TRF Files
TRF (Tournament Report File) is FIDE’s standard format for exchanging tournament data. The format stores player records, results, and optional metadata as fixed-width text lines. SwissSys uses TRF in three different contexts, each producing a different subset of the format.
The TRF specification is maintained by FIDE as part of the FIDE Handbook (C.04 Annex 2).
TRF Types in SwissSys
| Type | Created By | Contains | Use For |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIDE Rating Report | Utilities > Rating reports > FIDE (Krause format) | Full metadata headers (012-132) + player records (001) + team records (013) + acceleration (XXA) | Submitting results to FIDE for international rating |
| Simple TRF | File > Save As > Simple TRF | Player records (001), player/rated counts (062/072), round count (XXR), bye value (BBU), acceleration (XXA) | Data exchange with other pairing software |
| Pairing Engine Input | Automatic (during FIDE pairings) | Player records + restriction lines (XXP) + color assignment (XXC) + excluded-player markers | Internal input to bbpPairings engine |
The Simple TRF is the most common variant for day-to-day use. It contains player data and results without FIDE-specific metadata headers, making it suitable for transferring tournament data between programs.
Tools > Inspect FIDE Pairing Engine Input/Output displays the internal PrePair.trf file used by the bbpPairings engine. This is not the same as the FIDE rating report. Do not distribute pairing engine files — use Simple TRF or the FIDE rating report instead.
Opening TRF Files
Use File > Open to open any .trf file. SwissSys detects the variant automatically and imports whatever data is present.
See Open for more on supported file formats.
FIDE TRF Standard
The TRF format is defined in the FIDE Handbook, Section C.04 Annex 2. FIDE has published several revisions (2006, 2016, 2026). SwissSys uses the original field layout, which remains compatible with FIDE-endorsed pairing engines and rating submission systems.
SwissSys-Specific Notes
Sex Field
The FIDE TRF specification defines position 10 as the sex field using lowercase m/w (male/woman). SwissSys stores sex values as uppercase M/F (male/female) in the registration form and writes the stored character directly to the TRF. If no sex is recorded for a player, SwissSys defaults to M. Most TRF consumers accept both conventions.
Excluded Merge Rounds
When a merged tournament has sections flagged as non-FIDE (via the Merge utility’s Exclude sections option), rounds from those sections are converted to bye-style entries in the FIDE TRF output. The opponent is zeroed, the color is set to -, and the result is mapped to F (win), H (draw), or Z (loss). See Merge for details.
Limitations
A SwissSys tournament file holds significantly more information than any TRF variant supports. When sharing files with other tournament directors, use the native SwissSys .sjson format whenever possible to preserve all tournament data, settings, and history.
Related Topics
- Ratings Report for FIDE — Full FIDE submission procedure
- bbpPairings Engine — How SwissSys uses the FIDE pairing engine
- Save As — Saving as Simple TRF and other formats
- Open — Opening TRF and other file types
- Ratings Report for USCF — USCF ratings submission