XmlChess

Click Here to View the Xml Chess Schema

1.0 Overview

XmlChess is an Xml Schema for use in the exchange of chess game information. I am proposing this as a standard for anyone to use in the exchange of chess information.

The current version of the schema itself can be downloaded from here.

Using the great tool XmlSpy, I've also created a Visual display of the Schema and it's documentation. You can view this online here.

I've also developed a tool for converting existing PGN files into the new XmlChess schema format. You can download the tool Pgn2Xml.

2.0 Background

Several years ago, I was working to understand some of the new Xml technologies, and also trying to find a way to communicate chess game information in a way that browsers to use it. This original work can still be found here. More recently, Xml technologies have evolved and we can now make use of great tools like XmlSpy for creating well defined schemas.

I have also gone away from a strict adherence to the PGN tag naming styles, and moved towards more common english names for most tags. I would be interested in feedback on whether folks feel there is anything that is missing, since I did try to make sure that I maintained the same functionality.

2.1 Recent Activities

While recently researching the current state of the art on the web I've found more recent activity by other developers proposing their own Xml schemas, as well as some new PGN extensions.

Based on feedback and comment from the chess community, I'll look to incorporate as much of the additional features as possible.

2.2 Links

These are some of the links that I've been collecting that refer to some of these other projects:a Old PGN links: Random Chess Links:

3.0 Ideas for next version

Brad Merrill <bmerrill@microsoft.com>
Last modified: Fri Jan 31 17:15:05 Pacific Standard Time 2003