Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Chessbase 9.0 - Reader: System Requirements
The Chessbase 9.0 - Reader: System Requirements
0 - Reader
The ChessBase 9 –Reader is based on the database program ChessBase 9.0. With the help of
this program all current chess database formats can be read. Please check whether you have
on your program CD/DVD the text file (readme.doc or liesmich.txt) with the latest notes. You
can access these notes with any text editor.
System requirements
The reader runs on computers with a Pentium- AMD Processor at 300Mhz or higher. You
need to have at least 64 MB RAM and Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows
XP Pro. To install, according to which product you have, you will need either a CD drive or a
DVD drive. A fast graphics card is necessary to achieve optimal performance and smooth
animation of the 3D-board. To obtain the best from the program, we recommend a system
with 1 GHz, 256 MB RAM and Windows XP. To use Chess Media System, Windows Media
Player 9.0 or better must be installed.
Note: the reader does not work with Windows 95 or Windows NT.
Program Installation
The CB9-Reader cannot be started directly from the CD/DVD. You must first install the
program on your computer’s hard disk. To install the reader, proceed as follows:
• switch on your computer, start Windows and put the product CD/DVD in the
CD/DVD drive of your computer.
• the installation program starts automatically. Should it not do so, click in the taskbar
on START and choose from the menu Run. Type into the box: d:setup (if need be
replace d: by whatever is the letter designating your CD/DVD drive) and click “OK”.
• in the dialog box, click on the button Install in order to copy the reader on to your
computer’s hard disk.
• the installation program offers you the chance to choose between versions in various
languages. Choose the language you wish and continue the installation with a single
click on the Next button..
• the installation will then begin. The program first asks for a pathway. If you do not
wish to follow the suggestion of the installation program, you may choose a user-
defined path. Click on the button Browse in order to install your user-defined path and
then on Next. We do suggest that you install the program on the recommended
standard path. Click on Next to finish installing your program.
1
1 Opening databases
After the reader has been installed on to your system, the database on the CD/DVD is
automatically opened on Start. In the case of older CD/DVDs, the program loads the largest
CBH-database from the root directory of the CD/DVD.
You can open databases from anywhere on your computer by using from the menu File –
Open or Ctrl-O. Databases in ChessBase format have the file extension *.CBH.
Note: After opening a database, in the menus in the list window you will find a series of
index tabs. The tabs offer different ways of accessing the contents of the database. A single
click on Games will load the games list, Players opens the index of players or Text loads the
introductory text for the database.
In all list views, you can do a user-defined sort and fix of the columns with the mouse. A click
on the column header sorts the information in that column and a second click on the column
header reverses it. Example: a click on White sorts the column alphabetically, and a second
click reverses the process.
Tip: a right click on the column header calls up a context menu. With it you, the user, define the display of the
column.
For simple navigation through the database, you have at the bottom of the screen three buttons
at your disposal.
Using the buttons “Back” and “Forward”, you can scroll through the text, or restart texts you
have already loaded. “Start” allows you to return to the introductory text for the database.
Tip: as well as its introductory text, a database may contain several texts. In the games list (click on Games) all
texts are shown as entries in the list. A click on the column header “Result” will bring the texts together in the
list.
2
1.2.1 Playing through a game with keyboard commands
The arrow keys (right, left, up and down) move the cursor through the game score. At the
same time the board displays the corresponding position.
1.2.2 Playing through a game with the buttons under the board
Right click on the board -> Board design opens a dialogue which allows you to choose your
settings. Start the option Replay arrows below board. The toolbar (reached via Board
window -> View -> Toolbars) contains seven buttons with arrows for the purpose of moving
around the game. The buttons have the following meanings:
The two green arrows on the left and right allow you to call up the games you have loaded up
till then. This option is immensely useful. During a working session, you can very quickly
change from one game to another without losing the game you have just loaded or entered.
The principle works along the lines of an Internet browser, where you can also navigate
between the latest and earlier pages by pressing a button.
Tip: If you pause for a moment or two with the mouse over an entry in the list, a “tool-tip” will appear with
useful extra information..
Within a game list, there are other optional designations: e.g. the abbreviation “P” stands for
position, meaning that the list entry is a position, not a full game.
2.2 Players
The Player index lists all the players represented in the database, including their games.
Under the player list there is an Entry line. As soon as you enter the first letters, you move to
that position in the list. In the right hand pane, there is a list of all that player’s games and
tournaments. Right click on the player’s name in the left hand pane -> Search white games
etc. sorts the games in the list. A click on the column header sorts, e.g. by name, number of
games, Elo score, photo, etc.
2.3 Tournaments
The Tournament index functions in the same way as the player index. By using the entry line,
you can quickly access the desired tournament. All column headings can be reconfigured as
you wish and are used to sort the information in the columns. The button Edit starts the
3
process of editing tournament data. All the games in the index will have their data entries
appropriately changed.
2.4 Annotator
Contains the index of the Annotators. Using the entry line quickly takes you to the
commentator you were looking for and the right hand pane lists the games annotated. All
column headings can be reconfigured as you wish and are used to sort the information in the
columns. In the Source index, the games are listed according to where they came from.
2.5 Teams
Lists all entries of information about teams, including players and games.
2.6 Openings
The openings index is similar to Windows-Explorer. ChessBase databases are generally
speaking already classified according to a key. A click on an entry opens the openings key
and shows the contents of the level below it. In the bottom part of the window, a game list
appears with those games played in the specified variation.
3 Functions in lists
Right click with the mouse -> List Format opens a menu which allows various options in the
games lists. Column sorting offers lots of extra information. Right clicking a column header
calls up a context menu allowing you to configure the columns in a list. Individual headings
can be moved to a different position within a list with the mouse. Within the lists Tool-tips
give all sorts of extra information.
• Notation: the normal chess notation in running text. Suited for the display of
unannotated or normally annotated games.
• Table: notation of a branching variation in table form. Helpful in gaining an overview
of branching variations, a tree of different games or a very fully annotated game with
variations.
• Training: notation for training purposes, this shows only the last move which was
played.
• Score sheet: switches to the form of a traditional score sheet, well known to you from
tournaments and team matches.
• Openings book: this pane shows a book. A book is a database with information about
numerous games and statistics for all the variations. An openings book has the file
extension *.CTG. Openings books are often present when special opening systems are
under discussion.
4
Tip: the font size for notation and book can be set separately and independently. Right click in Notation
window -> Choose Font calls up the dialogue for setting the font.
Tip: Tools -> Options -> Notation opens a dialogue for setting the notation. It allows you to choose between
various forms of notation..
5 Searches in databases
In a database, you can search for specific games. By using the search mask, you set the
conditions for filtering and searching in the database. The options available in the search mask
are extremely complex and cannot be presented in full in this introductory text.
Tip: an entry in the entry line of the Player index also filters players whose name starts with a small letter.
5
5.2 Medals
Finds games which have been awarded a medal.
5.3 Position
A search for games with a specific position on the board, or on part of the board. The search
mask distinguishes between
• ‘Look for’ board For exact criteria: which squares should be occupied by which
pieces.
• ‘Or’ board For loose criteria.
• ‘Exclude’ board For exact criteria: which squares should not be occupied by
which pieces.
Tip: Whenever you start a new search, always begin by clicking on the button “Reset” in order to clear out any
old search criteria.
5.4 Annotations
This is the search mask used to find text (Text1, Text2), Symbols (!,?, +-, etc.), positions
(parts of games, which do not commence at the opening position), deleted games (games
which have been marked for deletion) and special annotations.
5.5 Material
Search mask used to find specific distributions of material.
5.6 Manoeuvres
Search mask used to find manoeuvres by pieces.
Note: Searches can also be carried out from the player or tournament index. A single click on
the button “Filter” activates the search mask. Be aware, however, that in this case the search is
only carried out on the contents which have been selected. That means that the search is
limited to a part of the database.
At the bottom of the Audio/Video window, there is small toolbar to enable you to control the
system.
6
• Open This is what you use to open files in the Windows Media Player format. The
files have the file extension *.wmv.
By using the slider next to the toolbar you can move to any specific point within the
presentation. What is happening on the graphical chessboard is automatically synchronised to
the lecture.
Clicking on Pause stops the lecture. A second click on Pause continues from where you left
off.
Note: In order for the "Chess Media System" to work, it is necessary to have Windows Media Player 9.0 or
higher installed.
7 Program settings
Under Tools -> Options there is the chance to configure the program’s most important
settings. Via the heading Engines you can set the default engine and activate/deactivate
HEUMAS, which gives help when entering games via the board window. According to the
chosen depth HEUMAS suggests moves while you are entering games. Language defines
which languages are to be shown in text commentary.