Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you can't find the answer to your question here or in the rest of the Help pages, feel free to contact me — details are at the bottom of every page.
  1. Why won't GABBI work in my browser ?
  2. When I click on the board nothing happens!
  3. What is gnubg ?
  4. Do I need to install gnubg ?
  5. The dice/match/cube fields are grayed out - what gives ?
  6. Why are there two "submit" buttons ?

FAQ #1 — Why won't GABBI work in my browser ?

GABBI will only work with the latest browsers because it uses some features (specifically, the css img:hover attribute) which are not supported by older browsers. You can download the latest version of your favourite browser from these links:

  • Internet Explorer Version 7 or later: IE 7
  • Mozilla browsers later than 1.1 (including Firefox): Firefox
  • Opera version 7 or later: Opera
  • Safari 2.0 or later: Safari
  • Konqueror 3.5 or later: Konqueror

Note: If you do not use one of these and think that GABBI should work with your chosen browser, please contact me and let me know the browser name and version.


FAQ #2 — I click on the board and nothing happens

This can happen for a couple of reasons — you click on a blank square but don't have checkers available in the side tray, or you click on the topmost checker of a stack. In each case, there is nothing for GABBI to do, so the board is redrawn as it was previously.


FAQ #3 — What is gnubg ?

GNU Backgammon (gnubg) is for playing and analysing backgammon positions, games and matches. It's based on a neural network and plays at the level of top human players. Furthermore, it is completely free. You can find out much more as well as download gnubg from the gnubg website: http://www.gnubg.org/


FAQ #4 — Do I need to install gnubg ?

NO! GABBI's ability to import/export gnubg Position and Match ID is a feature that many will find useful but you do not need gnubg installed to use GABBI.


FAQ #5 — The dice/match/cube fields are grayed out — what gives ?

Various fields in the form section to the right of the board will be disabled from time to time.

  • If "Show doubling cube" is turned OFF, the "top", "centre", "bottom" and "value" fields will be disabled. The "Cube problem" button will also be disabled.
  • If "Cube problem" is turned ON, the "left die" and "right die" fields are disabled.
  • If "Show labels" is turned OFF, the money/match radio button will be disabled, as will the "length", "scores" and "Crawford" fields.
  • The Crawford checkbox will only be enabled when one player's match score reaches match point (match length -1).

FAQ #6 — Why are there two "submit" buttons ?

Actually, all the silver buttons act as submit buttons. Pressing any of them will cause the form data to be read and processed. There are two separate "submit" buttons because they behave slightly differently — the "submit" button at the top, next to "Enter gnubg Match ID" will cause the form values to be set from the gnubg match-id. Use this button when you have entered a gnubg Match ID. The "submit" button at the bottom right (under the Crawford flag) will cause the form values to create the Match ID data. Use this button when you are changing or adding your own match data.


Contact the author

You can contact me here: Simon Woodhead
Gold Coast, Australia August 2010
© Simon Woodhead 2008-2010. All rights reserved.
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