Making an Entry into the Explorer
I'm going to break this down into sections and try to make this as simple as possible. Follow all steps precisely as deviation could lead to problems later.
Before making an entry into the Explorer, make sure that all moves leading up to the position you are making an entry for already exist within the Explorer. All intermediary moves must be accounted for even if they seem trivial or not likely to lead to any other continuations - future analysis may prove otherwise and we want the Explorer to enable users to question all positions leading up mainline positions as well. If an intermediary position does not exist within the Explorer, produce that entry first.
Acquiring the Image
Step One - Go into Settings > Themes and change your theme to Standard:
Step Two - Go onto the 4pc server, go into your settings and make sure you have the following options set in "General":
- "Show Coordinates" = ON
- "Pieces Face Center" = OFF
Now go into the "Theme's & Colours" section and make sure:
- Piece theme is set to "Neo".
- Player colours is set to "Colourblind".
- Square colours are reset to default.
Step Three - Click on "New Game" and select the Analysis Board. Alternatively if you are still on the main starting page, press "A".
Step Four - Make sure that the Analysis board is set to Teams (or FFA if we ever get round to it). Make the moves needed to produce the position you need for your entry from the perspective of Player 1 (Red).
Step Five - Make sure you go full screen in your browser ONLY (f11 on windows). Take a screenshot (ctrl + Print Screen). You should get something that looks like this:
Step Six - Go into a simple image editing softer like MS Paint, Paint 3D, JS Paint (for mac), Pinta Paint, or GIMP. Paste the screenshot you just made in there. Make sure the screenshot fills the whole canvas (it will be easier later), you can do this by making the canvas really small first before you paste your screenshot.
Step Seven - Next, reduce the size of the canvas at the sides making sure that the image does not skew or change size as you do so. Reduce the canvas to the points where "medium" grey meets the dark grey so that the sidebar to the left and the tab to the right are no longer on the canvas. You should now have an image with dimensions of 1295 pixel width and 1080 pixel height (but this may be different depending on your resolution settings). Either way, it should be fine so long as your image looks like (at least dimensionally similar to) this:
Step Eight - Remove everything from around the sides of the boards EXCEPT the piece balance icon and any captured pieces that might exist on the board. You can do this by using a rectangular select tool and covering over the unwanted areas by stretching selected areas of grey. Alternatively, copy the colour of the grey background and draw over the unwanted sections if this is easier. You should end up with an image that looks like this:
You now have a qualifiable image to use for an entry into the Explorer.
Making the Entry
Step One - Go into the Explorer and follow the path of moves that leads up to your position. Right click on the button at the side that says "New Topic" and select where it says "Open Link in New Tab". You should now have two tabs open; one of the position immediately before the position of the entry you are making and another one for a New Topic.
Step Two - In the "New Topic" Tab, title the thread exactly as the move dictates with the prefix "[Teams]" at the start. Do not name the thread after anything. You must give the name precisely this way as it will affect the hyperlinks. Here is an example for an opening consisting of 8 moves (2 rounds/plies). You must include ply-number and spaces as well:
[Teams] 1. h3 c7 g12 l8 2. Qj4 Qb7 Qe11 Qm8
IMPORTANT: This has to be completely correct. If it is not then the hyperlink will not be accurate and after publishing you will have to delete this post and start again so the hyperlink is accurate.
Step Three - Copy and paste the following Entry Schematic into the text area:
---- ENTRY SCHEMATIC START ----
[Name not yet verified]
Credited: Unknown
First played: Unknown
1.
PGN4
Main Continuations
-
Traps
-
Opening Explorer
-
<<< Back <<<
---- ENTRY SCHEMATIC END ---
Step Four - Fill in the details as appropriate. If the Opening has a verified name add that. If we know who invented or first played a position, add their username (or real name if permission is given) to the credited section. Provide the date a position was first played followed by the game link in the "First Played" section. Add in the relevant moves after the number "1." keeping ply-numbers bold and moves themselve unbold. Start new plies with a new line "on the same paragraph" (ctrl+enter).
Step Five - Add the image of your position after the notation.
Step Six - Before the underlines titles of the other sections, make sure there is a "free line" with which you can add the Horizontal line from the text editor. Add the Horizontal lines making sure they do not interfere with the titles or writing from other sections of the entry.
Step Seven - Fill in the rest of the details. You can find a PGN4 of the position by using the analysis board from the 4pc server, copy and paste this underneath where it says "PGN4".
Step Eight - Now go to the page of the position just before the position of your entry. Copy the hyperlink. Go to where it says "<<<Back<<<" on your New Topic and select all that text and press ctrl+v... alternatively, click in the text editor where it says "Insert/edit link" and add the link to the text there instead.
Step Nine - Post the topic. Check the hyperlink at the top of the page and do a once over of the rest to make sure it all looks good. Copy the hyperlink.
Step Ten - Go to the page of the previous position, edit the topic and add a link within "Opening Explorer" section to the page you have just created. If the position you have just created is of particular significance such as a "Main continuation", add this to all relevant and appropriate pages of previous positions.
Congratulations, you have just made an entry into the Opening Explorer... gg.
This thread is for the use of Admins and volunteers. If there is something that requires immediate Admin attention or you would like to volunteer, then by all means post that here.
Note:
Coordinators - People who have asserted their right to be a part of voting on the name's of trivial openings (based on the suggestions of the community).
Admins - People who volunteer their time to make entries for the Explorer and can edit/delete your posts if deemed necessary.
SuperAdmins - Big Bosses. These guys are responsible for maintaining and running the Explorer. They will generally lead the direction of the Explorer and call in community votes when needed.
(For Admins)
Use the rest of this first post as a To-Do-List area. Jump to the next post to see a guide on making entries into the Explorer.
To Do List