# Winboard as UCI engine

Last changes 20.apr.2002 Release ver. 1.2 see History 15.apr.2002 Release ver. 1.1 see History

9.apr.2002
Initial release

The main reason for making this adapter is for letting Winboard-engines be able to give you a challenged game in GUI's that do not support Winboard-protocol but support the new UCI-protocol.

My guidelines is to feed the engine with commands that would normal comming from the GUI if this was a wb-gui (Winboard). It will try to do this so fair as possible without give the engine an advantage or a disadvantage. Many GUI try to lower the priority for the engine to play more smoothly in their GUI. When the adapter sense this it try to pass such 'commands' to the engine too.

Probably many people would use the adapter for engine-engine matches, but be aware that there is still missing most 'end of game' messages to the engine so those engines that rely on result for book learning would not work properly. You could of course use the GUI's book w/learning but this would then be GUI+engine and not the engine by itself that is competing in the computer tournament.

Tanks to all that have send me log files and bug reports.

- Installation
- Downloads
- GUI that support UCI
- Advanced features
- How to find right parameters
- History
- Licence policy

### Installation

Put the exe, and eng file in the engine directory.

How to set up the eng file could be cryptic for people that don't know how the communication between WB-engines an gui work so I would like it if the engine author bundle this adapter with correct eng-file to their engine.

As a start you could make a simple eng file like this:

`;---------------------------
[ENGINE]
Name=Name of engine
Author=Name of engine author
Filename=Wb2Uci.exe
[OPTIONS]
Program=engine.exe
;---------------------------`

and add options when you see a missing feature or something that isn't handled correct.

Give the engfile the name Wb2Uci.eng and put this and the Wb2Uci.exe in the engines folder.

### Downloads

Wb2Uci.zip | 20.apr.02 | The adapter for use if you want to make your own eng files.

If you don't see the menu selection marked with yellow in Fritz 7/Shredder 6 you have to download the latest patch from Chessbase

### Gui that support UCI

#### Fritz 7/Shredder 6

You have to install the patch for Fritz 7 gui for it to handle the uci-protocol.

If you want to have a logo in Fritz 7 you must make a bmp file and give it the same name as the adapter.

Text options isn't editable from the GUI.
Buttons isn't displayed.
Deep positional analysis would not work.
Because default values from the .eng file isn't sent it is important that these values are the engines real default values.

#### Shredder 6 Classical

To view help on settings from inside the GUI you must click on the help button and then close the settings box. You can now leave the help window open and go into the settings box again to do your changes.

#### Chess Assistant 6.1

This GUI have good wb-support so I recommend you to use the wb-protocol for wb-engines. If you want to use it for test there is something to remark.

The GUI don't send opponents time.
To enable ponder you must mark this in the personality settings.
There is some time loss in the start of the first game because the GUI don't wait until the engine is initialized before it start the clock.
Buttons isn't displayed.

### History

Version | Date | Changes
--- | --- | ---
1.0 | 09.04.02 | -Initial release.
1.1 | 15.04.02 | -Fixed bug in reading presetup files.
1.2 | 20.04.02 | -Fixed bug when an extras combovalue started with a number. -Send score 0.01 on each go to stop Shredder for offering draw when the engine is in book. -Stop remembering logfile if there is a missing Logfiler option. Not a bug but it would eat memory.

### Licence policy

This adapter is primary made to enable Winboard-engines to be playable in GUI's that do not support Winboard but support UCI.

There is no restriction if you want to distribute this adapter with your engine, GUI or on a shareware/freeware cd.

For easier identifying the file to add to the uci-GUI you could rename the Wb2Uci.exe file to f.exe uciCrafty.exe. The Wb2Uci.eng file should not be renamed. If you have a logo for the engine put this in the same directory as the adapter and give it the same filename except the extension. ex. Adapter Wb2Uci.exe gives logo name Wb2Uci.bmp

If there is any problem with the adapter you could send an email to me. If the engine is commercial or private you must also add log-files so I could see what the problem is. If the adapter is bundled with your package I would prefer that any bug-report also goes through you to filter any engine- or user problem.

Try to use the 'Visible' option to restrict the user from doing something wrong when he set up the engine.

Also if you are a GUI programmer that support uci but not support Winboard you could distribute this adapter free with your GUI regardless if the GUI is free, commercial or private.

Odd Gunnar Malin, malin@online.no