From: "Randal J. Andrews" IX NETCOM COM> Date: 1 sep 1997 Subject: Re: Announcing a new version of my Shogi Variants program. Dear Steve, Thanks so very much, for adding the 'create text diagram' feature. I've downloaded the program, but haven't had a chance to unzip it yet. Here are some more 'wish list' items! 1) Produce a text file in Portable Shogi Notation after playing a game. For example, [Sente "Challenger Yasumitsu Sato"] [Gote "Oi Yoshiharu Habu"] [Event "38th Oi Match"] [Round "1"] [Date "1997 July 7th and 8th"] [Site "Hokkaido"] [Opening "Aigakari"] [Result "0-1"] 1 P2f P8d 2 P2e P8e 3 G7h G3b 4 P2d P2d 5 R2d P2c 6 R2f S7b 7 K5h P1d 8 P7f P8f 9 P8f R8f 10 P8g R8d 11 P1f K5b 12 G3h R7d 13 P9f P9d 14 R5f S4b 15 P3f S8c 16 S6h G7b 17 N3g P3d 18 B2b+ G2b 19 S4h N3c 20 N7g R5d 21 R5d P5d 22 P3e R2i 23 G3i R1i+ 24 P3d P3h 25 G4i B6i 26 K6i +R4i 27 S65i L5h 28 P3c+ G3c 29 R2a G3a 30 R1a+ L5i+ 31 S5i S5h 32 K7i +R5i 33 K8h S6i= 34 G7i S*7h 35 L5c K6b 36 G7h S7h+ 37 K7h G6h 38 K8h +R7i 39 K9g +R9i 40 K8f L8d 41 L8e L8e 42 N8e P8d 43 +R3a P8e 44 K7e P7d 45 K6f L6d 46 K5f S3a 47 B5a K7a 48 B3c+ R3f 49 K4e R3c 50 P3d R3b 51 S3c +R2i 52 S3b S3b 53 R3a K8b 54 B7a G7a 55 R3b+ N6b 56 P3c+ B2e 57 +P4c S3d 0-1 The tricky part is determining when 2 or more like pieces can move to the same square. In this example, (see the 27th move S65i) 2 silvers can move to 5i. However, it's possible G5b4c would be necessary if 4 golds could move to 4c (very rare!). 2) the ability to "Try Variation". This feature enables one to try an alternative line of play (unlimited nesting!) and at "End Variation" return the user to the original diagram. Kind of like a multiple takeback. Nest played variations in PSN output. Ability to add text comments while re-playing the game. 3) enable game replay using imported text using PSN with a user-selectable timing feature, for example 10 seconds. I'm not sure how that would work in the case (usual) of multiple games in the same text file. Are you familiar with the program ChessBase? Very best wishes, Randy Andrews