dickey38

I assume, perhaps incorrectly, that the category “Suggestions for the Software” is intended as a place where users can suggest features they would find useful. I, for one, do not presume to suggest what priority should be afforded to any suggestions I may make. I certainly understand that adding features to BBO is subject to “developer bandwidth” limitations as well as judgements re overall cost-benefit. I would think that input from BBO users would be a good way to determine what the priorities for possible software enhancements should be. If a summary list of suggested enhancements were generally available, it would be easy enough to get user input, and thus better inform decisions. Take my “Voice to Text” suggestion for example. Would it be a welcome addition to the BBO feature set? I think so, but, per replies to my suggestion, there are others who clearly do not. Maybe input from a broader group of BBO customers would be useful - especially if provided in the context of a priority list of other enhancements. Then there is the question of cost, and “developer bandwidth”. How costly would it be to add such an enhancement? I just added “Voice In Voice Typing” as a Chrome extension on a Windows 10 PC. It works fine for apps like Gmail, where text box input is not “massaged” by the app. It can be made to work for BBO chat, but clearly the feature would be much easier to use if the app were aware of the extension’s existence. How hard would that be to do? Not that hard, I expect. One final point. I have played bridge with modest success for many years, but am quite new to BBO. I find that some features of BBO have to be “discovered”, since the user guide/help provided is somewhat deficient, to put it mildly. So experienced “gurus” might find some of my questions and suggestions to be naïve. But that is no excuse for arrogance.

Voice to text should consume cycles on the client device, not the host. Quicker and more efficient dialogues should translate to fewer timeouts in timed events, shorter elapsed time per deal, higher customer satisfaction. Just sayin’.

If there is a tutorial on how to create, download, upload and use LIN files, please point me to it. In particular -- The Chrome extension for Bridge Solver notes dated March 30,2020 include following: "If you perform a search for previously displayed hand records to generate a list of boards, then click on the green Bridge Solver extension icon, Bridge Solver will now generate and display a single LIN file containing all the boards from that screen. A copy of the LIN file is also downloaded to the browser's Downloads folder." This seems convenient, but I do not see a way to "search for previously displayed hand records". I can identify a set of hands by selecting an event in the History tab, but doing so does not cause the Bridge Solver icon to turn green. Advice on this would be appreciated.

Voice to text is ubiquitous these days in cell phones, tablets, PCs, etc. If it is available in BBO I have yet to find it. If not, it should be. Clicking on a little microphone icon at the beginning of a text box could trigger voice to text action. This would obviate need for cryptic abbreviations, and make textual input quick and easy. Chat messages (“Hello and welcome”) , alert explanations (… “Smolen- 4 spades, 5 hearts, game force”), announcements (… “transfer”), questions (“what RKC are you playing?”) are obvious examples. As the message is generated text could be displayed, and a “send” button used to confirm and proceed. Prior to “send”, text errors could be corrected via keyboard, or the entire message could be canceled by clicking again on the microphone. All very much like it works on cell phones. Such a feature would not only be much more convenient, but also much faster, resulting in fewer timeouts in timed events, and more effective bandwidth to handle the growing traffic overload.

I just came across an entry under Competitive: ACBL Virtual Clubs. Any details available on what this is and how it works?

Good to know -- thanks

I like to control the pace of play when playing with robots, so I choose settings “Confirm Bids” and “Confirm Cards”. However when I am on lead (E is declarer), if I don’t win the first trick it is quickly removed and 2nd trick played. If slightly distracted I find I didn’t notice the first trick, now gone. When “Confirm Cards” option is in effect, I think an OK button (or something similar) should be provided to use to retire the first trick.

As a newcomer to BBO I find it surprising that there is no option to see a full double dummy analysis for each deal. For example, the image shown below is taken from the bridgewebs.com website that provides results of events at my local bridge club. At lower right is a summary of what can be made in each strain by the different declarers. I have also seen analyses that show “par” for each deal, taking into account contracts that go down doubled. I don’t suggest that the current GIB Double Dummy feature be dropped – it is very useful indeed. But a full deal double dummy feature would be a great addition. http://sudoku-san.com/bridge/ddanalysis.jpg

Just getting started with BBO. Would like to play matchpoints with 3 robots. I Select "Casual" then "Start Table with 3 robots". Now I get to play an IMPs game, but options to change to matchpoints are greyed out. Please advise. Thanks.