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Database Menu

The Database menu controls all aspects of using player databases with SwissSys, from initial setup to ongoing maintenance.

Database Benefits

Setting up a database provides significant benefits:

  • Save Time: Look up player IDs, ratings, and membership status instantly
  • Reduce Errors: Eliminate manual data entry mistakes
  • Verify Membership: Check expiration dates automatically
  • Multiple Federations: Support USCF, CFC, and FIDE databases
  • Flexible Formats: Work with modern binary or legacy formats

Quick Start

For most users, the best starting point is:

Database Wizard - Quick automatic setup for USCF, CFC, or FIDE databases

See Database Overview for a complete introduction to databases in SwissSys.

Database Menu Options

Setup and Configuration

Access: Database > Database wizard…

Quick setup for official federation databases with automatic configuration.

Best for:

  • First-time database setup
  • Downloading latest USCF, CFC, or FIDE databases
  • Quick configuration with sensible defaults

See Database Wizard for step-by-step instructions.

Database Setup (Advanced)

Access: Database > Database setup…

Advanced configuration for custom databases and special requirements.

Best for:

  • Custom database formats
  • Manual field mapping
  • Working with legacy files
  • Primary and secondary database configuration

See Database Setup for detailed configuration options.

Download Federation Databases

Download and configure US Chess Federation database with ~450,000 players.

🇺🇸USCF Database

Download and configure Chess Federation of Canada database.

🇨🇦CFC Database

Download and configure international FIDE database.

🌍FIDE Database

Work with older dBase, Access, Excel, and CSV databases.

📁Legacy Formats

Database Creation and Updates

Index

Access: Database > Index…

Create search indexes for dBase (.dbf) databases to enable fast player lookups.

See Index Database for instructions.

Binary format databases (.rbin.gz) do not require index files. This option is only needed for legacy dBase formats.

Create/Update Database

Access: Database > Create/update database…

Create a custom database or update an existing one with player data from your tournaments.

See Create/Update Custom Database for instructions.

Update Club from Database

Access: Database > Update club from database…

Refresh club information for players using data from the database.

See Update Club from Database for details.

Player Management

Load Players from Database

Access: Database > Load players from database…

Import players from your database into the current tournament.

See Load Players from Database for instructions.

Update Players from Database

Access: Database > Update players from database…

Verify and update player ratings, membership information, and other data from your configured database.

See Update Players from Database for details.

Database Maintenance

Swap Primary and Secondary Databases

Access: Database > Swap primary and secondary databases

Exchange your primary and secondary databases instantly.

See Swap Primary and Secondary Databases or Secondary Database Use for details.

Supported Database Formats

SwissSys supports multiple database formats for flexibility:

FormatExtensionUse Case
Binary.rbin.gzModern USCF/CFC databases (recommended)
Text.txtFIDE databases
dBase.dbfLegacy USCF databases
Access.mdb, .mdeLegacy CFC databases, custom databases
Excel.xls, .xlsxCustom player lists
CSV.csvLegacy CFC databases, custom exports

See Legacy Database Formats for details on older formats.

Common Database Workflows

First-Time Setup

Choose Database Type

Decide which federation database you need (USCF, CFC, or FIDE).

Run Database Wizard

Go to Database > Database wizard…

Select and Download

Choose your database type and download the latest version.

Test Configuration

Register a player and test the database search function.

See Database Wizard for detailed walkthrough.

Using Two Databases

Set Up Primary

Configure your primary database using the Database Wizard.

Set Up Secondary

Run the wizard again with “Apply this to the secondary database” checked.

Switch Between Them

During registration, search primary first, then switch to secondary if needed.

See Secondary Database Use and Examples for common configurations.

Updating Your Database

Run Database Wizard

Go to Database > Database wizard…

Select Same Type

Choose the same database type you currently use.

Download Latest

Select “Yes” to download and choose your install location.

Overwrite Existing

The wizard will update your database file with the latest data.

Update Frequency: USCF updates monthly, FIDE updates monthly, CFC updates periodically. Download fresh databases before major tournaments.

Troubleshooting

For database-related problems, see:

See Also

Last updated on
Update Players from USCF or FIDE SiteDatabase Overview
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