We need a standardized XML format for hand histories.

[PinkyRingo]

Been thinking about this for a long time, although I haven't lifted a finger in implementation. Anyone working on any type of poker software can see how much easier life would be.

I don't actually know how many different HH formats are floating around among all the poker sites currently, but it's enough to make HH parsing a major headache. And when one of those formats changes slightly, a parser breaks.

I think it could be possible to standardize the format once and for all. In doing so we could create one open-source parsing engine that would work for any HH from any site. The poker software community would benefit tremendously.

The biggest obstacle will be getting buy-in from the major poker sites to change their formats. Could be difficult, but I think it's possible.

I'll save some of my hot air 'til I find out if anyone actually wants to discuss this. Anyone?

[other1]

I agree, and would even be willing to help, but I'm not sure you can count on any buy in from poker sites.

What might work best is an open xml spec that 3rd party developers could use directly, along with a library of conversion routines to convert proprietary hand histories into the xml format.

bisonbison takes an approach like this in his hand convertor. He first converts the HH to a standard format and then processes that. I don't know what PT does, but I'm pretty sure the authoer is on 2+2, maybe (hopefully) he'll comment.

-Jason

[PinkyRingo]

[ QUOTE ]

What might work best is an open xml spec that 3rd party developers could use directly, along with a library of conversion routines to convert proprietary hand histories into the xml format.


[/ QUOTE ]

This is a good point. Something like you describe would at least give us a place to start, even without getting any buy-in from the poker sites. Then maybe someday the sites would get on board and we could do away with the conversion routines.

In any case, I like your idea. Thanks for your response. Let's start cooking up some possible schemas. Maybe bison will chime in here and give his opinion too...

[Hood]

Weird, I had exactly this idea about a week ago. Already named it UPHL (universal poker hand language) and started sketching out an XML schema file, with the plan to write up formal documentation for the standard, and provide open-source .NET libraries to convert to and from the XML format (so you could, for example, import from partypoker to UPHL, then export out to HTML format).

[PinkyRingo]

Cool, care to post a rough draft of your schema?

[MyMindIsGoing]

Having bisons converter work with exported hands from PT would do it for me.

[GrunchCan]

[ QUOTE ]
Having bisons converter work with exported hands from PT would do it for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

It does already, unless I misunderstand you.

[PinkyRingo]

You are talking about an end result, while we are talking about a means to reach that end.

But, I understand what you're asking for. And by standardizing the HH format, requests like yours would be much easier to fulfill.

[MyMindIsGoing]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Having bisons converter work with exported hands from PT would do it for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

It does already, unless I misunderstand you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Odd, I could not get it to work yesterday. Maybe it is just me that is stupid [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] nm

[beatua]

This is funny.. i was thinking an xml schema would be great for hand portability after looking over bisonbison's open source hand converter (
https://sourceforge.net/projects/handconverter/).

I'd be willing to help with this.. and eventually do a java version of a reader/generator.

- runstop