Database Overview

Rating databases allow you to look up player ratings during registration, saving time and reducing errors. SwissSys supports official databases from USCF, CFC, and FIDE, plus custom databases.

Supported Database Types

SwissSys supports three major chess rating organizations:

Modern Databases at a Glance

Recent SwissSys releases standardize on a single optimized binary format and add a “Rating setup” workflow so a TD can match one database to the federations they actually pair.

One binary format for every federation (.rbin / .rbin.gz)

The binary format carries USCF, CFC, and FIDE data in the same file layout. A .rbin file is the uncompressed form; .rbin.gz is the gzip-compressed download. SwissSys reads both, and when you point Database Setup at a bare .rbin it will use the matching .rbin.gz automatically.

A single binary database holds whichever federation it was built for:

• A USCF binary indexes players by USCF ID.
• A CFC binary reuses the same ID field for the CFC member ID.
• A FIDE binary indexes by FIDE ID.

Combined USCF + FIDE databases

There are two ways to get a single database that returns both a US Chess rating and a FIDE rating:

• Binary combined (.rbin / .rbin.gz) — the binary format has a version that embeds FIDE Standard, Rapid, and Blitz ratings directly in each USCF or CFC record. SwissSys detects the FIDE data automatically and exposes both federations from the one file. This is the recommended modern option.
• Legacy combined dBase (uscffide.dbf) — the kingregistration.com combined USCF+FIDE list is a dBase (.dbf) file named uscffide.dbf (variants like uscffide_2026_04.dbf are recognized too). When you browse to a file whose name contains uscffide, Database Setup shows a “Detected: USCF+FIDE combined” banner and the USCF + FIDE combined (uscffide.dbf) entry in the Choose Defaults menu applies the correct field mapping.

Rating setup panel and quick-setup presets

A shared Rating setup panel appears in four places: Registration toolbar → Rating options button; Options → Environment Options → Ratings tab; Database → Database Setup; and the Database Wizard. It replaces the older Federation radio, FIDE DATA OPTIONS section, and related legacy controls for any tournament using a binary (.rbin/.rbin.gz) database or online-only lookups.

The panel shows one row of one-click preset chips:

A gray capability line (e.g., “This database: USCF + FIDE (joint)” or “No local database - lookups run online (chessroster.com)”) confirms what the loaded database provides. A [+] More options expander reveals individual ID/rating org pickers, title gates (Load FIDE titles, Load USCF NM titles, Load USCF CM titles), online search settings, and a swap button.

The wizard defaults to single-federation (USCF-only or CFC-only). The FIDE-alongside profile is opt-in — choose the USCF + FIDE or CFC + FIDE chip to enable it. These settings persist per tournament in the .sjson file.

The legacy Choose Defaults menu (USCF Joint, USCF Golden, USCF TARSFLE, CFC, FIDE, and the USCF + FIDE combined preset) is still available for applying a named field layout to a .dbf or other non-binary file.

CFC support

The Chess Federation of Canada is a first-class federation throughout: it ships in the optimized binary format, can be paired with FIDE as a secondary federation, and has its own preset and download path. See Downloading CFC Database.

Quick Start: Database Wizard

The fastest way to set up a database is using the Database Wizard.

Detailed Guides by Database Type

For step-by-step instructions specific to each database type:

Database Wizard vs. Database Setup

SwissSys provides two ways to configure databases:

Database Wizard (Recommended)

Access: Database > Database wizard…

Best for:

• First-time setup
• Downloading the latest database
• Quick configuration with sensible defaults

The wizard guides you through the process with minimal decisions required.

Database Setup Dialog

Access: Database > Database setup…

Best for:

• Advanced configuration
• Using custom database formats
• Field mapping customization
• Working with legacy database files
• Configuring primary and secondary databases

See Database Setup for complete details.

Primary and Secondary Databases

SwissSys can work with two databases simultaneously:

• Primary Database: Your main rating lookup source
• Secondary Database: An additional database for cross-referencing

Common Use Cases

DB2-Aware Capability Detection

SwissSys keeps both database slots resident simultaneously and considers both when reporting what data is available. For example, a USCF .rbin in the primary slot plus a FIDE .rbin in the secondary slot is correctly recognized as providing FIDE ratings (previously this combination could be misreported as online-only or no-FIDE).

Source summaries in the Rating setup panel distinguish three sources:

• Active-DB AUTO-FILL — primary database auto-fills ratings on import
• Secondary-DB MANUAL — secondary database is available for manual lookups but not auto-filled
• ONLINE-ONLY — no local database; lookups run through chessroster.com

Setting Up a Secondary Database

Swapping Databases

To swap primary and secondary databases:

Go to Database > Swap primary and secondary databases

Or use the Swap button in Database Setup.

See Swap Primary and Secondary Databases for details.

Where Are Databases Stored?

By default, downloaded databases are stored in:

[Documents]\SwissSys\Databases\

Common database filenames:

• uscf-players.rbin.gz - USCF binary database
• cfc-players.rbin.gz - CFC binary database
• players_list_foa.txt - FIDE text database

You can change the download location during the wizard or in Database Setup.

Keeping Your Database Current

Automatic Downloads

The Database Wizard always downloads the most current database available.

Update Frequency by Federation

USCF Supplement Dates

USCF publishes rating supplements monthly. Understanding how SwissSys handles supplement dates:

Supplement Selection During Download:

The USCF download dialog includes a USCF Supplement Date dropdown that lets you choose which monthly supplement to download:

• Latest (default) — downloads the most current supplement available
• Specific month — select a past supplement if your tournament requires a specific rating date

Leave this set to Latest unless your tournament rules require a particular supplement. See Downloading USCF Database for details.

Supplement Selection at Search Time:

In addition to choosing a supplement at download time, your Rating Search preferences control how supplements are used when searching for players:

• “Latest” — uses the most recent supplement available in the database
• “Tournament date” — uses the supplement closest to your tournament’s start date

FIDE Searches:

FIDE searches use a simplified Rating Search dialog without supplement date options since FIDE only publishes one current list each month.

Database Features and Benefits

Binary Format (.rbin.gz) Advantages

The new binary format offers significant advantages over legacy formats while maintaining full backwards compatibility:

What You Can Do With Databases

Once configured, you can:

• Instant Lookups: Look up players by ID number and automatically populate ratings
• Fast Searches: Search by name to find player records
• Verify Membership: Check expiration dates and membership status
• Reduce Errors: Eliminate manual data entry mistakes
• Save Time: Speed up registration significantly

Official Player Databases

USCF, CFC, and FIDE all maintain lists of players with ratings, expiration dates, states/provinces, and other information.

By obtaining these lists and setting them up in SwissSys, you can:

• Instantly look up a player by ID number and pull in their current rating and membership status
• Avoid manual data entry for each player – saves time and reduces errors
• Access historical rating data (USCF supplements)

Database Contents by Federation

USCF Database Includes:

• Regular, Quick, and Blitz ratings (OTB and Online)
• USCF ID and FIDE ID
• State and chess title
• Membership expiration
• Game counts for each rating type

CFC Database Includes:

• Regular and Quick ratings
• CFC ID and FIDE ID
• Province and chess title
• Membership expiration

FIDE Database Includes:

• Standard, Rapid, and Blitz ratings
• FIDE ID and federation
• Chess titles (including women’s titles)
• Birth year

Custom Databases

SwissSys also supports custom user-created databases.

Use Cases for Custom Databases

• School Leagues: Maintain player lists for league events
• Club Databases: Track club member ratings and information
• Regional Lists: Create databases for regional player groups
• Historical Data: Preserve player data from past events

Supported Custom Formats

Primary and secondary databases each store their own field mappings independently, so you can mix formats freely (for example, an .rbin.gz USCF list as primary alongside a custom .xlsx club roster as secondary).

See Legacy Database Formats for setup details.

Creating Your Own Database

SwissSys can create and update a database for you as you run tournaments.

Automatic Database Creation

When registering players in a tournament, any new players (or updates to existing players) can be saved to a “club” database file.

For steps on setting up a custom database, see Database Setup.

For using databases in real-time between multiple computers, see Network Mode.

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for database problems.

”No database file selected”

You need to configure a database before searching for players.

Solution: Go to Database > Database wizard… and follow the setup process.

”Missing index files”

Solution:

Database Download Fails

Possible causes:

• Internet connection issues
• Firewall blocking SwissSys
• Server temporarily unavailable

Solutions:

”Database appears to be incomplete”

Cause: The download was interrupted.

Solution: Delete the partial file and try downloading again.

For more troubleshooting help, see Database Troubleshooting.

Getting Help

• Press ? (Help button) in any database dialog for context-sensitive help
• See the specific guides linked above for detailed instructions
• Review Database Troubleshooting for common issues

See Also

• Database Wizard - Quick setup guide
• Database Setup - Advanced configuration
• Downloading USCF Database - USCF-specific guide
• Downloading CFC Database - CFC-specific guide
• Downloading FIDE Database - FIDE-specific guide
• Legacy Database Formats - Older format guide
• Secondary Database Use - Using multiple databases
• Database Menu - Complete menu reference