Software for chess composers

MatPlus
Chess Problems Librarian ... and more!

Overview

MatPlus Librarian (MPL) is result of a 8-year development of its predecessor MatPlus, a program written with not too ambitious initial purposes. However, as the time passed the program grew, and at this stage it has an impressive set of features, like:

  • versatile methods of entering the chess positions (either in Forsyth or algebraic notation, typing directly onto the diagram, or mouse drag-and-drop method);
  • easy and versatile tools for fast changing the position, thus saving the composer’s energy and time which would otherwise be wasted if the ordinary chess set is used: rotate, shift or flip position, insert or delete pieces by typing on the keyboard, or drag the pieces using the mouse; this is combined with a 64-step undo / redo feature;
  • quick find tool;
  • powerful query feature which provides quick extraction of problems satisfying defined criteria (i.e. theme, author name, first move, number of pieces, relative position between two or more pieces, etc.) from single book or from all books in the library;
  • import problems from chess problem bases Problemiste (the Web page of which is notoriously growing); also import from another MatPlus book;
  • export (selected or all) problems in Problemiste format; also export to another MatPlus book;
  • export to Windows Bitmap or Paintbrush image format for later use with text processor, or to the Clipboard wherefrom it can be directly pasted at desired location in the document;
  • export to HTML format for Web pages design;
  • problem solving tools, either internal (MatPlus Solver), or possibility to export files for fast solving programs like Alybadix or Chloe;
  • full support for Popeye solving program: user just has to issue the menu or keyboard command and MPL will automatically call Popeye, wait while the job is done, and then present the result in separate window;
  • it is also possible to export problems to Gilgamesh file format;
  • maintaining chess problems archive in one or more books;
  • assigning the keywords to entries (i.e. for themes);
  • dynamic creation of indexes of themes, authors or sources;
  • maintaining the dictionaries (of authors, sources, themes), helpful i.e. for easier and faster data entry;
  • viewing the single problem, the list of problems or the "mozaic", with possibility to preview the solution and optionally diagram in separate window;
  • print out in various formats with selectable layout and size of diagram and font;

and many other...

However, current version supports only 8x8 board without fairy pieces, though there is a method to prepare a fairy tasks for e.g. Popeye...

Program comes with two TrueType fonts: MatPlusTextRc which contains specific chess-oriented glyphs including chess pieces logos, and MatPlusDiagramRc, used for drawing the diagrams (program itself uses the latter only for printing, while screen diagrams are, for better visibility, drawn exclusively as bitmaps).

MPL runs on all Windows platforms starting from version 3.0. That means that it runs on any hardware Windows can run. However, for comfortable use it should be at least an over 100 MHz Pentium processor, and screen resolution 800x600 or higher.

MPL organizes its data in one or more plain text files ("books"). That means that they can be editted even in a Word processing program, though with disabled some "smart" options like automatic grammar and spelling errors correction. First open of the book is a little bit slower since MPL must build few additional files which will enable subsequent quick openning of the book and fast access to individual problems. These files are automatically re-generated whenever MPL senses an extrenal change of the book file. They can also be re-built on user request (either with disabled "quick open" option, or when compression of single book or reorganization of entire library is done).

Note that MatPlus Librarian is not a freeware program, though it can be used unregistered without any restriction (if you don't mind the "Non-registered" warning in bottom-right part of the window). However, have a look at the Notice in help file...

 

Download Software

Mplib.zip (1.139KB) - MatPlus Librarian installation package
UnZip the file in temporary directory and run Setup.exe
The instalation package contains the "book" file MP_ORIG.PBZ with all 555 originals published in magazine Mat Plus 1994-1999. Other books available can be downloaded later (see: Download MatPlus Librarian Books).
Mpl.zip (196KB) - MPL executable file, Aug. 30, 2001
Since MPL is a subject of rather frequent changes, those who already have installed the package can download only the newest version of mpl.exe.
Recompiled Help Files, Fonts... (January, 2007)
Some users reported recently problems with opening the help file from original package. Therefore here is the recompiled WinHelp file, as well as more comfortable CHM version:
- Download MATPLUS.HLP (178KB)
- Download MATPLUS.CHM (162KB)

Program requires two fonts either in application directory, or permanently installed on system. Fonts are supplied in installation package, but may be also downloaded separately:
- Download MPTEXTRC.TTF (39KB)
- Download MPDIAGRC.TTF (48KB)
 
    Registration number "crack"
  1. Open MPL.EXE
  2. From menu bar select Help and then User registration
  3. Enter prefix cvrc (in lowercase!) and continue typing your name (up to 15 letters!), e.g.:
        cvrcSamuel Loyd
  4. Click OK to get your registration key
  5. Click OK again and - you're registered!

You are free to use the program, but also free to support the development of other useful cless problemists' tools either by your donation, or by your subscription to revived Mat Plus magazine - sign in and find details on our new site: MatPlus.Net

Py.zip (120KB) - Popeye executable file
UnZip the file into MatPlus application directory (the one where you have installed the above package). Archive contains only executable file, while the complete Popeye package can be obtained at: http://archiv.leo.org/pub/rec/games/popeye/

 
Download MatPlus Librarian Books

Following archives should be UnZipped to the directory "<app_dir>\books\", where "<app_dir>" stands for the MatPlus Librarian application directory (the one you have installed the MatPlus Librarian package in)

Magazine.zip (375KB) - Mat Plus magazine material.
More than 5000 problems from articles published in Mat Plus 1994-1999, e.g.
Problems by Mark Adabashew - 75 problems by the great composer;
Cyclic Motives illustrated with 110 2-ers;
Sacrifice of Promoted White Pieces in Helpmates - examples from excellent article by the late Gabor Cseh;
Bratoljub Gruber's White To Play Collection consisting of 1964 mutate twomovers;
articles on helpmates by GM Zivko Janevski:
  - Anticipatory Self-pin in h#2,
  - Direct Self-pin by BK Move in h#2,
  - Direct Black Self-pins by Arrival ... in h#2,
  - Indirect Self-pin of Black Piece in h#2
with 863 top-class helpmate twomovers;
etc.
Bibliogr.zip (327KB) - Bibliography
Problems from recently printed books:
Anthology of 2345 Problems (2345 problems)
Anthology of 2345 Problems (Rest - 533 diagrams)
Kings & Pawns (941 problems of all kinds)
Simple Two-Move Themes (600 twomovers)
Monograp.zip (71KB) - Monographies
Problems by three eminent Belgrade composers: the late Dr Slobodan Mladenovic - Dance, his famous son Miodrag Mladenovic - Misha and "the chess composition father" of many Yugoslav authors Milivoj S. Nesic.

More to come...


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