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ChessBase CBV archive format

Also known as: CBV

A compressed ChessBase archive that gathers the components of a CBH database into one package.

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Explanation

CBV is a ChessBase archive format for transporting or backing up a database. It gathers into one compressed file the components that normally make up a multi-file . This avoids sending every associated extension separately.

CBV acts as a container rather than the ordinary working structure. When compatible software restores or opens it, the components are extracted to recreate the database. CBV is therefore suited to distribution and backup, while CBH describes the database used for searching and editing.

It is not a compressed Portable Game Notation (PGN) file. PGN is a text format for exchanging games, whereas CBV belongs to the ChessBase family of formats and requires software that understands it. ChessBase 18 documents one specific limitation: to create a CBV backup from a database in 2CBH, the newer database format used by that version, the database must first be converted to the older CBH format.

Usage and context

The .cbz extension identifies an encrypted ChessBase archive, a different function from CBV's ordinary compression and packaging.

Common confusions

CBV and CBH as equivalent formats

CBV is the transport or backup package. CBH is the family of active database components inside that package.

A universal chess archive

CBV does not have PGN's broad portability. Reading it depends on software that implements the ChessBase format.

Sources

  1. 1.Database formats, ChessBase
  2. 2.File names and extensions, ChessBase
  3. 3.FAQ 2CBH Format, ChessBase

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