How to open SGF files (found on GTL) with the KGS interface?

[Alcadeias]

Hello.

I'm trying to open SGF files with the KGS interface ("CGoban3").

For example I would like to open these commented games found on the Go Teaching Ladder (GTL): http://gtl.xmp.net/reviews/of_smallboards

So I click on the number of the file in order to open the game, then this small window opens:



I've tried to select "Java(TM) Web Start Launcher" which I found here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_31\bin\javaws.exe (I think this the KGS interface, but I could be wrong)

But then I get this error message:



And when I click on "Details" I get this:



So...how do I open these games with the KGS interface?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[xed_over]

There should be a way to associate sgf files to open automatically like that, but I don't recall the magic incantation.

Otherwise, just start KGS normally (without logging on to the server), then choose Edit SGF File from the main window, and browse until you find the file you just downloaded (by choosing Save File, instead of Open With, earlier).


Edit: Oh, its an FF[1] file. I wonder if that's too old a format for KGS to open?

[Gohst]

The error message leads me to believe that CGoban believes it is NOT an SGF file. You may be able to tweak the file by deleting the stuff it is complaining about, but leaving the game log in there, but it might not be worth it. I'd just try another program and see if that one can open it. I like Drago quite a lot, for things like that. Its a free download...

http://godrago.net/

[jug]

I've tried to select "Java(TM) Web Start Launcher" which I found here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_31\bin\javaws.exe (I think this the KGS interface, but I could be wrong)

Yes, you are wrong. The "javaws" is not the KGS-client, but Java-web-start (part of the java-framework). You have to give the location of the KGS-client to java-ws as argument:

Code: Select all

C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_31\bin\javaws.exe http://files.gokgs.com/javaBin/cgoban.jnlp

However, I'm not a Windows users, so I'm not sure you can directly use that, but with a helper-application-config in the browser it should be possible to also provide arguments to a launcher application.

And what "xed_over" was looking for is to add a MIME-type association (and/or helper-application) in the browser for sgf, so the browser knows automatically which program it has to choose when clicking on a SGF on a web-page.
See for example: http://gobase.org/software/sgfformat/SGFandWWW.html

[Javaness2]

Try this to check for validity - http://www.red-bean.com/sgf/sgfc/munch.html
Then try the Edit SGF button on the CGoban main window
OR
have fun with Windows file associations

[Gohst]

If you are intent on using CGoban here, then choosing "Edit SGF" from the CGoban main window is certainly the way to go. If the file won't open that way, then CGoban is having trouble parsing it.

If CGoban truly won't open it, and you want to try modifying it, then post the file here, and we'll make it work, and tell you how we did it.

Or you can use the validity checker that Javaness2 posted above, and maybe that will point out things that are considered errors in the file.

[jug]

The SGF the original poster mentioned in his post (http://gtl.xmp.net/sgf/2/215-garm-ManyFaces-ziv.sgf) may be an old format, but the KGS-client (cgoban 3.5.20) has no problem opening it (tried it).

[skydyr]

I have had success by downloading the file and then opening it from the saved folder, rather than trying to open it directly in the browser. Opening it in the browser caused the same issue you are seeing, but from the saved file, in windows explorer, it opens normally.