Author: Harald Faber
Date: 23:11:01 04/07/99
Go up one level in this thread
On April 07, 1999 at 13:03:40, Rob Shultz wrote:
>I now have Auto232 but I don't know how to read German. Has anyone translated
>the manual into English? Are there any sites with tips and configuration help?
>
>Thanks,
>Rob
Once upon a time I asked Steve for kind of archive or FAQ, e.g. Chessmater
settings is an often asked questions, and this autoplayer too.
Up to now it seems Steve either has no time or no interest. So I have to post it
here:
Autoplayer manual
shortened and modified version. Translated from German and modified by
Harald Faber.
For professional use contact haraldf@bigfoot.com
CONTENTS:
=========
I. Hardware installation
II. Starting the test-software
III. Starting the installation software
IV. A first game between 2 programs
V. More games with the autoplayer
VI. Autoplayer for the advanced user
1. series of games (option /g)
2. time distance between 2 games (option /t)
3. maximum move number (option /m)
4. name for saved games (option /f)
5. interrupting game in progress ( <CTRL> - 9 )
6. play from a setup-position
VII. Hints and tricks
1. Fritz2+3
2. Kallisto 1.83
3. Databases
4. finishing interrupted games
5. notation!
6. noname-driver
I. Hardware installation
------------------------
Both PC's have to be connected with the delivered cable. Use a serial port COM1
or COM2. It is possible to use COM1 at the 1st and COM2 at the 2nd PC.
The delivered cable has 2 9-pin-sockets so you need an adapter if you have
25-pin-port available.
II. Starting the test-software
------------------------------
After installing the hardware turn on both computers. Be sure to be at the
DOS-prompt (occasionally you have to quit Windows etc.). Put the delivered
3.5"-disk into the 1st computer and a copy of this disk into the 2nd one.
At the DOS-prompt change to the 3.5"-disk-drive on both computers (a: or b:)
and type
AUTOTEST <ENTER>
at the 1st computer. This program checks if the connection between PC - PC is
working correctly. Now also type AUTOTEST <ENTER> at the 2nd PC. If there is a
connection found a message appears on both Pcs via which COM-port the Pcs are
connected. Keep it in mind or write it down, it will be needed later on. If no
connection is found then check the cable connection. If this is installed
correctly, there is a problem with your PC, probably with the serial port.
There may also be problems with the interrupts, i.e. if you plug the cable into
the port where the mouse usually is connected it could be necessairy to
de-activate the mouse-driver in the AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS. Furthermore
there can be interrupt conflicts with some network adapters.
III. Starting the installation software
---------------------------------------
If the connection was found correctly in point 2 then type
INSTALL <ENTER>
at the 1st PC. A menu appears. You may use the cursor keys as well as the normal
keys on the keyboard (the first letter (marked) of the menu names are only in
use). Go through with the cursor (right or left) to the program of your choice
and press <ENTER> to open a pull-down-menu because you often have several
different program versions. Select with cursor up/down and again press <ENTER>.
Now a small window opens. You have to enter the following:
Source install drive (3.5"-disk-drive, a: or b:);
program directory (i.e. C:\GENIUS3);
starting command for the program (i.e. cg3 /x for Genius3 in x-mode)
and finally the used COM-port (here you fill in the number you got from the
test program). Don't hesitate to edit the lines you want or have to edit.
Always confirm entries with <ENTER>. This way you can install the autoplayer
for all the other programs you want to use. When you have finished do the same
procedure at the 2nd computer.
IV. A first game between 2 programs
-----------------------------------
1. Start: The additional programs for the auotplayer are installed now on both
computers, time for a test. Change the directory on your 1st computer to where
the program you want to use is located. Instead of starting as usual you now
have to type
AUTO232 <ENTER>
Some messages appear, then the chess program starts. Now do the same at the 2nd
PC. Both programs were started and now have to be prepared for the first game
autoplay
a) new game: most programs load the last game when started. Therefore it is
necessairy to enter the command for a new game on both Pcs.
b) level: select the playing level of your choice on both programs (they don't
need the same time control). For this first autoplay test game we propose you
to take 5sec/move because it is a test and the game shouldn't last too long.
Now both programs are prepared to finally start an autoplayer-game. Choose the
program you want to play with white. On 1st keyboard press
<CTRL> - 0 (keep the CTRL-key pressed when pressing 0)
The same effect has <ALT> - 0
Depending on the programs it may last some seconds until the programs start to
play each other. Be patient. You can control this, usually in the program the
option "print moves" will be activated automatically.
2. End of game: The game will stop automatically (50-moves-rule, mate etc.).
A special case would be if the first game would last more than 100 moves.
Then the game would also stop because with default-settings the autoplayer
allows play until move 100. How this can be modified will be explained later.
At reaching the end of the game, the game will be saved after 15min as
"match.001". You may save the game manually as well.
V. More games with the autoplayer
---------------------------------
Of course the autoplayer needs only to be installed once. If you want another
autoplayer-game, repeat point IV.
More info about more games etc. are in the instructions for advanced users.
VI. Autoplayer for the advanced user
------------------------------------
To let 2 programs play overnight in tournament-mode with automatic saving the
game is just the autoplayer's basic function. Here are further options:
- series of games between 2 programs automatically with subsequently saving
the games
- definition of a time distance between 2 games
- definition of maximum move number per game
- definition of the name of the saved games, default is match.001, match.002 etc
- interrupting a game in progress (i.e. in a clearly won / lost / draw position)
and start a new game
- automatic play from a setup-position
1.series of games (option: /g)
Before you get to know how to play 2, 3 or more games automatically some basic
info:
Although the autoplayer is installed on both Pcs and also started on both, the
control of all activities is only given to one computer (master). Which one
this is can be chosen with pressing <CTRL> - 0 to start the autoplay. The
one where you press <CTRL> - 0 is the master. You can also give some more
information to the master with starting parameters / options. For a series
of games use the parameter /g. That means if you want to play 10 games
type
AUTO232 /g10 <ENTER>
at the master (instead of auto232) and AUTO232 at the 2nd PC. The master
always plays white!
2. definition of a time distance between 2 games (option /t)
What is it good for? Simple: If you let 2 programs play blitz-games the default
setting would let you wait 15min until a new game is started. This is not very
senseful. It would be more senseful in games with 5sec/move to use a time
parameter /t1. So if you want to play 10 games as above with 5sec/move it would
be clever to type
AUTO232 /g10 /t1 <ENTER>
(again at the master, the slave always gets only AUTO232). If the autoplayer
should wait 3min instead of 1min then just change the parameter from /t1 to /t3
and so on. Always think of the level you play. If you have 30min/game and
use /t1 it could happen that one program is still thinking while the
autoplayer after a minute with no action thinks the game is over and
suddenly starts a new game. In tournament games the formula
time distance = time per move x 10 (tournament is 40m/2h = 3min/move)
did stand the test. (personal remark: some programs like Hiarcs and MChessPro
sometimes use more than this time, so right now I am at /t35 although this is
sometimes very close...). Minimum time is 1min, maximum is 52000min
3. definition of maximum move number (option /m)
Although more and more programs recognize not enough material to mate there
are some cases where really nothing happens and both programs move just
because it is their due. In these cases it can be senseful to use this
parameter. So if you want a game not to last longer than 100 moves with the
above options, type
AUTO232 /g10 /t35 /m100 <ENTER> at the master and so on.
4. definition of names for the saved games (option /f)
It is boring to save the games always as match.001, match.002 etc. You may
define the name yourself. I.e. type
AUTO232 /g10 /t35 /m100 /fseries1 <ENTER>
to save the games as series1.001, series1.002 etc.
5. interrupting a game in progress ( <CTRL> - 9 )
While a game series is running it often happens that you come to the
computer(s) and see that the actual game is clearly won / lost / draw.
So to not waste any more time for this senseless game you can interrupt the
running game under the following conditions:
- wait until the master computer is to move
- while the master calculates press <CTRL> - 9
Either the master interrupts his calculations immediately or he finishes his
calculations. (remark: it doesn't matter if you force the master to move)
In both cases the move won't be sent to the other computer.
Now press <CTRL> - 0 at the master. The actual game will be saved and
afterwards another game will be started.
6. play from a setup-position
Sometimes it is interesting to play from a certain position. In this case
setup the position on both programs (of course loaded with AUTO232) and start
like known with <CTRL> - 0.
VII. Hints and tricks
---------------------
1. Fritz2: the autoplayer starts Fritz2 with default colours. Don't change it!
Fritz2 also needs the sound to be enabled! If it is disturbing, add the
option /s to the autoplayer. Then the sound is enabled but won't be heard out
of the PC speaker. Fritz3 has the same problems until version 3.03. If you
have anb earlier version than 3.04 then update your version (3.00-3.03) with
the one on the auto232-disk (directory fritz304).
2.Kallisto: To use Kallisto, check if you have the version 1.83 or later.
If necessairy you need to update. When installing Kallisto, the starting
command has to be the .EXE-file, i.e. "V183" for Kallisto V1.83.
Otherwise, if you fill in "Kallisto", the program won't be started with the
autoplayer.
3. databases: for some programs that support databases it is useful to create
a new database which only will contain the games played with the autoplayer.
Create the databases before activating the autoplayer with <CTRL> - 0
4. finishing interrupted games: just load the interrupted game in both
programs and start the autoplayer, but care for the settings
5. (my personal advice) notation: Always be sure to use the LONG NOTATION!
If you have the short notation activated the autoplayer doesn't work!
Another problem is that you always have to enter the
AUTO232 /g10 /t35 /m100 /fseries1 etc. BEFORE you type AUTO232 at the
2nd computer!
6. If you develop an own program you can play with the autoplayer against
all other programs with this noname-driver. You just have to ensure the
following conventions:
- the program must be able to print moves. Is this option activated, each
half-move (=ply) must be printed immediately after moving
- the moves must be accepted by your program in MiniMAX-format:
moves: from-to : "e2e4<Carriage Return>"
new game : "AN<Carriage Return>"
turn board : "BD<Carriage Return>"
move back : "ZU<Carriage Return>"
move! : "SPACE"
calculate! : "SP<Carriage Return>"
Memo-mode/more moves on/off : "MZ<Carriage Return>"
Printer on/off : "DR<Carriage Return>"
Save game : "SR<Carriage Return>"
"filename<Carriage Return>"
Recklinghausen, Juni 1997
No warranty for this.
Constructive criticism welcome.
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