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ECOClass.exe ReadMeEC
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ECOClass has three "phases." When it starts the very first time, it will
be expecting "Phase I."

Unless you intend to create your own ECO master, you can skip on to Phase
II. Phase II takes the supplied file, ECOMast, and converts it into the
index files necessary to classify games by ECO.

(To choose Phase II, type "1" then select "Phase II"....or type "1 2"
immediately to achieve the same result.)

With the normal installation, Phase II is all set to go. Just press Enter
after verifying that the Line Master (input) is "ECOMast.txt" (the
supplied file.)

Phase II will take a minute or two but, once it completes. you'll never
have to rerun it again unless you change ECOMast.txt.

Phase II will complete. At the next execution, it will be able to
classify games.

Start ECOClass again... At the startup prompt, chose '1 3'. The screen
should then indicate, "Phase III."

Specify the name of the PGN file you'd like to have classified by
selecting menu item 5 (or type '5 <PGN file name>'). An output file name
can also be specified (the default is 'TrialOut.txt' in the local
directory.)

ECOClass will read the PGN file--then the required indexes. Once it's
reached the first game, it will offer the "Skip Menu." While getting
familiar with the program's operation, just hit "Enter."

The display presented by ECOClass will depend on the condition of the PGN
games before the run was started. If the games already had ECO
codes, the old code will be compared to the new each time Enter is
pressed.

To let ECOClass go forward and assign new ECO codes and descriptions to
every game in the input file, enter 'a' at the input (skip) prompt. This
will classify all games. Otherwise, you can also enter 'C'. This has the
effect of showing conflicts only (when the old code does not equal the
new code.)

"Skip" toggle options "x" and "y" can be use to control whether all games
should get new assignments--or only those games which previously were
missing ECO codes.

If you wish to assign NIC codes (you will need to import a NIC master),
ECOClass will expect the key code to be a single "word." I suggest setting
them off similarly to the following, 'SI_35.6.1'. At completion, you will
have to edit the output file to change the '_' back to a space. (You can
also create your own codes.)

That should be enough to get started. This is the first version of
ECOClass and I would appreciate reports of any trouble you had while
trying to classify your first game file.

  -Paul

ps: under the skip menu you will also find "diagnostics." Unless you are
modifying the master file (ECOMast), this will have no importance to you.
If, on the other hand, you have made changes to the master (or imported a
different master), diagnostics will help point out inconsistencies in the
file. (To view diagnostics, always do so with the "a" <skip> option
turned on.)

To view full diagnostics, be sure to set both skip switches "x" and "y"
off.

ECOClass has a lot(!) of options. Let me know the ones you are having
trouble with.

New ECO lists can be imported as they are published. These are often found
on the nets. Two I am familiar with (CIS) are ECOLST.ZIP (Lib. 3) and
ECOCODES.ZIP (Lib. 5). The former, a revision by Franz Hemmer, served as
the basis for the included ECOMast.

ECOClass can be reposted by other on-line services. Repostings must include
six files--unmodified--ECOClass.exe, ECOSrce.txt, ECOMast.txt, U4Key.txt, 
ReadMe.txt, and this file, ReadMeEC.txt.

  -Paul Onstad, 70641.3236@compuserve.com

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