Home
   What's New
   Features
   Screenshots
   What Can I Do?

 Reviews

 Downloads
   ExaChess Lite
   ExaChess Pro
   Chess Engines
   Chess Fonts

 Links

 Ordering

 Help/FAQ

ExaChess Help/FAQ

If you have any questions about ExaChess, please contact Exant Software. Rolf Exner, the creator of and programmer behind ExaChess and the principal of Exant Software, will be pleased to answer all your questions.

Before you do, you might like to read through the Frequently Asked Questions and answers below, just in case the question you have has already been asked and answered.

How do I buy ExaChess?

See Ordering.

Is a Classic version of ExaChess 3 available?

Yes. Although ExaChess 3 is a Carbon application and will run under Mac OS 8.6 and 9, a version specifically for OS 8 and 9 will respond more snappily. Such a version is available to users of ExaChess Pro. Contact Exant Software for download details.

Is there a PC/Windows version of ExaChess?

Sorry, there are no current plans.

What is the best format for my databases: ExaChess format, Chessbase (CBF) or PGN?

ExaChess and Chessbase are binary formats and are much more compact and efficient to process than PGN. A database in PGN format is about 5 times as big as the same database in ExaChess format, and is still twice as big even after compression. However, PGN is useful for interchange of games with other users (especially small collections of games) as many programs can import PGN games.

Of the binary formats, ExaChess databases are around 20% smaller and 30% faster to process (to reindex or convert to/from) than CB databases due to a different internal representation. There are other minor advantages, e.g the ability to have longer name fields, exact ECO codes etc. But if you are frequently interchanging games in CB format, it may be better to use CB format because it avoids having to do frequent and slow conversions.

If you are frequently shuffling or copying files between databases, it is advantageous to use a single format as copying files without a format change is faster than copying them with a format change.

Can ExaChess read the new ChessBase format (CBH)

Sorry, this format is still known only to the publishers of ChessBase. Use the older CBF format for game interchange as it can be read by many Mac and PC programs, including ChessBase.

Why won't ExaChess work with my copy of Sigma Chess / Crafty / MacChess / GnuChess / Hiarcs?

You need to use a suitably modified version of Sigma Chess, Crafty, MacChess or GnuChess, one that supports the necessary Apple Events. See Downloads for links to compatible versions of these programs.

ExaChess doesn't currently work with Hiarcs. Try contacting the authors of Hiarcs and lobbying for AppleEvent support to be added in the next version.

Why won't ExaChess open my database?

See under Recovery in the ExaChess User's Guide. Briefly, try reindexing the database without opening it (choose it in the All Databases window, then select Reindex from the Databases menu). If this fails, strip the resource fork and try again.