From: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com (Steven J. Edwards)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Notation Poll (PGN presentation game paragraphs)
Date: 10 Nov 92 18:53:11 GMT
Reply-To: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com
Distribution: rec
Organization: Bull HN, Worldwide Information Systems, Billerica, Mass., USA

Greetings once again:

A few months ago, I polled the newsgroup readership concerning aspects
of chess move SAN (Standard Algebraic Notation).  The replies and
discussions were helpful for establishing SAN and with providing the
SAN Kit.  Now, I am asking about your opinions concerning the style of
the PGN (Portable Game Notation) presentation format.  The PGN
subsystem for the SAN Kit will be able to parse a number of different
styles of game scores for input while using a unique style for
presentation output.  One of the criteria for game score output is
that it be easily read by humans.  Therefore, I would like to see your
preferences concerning possible presentation styles of game scores.

The PGN presentation subsystem expresses game scores as tag directives
(these will be explained somewhat later in another post) and a move
sequence.  The move sequence is presented as a paragraph of running
text.  This is different from a traditional game list which is a
column table, one move per line.  The list format is used mostly in
newspapers that have relatively thin columns and is not part of the
(current) PGN presentation style.  Both the paragraph and the column
list can be parsed, of course.


Question 1:
-----------

Should move numbers have a single period suffix?  Some publications
have this while others don't.  Some are inconsistent.  Examples:

a) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5

vs.

b) 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5


Question 2:
-----------

If present, should a move number period suffix have a space separating
it from the next move?  Examples:

a) 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5

vs.

b) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5


Question 3:
-----------

How many columns of space should be used before a newline break to the
next line?  Possible answers:

a) 79 (most efficient use of space for 80 column display)

b) 77 (good for 80 column display if in character graphic window)

c) 80 or more (doesn't work too well if you have an 80 column display)

d) Other


Question 4:
-----------

The separation space between a Black move and the next move
number should have how many spaces?

a) 1 space (e.g., 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5)

b) 2 spaces (e.g., 1. e4 e5  2. Nf3 Nc6  3. Bc4 Bc5)


Question 5:
-----------

Should line breaks occur on an optimal space basis or when a complete
move pair can't fit on the remaining right margin?

a) Break optimally

b) Break so that each line starts with a move number followed by a
move by White


Question 6:
-----------

The PGN scanner can handle multiple games on a file in part because
each game has a "game termination marker" as the last token in the
game score.  A game won by White (Black) should have a terminating
marker of:

a) 1-0 (0-1 for Black)

b) 1:0 (0:1 for Black)

c) 1/0 (0/1 for Black)

d) Other


Question 6:
-----------

A drawn game has a game termination marker of:

a) draw

b) drawn

c) 1-2

d) 1:2

e) 1/2

f) 1/2-1/2

g) 1/2:1/2

h) 1:2/1:2

i) 0.5-0.5

j) 0.5:0.5

k) 0.5/0.5

l) Other


Please reply via e-mail with your choices.  Thank you for your time.

*** BIAS WARNING *** BIAS WARNING *** BIAS WARNING *** BIAS WARNING ***

My own opinion corresponds to 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, and 7a, each of
them subtlely being the first choice for each question.  However, I am
seriously thinking about 1b instead of 1a.  Also, I slightly
uncomfortable with 7a (and 7b) as they are English language specific.
The prototype PGN parser will eat just about all of these, so you
might want to specify which, if any, you think are totally unsuitable
for input so they may be possibly removed from the input
specification.

 [The above opinions expressed are my own; not necessarily held by others.]
      == Steven J. Edwards           Bull HN Information Systems Inc. ==
      == (508) 294-3484              300 Concord Road         MS 820A ==
      == sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com     Billerica, MA 01821          USA ==
"That Government which Governs the Least, Governs Best." -- Thomas Jefferson
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA