Version 3.5.5 Available for Testing

[fred]

The latest version of the BBO client program is

now available for testing. Use the links below to

install the latest version of your PC:

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/beta355/bbo_update.exe

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/beta355/bbo_setup.exe

 

The 1st link will update your existing BBO while the

2nd link will install everything from scratch. You don't

have to use both of these - just pick the one that seems

best for you.

 

Besides the usual bug fixes, the main changes you

will notice right now are in the Bridge Master and

Learn to Play Bridge Training Rooms.

 

The Learn to Play Bridge area now continues access

to the 2nd program in the LPTB series.

 

In the Bridge Master area you can now play 6 sample

deals at each of the 5 skill levels (versus 1 deal at each

level in previous versions).

 

Also, it is now possible to purchase access to 100s of

other Bridge Master deals using Bridge Base Dollars

(BB$). If this is the first you have heard of BB$, I suggest

you log in and read the Club News in the Main Bridge Club.

 

Please note that when you purchase the right to access

various sets of Bridge Master hands, you do so for only

one computer (but for as many user IDs as you want

on that one computer).

 

We will soon be expanding the BB$ program so that it

is possible to purchase other things through BBO (including

access to ACBL-sanctioned tournaments).

 

You can start the process of purchasing BB$ either by

clicking on an item in a list that contains a $ icon (check

out Bridge Master for an example) or by editing your

profile and using the "BB$ account" button.

 

We hope that some of you will be willing to give the BB$

thing a try, even if there is not too much to buy right now.

 

Please do not worry about the security or confidentiality of

your credit card and personal information. We are being

super-careful about that.

 

If you find any bugs in 3.5.5, please let me know about

them (either e-mail fred@bridgebase.com or make a forums

post - all posts are read even if we don't always respond).

 

We think we are fairly close to releasing a version that will

be automatically downloaded and installed by all BBO members.

 

Thanks in advance for your help with testing!

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[inquiry]

The new version with the learn to play bridge working and all the new master bridge problems is great. I entered the BB$ account section and thought I would read the help section before signing up... and low and behold, help didn't work before I clicked the authorize button or afterwards. I think people might want to read about BB$ in the help section (I read it in the news) before they sign up.

 

I want to sign up and order some more level 5 hands!!!!... (well level 3 and 4 too, these are addicting).

 

Also the editable friends and enemy list is cool.

 

Ben

[tenbrvc]

First beta version I've downloaded from version 3.5.1 and I'm hoping this is also the place to ask questions besides bug reporting :D

 

1. When creating tournaments, just besides the tournament name, there is a box labelled "Type". What is that?

 

2. When restricting the types of players in tournaments, how do you use the features "Include players from a file on your PC" and "Exclude players from your PC"?

 

I clicked on the button "Friends/Enemies" to manage my friends list, and saved a couple of lists, but when creating tournaments, how do I restrict entries to these lists? Can I use only one list at a time or multiple lists? Do I have to open my list files first?

 

3. I read that in the earlier beta versions that swiss and survivor movements are only available for pairs, and when I click on the individual box, I don't see that the swiss and survivor options are dimmed. How can I tell what options are available or not? Has it been changed in this latest beta version?

 

4. Is there an instructions page somewhere explaining the latest options available in creating and directing tournaments?

 

Thanks. I can't wait to try out the new features! Great job!

[Rain]

bug in level 2 sample 3

 

heh

 

 

R.Dog

[Erkson]

The latest version of the BBO client program is

now available for testing. Use the links below to

install the latest version of your PC:

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/beta355/bbo_update.exe

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/beta355/bbo_setup.exe

 

The 1st link will update your existing BBO while the

2nd link will install everything from scratch. You don't

have to use both of these - just pick the one that seems

best for you.

 

Hi, Fred.

 

I chose the "bbo_update.exe" option, but I wonder if it updates all old files because it didn't update my "BridgeVu.hlp".

 

My "BridgeVu.hlp" is 455.585 bytes long and its date is Nov the 3rd, 2000.

 

I hesitate to use "bbo_setup.exe". Have I to all uninstall previously ?

Would it delete and replace login, password, profiles, friends list etc... (and I don't want that to be done, of course) ?

 

Best regards.

Erkson

[fred]

bug in level 2 sample 3

 

heh

 

 

R.Dog

Thanks - apparently I put an old version of

that deal on the server. Fixed now.

 

Fred

[fred]

The latest version of the BBO client program is

now available for testing. Use the links below to

install the latest version of your PC:

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/beta355/bbo_update.exe

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/beta355/bbo_setup.exe

 

The 1st link will update your existing BBO while the

2nd link will install everything from scratch. You don't

have to use both of these - just pick the one that seems

best for you.

 

Hi, Fred.

 

I chose the "bbo_update.exe" option, but I wonder if it updates all old files because it didn't update my "BridgeVu.hlp".

 

My "BridgeVu.hlp" is 455.585 bytes long and its date is Nov the 3rd, 2000.

 

I hesitate to use "bbo_setup.exe". Have I to all uninstall previously ?

Would it delete and replace login, password, profiles, friends list etc... (and I don't want that to be done, of course) ?

 

Best regards.

Erkson

The "update" program only updates the files that

have changed in the past 6 months or so. The

BridgeVu Help file has not changed.

 

The "complete install" version will overwrite only

one relevant file (I think). That is the file that

stores things like your preferred settings for

colors, options, etc... Nothing critical like friends,

enemies, passwords, list files, etc... will be impacted.

 

You do not have to do uninstall before doing a new

complete install.

 

I suggest you use the update method unless you have

some reason to believe that some aspect of the BBO

installation on your PC is corrupted.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[Erkson]

I suggest you use the update method unless you have

some reason to believe that some aspect of the BBO

installation on your PC is corrupted.

 

Thanks, Fred, for informations.

 

Good night to you (if you are in USA, it is very late there !)

 

Erkson

[vincenzo]

Thx Fred,

will buy some bbo$ when I will come back at home and then will buy some bm2k deals to make some tests !!

 

Vincenzo

[Giasone]

thx Fred

i have installing the last version and i no have problem all ok

sry for my bad english :D

Giasone

[fred]

First beta version I've downloaded from version 3.5.1 and I'm hoping this is also the place to ask questions besides bug reporting :D

 

1. When creating tournaments, just besides the tournament name, there is a box labelled "Type". What is that?

 

2. When restricting the types of players in tournaments, how do you use the features "Include players from a file on your PC" and "Exclude players from your PC"?

 

I clicked on the button "Friends/Enemies" to manage my friends list, and saved a couple of lists, but when creating tournaments, how do I restrict entries to these lists? Can I use only one list at a time or multiple lists? Do I have to open my list files first?

 

3. I read that in the earlier beta versions that swiss and survivor movements are only available for pairs, and when I click on the individual box, I don't see that the swiss and survivor options are dimmed. How can I tell what options are available or not? Has it been changed in this latest beta version?

 

4. Is there an instructions page somewhere explaining the latest options available in creating and directing tournaments?

 

Thanks. I can't wait to try out the new features! Great job!

Thanks for your compliments about the work we are

doing to. To answer your questions:

 

1. The "type" field for tournament creation will be used

to specify things like "ACBL" (ie tournaments that will

have unique properties - in the case of the ACBL we

need to collect ACBL numbers of players, pay the ACBL

sanction fees, etc.).

 

2. If, when creating a tournament, you specify something

like "restrict entries to a list of people" (or whatever),

after you click the "Create Tournament" button (I mean

the one inside the dialog box) you will be asked to specify

a list file. Only 1 list file per "filter" can be used.

 

3. I don't completely understand this question, but there

are no options for scoring tournaments in this release

(versus 3.5.4 I mean).

 

4. Currently no, but there will be soon I hope. In the mean

time it is probably best to e-mail Uday (uday@bridgebase.com)

if you have any questions about running tournaments.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[fred]

The new version with the learn to play bridge working and all the new master bridge problems is great. I entered the BB$ account section and thought I would read the help section before signing up... and low and behold, help didn't work before I clicked the authorize button or afterwards. I think people might want to read about BB$ in the help section (I read it in the news) before they sign up.

 

I want to sign up and order some more level 5 hands!!!!... (well level 3 and 4 too, these are addicting).

 

Also the editable friends and enemy list is cool.

 

Ben

Sorry - we really should have posted something

as far as help goes. We will put up some kind of

simple help page as soon as we can (maybe today).

 

In the mean time, feel free to e-mail me if you

have any questions about how any of this works:

 

fred@bridgebase.com

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[fred]

The new version with the learn to play bridge working and all the new master bridge problems is great. I entered the BB$ account section and thought I would read the help section before signing up... and low and behold, help didn't work before I clicked the authorize button or afterwards. I think people might want to read about BB$ in the help section (I read it in the news) before they sign up.

 

I want to sign up and order some more level 5 hands!!!!... (well level 3 and 4 too, these are addicting).

 

Also the editable friends and enemy list is cool.

 

Ben

There is now a simple explanation of BB$ available

when you click the Help button of the "Secure Credit

Card Transaction" dialog. This will no doubt be improved

by the time we do our next official release.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[keylime]

Fred, this client is SCREAMING fast. I went to log on, took a while, but once connected it takes this PC which is not exactly top shelf material and makes it acts like a Ferrari F1-2004. Well done indeed on a great progression...

[vincenzo]

Excellent Fred !!!

 

I have made 2 transactions without any problem:

 

1) I bought 20 BBO$

2) I bought level 5 SERIES C of bm2k deals

 

I have played them on my PC.

 

I have noticed that I have to use same PC and same nick, and not all nicks.

But I agree with this solution. User "buys" the right to play the deals on same pc with same nick

 

If you agree we can add also italian translations of bm2k deals !!

 

Great work and congratulations to Shery, Uday and You !!

 

Vincenzo

[fred]

I just updated the beta version in an attempt to

correct some of the bugs that were discovered

(special thanks to ack_hh and newmoon)!

 

The version number and the URL has not changed,

but you can get the very latest at:

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/beta355/bbo_update.exe

 

http://www.bridgebase.com/beta355/bbo_setup.exe

 

Read my first post in this thread for more information

or e-mail me (fred@bridgebase.com) if you have any

questions or if you find any bugs.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[fred]

Fred, this client is SCREAMING fast. I went to log on, took a while, but once connected it takes this PC which is not exactly top shelf material and makes it acts like a Ferrari F1-2004. Well done indeed on a great progression...

Thanks Dwayne! Not sure exactly why the new version

seems faster than the old one, but it is good to know!

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[inquiry]

I have worked through the new content (learn to play bridge, volume II, and the extra bridge master hands). I have found a few hiccups. For instance, when on Deal 5 of the Trump management section, pressing the next topic button bails you out the menu rather than moving you to the next topic. Then if you click on Deal 6, it shows you deal 5 again but you can see all four hands, and pushing the back button walks you backward through the file explaining how to play that hand. I also see Deal 5 if I point at any of the other deals above 6 as well. On my computer I have back of the trump management level of the program and go back in if I want to see deal 6.

 

A similar problem exist in other parts of the volume II. For instance, if you are on DEAL ONE of the suit combination and press the go to next topic button (trying to move to deal 2), it bombs me back out to the list of deals. Now when I push the deal 2 button, I see the final analysis page of deal 1, not deal 2. I did walk through these solving them first, and then (even though I got them right...yeah), I pressed the next page thing to read how the correct play was being described to the students. So maybe my problem has to do with this, I am not sure.

 

Ben

[fred]

I have worked through the new content (learn to play bridge, volume II, and the extra bridge master hands). I have found a few hiccups. For instance, when on Deal 5 of the Trump management section, pressing the next topic button bails you out the menu rather than moving you to the next topic. Then if you click on Deal 6, it shows you deal 5 again but you can see all four hands, and pushing the back button walks you backward through the file explaining how to play that hand. I also see Deal 5 if I point at any of the other deals above 6 as well. On my computer I have back of the trump management level of the program and go back in if I want to see deal 6.

 

A similar problem exist in other parts of the volume II. For instance, if you are on DEAL ONE of the suit combination and press the go to next topic button (trying to move to deal 2), it bombs me back out to the list of deals. Now when I push the deal 2 button, I see the final analysis page of deal 1, not deal 2. I did walk through these solving them first, and then (even though I got them right...yeah), I pressed the next page thing to read how the correct play was being described to the students. So maybe my problem has to do with this, I am not sure.

 

Ben

Thanks for noticing this and writing about it, Ben.

 

The bug is fixed and will be part of the next client

release (likely soonish).

 

I am glad you like the additional content that is

available in 3.5.5.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[DenisO]

We hope that some of you will be willing to give the BB$

thing a try, even if there is not too much to buy right now.

 

Please do not worry about the security or confidentiality of

your credit card and personal information. We are being

super-careful about that.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

Hi Fred

 

Iwish you well with this new initiative - I have one concern. You say don't worry about security of credit card details - however I don't see the little padlock that I associate with securely encrypted sites. The padlock gives me confidence to release credit card details.

 

DenisO

[fred]

We hope that some of you will be willing to give the BB$

thing a try, even if there is not too much to buy right now.

 

Please do not worry about the security or confidentiality of

your credit card and personal information. We are being

super-careful about that.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

Hi Fred

 

Iwish you well with this new initiative - I have one concern. You say don't worry about security of credit card details - however I don't see the little padlock that I associate with securely encrypted sites. The padlock gives me confidence to release credit card details.

 

DenisO

Thanks for your good wishes, Denis.

 

The padlock that you refer to is a symbol that is displayed

by your browser (Internet Explorer) to let you know that the

web site you are visiting is secure.

 

In recent version of BBO we have been using a similar

symbol to indicate that a given tournament is restricted and

that a given bridge table has "permission to join and/or

kibitz" enabled.

 

I *could* include another padlock symbol in the credit

card authorization window to make people feel more

comfortable about security, but just because we are not

displaying this symbol doesn't mean the transactions are

not secure.

 

Bottom line is the presence or absense of the padlock

symbol indicates security if and only if you are on a

web page. The BBO client is not a web browser (yet!)

and when you try to issue a credit card authorization

through BBO you are not on a web page.

 

Hope this explanation makes sense.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

[DenisO]

[

Bottom line is the presence or absense of the padlock

symbol indicates security if and only if you are on a

web page. The BBO client is not a web browser (yet!)

and when you try to issue a credit card authorization

through BBO you are not on a web page.

 

Hope this explanation makes sense.

 

Fred Gitelman

Bridge Base Inc.

www.bridgebase.com

Many Thanks Fred - for good explanation - no concerns now

 

I will be using the BBO$ in due course

 

 

Deniso