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How to install

As off now you need at least a chessbase project supporting DGT boards to be installed with the file "dgtebdll.dll" included.
In next versions a third-party version of this dll will be provided

In order to have the ChessCam working
1-Install the software named "com0com" available at this adress : http://sourceforge.net/projects/com0com
this will install a driver allowing to create new virtual COM ports
2-Create a new virtual port pair with unused names (ex: COM43-COM4), check options "use Ports class" and "emulate baud rate"

3-Install RabbitConnect plugin. For Arena and old chessbase products, prefer the 32bit version. Both 32 and 64bit versions are available at this address : https://sourceforge.net/p/chesscam/screenshot/DGT%20RabbitPlugin%20setup-9910.PNG
4-Launch RabbitConnect or the DGT setup in your chess GUI, and select the second serial port of the pair (ex: COM4)

3-Unzip and install ChessCam anywhere on your computer
3-Launch ChessCam and choose the first serial port COM of the pair (ex:COM3). Communications between ChessCam and the RabbitPlugin should start to be logged in the bottom right frame of the ChessCam main form.
4-Launch the ChessBase product (Fritz,Shredder,etc.) and go to the options and check "DGT Board"

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Webcam setup

The camera must be as close as possible to the vertical of the board.
You will have better results by using the following tips:
1-Set a good indirect lighting for the board
2-Use a contrasted chessmen/board combo. A good standard set is a green rool-up vynil chess board with staunton B&W plastic tournament pieces.
3-Prefer well known brands for the webcam. No-name devices might not work properly. Logitec devices are a good choice as they support a lot of standard resolutions and pixel formats.

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Main form

The main form displays several informations:

• Top left : the chessboard, the live live view, or the detections on the board
• Top right : the camera view after geometry correction
• Bottom left : Side to move, clocks for white/black, and the last detected move
• Bottom right : motion level, serial port COM in/out, and serial port communications

Buttons:

• New game: set up the board for a new game
• Start: start the detection
• Stop: stop the detection
• Calibrate : give access to the Calibration Form
• About: about this software
• Chessboard/Live View/Detection : switch the mode of the top left display
• Show detection piece: if checked, the pieces detected are marked on the display
• Promote to: every pawn on the 1rst/8th rank is automatically promoted to the selected piece

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Calibration form

The calibration form allow some tuning to get proper detection results during a game.
Here is a description of the form and possible settings:

• Top left : the raw camera view. The image is clickable to define the position of each corner of the board.
• Top right : the camera view after geometry correction. Detection zones are represented by a green frame for each square of the board

Buttons:

• Change resolution: if the camera does not show any output you can play around with the resolution settings
• Take background: take a picture of the empty board so the chessmen can be detected
• Turn left/right: turn the board by 90° left or right for proper orientation
• Auto configure motion threshold: watch a few moves and set a threshold accordingly
• Auto configure empty board threshold: detect small lighting variation and set a threshold accordingly
• Validate: save settings and close the window

Here is the recommanded procedure to perform the calibration :
1-Put the empty board on a table with proper ambiant indirect lighting
2-Setup the webcam/capture device above the board on a steady frame or mount point (ex: an architect lamp)
3-Launch ChessCam and go to the calibration form
4-Click on "Take Background"
5-Click on each corner of the board on the top left picture. The top right picture should be updated accordingly
6-Click on "Autoconfigure empty board threshold"
7-Put the pieces on the board
8-Turn left/right until the top right picture displays the board with whites at the bottom
9-Click on "Autoconfigure motion threshold" and play some moves for a few seconds
10-Click on validate calibration

Tips: The detection is more CPU consuming on big resolutions. Lower the resoltution as much as possible to have a decent capture with the Live View. Then try to rise the processing size until the capture shows no significant improvement. Then Turn left/right and take a snapshot of the background with the "Take Background" button