Indexing and searching PGN files prior to import

[FreeRepublic]

I was slow to appreciate this feature now I miss it.

Background follows. I had Bookup under Mac OS 9 and I did my PGN file game selection in Exachess before importing the selected games into Bookup. COW Express had the ability to search PGN databases. At first I didn't use it (relying on Chess Assistant for this function), then really came to appreciate this built-in capability of COW Express. I recently bought COW Professional. I selected a pgn file and searched by ECO code, for example 2017games.pgn C80 to C83. COW Professional indexes the PGN file, but the search comes up empty (even though there are games to be found).

[MikeAtBookup]

Huh. I will have to look at this. Obviously COW should search for PGN codes correctly. That code should(!) not have changed in the new 2016 versions.

[MikeAtBookup]

In testing this, I've had no problems asking for a specific ECO code or a range of ECO codes.

Can you send me a PGN file that you're having trouble with?

[FreeRepublic]

In testing this, I've had no problems asking for a specific ECO code or a range of ECO codes.

Can you send me a PGN file that you're having trouble with?

When I drag the Fischer file to this box (to add as an enclosure), I get the error: "Invalid file extension: Fischer.pgn"

[MikeAtBookup]

The sample Fischer.PGN file does not contain ECO codes. It came from an older product of mine called "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" and it has just the minimum standard PGN header tags along with some comments used by that program.

[Malia]

Exachess before importing the selected games into Bookup. COW Express had the ability to search PGN databases. At first I didn't use it (relying on Chess Assistant for this function), then really came to appreciate this built-in capability of COW Express kayak roof rack reviews
. I recently bought COW Professional. I selected a pgn file and searched by ECO code, for example 2017games

[FreeRepublic]

I recently gave the same task to COW Express and COW Professional, but my experiences differed. COW Express has been around awhile, is well polished, and has no rough edges that I have seen.

COW Express:
I selected my 2018 game file, then requested a search. For my ECO code, I typed c15. This was converted to C15. I hit the tab key and typed c19. This was converted to C19. I hit search and came up with about 1500 games.

COW Professional:
I selected my 2018 game file, then requested a search. For my ECO code, I typed c15. I hit the tab key and saw that the wrong field was selected. I then selected the correct field and typed c19. I hit search and nothing came up. I tried again, this time typing C15 and C19 in the correct fields. I did a search and exactly 1,000 games came up. (I had earlier done a search on C10 and again obtained exactly 1,000 games.)

[FreeRepublic]

I used COW Professional to do two different databases searches. In each case, COW Pro came back with 1,000 games. In at least one case, I had reason to think that more games were available. Does COW Pro's search engine have a 1,000 game limit?

[FreeRepublic]

I'm revisiting this topic with COW Professional and a new PGN file.

COW Pro correctly indexes the file and makes the search. I had trouble with this before, but I think I used files that had been previously indexed by COW Express. Anyway it works now.

A few quibbles remain. A lower case entry, say ECO e80 does not work. (COW Express would convert that to E80 and march on). The tabbing order goes from "ECO from" directly to "Player Black to" (instead of "ECO to"). There is a 1,000 game limit on search results. (Not the case with COW express).

[tommchris]

To efficiently index Incredibox Sprunki and search PGN (Portable Game Notation) files before importing them, consider creating a structured database that captures key elements such as player names, game results, openings, and dates.