I have done this for Lazlo Polgar's book (the 5334 problems one). I have the book and decided it would be faster to actually do the tactics/puzzle from within a program. I actually found that one already done so I just imported it into my program.
I plan on doing the same for a number of other books I own and have started with another book but I'm trying to complete the puzzles once first, before putting them in the computer (so I don't see the solution first).
I don't ever plan on getting/doing something like that unless I also have the book already. I wouldn't post them to this site, or the Internet in general. While I appreaciated finding the first book online, and would like to find some of the others I own, I really don't think it is ethical for them to be there (barring things that have fallen out of copyright).
I believe that for every chess enthusiast there must be some kind of "line in the sand" that s/he will not cross when it comes to improving their game. What I mean by that is, there's always some kind of situation where an opportunity presents itself to make headway but to do so, however, seems unethical.
I'm speaking of course, of a personal dilemma that I am currently facing. As many of you know, the great Fred Reinfeld published two books each containing 1001 puzzles in them. I actually own "1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices And Combinations" and since last month, I've started to input these puzzles into my Chess GUI (Arena 2.0.1 which I love, btw and it's freeware!). I don't think there's any problem with that. I was curious to see how play might arrive at some of these positions and so I started searching for FEN's among them on the internet, in hopes of finding complete games in the end. This process failed (if anyone knows a better way of finding the games these puzzles come from, please let me know!) but I did find a few databases that apparently contained not a few, but all of the puzzles, albeit not attributed to the book and author in question. The other book (which I saw at the same Barnes & Noble that my 1001 copy was purchased) is 1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate, and according to many people has more accurate solutions.
Note: The reason I decided to catalog these games in my GUI to begin with is that the binding is poor on the book and this problem is exacerbated by the fact that all the solutions are all the way in the back of the book so a lot of flipping is necessary. I figured that the book would not last long and/or need to be taped up a lot and that this was the best long-term solution.
At any rate, my point is this: I stumbled upon the PGN text of all the 1001 ways to checkmate and I copied them. I feel like I should probably go out and by the book because it's really still copyrighted material (since 1955) and he must have some descendants that can receive royalties from his work. I have a tremendous respect for Fred Reinfeld, especially since my recent endeavor to catalog his work. Why? It takes time! Even on a computer, with the school schedule I have I was able to catalog at maximum 12 of these games (and believe me computers make it easier). Reinfeld didn't HAVE computers! He did all of this the old fashioned way, not to mention the gathering of the actual puzzles to begin with! Truly a monumental undertaking! Sure, some of the solutions in 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations are not perfect, but again, I'm pretty sure that's because they were games played between HUMAN OPPONENTS. Remember that?
Anyway, when I'm done entering to solutions in my GUI I am interested in re-establishing them as puzzles again and I truth be told I want to do it here... however, I feel like that might be "crossing the line"
What are your thoughts on this, chess community?