The formula variable allows you to filter out match requests. If you have a formula set, then any match request that does not satisfy your formula is automatically ignored. Instead of having an option to accept it, you are simply notified that the offer was made and ignored. The following is an explantion of how the formula can be set and used.
FORMULA OPERATORS
The following formula operators are allowed, in order of precedence in the calculations and evaluations:
! | (not) |
- | (negation) |
*, /, +, - | (calculation) |
<, <=, =<, >, >=, => | (comparison, (<= and =< are equivalent,
as are >= and =>) |
=, ==, !=, <> | (two ways of saying both equals or not equals) |
&, && | (both "and") |
|, || | (both "or"). |
Parentheses () are also allowed, as is a pound sign '#' for comments. The program divides by a fudge factor of .001 instead of dividing by 0.
VARIABLES ALLOWED
The following variables are allowed in formulas:
| abuser | Player is on the abuser list |
| assesswin | Win would gain # rating points |
| assessdraw | Draw would change rating by # points |
| assessloss | Loss would decrease rating by # points |
| atomic | Match will be wild/atomic in type |
| blitz | Match will be blitz in type |
| computer | Player is a computer |
| inc | Increment time for each player |
| maxtime(n) | The maximum time n moves will take BOTH players (in seconds) |
| mymaxtime(n) | The maximum time n moves will take YOU (in seconds) |
| myrating | Your rating |
| nonstandard | Different time controls for the two players |
| private | Game will be private (not observable) |
| rated | Game will be rated |
| rating | Opponent's rating |
| ratingdiff | Value equal to rating - myrating |
| registered | Opponent is a registered user |
| standard | Game will be standard in type |
| time | Start time for each player |
| timeseal | Opponent uses the timeseal program |
| untimed | Game will not involve the clock |
| wild | Game will be wild in type |
Also, the word "minutes" is allowed after a number that is not enclosed in parentheses (but right now, you must use "1 minutes"; the singular is not recognized). The word has the effect of multiplying the previous number by 60, thus turning minute-values into seconds-values - important for the maxtime and mymaxtime variables.
USER-DEFINED FORMULA VARIABLES
F1 through f9 are user-defined formula variables. They can be used to avoid having to retype your entire formula when you want to change one part of it, or to adjust your formula depending on your mood. For example, if your various f#'s were ...
set f1 rated & time=5 & inc=0 # rated 5 minute games
set f2 ratingdiff
set f3 maxtime(40) >= 2*8minutes # at least 8 mins each for 40 moves
set f4 f2>400 # I want a REAL fight
set f5 !abuser
... then, depending on your mood, you could type:
set formula f1 & f5 # rated 5 min. games only
set formula f2 > -100 # long games, decent competition
set formula f1 & !f4
set formula f2 >= 0 | blitz
MAXTIME EXAMPLE: If your formula (or f#) were ...
set formula maxtime(30) <= 10 minutes
... this would allow no more than 10 minutes total time for the first 30 moves of the game (5 minutes for each player, or any other combination).
CREDITS: Formula program for FICS written by Dave Herscovici (hersco)
See also: blitz, match, variables