Database Wizard - Database Menu

Database Setup Overview

This wizard greatly simplifies setting up your USCF, CFC, or FIDE database for use with SwissSys.

If you need to use a database in any other format, such as a custom database, use the Database Setup command instead.

Database Format Selection

The database wizard first asks you to tell it which of the recognized database formats you want to use: One from the USCF, FIDE, or the CFC.

Primary vs Secondary Database

You can also specify whether the database you are indicating is meant to be your primary or your secondary database. Use the checkbox provided to let SwissSys know that.

The primary database is the one that will first be loaded when you look up player data at registration time.

If you don’t find the player listed there, you can switch to your secondary database and search that one too.

This is convenient for those TDs who want ready access to two databases, for instance, the USCF and the FIDE listings both.

USCF Database Setup

What happens next depends on which of the database formats you requested. If you are using a USCF database, all you need to do is browse to the folder on your computer where you have stored this database.

If you haven’t installed it on your computer yet, do that first, then try the wizard again.

FIDE and CFC Database Download

On the other hand, if you are using either the FIDE player list or the CFC list, you will have the option of automatically downloading the latest list from the Internet. For FIDE, specify which rating list you want. (The CFC list includes all three rating types in one file.)

Database Recognition

When using the wizard, you do not need to know the exact name of your database, because SwissSys will search the folder you choose for a database that it recognizes or download the relevant file from the Internet.

However, if you change the default name of the database, the wizard may not be able to find it and you will either need to change the name back or use the Database Setup dialog instead of this wizard.

Additional Resources

For examples of how to use both a primary and secondary database, see the topic Secondary Database.