ChessOcr OCR Chess Diagrams
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About ChessOcr OCR Chess Diagrams
This app utilizes the camera to recognize Chess Diagrams in books using optical character recognition (OCR). It saves each recognized diagram in a pgn file, and also puts the most recent one in the clipboard as a FEN string. You can then invoke a chess program like DroidFish, or SCIDOnthego directly to analyze the position or do a data base search for games that contain this position. For best results the diagram should take up at least half the camera view, and the book be reasonably flat (there is some compensation for page warp). It works best for cameras that have autofocus capabilities, and will not work as well on cameras that can not autofocus. Also, some cameras are not very sensitive to light and require bright background lighting, while others work well even in low lighting conditions.
If the chess diagrams are not being recognized, then try setting the video resolution higher than the default (say to 1280 x 720) and/or setting the ISO to a high value instead of leaving it on auto. Also remember to keep the page as flat as possible in reasonably bright light. A green box will appear around the diagram after one successful recognition. By default two identical recognition of the same diagram in a sequence are necessary (this can be changed in settings) for a final successful result. If you are only recognizing diagrams from modern books then you can usually set the double recognition flag to false.
Before you try this app on your chess books you should take any pdf file from http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/pdf.htm and print out a single page, and then try recognition of the diagram with ChessOcr. Recognition of the diagrams in these pdf files also works when they are displayed on a computer screen, but is not as reliable. If your device does not have autofocus then the app will likely not work well enough to satisfy you, but on devices with autofocus it works well on modern books. However, recognition is not as reliable for books with older fonts, or poorly printed diagrams.
NOTE: If the app has recently stopped recognizing diagrams uncheck continuous autofocus in the settings.
We now allow screen rotation, and can recognize in both landscape and portrait mode. Please look at the video https://youtu.be/X9Sg7Z2zqK4 to see the changes in Version 1.15 and upwards. If you don't want screen rotation then disable auto-rotation on your device, or revert to version 1.13 as described below:
a) Uninstall ChessOcr from your device.
b) In your device settings, security option check the box “Unknown sources” to allow app installation from places other than Google play.
c) Now you can install ChessOcr Version 1.13 by selecting the file http://www.kgrothapps.com/files/ChessOcr-1.13.apk in a browser.
d) Once installed go to Google Play, and search for ChessOcr and then once found touch the “:” button in the top right part of the screen, and disable autoupdate.
You can also use a free database that I maintain to look up the games associated with a given recognized position as follows:
1) Install ChessOcr app and SCIDOntheGo https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.scid.android
2) Download zip file http://www.kgrothapps.com/files/dbmsall-aug-9-14.zip then unzip and put these files in SCID directory.
3) Start SCIDOntheGo app and do file open database dbmsall-aug-9-14.zip, and keep this database open.
4) Long press on the board, go to bottom of menu, and select "Retrieve position".
5) First time set selection of ChessOcr to be the permanent association.
6) Place diagram in middle of video, large as possible and press screen to start.
7) Recognized position is drawn on screen, press which colour is to move.
8) Resulting position is returned to SCIDOntheGO
9) Do "Search, Search current board, Ok" and then pgn for matching games will be retrieved.
You can use "Retrieve position" from the chess app DroidFish by doing long press on the board, going to the bottom of the menu, and then selecting "Retrieve Position".
If the chess diagrams are not being recognized, then try setting the video resolution higher than the default (say to 1280 x 720) and/or setting the ISO to a high value instead of leaving it on auto. Also remember to keep the page as flat as possible in reasonably bright light. A green box will appear around the diagram after one successful recognition. By default two identical recognition of the same diagram in a sequence are necessary (this can be changed in settings) for a final successful result. If you are only recognizing diagrams from modern books then you can usually set the double recognition flag to false.
Before you try this app on your chess books you should take any pdf file from http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/pdf.htm and print out a single page, and then try recognition of the diagram with ChessOcr. Recognition of the diagrams in these pdf files also works when they are displayed on a computer screen, but is not as reliable. If your device does not have autofocus then the app will likely not work well enough to satisfy you, but on devices with autofocus it works well on modern books. However, recognition is not as reliable for books with older fonts, or poorly printed diagrams.
NOTE: If the app has recently stopped recognizing diagrams uncheck continuous autofocus in the settings.
We now allow screen rotation, and can recognize in both landscape and portrait mode. Please look at the video https://youtu.be/X9Sg7Z2zqK4 to see the changes in Version 1.15 and upwards. If you don't want screen rotation then disable auto-rotation on your device, or revert to version 1.13 as described below:
a) Uninstall ChessOcr from your device.
b) In your device settings, security option check the box “Unknown sources” to allow app installation from places other than Google play.
c) Now you can install ChessOcr Version 1.13 by selecting the file http://www.kgrothapps.com/files/ChessOcr-1.13.apk in a browser.
d) Once installed go to Google Play, and search for ChessOcr and then once found touch the “:” button in the top right part of the screen, and disable autoupdate.
You can also use a free database that I maintain to look up the games associated with a given recognized position as follows:
1) Install ChessOcr app and SCIDOntheGo https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.scid.android
2) Download zip file http://www.kgrothapps.com/files/dbmsall-aug-9-14.zip then unzip and put these files in SCID directory.
3) Start SCIDOntheGo app and do file open database dbmsall-aug-9-14.zip, and keep this database open.
4) Long press on the board, go to bottom of menu, and select "Retrieve position".
5) First time set selection of ChessOcr to be the permanent association.
6) Place diagram in middle of video, large as possible and press screen to start.
7) Recognized position is drawn on screen, press which colour is to move.
8) Resulting position is returned to SCIDOntheGO
9) Do "Search, Search current board, Ok" and then pgn for matching games will be retrieved.
You can use "Retrieve position" from the chess app DroidFish by doing long press on the board, going to the bottom of the menu, and then selecting "Retrieve Position".
All Application Badges
Free
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Android
3.0+
3.0+
Bug
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Android game
Game History & Updates
What's Changed
Release 1.16 fixes some autofocus problems that caused traps on some devices. If this version does not recognize diagrams then in settings uncheck the continuous video autofocus flag.
Release 1.15 allows recognition in both portrait and landscape mode, and deals correctly with orientation changes. If you don't want automatic screen rotation just disable it on the device, or follow the instructions above to reinstall ChessOcr 1.13 (which does not autorotate) and disable updating of the app.
Release 1.16 fixes some autofocus problems that caused traps on some devices. If this version does not recognize diagrams then in settings uncheck the continuous video autofocus flag.
Release 1.15 allows recognition in both portrait and landscape mode, and deals correctly with orientation changes. If you don't want automatic screen rotation just disable it on the device, or follow the instructions above to reinstall ChessOcr 1.13 (which does not autorotate) and disable updating of the app.
Version update ChessOcr OCR Chess Diagrams was updated to version 1.16
Version update ChessOcr OCR Chess Diagrams was updated to version 1.13
More downloads ChessOcr OCR Chess Diagrams reached 10 000 - 50 000 downloads
Name changed Name changed! ChessOcr now is known as ChessOcr OCR Chess Diagrams.
What are users saying about ChessOcr OCR Chess Diagrams
K
by K####:
by K####:
Does not work on Samsung S6 Edge. The camera resolution (aspect ratio) seems to be incorrect. Camera tries to focus continuously if in video mode, or does not focus at all if video mode is off. In both cases nothing detected.
K
by K####:
by K####:
I did love this app. However now I can't get a decent scan no matter how I try. I've changed all the settings to no avail. I'm using a Samsung S6.Thankfully I found "Chess: scan, play, analyze". It works even when things aren't perfect. Even when Chess OCR worked it was difficult and everything had to be just right. Thanks for your efforts Mr. Roth but you've been passed up.
R
by R####:
by R####:
Useful app, not working on my new phone. This used to be a great tool on my old phone but seems to have problems with Android 7 on my new phone (HTC 10), it just comes up black then crashes. I've seen other apps ask for permission to access the camera at the time that access is needed but not this app, maybe that's the problem. Thanks for the cool app, I hope the issue can be fixed, I miss it. Thanks for the reply Gerhard, but I still can't get it to work on my Android 7 HTC 10. I can confirm that the app has permissions for storage and the camera. For your second suggestion: I can't enter ChessOcr settings to disable the continuous zoom as the app always crashes if I attempt to follow any menu items. Android did let me send a crash report, I don't know if you will have access to that.
A
by A####:
by A####:
Don't waste your time. Chessfimee does it better: it can scan from a picture and also take a photo and has a clean design. This app is just a big bug.
K
by K####:
by K####:
Can you make it work with online diagrams? E.g something I have already as a JPEG to be parsed into pgn. This will be a great help to try out puzzles on smartphone.
K
by K####:
by K####:
Excellent for chess books. Hold phone upright won't work with phone turned horizontally. Great integration to stockfish engine. Thanks a lot for that app.
K
by K####:
by K####:
This is not at all working. I think this app needs an update
I
by I####:
by I####:
Easy to use. Saving time on entering tactics from old books.
K
by K####:
by K####:
It works now on my phone. Thank you for this app. It was very helpful.
K
by K####:
by K####:
It is easy to analyze books and etc
K
by K####:
by K####:
not for notation?
K
by K####:
by K####:
This has made my chess studying 10X more efficient. I can quickly scan a position from a book, and start to analyze it on Stockfish all on my phone.
M
by M####:
by M####:
I'm going to pay for the pro key to support this app. I also have a FEATURE REQUEST to be able to scan an eBook that is in PDF format and automatically capture and convert all board diagrams from (start page) to (end page), or (diag x) to (diag y), or (all diagrams) and place the PGN's in one file, as individual "games." Each PGN should identify its diagram number and page number. If possible, combine consecutive board positions into one PGN game. If combined with Asim Pereira's Chess Book Reader, that would be the "perfect storm" of a chess app. Can this be done? (I sent you an email.)
M
by M####:
by M####:
Been using this for months now. Being able to capture book diagrams and instantly convert them to pgn files is extremely useful for study. Thank you so much for creating this incredibly useful app!
M
by M####:
by M####:
Really useful app. I had some trouble with using the app and contacted the support team. They responded promptly and pointed out the right way to use the app. Sure, the app's user experience could be improved, but the team's commitment to solving issues trumps that. Hence 5 stars
M
by M####:
by M####:
It works now on my phone. Thank you for this app. It was very helpful.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Definitely worth it's cost in gold.
V
by V####:
by V####:
Brilliant rubbish. A total waste of download. I tried it and it stinks!!
A
by A####:
by A####:
Just got the program working and it stops working. Says buy key to unlock. I count about 6 diagrams that worked and the program locks up. Demo time is too short.
T
by T####:
by T####:
Excellent application for chess players. What do you think about the same application for checkers/droughts recognition?
M
by M####:
by M####:
Good work ...
K
by K####:
by K####:
Great with Chess book reader. Also Chess Life. Makes studying much easier.
M
by M####:
by M####:
This has made my chess studying 10X more efficient. I can quickly scan a position from a book, and start to analyze it on Stockfish all on my phone.
M
by M####:
by M####:
as I am, don't waste your time, it sees nothing. Perhaps mounting the tablet to a tripod and placing the book on a copy stand would work?
M
by M####:
by M####:
This app will greatly increase the efficiency of my chess study. Such a gift this is to have.
M
by M####:
by M####:
The app is great. It was not recognising anything on my Yoga 2 10 Tablet. I took a picture with the camera, and the app started recognising boards. Hope the tip helps someone else, as the app is excellent, and I am going for the full version.
M
by M####:
by M####:
Exelent
K
by K####:
by K####:
superb!
M
by M####:
by M####:
I must say - hats off to the author, works well.
N
by N####:
by N####:
Recognition is tricky but does work. Hold your phone horizontal!! Watching a tutorial vid as recommended seems wise indeed - this took me some time to figure out. Also, I tested in the train. But the app is really best at home at a desk.
N
by N####:
by N####:
The chess game I'm looking at is on my phone...
M
by M####:
by M####:
And when it did capture a diagram, the FEN was wrong. Kept saying too many white kings. Brand new LG G3, horizontal capture, tried books and magazines to no avail.
N
by N####:
by N####:
Great help for learners
N
by N####:
by N####:
Surprisingly good, even if it does take a few tries sometimes. Very useful for checking solutions to problems in magazines.
A
by A####:
by A####:
Far better from other chess games thats all I can say.
T
by T####:
by T####:
Doesnt work for me. I have lg g3. It doesnt recognize anything , and the double recognitiob doesnt respond. Please contact me if you want detailed info about the issues, i would really like this to work!
T
by T####:
by T####:
Whenever I use this on my screen to check a chess puzzle on Facebook it never captures the board.I mean it doesn't recognize the pieces at all. :-(
T
by T####:
by T####:
Scan in some tactics puzzles, then solve them in a pgn viewer. Works great on an LG Volt that I bought only for this app. Nothing better!
T
by T####:
by T####:
I went straight to the Pro version as soon as I realized what this app was capable of doing.
by N####:
When I scan the image it takes 2 to 3 min. Second when it finalize the image and gives the option white to move black to move etch. Then it gives blank chess board. Now what i do with blank keyboard. Why i purchase pro and give money. If pro is working only then why u release free version. Means it doesn't work