Downloading USCF Database
Download the USCF database to get instant access to ratings and membership information for ~450,000 US Chess players.
Recommended Format: The new binary format (.rbin.gz) provides the fastest performance. The Database Wizard downloads this automatically. All previous USCF database formats remain fully supported.
FIDE data included: The USCF binary database also contains FIDE ratings, titles, and federation codes for international players. A separate FIDE database download is only needed if your tournament must comply with FIDE rating regulations specifically.
Downloading USCF Database
Use the Database Wizard for automatic download and setup.
Open Database Wizard
Go to Database > Database wizard…
Select USCF
Click the USCF button.
Choose to Download
When prompted “Do you want to download the latest database?”, click Yes.
Choose Supplement Date (Optional)
For USCF, the download dialog shows a USCF Supplement Date dropdown. This lets you download a specific monthly supplement instead of the latest.
- 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.
Choose Install Location
Select where to save the database. Default location:
C:\Users\[YourName]\Documents\SwissSys 11\Databases\Download and Install
Click Download and install. The wizard will:
- Download the database (~15-20 MB compressed)
- Save it to your chosen location
- Configure SwissSys automatically
Wait for Completion
When finished, you’ll see: “Your database is ready to use.”
Loading an Existing Database File
If you already have a USCF database file (.rbin.gz), load it with the wizard.
Open Database Wizard
Go to Database > Database wizard…
Select USCF
Click the USCF button.
Decline Download
Click No when asked to download.
Browse to File
Browse to your database file and select it.
The wizard automatically detects the format and applies settings.
Backwards Compatibility: All legacy formats (.dbf, .txt, .tsv) remain fully supported. Any database file that worked before will continue to work. See Legacy Database Formats for details.
Troubleshooting
Download Fails
Solutions:
- Check your internet connection
- Ensure firewall allows SwissSys internet access
- Wait a few minutes and try again
- Contact support if problem persists
Database Won’t Load
Solutions:
- Delete the existing database file
- Download a fresh copy using the wizard
- Ensure stable connection during download
See Also
- Database Overview - Complete database guide
- Database Wizard - Wizard walkthrough
- Downloading CFC Database - CFC setup
- Downloading FIDE Database - FIDE setup
- Legacy Database Formats - Older format support