I wrote a hand recorder for Bodog which improves on the "other guys" handgrabber by recording mucked showdown cards and generally improving overall accuracy.

About that mucked card technology. In order to record mucked cards the hero must be involved in the hand (no sitting out or observing however folding is fine), and the hand must go to showdown. So there is no "exploit", no "hidden" information being recorded. It is the same mucked cards currently available in all other hand histories. It just happens up till now the only other handgrabber (cough, cough) doesn't record mucked cards.

A free public beta is available. There is no limitation on the software except that it will expire on 09/09/2011. There will be another version released prior to that.

One disclaimer:
This is an early beta. I have concentrated on getting the parsing engine as accurate as possible. There is no installer or configuration wizard included in this version. As a result both installation and configuration needs to be done manually. It isn't difficult; Just downloading, unzipping, and editing of a text file. A better interface is coming however the purpose of the beta is to test the accuracy and speed of the engine. The existing interface is "spartan" just enough to get the engine running.

If you would rather wait for a more feature complete package (installer and configuration wizard) that is coming in the next version so check back in a week. If you are willing to "rough it" to get first crack at this scanner then read on.

You can download Bodog Scanner BETA v0.2.23 here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=48WBA7NY

There is a readme file included in the zip. It is titled "readme.txt" please read it. It has detailed instructions for editing the configuration file.

Requirements:
The scanner requires Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5 Windows 7 users already have .Net 3.5 (your done).
For XP/Vista if you don't already have the .Net Framework 3.5 installed you can get it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...ylang=en&id=22

(If you aren't sure the installer will check so just download/run the installer and it will let you know).


Thanks to everyone who expressed interest and sorry for the delay. It took longer than I anticipated to get this released because of some real life issues. BTW: looks like Hurricane Irene is heading right towards us so I might not be able to post this weekend. Look forward to feedback and bug fixes.

This certainly sounds promising, I'll give it a try today.

Hey DAT,

How's the hurricane treating you?

I tried running Bodog Scanner on a Windows XP Professional 32 bit system and a few things happened:

1) It started the Bodog client.
2) None of the Hold'em cash tables were showing up. (In fact no tables were showing up under any category).
3)Bodog scanner was making my CPU cycle at 50%.
4) I got a few scanner text and intercept.bin files in myhandhistory folder, so I'm taking that to mean I had it configured right. I also checked and I do have Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1

I also want to point out that BodogScanner.config (the 2 KB file) had to be renamed to BodogScanner.exe in order for the client to start. I'll be happy to test it again if and when you tweak it. Thanks

Getting close now. All ready, nothing to do but wait.



Can you clarify what you mean by " BodogScanner.config had to be renamed to BodogScanner.exe"

There should be both a BodogScanner.exe (application) ~191KB
&
BodogScanner.exe.config (config file) ~2KB.

Neither should need to be renamed. I will try to replicate what you encountered on an XP box and get back to you.

I was referring to the configuration file - the one I had to open up in notepad and make changes to. Windows sees it as a CONFIG file. By default Windows calls it BodogScanner.exe (once I unzip it and put in any folder, Windows calls it that. Though if I put my mouse over it, it says CONFIG file.

If I do rename it to BodogScanner.config or BodogScanner.config.exe, then I get an error saying,


"Launching Bodog ClientError 101: Bodog Client failed to launch! Please verify the directory provided is valid. Directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Bodog Poker\Error 102: Unidentified error when communicating with Bodog Client."

Yeah after I posted that I realized what you were talking about.

Windows is hiding the extension and thus only showing your bodog.exe "a config file" instead of bodog.exe.config. Same thing just different way of saying/showing it.

I had the same issue when I retested this version on an XP box. I tested it previously and it worked fine, I must have introduced some incompatibility with XP. I think I know what it might be. I will take a look a closer look at it tonight and get back to you.

To anyone else it is not likely you will get the app working on XP until i get an updated version so just hold off. It should work just fine in Vista/Windows 7.

Of course BodogScanner.exe.config also didn't work and I received the same message. Oops, just read your message. Cool it's not me being a noob and getting it all wrong. ;-)

Ok, this time I tried it on a Windows Vista 32 bit machine and none of the XP bugs were there. It loaded Bodog just fine and all the tables were there. I played some Hold'em cash games, however, I was not able to get any hand histories.

Once again the handhistory folder contained scanner.text and intercept.bin files, but both were empty. Unfortunately, I don't have Windows 7 to test.

Updated version available that I believe solves issues with Windows XP. Also added some functionality to the interface and some error checking to prevent launching before configured.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q1KGKR7L

Also that is the last time I will use "XP Mode" for testing Windows XP compatibility.

I deleteted the old folder and tried running the new BETA on Vista.

I got the following error message:

The application failed to start because MSVCR100.dll was not found

As a temporary fix for the MSVCR100.dll error you can install this:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en...s.aspx?id=8328

The program shouldn't require it so likely I need to track down that bug but in the meantime installing the library from the above link should get you up an running.

I know this is designed to work with HEM, and PT3 already has a built in hand grabber. But sadly PT3 doesn't like the Bodog Scanner HH format. I think with two modifications to the HH, PT3 would import as well. Maybe you can make it an option?

Bodog Scanner is grabbing hands and writing the hand history fine. But PT3 only seems to import the hands that get to showdown. I manually made a change to each of these lines in the Hand history text and PT3 was able to import the entire session.

This is the line I changed:
$0.70 is not called, returned back to PLAYER123

To this:
PLAYER123: uncalled return $0.70

Also, PT3 recognizes HERO- as a separate player in my database. If the HERO- prefix was left off, PT3 would import it normally. I suppose I could add an alias to my database to get around that issue.

I'm using v0.2.49 on win XP

Disregard this last part, my mistake. When I edited the .config file, I left in the HERO- right before I put in my screen name. LOL

I certainly will in future version. I will try to modify the output so it is accepted by BOTH HEM & PT. If I can't get that to work I will make it an option (HEM format or PT format). Shouldn't be too hard to implement.



Thanks for the details.

It looks like both HEM & PT are fine with this format.

So I will update the next build to change the output for "not called" commands making it compatible w/ both PT & HEM.

will be following and trying out when it gets a bit more stable, gj and ty!

Updated version should be out tomorrow guys. Tried to get it out today but looks like it will take another day. Lots of goodies. Configuration manager (no more editing config files), status icons, improved PT compatibility, and lots of bug fixes. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback either in thread on by PM.

New version tonight (this morning) v0.4.1
- added configuration manager to program ( manually editing config file no longer required)
- added hand counter
- added quick access to hand history folder (from menu or clicking on hand count)
- improved compatibility with Windows Vista/7 UAC
- improved compatibility with poker tracker (PT still doesn't like hand where player posts BB & missed SB, if anyone has any ideas let me know)
- fixed MSCVR100D.Dll bug
- fixed rare bug where bodog would prevent communication with scanner when taking longer to start up.
- removed dependency on ssleay32.dll (smaller package size)

Download location (no delays like with megaupload):
http://www.box.net/shared/z6uf7hmtnbggr93kt77j

This and future version will require .Net 4.0. Sorry for the change but I figure it is better to do it now while number of users is small. I didn't realize how large .Net 3.5 download could be especially for XP users. .Net 4.0 is much smaller. There is no reason to stick w/ older 3.5 and larger download size.

If you need .Net 4.0 you can get it here.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en....aspx?id=17113

The installer will check before downloading so just run it if you aren't sure.

Thanks for all the support so far. If you have a recommendation, complaint, or suggestion post it here or PM me. That is the only way the software will get better.

Todo for next version (likely released within 3-4 days)
- make parsing engine table aware (ignore unsupported tables)
- improve user interface (provide more feedback on status and errors)
- improve hand history display
- add preferences (hide debug window, limit logs, etc)
- package program in an installer which will install application (and .net if necessary)

After that the goal will be to add support for other game types and limits.

I can't get this version to work on 2 different computers. XP and Win 7.

It says:
Launching Bodog Clinet
Attempting to connect to Bodog Client ....

but bodog never boots up.

I double checked the configs twice on each computer, they seem correct.

Bodog Scanner is using 50% CPU in Task Manager while it's doing that.

I need sleepz. Are both systems 32bit or 64bit?



Try this. Antivirus may be blocking BodogScanner. If you look in the bodog scanner folder there is a file "clienthook.dll". Copy that and paste it into the Bodog Poker folder (i.e. C:\Program Files\Bodog Poker\ for default install). That is what is happening right at the point you indicate the program is hanging. It is copying that file to game folder and waiting for success before it connects. So manually copy that file and then run the scanner normally. Let me know what happens. Oh and thanks for the support ChipBurgler.

That worked.

Win7 is 64 Bit, and XP is 32 Bit.

I copied the clienthook.dll to the bodog install directory and it loaded Bodog on my XP machine. I'll try the Win 7 tomorrow.

FYI, I have different virus programs running on each machine. AVG on 7 and McAfee on XP.

Small update (v0.4.2)
- Fixed file copy bug that prevented poker client from launching.

Semi-permanent latest version link:
http://www.box.net/shared/z6uf7hmtnbggr93kt77j

Bodog Scanner Requires .Net Framework 4.0
If you don't already have it installed you can get it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en....aspx?id=17113

Not sure if you have it?
a) Check Programs & Features (Add/Remove Programs in Windows XP) on control panel.
b) Just run .Net installer. It checks what is required before downloading.

I'm having trouble getting this to work with HEM. The scanner finds and writes the HHs to the folder I've specified fine and HEM says it is importing new files but the hands aren't showing up in HEM and the tables do not appear in the table manager (so no hud).

So main problem: Hands don't appear in HEM despite the files apparently being imported.
HEM 1.11.07b (latest)
Scanner 0.4.2
Windows 7 64 bit

Any ideas?

ON IMPORTING:
On the import hand screen for HEM when it imports what does it show.
Does it show errors? Or that hands were imported? Until you get it working I wouldn't try auto-import (we can always turn auto-import later once everything is working). Run the scanner generate a dozen hands or so and then manually try to import into HEM. If it has problems it should say so. HEM shows 4 stats (hands imported, errors, duplicate hands, and incomplete hands). You are getting a number for hands imported (not just files imported)? Is the number for bad stats (errors, duplicates, incompletes) 0 or close to 0?

ON MISSING HANDS:
When you say they "aren't showing up in HEM" if you lookup a player (like yourself or a villain) are the hands no listed there? Or is the issue just limited to no HUD? If you see no hands make sure you don't have any filters set. Even if you think you have no filters set hit the clear button for filters then refresh. IF you have another hand grabber remember HEM will only import each hand once so you can't run two at same time.

ON HUD:
Before we try to get HUD working make sure:
a) hands are showing up in HEM (see troubleshooting above)
b) that auto importing is turned on and working (every couple seconds on the import screen you see 1 HAND not just table imported).
c) try this with 1 table only first (preferably micro stakes) On edit: actually try all this while just watching.

Look on table manager window in HEM. Click [Table] then [Table Finder] you should see your table name in the box. Drag the red "X" to the poker table (not lobby) and release it. This should link Bodog to HEM and allow HUD to be displayed.


-------------------------

If you are still having problems you can email me one of your hand history text files ( bodogscanner@gmail.com) and I will try to see if I can replicate the problem.

These screenshots might help. Remember before you try and get the HUD working make sure HEM is working.
No hands in HEM = no hands in HUD. Trying to get HUD working when you don't see any hands in HEM is just going to waste your time.

In this first shot notice there are no tables showing in Table Manager. So we click on [Table] > [Table Finder]. In the table finder window our Bodog table is listed there (you must have auto import working and correctly importing hands for table to show). Make sure to click on the table name in the finder window (it should be highlighted). Next drag the "X" to the bodog table (not lobby).



If you do it right it should look like this. Notice the bottom part of window now has table details. Click [OK].



You might see this. Click [Yes]. It will cause it to match all Bodog windows.



Now HUD is working! Sit down and start getting mucked cards!



The good news is you only need to do this once (unless you reinstall HEM).