PokerStars Configuration Guide

PokerTracker 4 version 4.0.x
March 11, 2013
  • Overview

    PokerTracker 4 imports text hand histories that are saved to your computer by the PokerStars poker client. Once imported, these hands are stored within PostgreSQL and made available for review and analysis in your PT4 database. This process must be correctly configured so that PokerTracker 4 can retrieve these hand histories and also display the Heads Up Display (HUD) on your PokerStars table(s) correctly.

    This guide is intended for users who wish to manually configure PokerTracker 4 to important hand histories from PokerStars, alternatively you may choose to use the automated Setup Assistant. Both options (manual configuration and the Setup Assistant) are simple, but users may prefer using the Setup Assistant for initial configuration.  For general information on the initial setup of PokerTracker 4, please consult the PokerTracker 4 Quick Start Guide.

  • Setup Assistant

    For most users, configuring PokerStars by using the Setup Assistant will be the most efficient method of preparing PokerTracker 4 for use with PokerStars. The Setup Assistant was created to help users automate the configuration of PokerTracker 4 without the need to manually configure your poker environment. To begin the Setup Assistant, simply click Tools > Setup Assistant from the main toolbar. Click the Configure Sites option and turn PokerStars to Yes. (Users who play Zoom will need to configure PokerTracker 4 manually)

    PokerStars PT4 Configuration

    There are a couple steps for configuring PokerStars using the Setup Assistant.

    • Step 2: You must tell PokerTracker 4 where PokerStars saves its hand histories. You can use the Auto Detect option to let PokerTracker 4 automatically find where the hand histories are being written. This can be also done manually by going to “Add” and pointing PT4 to the PokerStars Hand History Folder on your computer. We recommend you also add the PokerStars Tournament Summary folder at the same time to assure that accurate results will be available in the event you play any PokerStars tournaments. Once this is configured correctly, click Next.
    • Step 3: To assure proper HUD placement, you must also configure your seating preferences in PokerTracker 4 to match your seating preferences on PokerStars. A preferred seat is the seat location you automatically sit at when you sit down at a table. PokerTracker 4 must know your preferred seat to ensure that the HUD correctly displays while you are playing. If you have a preferred seat on PokerStars, make sure the button says “Yes”. (If you do not, please turn this option to “No” and push Next) . When possible, PokerTracker will import the preferred seating selection for you from PokerStars, if this cannot occur then simply push Change next to each table type and select the seat in the graphical interface where you automatically sit at while playing.  

    PokerStars Preferred Seat

    Simply push Change next to each table type and select the seat in the graphical interface where you automatically sit at while playing.  Once you have configured your seat preference for each table size correctly, click Next

    PokerTracker 4 PS Seats

    The final step gives you the option to import existing hand histories. It is recommended that you select yes, choose the database where you want PokerTracker 4 to import the existing hand histories, and then click OK

    Tip: If you have a lot of hand histories saved in your PokerStars folder, the import process may take some time. Please be patient and let PokerTracker 4 import all of your hands for optimal results.

  • Configuring PokerStars
    • Hand Histories

      You must configure the PokerStars client to save hand histories to a designated directory on your hard drive.  This step is required to allow PokerTracker 4 to import the hand histories for the database and display the HUD.

      To save your Hand Histories on PokerStars, do the following:

      1. From the PokerStars lobby, click on Options -> Instant Hand History Options.

      2. Check Save My Hands History.

      3. Please note the default location where PokerStars is saving your hand histories under Where To Save.

      4. Click OK to save the settings.

      Windows Hand History Options

      Saving PokerStars Hand Histories

       

      Mac OS X Hand History Options

      PokerStars Hand History Options
    • Tournament Summaries

      To save your Tournament Summaries on PokerStars, do the following:

      1. From the PokerStars lobby, click on Options -> Tournament Summary Options.

      2. Check Save My Tournament Summaries.

      3. Please note the default location where PokerStars is saving your hand histories under Where To Save.

      4. Click OK to save the settings.

      PokerStars Tournament Summaries

       

      Mac OS X Tournament Summary Options

      PokerStars Tournament Summary Options

       
    • Language

      The PokerStars client must be configured to use the English language. PokerTracker 4’s hand history importer only supports the English language, PokerTracker 4 cannot read hand histories saved in any language other than English. To configure the Language in PokerStars, do the following:

      1. From the PokerStars lobby, click Language -> Play in -> English.

      2. If you play tournaments then you should also set the Email in language as English. Click Language -> Email in -> English.

      PokerStars Language Options

    • Preferred Seating

      You might choose to use the Preferred Seat option in your PokerStars client (so that you are always placed in the same seat location at every table). To configure this, do the following:

      1. From the PokerStars lobby, click Options > Preferred Seat...

      2. Select the table type(s) you play most often from the drop down

      3. Click your preferred seat(s) and then OK

      Setting Preferred Seating On PokerStars

    • Enabling the Zoom Poker HUD

      Users that play at Zoom tables may need to manually configure PokerTracker 4.  To manually configure Zoom click Configure -> Site & Import Options from the main menu and select PokerStars (click here if you need help manually configuring PokerStars).  Make sure that the option "Enable Zoom HUD" is checked if you are playing at Zoom table and use a HUD.  Click OK to save your settings.

      PokerStars ZOOM HUD

      With PokerTracker 4 configured correctly, you simply need to follow these steps to ensure your HUD is operational on Zoom Poker tables. These steps must be followed exactly in this order, otherwise your HUD will not work.
      1. Start PokerTracker 4
      2. Start PokerStars and Login to your account
      3. Click "Get Hands While Playing" in PokerTracker 4
      4. Join a Zoom Poker table

      Again, these steps must be followed for the HUD to work properly on Zoom Poker tables. If you have any HUD issues, please close both PokerTracker 4 and PokerStars, then start from the beginning again with step 1.

      Below are some final notes about Zoom tables and PokerTracker 4:

      • The Hud will start working after the first hand is IMPORTED (not played)
      • For optimal results, please allow the importer to import any existing hand histories before playing at Zoom Poker tables to minimize the time it takes the HUD to begin working.
      • As always, make sure that both PokerStars and PokerTracker 4 are not open before you install any updates to PokerTracker 4. To be safe, it can be helpful to reboot your system before updating.
      • Some personal Firewalls may conflict with the Zoom HUD from operating, please see the Firewall Troubleshooting Guide for more information.
      Note: The Zoom HUD is not available in the Mac OS X version of PokerTracker 4, the seat positioning for players is not available in the PokerStars Zoom Hand History
  • Manual Import Configuration for PokerStars

    PokerTracker 4 cannot import PokerStars hand histories or display the Heads Up Display (HUD) in real-time while playing without prior configuration. You can easily do this by clicking Configure in the application menu, and then select Site & Import Options. View the Site Configuration tab and choose PokerStars along the left side Poker Network list.

    Windows Import Configuration

    Poker Tracker 4 Poker Stars Configuration

    Mac Import Configuration

    PokerStars Import Configuration

    Make sure Get Hands From Site While Playing is selected, or if you do not play on PokerStars then you can select Hide Site From Lists to hide it from view. Next, click Auto Detect to populate the path of the PokerStars Hand History Directories. Finally set up your preferred seating if applicable, choose to enable the Zoom HUD, and enable the Memory grabber to allow prefetching of hand histories. 

    If you need more help, please consult the Importing Hand Histories tutorial for more information.

    • Memory Grabber

      The Memory Grabber is a special feature that integrates with the PokerStars application to grab hands that reside in memory.  It pulls in a select number of prior hands from the PokerStars client memory so that the PokerTracker 4 HUD can populate with results the moment you sit at a table.  Any users experiencing performance issues should disable the Memory Grabber for improved results.

      This feature does not work with the Zoom tables.  It should also be noted that the Memory Grabber is not available on OSX Lion due to the way the OS handles security issues.  However, it does work with legacy versions of the OS. 

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