.


Delete selected games
All selected games are deleted. This is dependent upon the settings under
TascBase/Settings TascBase in the main screen, or you get a warning.


Show deleted games
Games can be deleted by accident. They can be made visible again with this
option. These games can be selected and replayed. They can even be
exported. A lot can be done, but not everything, selecting games and then
copying does not work.
Fortunately the games can be promoted to normal games. Choose the games
you want back and select them. 
Choose then Selections/Undelete selected games.
Do not forget to switch this option off again when finished!


Undelete selected games
The deleted games must be recalled with Selections/Show deleted games.
The games in the list are selected and this option is activated.
The games are again normal.


Export TXT games
All information concerning this option is found in chapter 20: Printing.


Export TXT game lines
All information concerning this option is found in chapter 20: Printing.


Selected games info
After activating this option the score for the White player is given in the
info-window: the number of wins, draws, or losses is indicated and also
listed as percentages. At the end the average number of moves for these
games.



Database

List all subkeys
In the usual screen of Database keys, only the alternatives from the board
position are visible. To view the underlying keys a move must actually be
clicked.
This option allows all subkeys to be seen at once. A choice can be made
from all the keys that appear in the list.


List all subgames
In the usual screen of Database keys list only the direct games appear in the
lists. Activate this option to obtain all games in the list (the number is
indicated under Totgam).


Export TXT keys
All information concerning this option can be found in chapter Print.


Show index
This option allows all names of openings and variations from the database to
be seen, alphabetically or by opening. This can be set with the following
menu option.

Alphabetically
A click on a name brings one directly to the proper place in the database
keys. This is especially handy if the key you are looking for lies quite deep,
for example the Marshall variation of the Spanish opening. In the informati-
on window Search keys now stands in the place for the keycode:
-       Type in the letter m
        The list jumps immediately to the place with names beginning with
M. The Marshall is already on the screen. Typing a, r and s brings the name
to the top of the list.
Removal of letters after Search keys: (in order to search for a new name)
can be done with <Backspace> for one letter or <Esc> for more letters.
Some variations have the same name. For example, there is more than one
Keres variation. In this case a comprehensible abbreviation for the opening
stands behind the name. 
Thanks to this index-option you can reach your favourite variation quite
quickly. You only have to give it a name. Recall that after you have added a
new opening or variation name, you must optimize the database for optimal
performance.

Per opening
If Sort index is not activated the order of the database is retained. The
following overview makes this clear:
Spanish
        Open Defence
                Berlin Variation
                Trifunovic Variation
                Riga Variation
                Walbrodt Variation
        Steinitz Defence Deferred
                Siesta Variation
                Keres Variation
The name of the opening is listed first. The names of the variations and the
sub-variations are indented and are indicated in another colour.


Sort index
This option is active (with checkmark) or inactive and has influence on the
index. This is first indicated alphabetically. Inactive means rendition of the
openings in the order of the database.


Mark key
With this option you must activate the key you want to examine (shown by
an asterisk). If you switch to another environment and return later to the
database keys the marked key is shown immediately.

15. The gamefile (menu options)

A gamefile consists of two files: a .tbg and a .tbi file. Only the .tbg files are
available in the file selector.
The names of the two files must remain the same and they must be in the
same directory. If the files are given another name, both must be renamed
the same; the extension must not be altered.


Open gamefile
After the selection of open gamefile the file selector appears in the standard
directory c\:tascbase\tbgame.
Only existing game files can be opened. There are two restrictions:
        the game file must not already be open.
        the game file may not be a part of the database that has been opened.
Four gamefiles may be opened simultaneously. The names of the open
gamefiles appear as submenu under the menu Gamefile.


Close gamefile
It is only necessary to close a gamefile if there are four gamefiles open and a
new file is desired or a new file is to be created.
By closing the gamefile the games selected from the gamefile disappear from
memory.


New gamefile
A gamefile that does not yet exist must be created. After selection the file
selector appears. A new file must be given a name that has not already been
used for another file. Should the name of an existing file be chosen an error
message will appear on the status line. The name of an opened database can
also not be utilized.


Gamefile game list
After the selection of this option the search environment appears. This is the
subject of chapter 7.

Analyze gamefile
This option analyzes all or an as yet to be indicated portion of the games
from the active gamefile. This is conditional on the presence of a chess
program that is supported by TascBase, or The ChessMachine or the
PC-program.
For further information see chapter 10: The chess program.


Compile gamefile
This fantastic option changes an opened gamefile into a new database or
completes an existing one.
First you must close the database and then activate Compile gamefile. In the
file selector you can enter a new name or select an existing database.
This option is very practical to create specific databases, but is also conve-
nient to have a quick overview of the repertoire of your opponent. You copy
all his games with White to a gamefile. You then compile this to a database.
In View database you not only get the opening lines of your opponent but
also his score.

The depth can be given in plies. Default is 20 plies. All games will be cut
off after Black's 10th move. In the same run you can also copy the games of
the gamefile to the database.

For perfectionists the following is of importance.
The field Remark in the game info can be used for extra information.
This line operates the game in this way:
<number1>;<number2>.<string2>;<number3>.<string3>
Number 1        Number of plies (overrules the default of 20).
Number 2        Ply number for the keycode.
String 2        The keycode belonging to number 2.
Number 3        Ply number for the keyname.
String 3        The keyname belonging to number 3.
Notice the period and the semicolon. 

Classify gamefile
This option can assign the keycode of the database to all games in a gamefi-
le. The procedure is simple. Open the database and a gamefile and activate
Classify gamefile. The file selector appears. A gamefile must first be
created; the program does the rest. A counter records the progress.
In the new gamefile the games have the keycode of the database. You can
also search on a keycode in the gamefile. If desired the old gamefile can be
deleted.


Gamefile statistics
With this option information concerning the gamefile can be requested.
The gamefiles that have been opened are ordered with their path in the
correct sequence. 
In addition the number of games and the space used on the hard disk (in
Kilobytes) are indicated.
The length of the session is indicated at the lower left in hours, minutes, and
seconds. The counter is not running, but will be updated at the following
visit. The number in the counter indicates the total number of games. Games
from game files that have already been closed are also included here. The
same is true for games saved.

16. TascBase to your own taste 

Each user has his own preferences. They can be adjusted in several menu
items under the menu TascBase.
        16a: options in TascBase
        16b: colours
        16c: text export
        16d: text import
        16e: warnings
        16f: adjust TASCBASE.INI


16a: Options in TascBase

-       TascBase/Customize TascBase

First of all: After changing the settings you must leave the screen with [ok].
The new settings now in effect. If you change your mind after the adjust-
ment has been done a click on [cancel] is the appropriate way. The original
set up is saved. In case the set-up must remain permanently you must do the
following:
-       TascBase/Save settings
-       Click on [ok]
        In the file selector you can see the name boot. The file boot.tbs is
always loaded automatically by starting TascBase.


Options in TascBase

Start fragment with moveno 1
Fragmenting games is sometimes useful, e.g. by creating one's own endga-
me database.
The game that begins with the initial position is not necessary then. In chess
literature it is common in such cases to begin the fragment with move
number one. Not activated the fragment keeps the original game number.
This setting influences only Edit/Fragment game.

Rotate board 180 degrees
It is common that White plays from bottom up the screen. This setting
changes the location of White and Black.

Show board control window
It is possible to play the game over with the arrow keys or with the mouse.
For the actions with the mouse the board control window (to the right of
square h1 on the main screen) is necessary. This window disappears after
disabling this option.

Relative evaluation machine
The chess program can evaluate a position from White's view (absolute) or
from the view of the player who is to move (relative).
An example:
Black is to move and he is a piece up:      3:00 (absolute)
                                           +3:00 (relative)

Short notation machine analysis 
The analyses by the chess program are shown below the board. They can be
presented in long or short notation. In case of short notation more moves can
be viewed.

Show board coordinates
For the less experienced user it may be handy to see the letters and numbers
indicating the names of the squares. This option switches them on or off.

Show moves ahead
When the game is loaded the notation-sheet (the list of moves) remains
empty if this option is off. The moves appear only if a move has been
executed on the board. This is handy if you wish to predict the following
move of a grandmaster.
If active the moves appear grayed. When the moves have been executed they
are printed bold. The advantage is an extra control over the game due to the
possibility of clicking on a particular move.

Background game search active 
A search can occur in the background while another game that has already
been found is being replayed. The program continues the search if this
option is activated.

Instant update dbs statistics
When we copy games to the database the information about the score and the
Elo is updated immediately if this option is activated. In this way the
statistics remain reliable.
When importing a large number of games it is better to switch this option
temporarily off. The speed of import increases considerably because the
program doesn't need to update the statistical information after each game.
At the end, however, the database must be optimized. Afterwards all the
information is up to date again.

Help system active 
A new program must always be learnt. The help system can come to
assistance.
The correct use of the keys to the right of the square h8 can be performed
blindfolded after a while. When this function is activated the status line gives
more information about the key pointed to with the mouse at the very
moment. Also in case of menu options the information on the status line is
more detailed than in the menu itself. It is recommended to switch this
option 'on' at the beginning stage.


Knight
The knight can be brought from g1 to f3 in different ways: in a straight line,
one slant/one straight or one straight/one slant.
In the ChessMachine and the Tasc Chess Tutor the knight jumps slant first.

New move
An example explains this frame. The setting is: with confirmation.
We enter the next 'game':
1. e2-e4 e7-e5
2. Ng1-f3
We play the moves backwards and now we play 1. c2-c4. A warning
appears that the already existing move will be overwritten (see Entering a
game, chapter 6). 
-       Click on [cancel] 
-       TascBase/Customize TascBase 
-       Confirmation wAs alternative
This setting adds the move 1. c2-c4 as alternative of the already existing
move 1. e2-e4.
The third possibility is Replace. Now the program will not protest when a
new move is executed. The already existing moves disappear.

View database options
Adding moves to the database can occur with or without warning. There is
also the choice whether to indicate the moves in the tree in short or long
notation.
The moves can be executed on the small board. This is handy for the
extension of the variation tree. The settings are:
direct          The move will be executed without question.
confirm         After a move on the board a window appears with the questi-
                on whether the move must be added or not.
never           The standard setting. The moves are not included in the tree
                automatically.
                This must first be confirmed with TascBase/Add position as
                keys (<Ctrl s> <Ctrl a>).

Mouse
Double-click:   The standard setting is 200. The higher the number the
                longer the interval between the clicks may last. The number
                can be changed by clicking with the mouse in the field.
Mouse speed:    You can set up here how fast the pointer must react to the
                movement of the mouse on your desk. It is recommended to
                try it out.

Predict a move
When entering a game it may be handy to have an intelligent program in the
background to provide assistance. The three choices are thoroughly treated
in the chapter 6: Entering a game.

Language
The right language is adjusted during the installation of the program. It is
possible to choose another language if the language files are still on the hard
disk. After a click on [ok] the language selected becomes active. Note that
the opening names in the database remain as indicated during the installation.

Animation
The speed of the animation can be influenced by increasing the number for
quicker movement (maximal 9) or by decreasing it for slower movement
(minimal 1).
When the game is replayed automatically (the utmost right button in the
board control window) the time between each move can be set up. The
figure shows the number of seconds before the next move is played.



16b: Customize colours

In TascBase you can use 16 different colours simultaneously (if they are
supported by your video card). Changing the colours is easy.
-       TascBase/Customize colours

First off all you can choose one of the four predefined settings (the seasons).
A click on a button brings you with new colours to the main screen. If you
are not satisfied with the settings you can adjust the colours to your own
taste.
With the correct number the primary colours red, green and blue can be
mixed together to produce any colour. 
Value 0 indicates dark and value 255 indicates light.

Three times 0 gives black, 3 times 255 gives white. Red 255, green 0 and
blue 0 gives red.
The number buttons correspond to the colour of the parts of the screen
which are indicated in the window below. 
Button 13 influences the colour of the background colour.
All buttons consecutively:
1       Black pieces
2       Black squares
3       Input-fields
4       Contrast colour 1
5       Sun light
6       Contrast colour 2
7       Contrast colour 3
8       Fill colour
9       Inactive
10      Background
11      Slider
12      White squares
13      Shadow
14      Text
15      Contrast colour 4
16      White pieces

The four large buttons speak for themselves.
[reset] goes back to the setting previous to the changes you have just made.
[boot] resets the settings as they are stored in boot.tbs.
[cancel] returns to the main screen. Any change remains undone.
[ok] accepts the changes. The newly adjusted colours are activated on all
screens.

If you want to see the adjusted colours back during the next session with
TascBase you must save the settings.
-       TascBase/Save settings
-       Click on [ok]
The settings the program starts with (boot.tbs) are saved together with the
adjusted colours.

In case you wish to change you can save the settings of the colours with
another name.
-       TascBase/Save settings
-       Click on the input field with BOOT
-       Press <Esc> or <backspace>
The input field is empty now.
-       Type a name of maximum 8 letters, e.g. darkblue
-       Click on [ok]

Next time you must load this setting.
-       TascBase/Load settings
-       Click on the input field
-       Type darkblue
-       Click on [ok]


16c: Customize TXT import

TascBase can convert ASCII-text files with games to TascBase gamefiles.
This is possible with Import TXT games in the Tools menu.
Here you must indicate how the text file is constructed:
[White: "Portisch,L"]
[Title: "IGM"]
[Elo: "2625"]
[Country: "HUN"] etc.
The names of the players, titles are unimportant here.
The letter indications of the pieces are of importance. The sequence is:
knight, bishop, rook, queen and king.


Example:
From your correspondence opponent you receive games by Polish masters in
a text file. They all look like this:
[Biale: "Schmidt,Wl"] [Tytul: "IGM"] [Elo: "2485"] [Kraj: "POL"]
[Czarne: "Sznapik,A"] [Tytul: "IM "] [Elo: "2460"] [Kraj: "POL"]
[Miejsce: "Trnava"] [Runda: "4"] [Rok: "1984"]
1. d4 Sf6 2. c4 g6 3. Sc3 Gg7 4. e4 d6 5. Ge2 0-0 6. Gg5 c5 7. dxc5 Ha5
8. Gd2 Hxc5 9. Sf3 Gg4 10. Ge3 Ha5 11. 0-0 Sc6 12. a3 Wfc8 13. b4 Hd8
14. Hb3 Hf8 15. h3 Gxf3 16. Gxf3 Sd7 17. Wfd1 Sce5 18. Ge2 Sxc4 19.
Gxc4 Se5 20. Gxf7+ Hxf7 21. Hxf7+ Kxf7 22. Se2 
- 
Everything is in Polish but this is no problem. You fill in the screen of the
TXT import as the figure on the previous page shows.

Open an existing file or create a new one. The text file can be read now with
the command Tool/Import TXT games.
Click on [source] and type the correct name in the input field. Click on [ok]
and after a while all the games will be converted. See also the chapter
Printing.
16d: Customize TXT export

The games are stored within TascBase in a format which can be deciphered
only by the program itself. 
The export-option within the program takes care that the games can be put
on paper in a 'normal' way. It is possible to print directly or via a file for
further changes of the text in a word processor or a DTP-program. The
settings here also effect the reproduction of the game on the screen, namely
View game under Game.

The number of possible settings is large. They can be adjusted according to
personal taste. This only has to be done once. You reach the setting as
follows:
*       TascBase/Customize TXT export

The settings effect:
        All screens within TascBase where the notation can be seen except
        for the main screen.
        Game/Export TXT game
        Tool/ Export TXT games
        Gamefile/Gamefile games/Selections/Export TXT games
        Only selected games are exported. There is still the possibility to
        change the settings.
        Gamefile/Gamefile games/Selections/Export TXT game lines


Notation
Long notation:         1. d2-d4 e7-e6 2. c2-c4 d7-d5 3. c4xd5
Short notation:        1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cd5
Correspondence:        1. 4244 5756 2. 3234 4745 3. 3445
This setting has no influence on the game notation on the main screen. This
is always with figurines in the long notation.


Options

Repeat move number
The move number represents the entire move: a white one and a black one.
At the end of the line the move can be separated, the black move shifts to
the following line. The number of the move can be repeated. At the end of
this line we can see 6. b3 and the following line begins with 6. ... e5. This
option takes care of this.

FIDE notation
The FIDE notation requires using the multiplication sign by capture. Fur-
thermore, by en passant capture 'ep' is added. These are the only differences
with the short notation.

Word processor
A useful option if the game is further modified in a word processor or an
editor. The header (the game info) will contain only carriage returns. The
moves of the game are exported in a single line (without any carriage
returns). Later the word processor takes care of the correct wrap.
Beware: If the games must immediately be printed then this option may not
be activated. The printer would print only the first line (which means only
the first moves) of the game. The rest would be lost. 
When printing a diagram the option is of importance too. A diagram can be
added at any stage of the game. More about it in [More settings].
This option is not in keeping with any other settings, e.g. the setting line
length is no longer valid. Some models are also no longer possible, e.g. the
Analyses model. More about it in Model.

Portable header
The header of the game is made suitable so that the text file can be imported
by TascBase (and other programs which support this format).
The header is similar to convert names to (right in this window). The names
are in brackets and the game info in quotation marks.


Result
The result is always printed after the last move on the following line. The
choice is left aligned, centred or right aligned. The result can also be an
evaluation.
In the TascBase model the result cannot be left aligned.


Model
A game can be long or short, contain many or few analyses. It is convenient
that the layout of the game can be adjusted in case the game is long or
contains analyses.
Below you find a brief explanation of the details.

Standard
The moves come behind each other at the full width of the screen in the
chosen notation. The analyses and the comment are in brackets and parenthe-
ses respectively. This model is suitable for games with not too many com-
ments.

Numbered
The moves come behind each other in the chosen notation. Analysis and
comments are arranged neatly on a new line. The first alternative receives
A, a new alternative A1 etc. By each new alternative comes a new indentati-
on.
This model is suitable for games with many subdivided analyses.

Multicolumn
The moves are arranged in equal columns. Analyses are not printed, regard-
less of the other settings. This model is suitable to show long games in a
neatly organized fashion.

TascBase
The moves of the game appear on the left side in long notation. Each move
comes at the beginning of a new line. The analyses appear in short notation
at the same level on the right.
Exceptionally well organized.

Analysis
The games which are analysed be the chess program get evaluation for each
move. The move evaluation and the alternative that is suggested are shown
neatly below each other, so that the course of the game can be seen at a
single glance.


Objects
The notes accompanying a game can be printed or not.
You can choose from:
Header:         The game information: player with white, elo etc.
Comments:       The text that is entered in the [Comment-window].
Sublines:       The alternatives that are entered in the [Alternative-window]
                or in the game survey.
Evaluations:    The analyses that were made by the chess program.
Symbols:        The evaluation of a move or a position that can be added to a
                move with F5.
Diagrams:       The place of a diagram in a game is indicated with a (@).
                This sign is entered with F5.
                The diagrams can be made according to your own wishes
                (see: More settings).

Convert names to
The fields can be provided with a name if you wish. The fields of the game
information which are empty are not printed, even if they have been activa-
ted.
The fields of the game information that contain text can be printed as
desired. The default settings are in the figure on page 16-9.



Various
-Figurines
In the database program in some places pieces are shown as figurines (e.g.
with view game, but not in the move list). In this place it can be indicated if
you prefer to have letters or figurines. In the second case you must indicate
which letter belongs to which piece.
The sequence is: knight, bishop, rook, queen and king. In the English setting
there are: NBRQK.

Line width
The number gives the number of characters on one line. After the last
character a carriage return follows. The default setting is 76.

Suffix of moveno
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 or 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6. The difference is the space
behind the period. The first way is neater but takes more space. In place of a
period a comma can also be used.

Print dots as
The white and the black move can be separated: There is a diagram or
comment after the white move or the black move does not fit on the line. It
is a good habit to repeat the move number and have the black move prece-
ded by periods. In chess books we can see forms as 1. ...e5; 1...e5; 1...,e5
1. ... e5.
For more specific settings there is one more setting screen available.
*       Click on [more settings]

Convert symbols to text
The symbols used in the chess world, e.g. for analysis are not in the stand-
ard character set of the PC. The solution is to use a True Type font in
Windows in order to get these symbols correctly on paper.
If that is not possible or you prefer text to symbols then the text (which must
replace symbols) can be entered here. You can choose from normal text or a
replacing symbol which is contained in the IBM character set. The special
signs and symbols in F4 and F5 are also available.

True Type diagram in word processor
The place of a diagram in a game can be indicated with a (@). This sign can
be entered to a game with F5 as a comment. 
By the export with r word processor the diagram will be printed as text.
The initial position, where 'a' indicates a black square and 'A' a white one.
In the word processor this diagram must be provided with the right font code
and a frame. It can be done automatically with a macro without any trouble.
But this requires skills. If you are not very experienced consult the manual
of your word processor.
Tasc has good results with WordPerfect and Word.
There are various True Type fonts available. They have the pieces represen-
ted by 'other letters', but TascBase can be easily adjusted to any font by
activating r User and entering the right letters in the correct sequence. Do
not forget to save the settings after that.

The sequence used is: white square, white pawn on white square, white rook
on white square, white knight on white square, white bishop on white
square, white queen on white square, white king on white square, black
pawn on white square, black rook on white square, black knight on white
square, black bishop on white square, black queen on white square, black
king on white square, black square, white pawn on black square, white rook
on black square etc.

Screen colours
An extensively analysed game remains clear if the game and the different
variations are kept apart well. 
You can adjust the colours here. The numbers correspond to the figures in
the colour window (as explained in this chapter).
The colours affect only the screen with the game overview.
(The export for a colour printer is not possible).
- Use colours
The settings in screen colours are active.
- Use symbols
If activated the symbols will be seen in the game survey, otherwise the text.
- Symbols in export
A setting for the perfectionists.
It is easy to put the pieces on the right place in the chess font, i.e. the queen
in stead of the capital Q. That is not so nice for players like Quinteros whose
name will become Duinteros. It takes some time to select another font for
the game header. It would help to have the letters of the chess pieces on a
different place, i.e. under ~,$,%,^,|.-Symbols in export helps.
The export looks like this: 
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. \02c3 \03b4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 \03xc3+ 6. bxc3 \05c7 7.
\02f3 \02e7 8. a4 b6 9. \03b5+ \03d7 10. \03d3 \02bc6 11. 0-0 h6 enz. 
At first glance this seems strange. The knight is \02, the bishop \03, the
rook \04 and the queen \05. A closer look reveal this can be handy. The
back slash and the number will not appear in any text. By using a simple
search and replace macro the word processor can replace everything with the
desired letters. 


16e: Customize warnings

Some actions within TascBase have consequences that no longer can be
undone. The action can be desired or a mistake. In the second case a
warning is appropriate. An experienced user will find some warnings
irritating after a while. For that reason various warnings can be switched off.
*       TascBase/Customize warnings
-       Confirm delete games from gamefile.
        Games can be deleted after they are selected in the search environ-
        ment. In the default setting appears a warning.
-       Request save changed current game before discarding.
        A loaded game can be replayed. Nothing changes. Everything is ok,
        you get no warning if you load a new game. You added some moves
        and save the game. Everything is ok.
        Only if you change something in the game or in the game informati-
        on and you don't save the game, then follows a warning when you
        load a new game.
        TascBase thinks that the game has been changed if you just clicked
        in the window with the game information!
-       Confirm delete games from the database.
        Games can be deleted after they have been selected. In the default
        setting a warning appears.
-       Confirm delete keys from the database.
        Keys can only be deleted in the View database environment.
-       Confirm remove alternatives from a game.
        By removing a sub-line a warning follows.
-       Confirm fragment game.
        By activating Edit/Game fragment, a game can be stripped of its
        initial moves.
-       Confirm strip game.
        By activating Edit/Strip Comments, Variations, Machine analyses
        and Symbols are deleted. The game itself remains intact.
-       Warn if a gamefile forms a part of a database cluster.
        In the database there are also other files besides the gamefile. Nonet-
        heless, the gamefile of the database can be loaded as a separate file.
        Of course this database may not be opened. 



16f: Adjust TASCBASE.INI

When installing TascBase your specific configuration will be stored in a file
with the name TASCBASE.INI. The adjustments in this file deal with the
applying and your own preferences for the TascBase environment.
In which directory is your program file, your database file or your gamefi-
les? What kind of chess card or PC-Program do you use? The answers to
these questions can be found in the INI-file.
Experienced users can adjust this file with an editor. In the example below
various options can be seen at the end of each line. Most of them has been
adjusted by the installation. New adjustments are the path for data from
other database programs. The bin name of another chess program which
cooperates with TascBase can be inserted. Do not forget to type in the right
registration number if the chess program is protected. This is the registration
number of your ChessMachine! 
TCMRegNum       = yy.xxx.xx.xxx (e.g. TC.516.48.918)

An example of an ini-file
[TascBase]
Settings        = C:\TASCBASE\SETTINGS                ; default settings
Export          = C:\TASCBASE\EXPORT                  ; default export path
Printer Port    = LPT1                                ; or LPT2

[Engine]
Port            = SR250                               ; DRxxx | ECx |
SRxxx
ForceImage      = NO                                  ; YES or NO
(default)
Image           = DRIVER\KING220.BIN                  ; name of image 
ChessProgram    = King 386                            ; ChessMachine |
none

[Data Files]
TBBase          = C:\TASCBASE\TBBASE                  ; path .TBD
TBGame          = C:\TASCBASE\TBDATA                  ; path .TBG

[Import Export]
NBData          = E:\NIC                              ; path .NB3
CBData          = F:\CB40                             ; path .CB3
TCMData         = E:\CHESS\GAMES                      ; path .TCM
TXTData         = C:\TASCBASE\TXT                     ; path .TXT

A path is used as a default path by importing or opening of files.
The user who knows what they are doing can use extra memory in the
368-version with the following line:
InternalHeap    = 500000
The internal heapsize is used for actions within TascBase and depends on the
memory of your computer.


17. Game (menu options) 

If a game is loaded from a database or a gamefile you can do much more
with it besides just replaying it.
This chapter deals with:
        beginning a new game
        comparing one game with another
        viewing the game as a text
        saving the game
        printing the game
        consulting statistics about the game


New game
This menu item (or <Ctrl n>) begins with a new game. The initial position
appears on the board.
A warning message appears:
        The moves of the game active at this moment have been changed.
        The information of the game active at this moment have been
        changed.

Sometimes nothing seems to have been changed, nevertheless, a warning
appears. In most cases the reason is that you have clicked within the window
with game information. The program thinks that something has been chan-
ged.

There will be no warning if the setting in TascBase/Customize warnings has
not been activated before loading a new game.


Start other game
The initial position is on the screen and there is no game loaded. In the
menu Game you can see:
 1:Unknown - Unknown           Alt + 1
Another game
The names of the players are unknown. That is correct because no game has
been loaded. We now load a game:

        Database/Database games
        Select a random game with the mouse by a double-click.
        The names of the players appear in place of Unknown - Unknown.
        Select Game/Start other game.
        This option begins with a new game when the current game is stored
        in the memory of the computer and is available immediately.

It is possible to have four games active at the same time.
        Database/Database games
        Select some games with the mouse by clicking on them.
        Double-click on the last game.
        One game is active on the main screen. There are also other games
        selected.
        Game/Start other game
You can see on the screen:
 1: Karpov - Yusupov           Alt + 1
 2: Gurevich - Marin           Alt + 2
 3: Vaganian - Bronstein       Alt + 3
 4: Morozevi - Van der         Alt + 4

The space for the names of the players is limited. In case of two long names
(in 4) there is not enough space for the full names. From both names an
equal part is allocated. It is a bad luck especially for Van der Wiel. By
means of the Alt-keys and the corresponding numbers (or by clicking on in
the menu) you can switch between the games very quickly.
The games do not need to be in the initial position. The current position is
remembered.


View game
Load a random game from the database.
        Game/View game (or <Ctrl v>
A new screen appears. For more details see chapter 19: View game.


Load next game
        Database/Database games
        Click on [all]
        As many games as possible are selected.
        [exit]
The selected games can be loaded one by one with this option. It goes still
quicker by pressing <F9>.
A warning appears if anything has been changed in the game. This option is
unabled when the last selected game is loaded. In the View game <F9>
can also be used.


Load previous game
This option becomes active if there has been more than one game selected
and the first game from this selection is no longer active.
The quickest way is <F10> on the keyboard.
In the View game <F 10> can also be used.


Save game
This option is needed to save the current game which has been changed. The
game is saved to the database or gamefile from which it was loaded. The
original game is deleted. No warning is given! If you want to retain also the
original game then you must choose the following option.


Save game as new       to gamefile
                       to database
This option must be chosen for newly entered games and for changed games
which must also be kept in their original version. The game can be saved to
the active gamefile or/and to the opened database.


Export TXT game
The active game can be saved to a text file. If you activate this option the
file selector appears.
The entered values in TascBase/Customize TXT export are valid.
If you give PRN as a file name it can be printed immediately. Take care that
the printer is on line.


Analyse game
This option analyses the active game on condition that a chess program
which is supported by TascBase is present. These are the ChessMachine or
the PC-program.
See further chapter 10: The chess program.

Game statistics
The figure gives an overview of the statistics which appear on screen with
this option.
The total number of plies, variations and comments are arranged in columns
next to the names of the players. The last column indicates whether the game
has been changed. If not you can see yes there.
The total session time is given below left.
Furthermore, you can see the number of selected and saved games.

18. Annotating a game 

Games without commentary are not very attractive. In TascBase it is very
easy to add comments to a game.

A game fragment without commentary
1. Qf4 Kh8 2. b4 Bxb4 3. Rd7 Qxd7 4. Qxf6+ Kg8 5. Ph5 Bc3 6. Qxc3 f5
7. Bxe6+ Qxe6 8. Qg3+ Kf7 9. Qg7+ Ke8 10. Qxb7
1-0 

A game fragment with commentary
1. Qf3-f4!                     1. Qh5? Rfd8! [ 1. ... Kh8? 2. b4 [ 2. Bd3?
                               f5 3. Nxf5 Qf6 with compensation] 2. ...
                               Bxb4 3. Bd3 f5 4. Pxf5 exf5 5. Bxf5 f6 6.
                               Rd7+- ; 1. ... f5 2. Qh6 Bxf2+ 3. Kxf2
                               Qc5+ 4. Ke1 Qxc4 unclear] 2. Qh6 Kh8 3.
                               Nh5 Rg8 =+ ; 1. Bd5? Bxd5 2. Rxd5 exd5
                               3. Pf5 Bxf2+ and Black is better. 
1. ...          Kg8-h8?        1. ... Rfd8 2. Nh5 Kh8 3. Nxf6 Qf8 4. Nh5
                               and White is better; 
                               1. ... e5 2. Qh6+- ;
                               1. ... f5 2. Nh5 Kh8 3. Qe5+ f6 4. Qxe6
                               and White is better 
2. b2-b4!                      2. Rd7? Qxd7 3. Qxf6+ Kg8 4. Nh5 Bd4-+

2. ...          Bc5xb4 
3. Rd1-d7       Qe7xd7 
4. Qf4xf6+      Kh8-g8 
5. Ng3-h5       Bb4-c3
6. Qf6xc3       f7-f5
7. Bc4xe6+!                    Better than winning back the exchange. After
                               7. Nf6+ Rxf6 8. Qxf6 Bd5 White is just
                               better.
7. ...          Qd7xe6
8. Qc3-g3+      Kg8-f7
9. Qg3-g7+      Kf7-e8
10. Qg7xb7
1-0


The commentary on the above game can be divided into three categories:
1. evaluation (of a move or position) with symbols
2. text
3. sub-lines (with or without text and/or evaluation)


Evaluation of a move or of a position
In the chess literature there are a number of symbols that are used to
evaluate moves. Some are familiar characters on the keyboard and are
self-explanatory. A good move is indicated by an !, a bad move with a ?. To
indicate the evaluation of a position, common symbols include +- (for a
decisive advantage) and  (for advantage for White). Other characters and
symbols are quite specific.
An example describes how to add characters and symbols to annotation.
-       Make a few moves on the board.
-       Bring the annotation on the screen with [Game notation]
-       Edit/Add symbols to move (or <F5>).

In the figure are all characters that cannot be found on the keyboard, but
which can be utilized in TascBase.

A maximum of three symbols can be entered after any move.
-       Click on a symbol.
        The symbol appears in the entry field above the exit-button. This is a
        normal entry field. All letters, characters, and symbols on the
        keyboard may therefore also be typed in. Although not common, it
        is also possible to enter three letters after a move.
-       Click on [ok]
        The symbol selected is now entered after the move in the annotation.

It is possible to remove all evaluations for the entire game in a single
operation:
-       Edit/Strip game
        To erase (or to change) an evaluation after a specific individual move
        one simply needs to proceed to the correct move on the board and
        call up the symbol window (F5). With <Backspace> or <ESC>
        the entry field is cleared.


Text
Commentary in words is more human than commentary in symbols, but
takes up more space.
It is possible to enter verbal commentary after each move.

-       Click on [Comments].
        There are eight lines visible, but with the down arrow new lines can
        be created.
-       Click on the first line and enter the text.
        A hard return (=Enter) should not be used at the end of a line.
        <Enter> indicates the completion of text entry. The text will
        continue normally onto the following line. Everything comes out ok
        on paper. A click on the mouse in a new line is the handiest way to
        begin a new paragraph.

It is also possible to enter symbols in the comments window. If the window
is active the symbol screen appears after F5. Now only one symbol at a time
can be entered.
Entry of accented letters, etc. is also possible. The most common ones can
be called up with F4 (especially for Hbner) and a click on the letter
desired.
The figurines have a meaning in this screen. Be aware, however, that if the
analyzed games are to be printed a figurine-font must be present.


Sub-lines
The entry of sub-lines of play can best be illustrated by an example. To
make the procedure clear we first use the more roundabout way.
-       Gamefile/Create gamefile: test
-       Database/Database game list: [mask]
-       Type by White: Karpov
-       Type by Black: Sax
-       Click on [ok]
-       Double-click on the game Karpov-Sax from 1982.
        The game Karpov-Sax from Linares 1982 is loaded.
-       Replay the game through 27. Qf5+
-       Click on [Alternatives]

The Black move Kd7-e7 is shown. ML indicates Main Line. The number 23
means that there are still 23 half moves to follow (the game thus ends after
the 39th move by White).
-       Click on [1]
        The arrow in front of the move Kd7-e7 jumps down.
-       Click on c6 (or move the king to c6)
        The move Kd7-c6 appears next to [1].
-       Enter the moves 28. Qxb5+ Kd6 29. Qb4+ Kd7 30. Kc8 Ba6+.

-       Edit/Go to last branch
        The game position after 27. Qf5+ again appears on the board. After
        Kd7-c6 are still 7 half moves.
-       Play the sub-variation through 29. Qb4+
        There are still three half moves. Instead of 29. ... Kd7, Black has a
        better defence with 29. ... Ke5
-       Click on [1]
-       Enter the moves 29. ... Ke5 30. f4+ Kxf4 31. Rf1+ Ke3 32. c4.
-       Edit/Go to last branch
        The game position after 29. Qb4+ reappears on the board.
-       Click on [2]
-       Enter the moves 29. ... Qc5 30. Qxe4 Rfe8 31. Qf4+ Qe5 32.
        Rd1+ Kc7 33. Qxf7+.
-       Game/View game
-       TascBase/Customize TXT export: wNumbered

White: Karpov,A        Title: IGM     Elo: 2710       Country: URS
Black: Sax,G           Title: IGM     Elo: 2560       Country: HUN
Place: Linares         Round: 3       Year: 1983-2
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 h6 7. Rg1 Be7
8. Be3 Nc6 9. Qe2 Bd7 10. h4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 e5 12. Be3 Bc6 13. Qd3 Qa5
14. 0-0-0 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 d5 16. Qb3 dxe4 17. Bc4 Rf8 18. Rd5 Bxd5 19.
Bxd5 Rd8 20. Bc4 Bb4 21. c3 b5 22. Be2 Bd6 23. Qd5 Ke7 24. Bc5 Bxc5
25. Qxe5+ Kd7 26. Qxc5 Qc7 27. Qf5+ Ke7
        A) 27. ... Kc6 28. Qxb5+ Kd6 29. Qb4+ Kd7 
                A.1) 29. ... Ke5 30. f4+ Kxf4 31. Rf1+ Ke3 32. c4
                A.2) 29. ... Qc5 30. Qxe4 Rfe8 31. Qf4+ Qe5 32. Rd1+
                     Kc7 33. Qxf7+
           30. Rd1+ Kc8 31. Ba6+
28. Qxe4+ Kd7 29. Qf5+ Ke7 30. Re1 Rd6 31. Bc4+ Kd8 32. Bxb5 a6
33. Ba4 g6 34. Qf3 Kc8 35. Re7 Rd1+ 36. Kxd1 Qxe7 37. Qa8+ Kc7 38.
Qa7+ Kd6 39. Qb6+
1-0

In this case, variation A.2) 20. ... Qc5 is more important than 29. ... Kd7.
To reverse these variations we proceed to the position after 29. Qb4+and
activate [2].
-       Edit/Exchange lines
        The sub-line beginning with 29. ... Qc5 is now the main variation
        within variation A.

If we wish to retain the variations we must save this game as a new game.
We may wish to use the game without analyses again at a later date.
-       Game/Save game as new                 to gamefile
        There are now two games Karpov-Sax, one with and one without
        analyses.

It is not possible to enter the same move twice as an alternative.

We can also add text and symbols to alternatives. The procedure is the same
as that described above.

The method of entry can be done more quickly.

-       Gamefile/Open gamefile: test
-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list: [mask]
-       Type by White: Karpov
-       Type by Black: Sax
-       Click on [ok]
-       Double-click on the uppermost game.
        The game Karpov-Sax without analyses is loaded.
-       Play the game through 27. Qf5+
-       Click on [Alternatives]
-       Click on c6.
        A warning message appears with the text: 27. ... Kd7-c6 replaces
        27. ... Kd7-e7.
-       Click on [alternative].
        We are now in the variation with Kc6.

This is a quick way in which to enter sub-variations.
The third method is handiest of all. We can demonstrate this method based
upon the initial position.

-       Game/New game or <Ctrl n>
-       Enter the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6.
-       Game/View game or <Ctrl v>
-       TascBase/Customize TXT export: w Numbered
-       Click on 2. Nf3 in the notation.
        On the small board the position after 2. Nf3 appears.
-       Click on c6 (on the board).
        The black knight is standing on c6. In the notation this move has
        been entered as an alternative for 2. ... d6.
-       Click on 2. Nf3 in the notation.
-       Click on e6.
        The black pawn is indicated as the B) variation in the notation.
-       Enter the move 3. d4
-       Take back one move or click on 2. ...e6.
-       Click on b1
        The move 3. Nc3 is shown as an alternative in the sub-line B).

In this fashion we can quickly supply a game with sub-variations. It is also
possible to enter alternatives of alternatives of alternatives. It is not possible
to supply text and evaluations in this environment.

19. View game

The computer can be a tremendous asset in chess. A chess book offers far
fewer possibilities, but is sometimes more neatly arranged. Thanks to the
game overview option in TascBase, this advantage of a book over the
computer disappears.

-       Gamefile/Open gamefile: 93tilbrg.tbg
-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list
-       [mask]
-       Type next to White: Cifuentes
-       Type next to Black: Agdestein
-       Click on [ok]
-       Double-click on their game with 122 moves
-       Game/View game <Ctrl v>
-       Click on 28. Te6

The diagram shows the position after the move where the cursor is located;
in this case it is move 28.
The information concerning the game is in the upper right hand corner. With
the scroll bar and the arrows, the moves and/or text that are not on the
screen can be brought into view.
The horizontal scroll bar can be used to run through the game quickly (see
chapter 4: Replaying a game).

The text can be shown in different fashions.
-       TascBase/Customize TXT export
-       Choose a setting under Model
-       Make a choice from Notation
-       Indicate by Objects what should come on the screen.
-       Choose the correct place for the result.
-       Figurines or letters?
-       [ok]

This option (including [more settings]) has already been treated extensively
under TascBase/Customize TXT export in chapter 16.

A quick way to determine what the best manner is for the game that has
been loaded is <Ctrl m>. The various settings then appear one by one.

A click on a move brings the position after that move on the board. With the
cursor keys you can play forwards or backwards. A click on a variation is
sufficient.

The moves can also be executed on the small board. If the move has not yet
been included it can be added as alternative in the text (and thus in the
game). If you wish to save the game with the new variations, do not forget
to save on the main screen with Game/Save game.
More about these fascinating possibilities can be found in the previous
chapter: Annotating a game.

Menu Options


TascBase


Customize TXT export
For explanation, see chapter 16. Of importance here is the possibility to alter
the various colours of the text quickly. In the game overview it is important
to be able to use varied and contrasting colours in order to differentiate the
various commentary and variations of the game.
With [more settings] numbers can be filled in next to colours. Which number
corresponds with which colour can be set in the following menu option.


Customize colour
For explanation, see: Customize colours in chapter 16.


Change model
This option brings the following model to the screen. With <Ctrl m> you
can switch between the various models more quickly.


Load following game
Selected games can also be loaded in this environment with Load following
game or <F9>.


Load previous game
With this option the previous game can be loaded. The keyboard command
is <F10>.


Export TXT game
The active game can be written to a text file. By activating this option the
file selector immediately appears on the screen.
The values that have been set with TascBase/Customize TXT export remain
in effect.
By assigning PRN as file name this can be printed directly. Remember to set
the printer on line.


Exit
This option returns to the main screen. The active game is carried along to
the main screen.


20. Printing

TascBase is an enormous help in printing games with analyses and diagrams.
The only thing you need is a printer. It does not matter what kind. You can
send the games directly to the printer or export them to a file first. Both
ways are discussed here.
What can you print?
        a single game
        selected games
        a gamefile
        the game information only (the game heading)
        diagrams
        keys
        the database

Game(s)
How should the games appear on paper? In long or short notation, with or
without analyses and comments, with or without diagrams?
All this must be customized on the main screen in TascBase/ Customize
TXT export.
Here we use the default settings.

Exporting one game
-       TascBase/Database game list
-       Double-click on a game
-       Game/Export TXT game
        The file selector with 'Export current game' appears in the active
        directory C:\TASCBASE\EXPORT
-       Type a name, e.g. testgame and click on [ok]
        TascBase saves the game in this file.
        On your hard disk is C:\TASCBASE\EXPORT\TESTGAME.TXT.
-       TascBase/Exit
        You quit TascBase. You can see: C:\TASCBASE.
-       Type: cd export <enter>
-       Type: edit (or the name of your editor or word processor)
        testgame.txt
In the editor you can make any changes you like. Each subsequent game can
be exported to the same file if necessary.

Printing a game directly.
-       TascBase/Database game list
-       Double-click on a game.
-       Game/Export TXT game
        The file selector with 'Export current game' appears in the active
        directory C:\TASCBASE\EXPORT.
        Take care that the printer is switched on and on line.
-       Give PRN as name and click [ok].
When printing selected games or a whole gamefile you must proceed in
exactly the same way.

In which parts of the program is it possible to export?

1. One game
The current game can be exported from two places within the program. On
the main screen:
-       Game/Export TXT game
        In the game overview:
-       Game/View game/TascBase/Export TXT game

2. Selected games
Games can be selected only in the search environment of the database and
the gamefile. In these places they also can be exported.
When games are exported here it is still possible to change the settings.
-       Database/Database game list
-       Select the desired games
-       Selections/Export TXT games

-       Database/Database key list
-       Search a key with direct games
-       Select the desired games
-       Selections/Export TXT games

-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list
-       Select the desired games
-       Selections/Export TXT games

3. A gamefile
All games within a gamefile can be exported from the main screen.
-       Tools/Export TXT games

Game lines
In the game list only the information of the game (heading) comes in view,
there are no moves. You can choose which information is to be shown. It is
only conveniently arranged if all game information fits on a single line. For
example:
E32  Alterman [ISR] - Pliester [NED]       Tilburg    (1)   1993  1-0     42
D85  Atalik [TUR] - Tukmakov [UKR]         Tilburg    (1)   1993  1-0     40
B09  De Firmian [USA] - Dao [VIE]          Tilburg    (1)   1993  1-0     55
D27  Dorfman [FRA] - Seirawan [USA]        Tilburg    (1)   1993  1-0     43

The game information can be exported at the same places as the selected
games. This option is always one menu item lower than Export TXT games.
An example:
-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list
-       Select the desired games
-       Selections/Export TXT lines

Diagrams
Diagrams can be exported in two ways:
        as a text for further modification in the word processor or
        DTP-program (see chapter 16d: Customize TXT Export)
        as a diagram to the printer
        Switch on your printer and select:
-       Tools/Print diagram
The choices you can make speak for themselves. You may have to experi-
ment with the best raster and resolution.
After printing the diagram you must give a form feed to the printer unless
you want to print more diagrams on a single sheet.

Keys

-       Database/Database key list
-       TascBase/Export TXT keys
In the figure 16 keys are exported. The position is after the moves 1. e4 e5
2. Bc4. It is also possible to export all keys.
It is enough to have the initial position on the board. In this window diffe-
rent preferences can be filled in. Together with the keys all games can be
exported. It is sufficient to activate the check box. Next to Indent any
number from 1 through 99 can be typed. Indenting makes sense only if the
settings of the key lines are adapted. In the following example Indent has
number 1. The key line shows only the Keycodes and Keys.
Next to Levels you can see the number of desired alternatives. Most often
this will be all, therefore 99 seems to be enough.

Database = C:\TASCBASE\STANDARD.TBD
 - Number of keys in database         =       16747
 - Number of games in database        =       0
 - Keys                               =       16
 - Games                              =       0


21. The pattern

A pattern is a part of the search environment. All selections in this screen
only produce results in a search when they have been activated by w Pattern.

-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list
-       Edit/Define pattern

In the search environment we can require that the desired game satisfies all
sorts of criteria. Searching for specific openings and the game data has been
treated in the previous chapter.
By defining a specific pattern we can also search for games that fulfill all
sorts of other qualifications. A pattern is a broad concept and can be a single
position, more positions, a move, a text, etc.
A summary of some of the possibilities gives an initial impression of what is
meant by a 'pattern'. We can search for games with characteristics such as:
        a isolated pawn
        the wrong coloured bishop
        castling after the 50th move
        decisive advantage for White, but with Black as winner
        White is an exchange up


Search for material
The numbers of the pieces in the pattern window indicate how many chess
pieces minimally and maximally may be standing on the board. Searching
with the current pattern indicated would thus yield all the games in the
Interpolis tournament. All games satisfy the pattern specified.
If we set the values for queens and rooks to zero, the situation is altered.
Now there may be no queens or rooks on the board. In searching through all
the games of Interpolis 1993, only those games will be found in which all
queens and rooks have been exchanged. A demonstration is perhaps useful.
-       Click with the mouse in the square of the white queen.
-       Press <backspace>.
-       Type the zero <0> on the keyboard.
-       Repeat this sequence for the black queen and for both rooks.
-       TascBase/Exit with position
        The main screen appears.
-       Game/Gamefile game list
-       [mask]
-       w Pattern
-       [ok]
The search action begins. The first game to appear is Van Wely-Geller.
Click on the first line. The game is loaded onto the small board. Type
<Ctrl p> to obtain the first position on the board in which the queens and
rooks are off the board. That is on the 38th move in which the final rook is
removed.

In the meantime the search is continuing rapidly for other games that satisfy
the pattern specified. After all 318 games have been scanned, it appears that
there are 54 games which end without queens or rooks.

You may now return to the Pattern environment in a quick fashion: A click
on [mask] and [pattern].


Search for material difference
In this case we might look for games in which White is an exchange ahead
or Black has an additional pawn. What else is on the board is irrelevant.
The search for any difference in material is simple.

It is possible to search for every possible difference. The board and the
pattern must be empty.
-       Pattern/Clear material
-       TascBase/Clear board
Indicate by the white queen 1-1 and by the black rook 1-1. This indicates
that White has an advantage of queen against rook. Clicking on mirror 1
also yields games with the black queen and one white rook. The numbers no
longer indicate the number of pieces on the board, but indicate the difference
between the two players.


Search for pieces on the board
Placing a position on the board is the same as under 'Set up a position' in
chapter 22.
Click on the desired piece and place it on the board. A click with the right
button removes a piece.
A king on g1 indicates that a moment in a game must occur in which the
king is standing on g1.
We will now search for games in which all bishops have been fianchettoed
and both players have castled short.
-       TascBase/Initial position
-       TascBase/Clear board
The board is now empty and all pieces may be present.
-       Set up the following position: Kg1, Bb2, Bg2, f2, g3, h2
                                       Kg8, Bb7, Bg7, f7, g6, h7
If desired we can check if it works. We follow the steps outlined above.
Only the game Hansen-Lutz satisfies this pattern.
These three examples of search procedures by no means exhaust the range of
possible searches for patterns.

-       Pattern/Easy mode

In this screen we can also search for material, material difference, or pieces
on the board. In addition there are many search procedures possible, separa-
tely or in combination with others.

Alternatives
An analyzed game knows many sub-variations. If this option is active these
will also be searched for the pattern defined.



Search

Search count
The specified pattern can occur once or more times in a game. In some
patterns it is important whether they occur more than once in a game. An
example makes this clear.
We search for positions with the relationship of rook (with or without
pawns) against one or more pawns. With the search count on 1 we will find
many positions. Every rook endgame that evolves into a pawn endgame will
show such a relationship. White takes the black rook and at that moment the
desired material relationship is on the board. (But this relationship may be
quite short-lived, since Black may retake on the following move.) In such a
case it may be handier to set the search count on 2 or higher.
The count indicates how many times a pattern must occur. (Thus here the
advantage of rook vs. pawns would have to occur for more than one move.)
This may also be useful when searching for certain positional information.
An open file which is closed again after two moves, may be less interesting.

Text and symbols
A move is accompanied by two sorts of commentary:
1. text
2. evaluation in the form of symbols.
Both can be searched for. Indicating the text takes place with the keyboard.
The symbols are entered with <F5>.


To move
Sometimes it is important to be able to indicate which colour is on move.
Usually this is unimportant so that 'either' is the default setting.


Move
There are many possibilities for searching for a specific move. There are
input fields for each part of a move.
no.     Indicating the number of a move is optional. It can be indicated with
the help of:
                >      after the move number
                <      before the move number
                =      on the move number
piece   The piece is specified by TascBase/Customize TXT Export.
from    The coordinates of the departure square.
takes   Only necessary if the move is a capture.
to      The coordinates of the arrival square.
with    Only necessary with check and promotion.

The use of ? for an arbitrary piece, file or rank is allowed.
B??xh7+ thus searches for the classic bishop sacrifice oh h7. It is unimpor-
tant if the bishop comes from g6, f5, e4, d3, c2, or b1.
Later we shall see that a further specification of a pattern is possible.
Other examples:
>40 Ke1-g1      All games in which castling took place after move 40.
<30 ?7-?8N      All games in which a pawn promotes to knight before the
30th move.

Mirror

W-B
If this option is active the specification above would yield not only Bxh7+
but also Bxh2+. The same is true for specifications of material relationships;
Black becomes White and White becomes Black. The board takes on a
mirror image along the horizontal axis.

a-h
The a-pawn in a search also finds the h-pawn. In this case the board beco-
mes a mirror image along the vertical axis.


Search for positional characteristics
An example in which we are searching for positions with the isolated d-pawn.
-       Click on the white pawn in material
        A black frame appears around the pawn.
-       Click on square d4
        A pawn appears on d4.
-       Click by defines in the square below the question mark.
        The square is activated; the white pawn appears in the square.
-       Move the mouse back to the board.
        The mouse pointer changes into a small white pawn.
-       With the right mouse button stamp the small white pawn on the
        squares c2 through c7, d2, d3, d6, d7, e2 through e7.
        On these squares a white pawn cannot be placed.
-       Click on the black pawn in material.
        A black frame appears around the black pawn.
-       Click in the square below the small white pawn.
        The square is activated, the black pawn appears in the square.
-       Move the mouse back to the board.
        The mouse pointer changes into a small black pawn.
-       With the right mouse button stamp the small black pawn on the
        squares d5, d6 and d7.
        The white d-pawn cannot have any black pawns in front of him.
-       With the left mouse button stamp the small black pawn on the
        squares c6, c7, d6 and d7.
        Black pawns are allowed on the c- and e-file.
-       Put the material as in the figure and activate the mirror W-B.
        It looks like this:

-       TascBase/Exit with position
-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list

Twelve games will be found.

We go back and add the number two behind the small black pawn. It means
that in any case at least two of the small pawns have to be present on the
board. This eliminates the position with only one black c-pawn or e-pawn.
Now only two games have been found.

Summary:
Big pieces on the board:                      Obligatory pieces.
Small (floating) pieces on the board:         This piece must appear as
                                              often as indicated by the
                                              number.
Forbidden pieces:                             The small piece with a cross
                                              indicates that this piece is not
                                              allowed on the given square.


Remark
Defining a pattern can also occur within another search environment:
-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list or Database/Database game list
        The selection environment appears
-       [mask]
        The search mask appears.
-       [pattern]

22. Set up a position

The complete game is necessary to study the opening. If you want to study
endgames, chess problems or combinations the initial moves of the game are
less interesting, superfluous or just impossible. Chess problems have no
preceding moves. There are two ways of getting a game fragment on the
board: the initial moves of a game can be deleted or the position can be set
up. The second possibility is discussed here.
We set up a position.

-       Edit/Set up position
A new environment appears with a chess board, a window with chess pieces
and only one menu.
The position on the board is the same as on the main screen.

-       TascBase/Clear board
        All pieces and pawns disappear.
-       Click on the white king and move him to the desired square.
        The pointer picks up the white king.
-       Click on a5.
        The white king is on a5 now.
-       Click on the white pawn in the window.
-       Click successively on f2, g2, h2.
        The piece which is picked up by the pointer can be used as a stamp.
-       Place the black pieces on the board in the same way (Ka8, f4,g4,h4)
-       w black
-       TascBase/Exit with position
This position appears on the main screen. Moves can be entered now, names
of the players can be filled in, etc. A fragment can be treated as a game, but
all actions which are connected with the opening are not possible.

Some remarks
       The 'stamp' changes again into a pointer if you click with the left
        mouse button outside the board or in the window. Clicking with the
        right mouse button within the board gives the same result.

       A square is emptied by clicking it with the right mouse button. It
        does not matter if there is a piece attached to the pointer at the
        moment or not.

       A set up position can have a history. The last move could have been
        f2-f4. With a pawn on e4 Black can capture en passant. Typing f
        will make exf3 possible.

       The program sets automatically the right selections after you have
        put the king and the rook on the right place. You must only interfere
        if the king and the rook are in the proper place but castling is not
        allowed, e.g. because the king has already moved.

       A fragment can start at any move. The default setting is 1. In parti-
        cular cases the exact move is desired, e.g. by the continuation of an
        adjourned game. It is enough to type in the move number.

       The set up position has to be 'legal', otherwise a warning appears.
        The program takes only material matters into account: two kings of
        the same colour or too many pieces or pawns (e.g. 9 pawns). It is
        also considered if the player who is in check is to move.
        It is easy to fool the program. All 8 pawns in the initial position and
        the king somewhere in the middle causes him no problem.

       To pick up the pieces you can use not only the mouse but also the
        keyboard:
        <q> = white king              <a> = black king
        <w> = white queen             <s> = black queen
        <e> = white rook              <d> = black rook
        <r> = white bishop            <f> = black bishop
        <t> = white knight            <g> = black knight
        <y> = white pawn              <h> = black pawn
Menu options


TascBase

Initial position
Initial position means the situation on the board at the moment when the
chess game begins, with 16 pieces and 16 pawns.


Clear board
All pieces are removed from the board.


Game position
The position which was on the board before selecting "Set up position".


Exit
After selecting exit, the main screen appears again. The position just set up
will be lost.
The position which was on the board before the set up appears again.


Exit with position
The set up position is carried along to the main screen. A warning window
can appear if the position on the main screen has been changed but has not
been saved.



23. Copying games

Games can be transported between the database and a gamefile and between
different gamefiles. The original games are retained, so that we can genuine-
ly speak of copying.
The importance of copying games will vary greatly for different users, but
no one can be without this option. It is useful for:
       importing new games into the database
       exchanging games with others
       maintaining and updating an opening repertoire
       working with a work file
       building up specific collections
       erasing all analyses in a gamefile
       cleaning a 'dirty' gamefile
       sorting a gamefile.

With the help of some practical examples these possibilities will be demon-
strated. The latter two will be discussed separately at the end of this chapter.

We open the data base and two game files.
-       Database/Open database        standard.tbd
-       Game file/Open gamefile       93tilbrg.tbg
-       Game file/Create gamefile     test.tbg
        (There may not already be a game file test.tbg. If there is, choose
        another name.)


Copying a single game
The easiest way to copy a single game is to load the particular game and
then to write it to the desired game file with the save command.
We load a game from the database and copy.
-       Database/Database game list   Double-click on any game.
The game is loaded.
-       Gamefile/                             test.tbg
-       Game/Save game as new                 to gamefile
The game now is contained both in the database as in the file test.tbg.


Copying multiple games
In order to copy an entire gamefile, selected games, or of games yet to be
selected, choose:
-       Tools/Copy games

The database and gamefiles which have been opened serve both as source
and target.
The extension indicates the difference between the database and the gamefi-
les. The .tbd is the database file.

Example:
-       Source  standard.tbd
-       Target  test.tbg
-       Method         Use mask
-       [copy]
        The search mask appears. There may still be information from an
        earlier search. To be on the safe side, click on [clear].
-       Type: Kasparov
-       [copy]

All games from the database of Kasparov will be copied to the gamefile
test.tbg.
The Kasparov games in the database have, of course, been retained. The
progress of this process is indicated on the screen by counters.

Remark:
If you click on the same files for both Source and Target, there appears a
warning in the window: Source and Target are identical.


Options
Drop analysis
All analyses of a game (evaluation, commentary, sub-variations) can be
deleted by the copy procedure.

Drop keycode
With the selection of this option the keycode of the opening is deleted. This
can be useful if we wish to import games from someone else's database
which contains different codings. The new games then obtain the opening
code of our database.
In exporting games we prefer to retain the opening code. This is handy in
order to also be able to search on an opening in the gamefile.

Use repertoire
Only the games that satisfy the designated repertoire (see chapter 11) are
copied. This option is only active with an opened database. When copying
between two gamefiles Use repertoire cannot be used.


Method
All games
A complete file, database, or gamefile is copied.

Use mask
After selection of this option and a click on [Copy] the search mask appears.
Only those games with the characteristics in the search mask are then
copied.
For an extensive treatment of the search mask, see chapter 8.

12 selected games
If games have been selected from the activated source file, only these will be
copied. The number of games is indicated.


Copying from different files
Databases with as many as 300,000 games are quite common. It is quite
convenient to have all games together. At any moment you can search for all
the games of a particular player, and this is a great advantage. There are
also, however, disadvantages in such large databases. Working with such
large databases costs more time than working with smaller ones. Besides
files larger than 25 MB are rather awkward to handle. Thematic databases
(for example, games played before 1945, Sicilian, or correspondence games)
have advantages. They remain smaller and are therefore easier to handle.
The disadvantage that a search procedure does not find all the desired games
does not exist in TascBase. Searching in more than one file is absolutely no
problem. To do this there are the options 'Directory files' and 'Predefined
files' at the lower left of the screen under the 'Copy games' window.


Directory
The source file can consist of more than one file. With a simple click on this
option a powerful search procedure is realized. Suppose, for example, that
you have 25 different gamefiles in a directory. Which search procedure you
wish to execute is not important. Rather than searching through 25 files
separately, you can search through all 25 by simply selecting this option.
This can be demonstrated by the following (recall that opened files will be
ignored!):
-       Source         Directory
-       Target         test.tbg
-       Click on [copy]
The search mask appears. To be safe, click on [clear].
-       Type by White: Karpov
-       Confirm with [ok]
        The file selector appears; the tbgame directory is active.
-       Click on [ok]
        Copying begins. The copy screen appears with a counter. The
        number of gamefiles that are being searched and the number of
        games found are indicated.
        After the search, all the games of Karpov are in the gamefile test.tbg
        (and, of course, in the original file).


Predefined file
It is awkward if there are too many files in a directory. Different databases
with different gamefiles belong in different directories. If we wish to search
in more than one directory we must indicate to the program where everyt-
hing can be found. That must be done with an ASCII-file with the following
construction:
$c:\tascbase\kasparov\
$c:\tascbase\corspon\
$c:\tascbase\endgame\
#d:\reserve\res-base.tbg
A $ (dollar sign) indicates the name of a directory. All files in a directory
will be searched.
A # (number sign) indicates the name of a specific file.
An example file is contained in the TascBase directory (extension .tbq). Each
user must adjust this to his own situation. This must be done with an editor
(if necessary in WordPerfect with retention as a DOS-text: Ctrl F5, 1, 1 if
WP5.1 is used.)


Cleaning a 'dirty' gamefile
The games in a gamefile are recorded in a specific order. Sometimes we
alter the data in a game. For example, we have discovered that in a specific
game Black lost on time, or we wish to add the first names of the players. In
short, the game has become physically larger and therefore cannot be
recorded in its old place. Tascbase writes the game at the end of the file.
The original game is then erased. The user observes that in the numbers of
the games, gaps have appeared.
It is also possible that we wish to delete the less interesting games in a
gamefile, for example short draws or games with major blunders. The games
are erased visually, but not physically. This can be handy if we accidently
erase a large number of games. They can be retrieved.
A gamefile in which contains a large number of erased games is unnecessari-
ly large. By copying we can clean up a file.
-       Gamefile/Create file
-       Tools/Copy games
        Copy the games from the 'dirty' file to a new file.
-       Delete the old file.
-       If desired, the new name can be given the old name directly (in the
        shell) or after ending the program in DOS.


Sorting of a gamefile
A telephone book is ordered alphabetically. A gamefile is, in principle,
ordered chronologically. The last game saved comes at the end of the line.
In TascBase a gamefile can be ordered by almost any criterion: by year,
alphabetically, by round, by size of game, or anything else.
More about this in the chapter on the search environment.

The sort procedures that are carried out in a search environment are tempo-
rary. If we wish to retain a desired order, then we must copy the new
ordering into a new gamefile.
A single example should make this clear. We want the games from the
Interpolis-tournament to be ordered not by round (as delivered), but by result
and length of game. First the victories by White, by Black, and then the
draws.
-       Gamefile/Open gamefile: tilbrg.tbg
-       Gamefile/Create gamefile: interpol
-       Gamefile/Gamefile game list
-       TascBase/Sort options
-       [clear]
-       Result  1
-       Length  2
-       Sort
-       Select all games with [all]
-       Copy selections 93tilbrg.tbg (318) to interpol.tbg
In the new file the games are in the desired order.

24. Optimize database

There are occasions in which it is necessary to optimize the database. This
can occur for various reasons:

        The games are no longer in the order of the Keycode.
        The games in the standard database are neatly ordered by opening.
        The order is indicated by the number of keys in the database. The
        key with the most moves comes first.
        The database will grow through the import of new games. These
        come at the end of the file. In searching for games with King's
        Indian (the first opening in the database) TascBase will find the first
        games quickly, but with a large database it may take some time
        before the additional games are found. With optimization the games
        are again in the correct sequence.
        Deleted games are still physically on the hard disk.
        TascBase does not actually erase games physically from the disk, but
        marks them as 'deleted'. This is also the reason that games that have
        been deleted accidentally can be recalled. It is useful to optimize if
        there are many deleted games.
        The option TascBase/Customize TascBase: e Instant update dbs
        statistics was not active with the import of games.
        The information concerning Elo and the score are now no longer
        completely accurate. After optimization these data are updated.
        The keys are no longer in the desired sequence.
        You may have added new keys to the Sicilian Defence. The speed of
        the search will be slowed slightly because the same key is stored in
        two different positions on the hard disk.
        Names of openings have been added or existing names altered.
        The option Database/Database key list/Database/Index is no longer
        ordered in the correct way.

The time needed for optimization is dependent upon the speed of the compu-
ter, the size of the database, and the number of new or deleted games.

-       Database/Optimize database

After a click on [start] TascBase copies and optimizes the database to files
with the same name. The old files are not erased until all files have been
copied. This is handy, since it makes it possible to halt the action at any
time. On the other hand, before optimization can be carried out, there must
be sufficient space available on the hard disk, approximately as much as that
used by the database. The amount of space free on the active drive can be
seen by reading the number by Work disk. If the space is insufficient you
can specify another drive as work disk by typing the letter of the drive on
which sufficient space is available.
If insufficient space is available, you will unfortunately not be able to
optimize.

A counter indicates progress in a percentage. At 100% the [stop] button will
change into a [done]-button.

25. Game converters

The rules for the game of chess game are the same all over the world, but
unfortunately the storage of games differs for all chess programs and
database programs. This means that games from another program cannot be
used within TascBase without being converted. They must first be 'transla-
ted' into the TascBase-format. This need only be done once. For database
games from ChessBase and Nicbase there are special converters as well as
for the games from the chess program The Chess Machine. There are
thousands of games produced in these formats.
To convert games in other formats a small detour must be made. They must
first be saved as an (ASCII)-text to a file within the program in question .
TascBase has a powerful converter to transform these text files into gamefi-
les.

To convert games to the TascBase-format a gamefile does not need to be
opened. But it is allowed.
It is of no importance whether the gamefile is empty or not. An empty
gamefile must exist or it must be created with Gamefile/Create gamefile.


Converting ChessMachine games

The games from the ChessMachine are stored as single game in a file or as
game collection in a file.
-       Gamefile/Create
        gamefile
-       Type tcm-game
-       Tools/Import
        TCM-games

The gamefile just created is the target file.
No source file has as yet been selected on your screen.

With the help of the [source]-button the file selector can be activated to
specify it.

-       Click on [source]
        You must find the directory with ChessMachine games. They have
        the extension .gam. Only these file names are seen in the file selec-
        tor.
-       Double-click on a file.
        The target file can still be changed if necessary! Just click on
        [target].
-       Click on [start].

The TCM-file is converted into a TascBase file. The progress is indicated by
the counter.
The headings Old size and New size indicate the number of Kb the file
occupies on the hard disk. The TascBase-format is considerably more
economical than the ChessMachine-format.
All the information of The ChessMachine-games is retained.


Converting Nicbase games

Games from Nicbase are stored in the same way as TascBase-games.
-       Gamefile/Create
        gamefile
-       Type nic-game
-       Tools/Import
        NIC-games

The gamefile just created is the target file.
No source file has as yet been selected on your screen.

With the help of the [source]-button the file selector can be activated to
specify it.

-       Click on [source]
        You must find the directory with Nicbase games. They have the
        extension .g30. Only these file names are seen in the file selector.
-       Double-click on a file.
        The target file can still be changed if necessary! Just click on
        [target].
-       Click on [start].

The NIC-file is converted into a TascBase file. The progress is indicated by
the counter.
The headings Old size and New size indicate the number of Kb the file
occupies on the hard disk. The TascBase-format is about the same size as the
Nicbase-format.
All the information of the Nicbase-games is retained.


Converting ChessBase games

Games from ChessBase are stored in one file as TascBase games.
-       Gamefile/Create
        gamefile
-       Type cb4-game
-       Tools/Import
        CB4-games

The gamefile just created is the target file.
No source file has as yet been selected on your screen.

With the help of the [source]-button the file selector can be activated to
specify it.

-       Click on [source]
        You must find the directory with ChessBase games. They have the
        extension .cbf. Only these file names are seen in the file selector.
-       Double-click on a file.
        The target file can still be changed if necessary! Just click on
        [target].
-       Click on [start].


Converting TXT games
A game in text looks like this:
Hbner-Kasparov
Lucerne Olympiad 1982
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5
8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bg5 Re8 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 c6 12. Bc4 cxd5 13.
Bxd5 Nc6
1/2-1/2

Reading the moves is no problem, but reading the header is. Who is White,
what is the place? To be sure that everything is correct the ideal header of a
game must look like this:
[White: "Hbner,R"]
[Title: "IGM"]
[Elo: "2630"]
[Country: "FRG"]
[Black: "Kasparov,G"]
[Title: "IGM"]
[Elo: "2675"]
[Country: "URS"]
[Place: "Lucerne ol"]
[Round: "7"]
[Date: "1982"]
The brackets and the quotes are not necessary but they help avoiding
misunderstandings.
The names in the header, the notation and the letters of the pieces are
defined in TascBase/Customize TXT export.
If you activate Portable Header you get the brackets and the quotes as well.
An example:

-       Gamefile/Create
        gamefile
-       Type txt-game
-       Tools/Import
        TXT-games

The gamefile just created is the target file.
No source file has as yet been selected on your screen.

With the help of the [source]-button the file selector can be activated to
specify it.

-       Click on [source]
        You must find the directory with the text files. They must have the
        extension .txt. Only these file names are seen in the file selector.
-       Double-click on a file.
        The target file can still be changed if necessary! Just click on
        [target].
-       Click on [start].

The TXT-file is converted into a TascBase file. The progress is indicated by
the counter.
The headings Old size and New size indicate the number of Kb the file
occupies on the hard disk. The TascBase-format is much more economical
than a TXT-format.
Only games without annotations can be converted.


From TascBase to ChessBase games

It is possible to convert to the CB4-format. The procedure is exactly the
same as explained.
-       Gamefile/Create gamefile
-       Type cb-export
-       Tools/Export CB4-games

The gamefile just created is the target file.
No source file has as yet been selected on your screen.

With the help of the [source]-button the file selector can be activated to
specify it.

-       Click on [source]
        You must find the directory with ChessBase games. They have the
        extension .cbf. Only these file names are seen in the file selector.
-       Double-click on a file.
        The target file can still be changed if necessary! Just click on
        [target].
-       Click on [start].


Export to text

This option exports all games from a gamefile to a text file.
-       Tools/Export TXT games
        
No source or target file has as yet been selected on your screen.
With the help of the [source]- and [target]-button the file selector can be
activated to specify them.

-       Click on [source]
        Make your choice.
-       Click on [target]
        Enter the name for the TXT file.
-       Click on [start].

The TXT file is an ASCII-file. More information in chapter 20: Printing.

26. Error messages

The change that you obtain the following error messages is extremely small.
Nevertheless unforeseen occasions can arise in which something can go
wrong, for example a bad sector on your hard disk. The program then
provides you with an error message. The possible errors are numbered.
An overview:

        2       There are too many active games.
        4       The game (even if only one move) is corrupted.
        5       The game contains too many moves.
        6       Games are corrupted (internally).
        7       The help file is no longer in good order.
        8       For some inexplicable reason the game cannot be saved
                internally.
        9       The database is corrupted.
        11      Old version of the database.
        15      The file tascbase.exe is corrupted.
        17      Incorrect result of game.
        18      Player's name too long.
        19      Illegal adding to a position in the database.
        20      Game drive installed twice.
        21      Illegal size of game-driver heap.
        22      Action on closed file.
        23      Card-I/O could not be loaded.
        24      Optimization (of database) was unsuccessful.
        25      Illegal allocation to internal heap.
        26      Error in .BMP (image of chess pieces).
        30      Error in graphics system.
        33      The data are corrupted.
        34      Illegal use of a font.
        35      Illegal use of a graphic image.
        36      Illegal graphical action.
        38      Incorrect length of a field in the search environment.
        39      Memory confused.
        40      Insufficient resource to sort.
        41      The file of the chess program (.bin) cannot be found.
        42      The necessary files for printing diagrams are not present.
        44      Illegal loading of games.
                (For example, you have erased the .tbg of a database and
                have thereafter created a new file with the same name.)

27. Super user

The number of available games at this moment is enormous. The format in
which they have been saved is not important for TascBase, virtually every
format can be converted.
There is however one disadvantage to new games. They 'pollute' the
database.
Two important reasons for this are:
        double games
        games where names, places etc. are written differently
TascBase has tools for removing double games easily and adjust names.
They can be selected under the menu Super User. Both menu-options can
only be used when a gamefile is open.
If you want to adjust the database, you have to open the database as a
gamefile. One has to be careful here. This will be discussed later.


TascBase Double
Removing of doubles is not a major action. The double games are removed,
automatically or by choice. For a database file it is enough to optimize once
afterwards.

Buffer: 11125
The number is the number of games your computer can hold in its memory.
It varies with each computer.


Customize double

Deleting games
You must make a choice from three options.

Oldest game (left)
The double game that is first in the list, is removed. That is the oldest game.

Choose each time
If two games are found that are the same, you have the opportunity to delete
one of the games, to save or keep the double games.

Newest game (right)
The double game that is second in the list, is removed. That is the newest
game (in the gamefile).

Search mask
It is not necessary to search the entire gamefile for doubles. Two criteria can
be given. The search works the same as the search mask in the main pro-
gram.

Ignore
In this long list you can choose which game info can be different. With the
standard options, games must be an exact match before they are removed.

Data comparison
Exact match
The moves of the game are exactly the same. The game ends on the same
move.
Partial match
A large part of the game must be the same. The higher the number you give
(30 is o.k.), the better the match must be. The program find games that are
the same, but differ one move, e.g. black has played one more move.
It is recommended in this option always to activate w choose each time.
It is not very useful to enter in a number lower than 20. Games with the
same opening are then considered to be the same.


Start search
After activating this option the program begins to load the games in its
memory. The number of games can be seen in the top menu-item.
The various counters are working hard. Only if the option w choose each
time is active, are you asked to choose when a double occurs.

In the two large windows you find the game info of the double game.
Beneath them there is extra information such as the number of halfmoves
(27) that the game lasted and the number of the games (307 and 410) in the
gamefile.
The difference in this game is in the game info. It is with no doubt an often
played draw-variation from the Zaitsev variation of the Spanish opening.
The buttons [delete] and [save] occur two times. The left ones are for the
first and therefore the oldest game.
After a click on [save], the file selector appears and you can choose a file in
which you wish to store the game.
After a click on one of the buttons you must click on [continue] or push
<Enter> to let the program continue the search.
A click on [stop] brings back the counter to screen.


Exit
A click on [exit] returns you to the main program.


TascBase Rectify

The correction of a single mistake in the game information is not a lot of
work. This is no longer the case when there are hundreds of changes to be
made. In such cases TascBase Rectify comes to assistance. In brief the
following happens: You let the opened gamefile be analysed. The game
header for each entry are given in two columns in alphabetical order. In the
right column you can make changes. When you are finished you must save
the changes in a new gamefile. When discussing the menu-items the many
details will be explained.

Search mask
For correcting a single name or place a search mask can be made. Only this
information will be analysed and only this information can be changed.

Analyse gamefile
The most important action is to activate this option. All game info will be
analysed. Afterwards you have to change the various data in the Rectify
menu.

Info gamefile
This option is only active if the gamefile has been analysed. An analyses of
93tilbrg.tbg gives the info from the picture.

Limitations
The memory of your computer is limited. The number of different names
that can be adjusted in your computer, can be found with this option.

Detailed analysis
This option is on or off. As soon as you leave TascBase Rectify the option is
set off. If you want to use it you have to activate it each time.
In this case only some characteristics can be changed. An Elo is only valid
for half a year, a title can change and also the country code is changed after
emigration.
After a detailed analysis of the gamefile, Elo, title and country code can be
changed in the right way with Rectify. Read more about this under that
menu-item.

Save gamefile
After changes you must save the gamefile under a different name. This
occurs in the usual way.

Exit
When leaving TascBase Rectify the changes are not saved automatically.
You will be warned.


Rectify
The actual changes in the game info are made with this menu. All relevant
data have a separate menu-item. The procedure is the same for each one of
them. Only with players is there a second possibility (with the option
detailed analysis). The processing screen looks like this:

Upper left beside Rectify you can find which game information you are
dealing with. Next to Empty is the number of entries without a name. In this
case all names have been filled in.

There are 112 different players in total. This is a fact. You can't change this
number.
The arrows are for showing names that do not fit on the screen.
The left column with names is the actual situation in the gamefile. Nothing
can be changed here. The column on the right can be changed. After a click
on a line you can make changes to your heart's content. Names that have
been changed become an asterisk (see Pliester).
Left of the names is a number which shows you the number of times the
name occurs in the gamefile (under the column with #).

After a detailed analysis the screen looks like this:

In this case only the Elo, the title and the country code can be changed. All
data is on one line. You have to be careful when changing. The slashes must
stay in their places, also if some data is unknown or not existing as with
Jongsma,A.
The Year has an A, B or C. The A stands for the first half year, the B for
the second half year. The C means no month is known.
