And open offer to the BBO Community

[hrothgar]

I recently added a post to the thread entiled 2005 in which I described a program called Remote Keys. Remote Keys allows end users to create customized "Keypads" that can be used to send text messages to third party applications.

 

I've found Remote Keys to be extremely useful for automating different messages that I send on BBO. I've specifically found Remote Keys to be invaluable for automating many of the alert strings that I need to send during tournaments.

 

Over the corse of the last week or so, the BBO have seen a couple heated discussions related to Alert standards. From my perspective, the "best" solution to this problem would be a communal effort to make it as simple as possible for "average" BBO customers to make use of Remote Keys.

 

Ideally, I'd like to see a staged approach to this problem:

 

Step 1: Identify a set of 4-5 standard bidding systems that are commonly used on BBO. I'm guessing that this would include:

 

(A) SAYC

(B) 2/1

© Polish Club

(D) French Standard

 

Step 2: Define a standard template that will be used create Remote Keys alert files for each of the bidding system. This template would define where to place the "System Summary" and how to arrange the different bids.

 

Step 3: Create a Keypad for each of the standard systems (Standard iterative approach with revision cycles and the like)

 

Step 4: Create an "Idiot Proof" system to download the Remote Keys application

plus the System keypads to end users PCs.

 

Step 5: Promotion! It should be easy enough to get some basic information about the application added to the BBO "News" window, as well as the help system. I'd like to see major clubs like Abalucy, Topflight, and the ACBL tournaments start encouraging their members to to use the application. Organization like the BiL can also be used to promote the system.

 

We also need to think of Internationalization efforts. In an ideal world, I'd like to see the Poles and Italians adopt localized "Polish" language versions of the Keypads for use in Polish lanuage tournaments. Equally significant, I'd love to see some of the members who don't speak English have English language versions that they can use in English speaking tournaments.

 

From my perspective, we should be able to introduce some dramatic improvements to the playing environment without requiring much from Fred and Uday other than some publicity...

 

Anyone interested in working on this? At the very least, we'll need a number of people for usability testing. Ideally, I'd like to get 5-6 people each designing separate keypad designs as a brainstorming exercise...

 

http://www.freewarehits.de/RemoteKeys.htm

[DrTodd13]

Well, given that I think I was the one who first introduced RemoteKeys to the BBO community then I guess I could take a stab at creating a config for one of these systems. Maybe we should get 5 people all do a config for SAYC and then look at each other's and meet on BBO to discuss what we like and don't like and then create a better combined version.

 

Several of the things that people are always asking for from BBO could just as easily be accomplished through RemoteKeys but it is just the hassle of downloading the thing and setting it up. I'd have to agree that having this functionality integrated would make a more pleasant experience but in the meantime using RemoteKeys is just fine.

 

Todd

[hrothgar]

Well, given that I think I was the one who first introduced RemoteKeys to the BBO community then I guess I could take a stab at creating a config for one of these systems. Maybe we should get 5 people all do a config for SAYC and then look at each other's and meet on BBO to discuss what we like and don't like and then create a better combined version.

 

Several of the things that people are always asking for from BBO could just as easily be accomplished through RemoteKeys but it is just the hassle of downloading the thing and setting it up. I'd have to agree that having this functionality integrated would make a more pleasant experience but in the meantime using RemoteKeys is just fine.

 

Todd

This sounds like a good idea...

 

Any chance that we could get another 5 volunteers would be willing to try to design keypads for SAYC???

 

I'd prefer that people didn't discuss designs prior to review.

During early stage brainstorming is often best to have as wide a range of options as possible...

[Dwingo]

Yes, an external applications to automate the repetitive customised chat to BBO applications can be extremely beneficial in many areas.

1) Sending a slightly lengthy message on the system and carding that you play at the beginning of each round in a tournament

2) Having a set of standardised alerts for the system that you play, especially for non-Natural systems.

3) It will be very useful for bridge teachers to chat to their students, especially on to comment on same hands to different groups of students.

 

Now I know, OKscript is extensively used in OKB. There has been some discussions about this on this BBO forums sometime back. I remember vaguely seeing a post on rgb that some one had tried this with the BBO interface as well.

 

I downloaded OKscript and gave up as I have no software experience to use this for BBO. I some how felt that this maybe better than Remote Keys, if some one figure out how to send the chat command to the BBO chat space.

 

Irrespective of which is better, if some volunteers who have experience in these sort of things can test either of this and spoon feed others , then it will make life easier for a lot of people on BBO.

 

I wish all the people who are going to experiment with this all the success. I can help in a limited way in testing, if I am spoonfed to some extent on how to use this.

 

Godwin

[DrTodd13]

For each RemoteKeys "button" (for lack of a better word), you have a sequence of text. If you have focus on the BBO window and click a RemoteKeys button, the text will be send to the default chat destination. If you are playing at a table then it goes to everyone at the table. If you are kibitzing then it goes to the default there which is I think all kibitzers. To alert a bid, you first click on the bid and once the alert explanation window pops up, you click on the RemoteKeys button and the text goes into the alert window. I don't know of a way to reduce the steps in any of these processes but my hrothgar does.

 

Todd

[hrothgar]

For each RemoteKeys "button" (for lack of a better word), you have a sequence of text. If you have focus on the BBO window and click a RemoteKeys button, the text will be send to the default chat destination. If you are playing at a table then it goes to everyone at the table. If you are kibitzing then it goes to the default there which is I think all kibitzers. To alert a bid, you first click on the bid and once the alert explanation window pops up, you click on the RemoteKeys button and the text goes into the alert window. I don't know of a way to reduce the steps in any of these processes but my hrothgar does.

 

Todd

Sadly, I don't know any way to effect the logic that determines the focus for the message

[jikl]

Correct me if I am being silly but wouldn't it be very simple to program BBO to customise the function keys? Setting text for each fkey? If this is what you mean then I apologise for my ignorance. But this is used in many forms of gaming, customisable text for each fkey.

 

Sean

[hrothgar]

Correct me if I am being silly but wouldn't it be very simple to program BBO to customise the function keys? Setting text for each fkey? If this is what you mean then I apologise for my ignorance. But this is used in many forms of gaming, customisable text for each fkey.

 

Sean

Part of the reason that I like Remote keys is that ability to customize the look and feel of the the Keypad. For example, my "standard" key pad is arranged as a matrix. Opening bids from 1♣ -> 3♦ are arranged along the vertical axis. I build the response structure as Rows streaching off from each opening bid. I also color code each opening bid so I don't get "lost".

 

I agree that Fred/Uday could add this functionality, however, its unclear whether they should if we can get this all for free.

[jikl]

I was unclear in my meaning then, I meant for Fred and Uday to add in our options the ability to use the fkeys as text senders. Using 3rd party software to do so means the less "enlightened" (computer-wise) are at a disadvantage. By offering to all there is less excuse for misinformation which to me as a BBO TD sounds really good.

 

Sean

[hrothgar]

I was unclear in my meaning then, I meant for Fred and Uday to add in our options the ability to use the fkeys as text senders. Using 3rd party software to do so means the less "enlightened" (computer-wise) are at a disadvantage. By offering to all there is less excuse for misinformation which to me as a BBO TD sounds really good.

 

Sean

Potentially, I wasn't clear enough then...

 

I am suggesting that a bunch of us get together and design a system that can be used by folks who are technologically illiterate.

 

I don't like the idea of mapping strings onto function keys for a number of reasons. Most notably:

 

1. There are a limited number of function keys

2. There's no intuitive mnemonic that can be used to map between function keys and bids

3. The system isn't extensible

4. We already have something good that's available today

[pbleighton]

I agree with Richard on function keys.

 

It's too steep a learning curve for most users.

They are much less popular than they used to

be in business applications for that reason.

 

Peter

[hotShot]

Well I got OKScript running with BBO, and I'm using it a few month now.

 

I don't know RemoteKeys yet, but I seems to be more powerfull.

This might not be an advantage, because it is more difficult to use.

[Dwingo]

Hotshot, is it possible for you to give a simple User Guide to using OKscript got BBO?

 

You help will be greatly appreciated

 

Godwin

[hotShot]

Copy the following code to a txt file, ans save it to the okscript

scripts directory. It should be names "something.oks".

 

Warning! Ignore it, if you don't changed the default.

You should not have the BBO "keyboard bidding and play option" active.

 

BUTTON HiALL BLACK "Bridge Base Online" Hi all! {enter}
BUTTON glP   BLACK "Bridge Base Online" glp {enter}
BUTTON tyP   BLACK "Bridge Base Online" ty p{enter}
BUTTON Pairs BLACK "Bridge Base Online" Hi opp's, good luck and have fun! SAYC here {enter}
NEWLINE
BUTTON 1NT BLACK Explain 15-17 balanced{enter}
BUTTON 2NT BLACK Explain 20-22 balanced{enter}
BUTTON XFER BLACK Explain transfer{enter}
BUTTON XXFER BLACK Explain executed transfer{enter}
NEWLINE

 

Now start okscript, and use "something.oks". Move th OKScript window, where it is not coverd by the BBO window later.

Log in to BBO open a table and try to Press the "Button" that has "HiALL" on it.

 

 

Explanation:

BUTTON creates a Button in the OKS run script Window.

HiALL/glP/or whatever you write will be on the Button.

The text on the button will apear in BLACK/RED/GREEN as you say.

Text, this text is send to the WINDOW that has "Bridge Base Online" in its title.

Text to display

{enter} as if you pressed the Enter key.

 

 

The text will apear as if you had written it at the keyboard.

 

If someone clicked on your bid, the litte window to type the explanation in is named

"Explain" so the last 4 Buttons will send a message to that window, if it is open![/;). If you won't to send the alert message yourself, click on your bid to open the "Explain" window, and than e.g. the (OKS) 1NT button to send the explanation there.

 

If you need something more specific, name it.

[DrTodd13]

Last time I checked, OKScript wasn't freeware. Is it freeware now?

 

Todd

[hotShot]

You are right, Todd, it's not freeware.

[DrTodd13]

This automation would be easier if everything in BBO was controllable via the keyboard. Alerting would be easier if there was a keystroke to bring up the alert description box for the current player's latest bid.

 

Is Fred listening? :)

 

Todd

[Dwingo]

With the initial help of hotShot, I am finding that OKScript is pretty easy to use. If it is easy for me to write these Scripts, it must be child's play for most of our computer experts.

 

I dont know the implications of Freeware or Otherwise. I downloaded it and I didn't pay for it. From the application I find this mentioned.

 

 

OKScript-X is provided free of charge. If you find the program useful and effective please consider expressing your appreciation by making a donation to help defer the ongoing development, support and web hosting costs to: Michael Mardesich

 

 

The llicensing agreement says "You may personally give away copies of the program, through private channels, such as e-mail, provided that the program and the distribution package are not renamed or modified. Except for authorized OKScript affiliates you may not redistribute this software via a web or ftp site. You may (and are encouraged to) provide links to an authorized distribution site, such as http://home1.gte.net/yweare. "

 

 

 

 

With the little experimenting that I have done, I can now send out automated messages to Lobby, Both Opponents, Tournament ( while playing Teams) and I have also created a Macro to ask for subs in Lobby ( for Teams matches) giving Team Name & No and also wishing your partner personally like gl Dick & ty Pat.

 

One thing, I am still not able to do is to direct these messages as a private message to a person. Then this will be a great improvement. If anyone knows how to do this, I will like to hear about it.

 

After a while I will post the Script and others can improve on it .

 

Godwin