Chess Diagrams

21 May 2007
A.Chatterjee [email protected]

INTRODUCTION

An internet search reveals several programs to create chess diagrams. Some of these programs are quite good but perhaps do not meet all your needs.

I have constructed a new freeware program ChessDiagrams which will gradually evolve to cover all aspects of chess publishing. The program has a mouse driven interface allowing you to set up a position quickly and create a BMP file (print media, word processor) or HTM file (web publishing).

The first is a black and white bit-map graphics file (.BMP) which can be inserted into word processor files.

There are 4 choices for picture size:

Name	Size (inches)	Remarks
CUSTOM	Selectable: 1" to 6"	Option n/a for HTM
SMALL	2"
MEDIUM	4"
LARGE	6"

However, in all cases you can resize the picture inside Word without loss of picture quality. The program includes the possibility to mark squares with a dot or cross symbol (for example to illustrate legal moves). Another feature is the ability to draw arrows (could be used to indicate a threat). The arrows are in semi-transparent gray and will reproduce well in magazines and books allowing visibility of pieces below the arrow.

The second possibility is to save as HTM file. In this case you get a diagram in the desired size and colours on a web page. (The CUSTOM size is not available).This is just a sample web page. To make use of it, cut and paste the TABLE part of the file into your own HTM file. Note that you will also need to upload the gifs directory (supplied as part of ChessDiagrams) to your web site. In the HTM files you can include the dot and cross symbols but the arrows are not drawn.

When you save a position in any format, ChessDiagrams also saves it in its own native format (CDG) so you can retreive a previously saved position.

INSTALLATION

ChessDiagrams can be installed on Windows Vista or XP. The download file is ChessDiagrams.zip. Double click this Compressed (Zip) Folder, then double click InstallChessDiagrams inside it, to begin installation. You could install the program anywhere, but usual is C:\Program Files\ChessDiagramsNN (NN = version). Shortcuts will be created in the Start menu and desktop.

USING THE PROGRAM

Clicking "Help" gives you the basic instructions. See help.htm for more details. (The file help.htm is copied to C:\Program Files\ChessDiagramsNN during installation). First make a selection by clicking one of the pieces shown at the left. Now when you move the mouse inside the board, the mouse pointer displays the piece selected. Click on a square and the selected piece will appear on the square. A second click on the same square will empty it. There is also an "Empty Board" button at the bottom which can be used to clear all the pieces and arrows. Notice the other buttons too. Using the "Preferences" button you can select one of 3 picture sizes (or a custom size) and decide if you want the coordinates (a-h, 1-8) to be indicated. Picture size has a visible effect only when you paste the picture inside a Word file. After the desired position is set, click "File --> Save BMP" or "File --> Save HTM". Browse to the folder of your choice (it should be an existing folder) and provide the basic file name (do not include .bmp or .htm). There is also a virtual clipboard feature. If you save to the virtual clipboard (Control L) the picture is actually saved as C:\clip.bmp. A macro should be defined in Word and saved permanently with a keyboard or toolbar shortcut. Then it is possible to work with Word, ChessDiagrams and another chess program simultaneously, creating diagrams to the virtual clipboard and pasting them in Word files. See help.htm for details

YOUR RESULTS

Go to the folder where you saved your file(s). You can view a bmp picture by double clicking its icon and you can insert it in Word files. In Word, click "Insert --> Picture --> From File". The size of the inserted picture depends on your "Preferences" setting, but in any case you can suitably resize the picture within Word.

HTM files are saved with your preferences (coordinates, size) and the selected colour. Go to the folder where you saved the HTM file and open it with your web browser to view the diagram. For web publising, use a simple text editor to cut the TABLE part of the HTM file and paste it into your own HTM file. When you upload the file to your website do not forget to upload also the gifs folder which you will find in the same place where you saved the HTM file. Of course you need to do this only the first time you begin using ChessDiagrams for your website. It is also easy to replace the pictures inside the gifs folder with your own to get a different look and feel.

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