Version 1.1.0 of Full Disclosure Available

[fred]

If you just want to use the latest version of FD, click here:

 

Click here to download latest version of Full Disclosure!

 

The rest of this post is intended for people who:

 

1) Have used FD

2) Have reasonable computer skills (ie are comfortable with notions like files and folders)

 

If that sounds like you, click on the following link to download a test version of BBO (version 4.4.4) that includes substantial integration with FD. IMPORTANT - Make sure you exit BBO COMPLETELY before you try this:

 

Click here for version 4.4.4 of BBO and version 1.1.0 of FD!

 

Note that a copy of bidedit.exe (the FD application) will be placed in your BBO folder (if you have been using FD or if you used the first link in this post, you will already have a copy of this file elsewhere on your hard disk).

 

In version 4.4.4, you can access FD through the familiar CONV button on the BBO toolbar. A menu will appear. The first option in this menu will allow you to use the traditional BBO convention card window.

 

When we release an "official" version of BBO that includes FD integration, this menu (or whatever we might use instead of a menu) will look different than how it looks now. Some of the commands that are now in the menu will not be required when the official version is ready. Other new commands might appear.

 

The point I am trying to make is that the only purpose of this menu is to provide you with a relatively simple interface between BBO and FD. Please don't send me feedback about the menu itself, however - this part of the program is not meant to be anything close to a "finished product".

 

When a user is logged in to BBO, he has the ability to display up to 3 FD windows at once. Each of these windows has a specific purpose (one displays NS's FD file, one displays EW's FD file, and one can be used to load/edit/browse convention card files on the user's hard disk). This 3rd FD window is referred to as the "Work Convention Card" in the software.

 

It is not unlikely that we will change a lot of the names and phrases we use for various things, but referring to FD files as "convention cards" (at least as far as the average user is concerned) is likely here to stay.

 

The "load convention card for NS" and "load convention card for EW" commands will eventually disappear. The server will do this automatically when a user joins a table (or when a user is already at a table and one of the pairs at that table sets a new convention card for his partnership).

 

Right now, however, these commands perform a useful function. They are enabled only when you are at a table. These commands open ns.bss and ew.bss (in your BBO folder) respectively. You will have to create these files to see anything happen. Once you have done this you will be able to use the "show" and "find" commands on the convention card menu.

 

Also, after using the "load" commands, you will see that bids are automatically explained using FD-like popup windows.

 

The "find" commands on the convention card menu are especially nice and can be used in the "work" FD window to help build/edit FD files while you are playing.

 

The "open a convention card command" attempts to display the equivilant of a file open dialog box, without the user having to undertstand files and folders (which is a good thing since most of our members don't understand these things).

 

When this command is invoked, 2 subfolders of your BBO folder are searched for .bss files:

 

convcards\default convcards

convcards\x convcards

 

"x" in the second folder name is your user ID on BBO.

 

Files in the first folder will be maintained by the BBO server. Files in the second folder will be those that the user creates himself.

 

Currently there is no way to send one of these new convention cards to the server so the whole BBO-FD intergration is of very limited use right now. It is still fun (at least for a few minutes) to load random FD files for NS and EW and see the FD-generated explanations appear (you can also mouse over calls in the auction to display these explanations).

 

I am going on a short vacation on Wednesday (I get home early Monday) and I will not have a computer while I am away. I therefore rate to be unable to respond to posts/e-mails concerning any of this during this time.

 

I am pretty sure that your "normal" BBO experience will not be adversely impacted in any way by using version 4.4.4.

 

Feedback is always welcome, but keep in mind that this is the first version of BBO that talks to FD and it is (intentionally) a little rough around the edges. The main purpose of this release is to give our most dedicated FD users a better idea of where we are going with all of this.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com