Let me try. This is, after all, why I created the group - to have some place to keep the answers to questions like this around :-)
1)
Put the spellcheck file (it's a .ssp file) somewhere logical; I used C:\Program Files\Scid\bin\data.
In Scid, choose Options | Load Spellcheck File and browse to the file. Afterwards, do Options | Save Options.
The Scidlet opening book is for the Scidlet engine, which I don't use (see question 10). So skipping this one for now.
2)
A games collection should be a PGN file. If you have the database that you want to upload them into open, then you use Tools | Import File of PGN games.
The games will be added to the database immediately, no need to save afterwards. Don't upload them into the wrong database.
In general, PGN files can be opened, but they can only be VIEWED (or imported into a database). So, PGN files are read-only. Scid databases can be changed.
3)
You can have any number of databases you want; they're just files on the harddisk. However, you can only have 9 open at the same time.
4)
With File | New. You choose a filename, and then you have a database opened with 0 games in it.
5)
You can enter them by hand and then save them (Game | Save: add new game), or import a PGN file, or copy them from another database (next question).
6)
To copy from one database to another, open the Database Switcher window (Windows | Database switcher). Now you can drag games from one database to the other -- click on the number of games, drag it into another database.
Note -- there is no confirmation or undo, so don't make mistakes, or you'll have to delete the games from the other database.
If you only want to copy some games (say, by Kasparov), then first SEARCH for those games (in this case Search | Search by header, and fill in Kasparov). The right games are now in the FILTER (you can see which games are in the filter in the Game List window). If you have 50 games out of 5000 in the filter, then in the database switcher window this shows as 50 / 5000, and you can drag the 50 to copy only those games.
The Clipbase is a handy temporary database that isn't saved. You can drag games there for testing, among other things.
If you want to move instead of copy, simply copy them first, then delete the filter games. This is hidden: in the Game List window, right-click and choose "Delete filter games".
Whew, that looks way more complicated written down than it actually is.
7)
Every week, The Week in Chess (http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html) comes out with a new issue, that also has a PGN of that week's games. There is a large archive. Use that to keep the database you can download from the Scid website up to date, and you have a very large number of games already.
8)
I think so, but I'm in a hurry so I will answer this later.
9)
I use C:\Users\Remco\scid (Windows Vista). Or under My Documents would be another place. It doesn't really matter. You can set the directory you use under "Options | Bases directory".
Come to think of it, it is possible that if you're using a directory under Program Files\Scid, that those can be written by Admin only, and that the databases open as read-only because of that. So don't do that! Use a normal directory somewhere you can change it without being Admin.
10)
You can use the free version of Rybka, 2.3.2. It is for download from chess.com, among others. Install it, then add it to the list of angines. More info later...
Hi,
I've been directed to this group as I've recently downloaded the programme, but I'm struggling with actually using it. I think, if it seems feasible, I could put together a beginner's guide here on the forum, but I'm going to need help from you more advanced users.
So the questions I'd like to ask are:
1) How do you load the spell-check and opening routine that can be downloaded from the main SCID website?
2) How do you upload a games collection into a database - and how do you make it non-read only. (There is a guide to this on the website, but I couldn't get mine to work using the instructions.)
3) Can you have more than 9 databases for SCID? For what I'd like to do I'd need more than 9. Can you have, say 20, but only use a maximum of 9 at one point?
4) How do you create a new database?
5) How do you upload games to this DB and save them there?
6) How do you move games from one database to another - do you end up duplicating the one you move, or does one move to the other and therefore it's gone from the original?
7) What good websites are there for free game collections? And how do you upload them in a non-read only format?
8) Is it possible that when starting SCID it automatically opens up a DB, i.e. you don't have to load one up after opening SCID?
9) Where do you save your DBs normally - which subfolder of SCID do you use?
10) Are there better, free, engines that Toga?
That'll do it for now I think. I do realise that some of these questions are really, really basic, but I've tried using the help, and to no avail. If someone can explain in layman's terms what I need to do for the above then better.
Thanks for the help & the patience,
Russell