Graphical User Interface - czbar/ChessForge GitHub Wiki

The main elements of Chess Forge's application window are shown in the picture below:

Screen Components

Main Menu

The main menu of Chess Forge.

Main Chessboard

It is always visible, showing the position selected in the Main View, or the initial position if none selected. Its color changes depending on the type of Main View is currently open.

Evaluation Bar

Visually shows which side has an advantage. It is displayed only if the evaluation has been performed by the engine for the current position.

Evaluation Chart

Provides a visual representation of a position's evaluation in a chess game, allowing you to track shifts in a side's advantage move by move.

Hints / Engine Lines

Displays contextual hints and information for the user.

When the engine is running, depending on the current application mode, this box shows the engine lines instead. For example, lines are shown when the user is browsing the Study or Games view but are hidden when the user is solving an Exercise.

Main View

Most user interactions occur in this tabbed view. There 6 types of views that can be opened here:

• Chapters
• Study
• Games
• Exercises
• Bookmarks
• Intro - this view is optional and exists only when Create Intro for This Chapter (red below) is run in the Chapters view (for more details see Creating Chapter Intro):

 

When the application switches to Training mode, all other views are hidden, and the Training is shown instead (for more details see Playing in Training Mode).

Scoresheet

Keeps track of the line currently selected in the Main View. It is visible only when the Study, Games, or Exercise view is open.

Explorer

If the Explorers are turned on, depending on the currently selected position, this window shows either the Opening Stats or the Endgames Tablebase.

Top Games

Shows the list of top master games from the lichess.org database for the selected position.

Switches

Auto Save

When turned on, the program automatically saves the currently open Workbook at regular intervals and also saves it on closing, without prompting the user.

Font Size

The 3 icons here allow the user to increase or decrease the font size and switch between fixed and variable sizes. If the latter is selected, the font of the text in variation trees will decreases for sidelines.

Explorer On/Off

Shows or hides the Explorer window along with the Top Games window.

Engine On/Off

The user can use this switch to turn the engine on or off when permitted (for example, the program does not allow the user to turn the engine on while solving an exercise).

Chart On/Off

The user can use this switch to turn the chart on or off.