Author: Richard A. Fowell (fowell@netcom.com)
Date: 19:21:52 02/20/00
Go up one level in this thread
On February 20, 2000 at 18:27:09, LANCE SCHUTTENHELM wrote:
>I lost the information from my last response? would somebody tell me what they
>know?
Hmmm. I don't see it either. Here's part of it:
========== (c) Richard A. Fowell (fowell@netcom.com) ==============
Program Name: Essentia CD Mac
Type: Chess Database with Viewer
Requires: CD-ROM, 4.3MB RAM
List Price: $72 US ($69 + $3 S&H))
Street Price: N/A
Copy Protection: No
PPC Native: Yes
Publisher: Chess For Less
Essentia CD Mac is a 1,005,000 game database on CD-ROM with a viewing/
searching program. The database is included in both an Essentia
proprietary format and in ChessBase (.cbf) format. The .cbf file can
be read by other chess database programs, such as ChessBase Mac and
ExaChess Pro. There are also several "bonus" chess files on the CD-ROM.
True to the publisher's name, Essentia provides a search engine and a
megadatabase for less than the cost of any other Mac database capable
of handling sizable game collections. It is an interesting option both for
those without a database program, and for owners of ExaChess Pro or
ChessBase.
The viewing program lets you search for and view games, as well
as export them to the standard .PGN format. It isn't a full database
program, however - you can't view files that aren't in the Essentia
database, and you can't add files to that database. Additionally,
while it has the essential database search capabilities, its search
capabilities aren't as extensive as those of full database programs.
The "bonus files" are:
- The freeware chess program MacChess (versions 3.0 (PPC) and 2.5.1 (68K))
- The freeware Internet chess client Fixation 1.3
- Information on the Internet Chess Club
- Rating lists for FIDE, USCF, ICCF, CANADA, GERMANY and more.
- ECO opening codes in two formats (from FICS)
I'm working on a review like the HIARCS one. The interface stuff is attached.
Drawbacks found so far:
- max of 2500 "hits" per search.
- can't "refine" search results within Essentia (find intersections).
- the "specify opening sequence" doesn't find transpositions.
However, it is pretty fast, and including a search engine and a mega-database
for less than the cost of any other Mac database capable of doing anything
simiilar is pretty good.
fowell@netcom.com (Richard A. Fowell)
Where to buy Essentia Mac
http://www.Chess4Less.com/
Notes
The Essentia Dialog Boxes:
=================
Search for Games:
=================
White Player From [__________] To [__________]
Black Player From [__________] To [__________]
ECO Codes From [__________] To [__________]
Year From [__________] To [__________]
Results [x] 1-0 [x] 0-1 [x] Draw
Move Order [ ]
[Clear] [Cancel] [Revert] [OK]
===============
Search Results: ( Scrolling window with 21 rows visible at any time)
===============
ECO White Player Black Player Result Year Site
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A00 Coenen,N Kasparov 1/2-1/2 1992 Budapest Spring op
A04 Chess Genius X Kasparov,Garik 1/2-1/2 1995 Cologne TV
A04 Damljanovic, Branko Kasparov,Garik 0-1 1989 Belgrade
... ... ... ... ... ...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Load Game] [Save Found Games to PGN File ...] Number of hits: 291 [New Search]
=========
Essentia
=========
8 ...___...___...___...___ A38
7 ___...___.r.___...___.P. Cvitan,Ognjen
6 ...___...___.K._p_.P.___ Kasparov,Garik
5 ___...___..._p_...___... 1-0 44 Moves
4 ...___.R.___...___..._p_ 1994
3 ___.P.___...___.k.___... Munich
2 ...___...___...___...___
1 ___...___...___...___... [ scrolling move list ]
a b c d e f g h [ Next Game ] [ Animate ]
[ Previous Game ] [ Search Results ]
[|<] [<-] [->] {>|] [ Preferences ] [ Search ]
===========
Preferences
===========
[x] Sliding Pieces [....] Light Square Color
[x] Indicate Captures [####] Dark Square Color
[x] Indicate Checks
[x] Show Algebraic Coordinates
[x] Place white at the bottom of the display
[Factory Settings] [Revert] [Cancel] [Okay]
=============== draft review, (c) Richard A. Fowell (fowell@netcom.com) )
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