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lin file utility


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The LIN file format is complicated and powerful. It is the format used for the various Bridge Master CDs.

 

You can click the MOVIE button and access a (much) simplified version of the editor that is capable of allowing you to create a LIN file. This is new functionality, and perhaps this is not the most user-friendly interface for the functionality, but if you do things "just right" you can do what you want. Naturally, there is no documentation.

 

FG has a "real" editor somewhere . We're in two minds about releasing it.

This editor is something we currently offer for $$ to authors of the various CDs. It generates revenue. The $$ ensure than only "serious" authors will receive the editor. The authors have no incentive to redistibute the editor.

The editor also generates a lot of tech support requests.

 

Maybe it would be good to allow people freel access to the "real" editor. Will people abuse copyrights of authors with this tool? Will we be swamped with tech support issues? Will people use their newfound knowledge of the format to write a competing LIN engine?

 

We don't know. Currently, it is a minor issue for us. As the commerce side of BBO grows, I anticipate that we will someday want to allow our users to create and sell their own content (lessons, courses, amusing articles, whatever) to other users . When someday arrives, we'll have an answer.

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Making bridge hands lin files using the movie button...

 

It really isn't too hard. From the lobby, click on movie. A blank move thing opens up with no cards, no bidding, nothing.

 

To change the vulnerabilty, click on the board number display in the upper right. It rotates with each click from none, to EW, to NS, to both, back to none and starts over again. You can simplify some of this by when you open movie, click on "NEW". Enter number of first board (say 5) and number of last board (say 10) and you get six boards (5,6,7,8,9,10) with correct dealer and correct vulnerabilty. Be sure to also choose "empty" so you can enter the hands you want.

 

Next you can click on annotate and add some comments. To get out of annotate mode, click view. Now with the mouse, cursor, or tab key, you can enter the cards you like people to hold.

 

Click on a suit in one of the player's hand. Start typing in the cards. A for A, K for king, etc. Use tab or mouse to change suits. After you enter all 13 cards for one player, go to the next player and repeat the process. If you type the same card in two players hand, it is removed from the first player and given to the second player. When three players have 13 cards, the fourth hand is automatically filled in with the missing 13 cards.

 

To enter the bidding, click on the first line under the appropriate person and enter a bid, p for pass, d for double, r for redbl, or a number (like 1 or 3) followed by a letter for the suit 1S = 1 spade bid, etc.

 

You can also click on the player name (north, East, etc), and type in someother name if you like.

 

When you have the vul ,the dealer, the cards the way you like, you can play the hand if you like, by clicking the cards... in order. When finish playing iwth the cards, click the line in the summary to bring up the second hand (which is blank). And repeat the process....

 

A couple of issues. The contract you bid for the hands and the result is not showin in the vugraph thingee (a bug?). But if you save the hands and reopen, the play and the contract is actually stored with it.

 

Have fun.

 

ben

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