New To This

[goat]

I've played on a POL server for the last 4 years or so, and I've decided to give back a little bit if I can, but I, unfortunately, don't have any idea what I'm doing really.

I've setup a server and can log in to it/wander around, but I can't seem to access any of the GM commands, or do much of anything really (actually, I can't even run). The information in these forums is great, but I need a little more tutoring before it becomes actually useful.

Some points to start off with:
-As I said, I can't figure out how access the GM controls in game
-Account and PCS txts don't auto-update when I make a character (I've tried setting my access to admin through there)
-My character can't run
-Once I get admin permissions, is there a utility that will allow me to easily manipulate items in game (eg. pandora's box for RunUO).

PS. I'm using an AOS client with the materials listed in the "Make your own shard" thread (POL097).

[goat]

Upon further investigation, I get an error on POL boot that says something about not being able to read "scripts/script.ecl". After looking around I have no clue how to make one or where to find it or what to compile it from.

Help! Please!

[Yukiko]

First thing to be sure of is that you've compiled all scripts.

The compiled files all have the extension ecl.

If you're getting a missing *. ecl file error that is telling you that one or more of your files did not compile.

There are a number of reasons a file might not compile.

First thing we need to know is what version of scripts and core are you running? One would assume it's POL 0.97 on both counts based on the forum in which this thread was placed but that may not be the case.

[goat]

Yeah, its all 097. I thought I'd compiled all the scripts, but can you give me a list of what should be compiled/which file compiles to scripts.ecl (since thats the one thats missing).

[tekproxy]

First of all, thanks for the effort goat. It's appreciated.

If you're using the 097 distro you'll find some things aren't finished yet and 99% of the GM commands have changed or have been replaced with something better. You should be able to access commands through the command bar. Use the command .cmdbar or dig around through all the command directories in the distro.

I don't know what would be causing you to not be able to run. That should be a client side thing.

The accounts.txt and pcs.txt files are read from when POL loads and are written to during world saves and during shut down. If you're going to modify them be do it while POL is closed.

There is currently not utility to easily manipulate items in game, but there are a few in development. Check out the 3rd party tools forums, find something you like and make suggestions and/or motivate the programmer to finish.

[goat]

Well, would I be better off working with a version thats complete for now? POL095 has a version thats completely compiled and pretty much ready to go.

[Yukiko]

Honestly, if you are brand new to POL I'd recommend using POL 0.95 to learn the ropes, expecially if you are learning scripting/programming.

I am not sure if you can log into 0.95 with the latest clients but if you've played freeshards then you probably have earlier client versions already, if not then someone here can give you a link to websites that have clients for D/L.

[CWO]

www.cwo333.com/clients

Thats my old clients website. All of the 2D clients on there will work on 095. Just dont use the provided login.cfg since that will log you into my shard if you use it (its to stop hotlinking).

[tekproxy]

While the 095 distro is complete, it's badly structured and very poorly written in some places, so it ranges from difficult to nightmare to maintain or modify. The 097 distro is vastly superior in terms of code readability, documentation and modularity. It makes good use of current cores and has a number of things the 095 distro doesn't have at all (lots of neat packet hooks (party system)). It is being designed to be easily configurable and the code is written to look as good as works--not just "ok it compiles". Check out both and compare.

Oh, and always have the documentation website open when programming, and get UltraEdit or some editor with syntax highlighting and tabbed browsing.
http://docs.polserver.com/

[Yukiko]

Yes Tek is right about the new Distro being better organized, sometimes I think it's over organized
*laughs*
but it is easier to configure in many ways and once it's done it will be easier to work with. The problem is that for new people coming to POL most prefer a working shard to learn escript so that's why I recommend using POL 0.95 Distro and core to begin with. However if that is not an issue with you then by all means download the new Distro and have at it.

Now Tek if you're going to promote editors then I am going to promote the one I use. It's free and easy to use. Try Scite from etherria shard. I don't have the link for it on their site but you can download a copy from my website at http://www.hopelives.us/Files/Scite.zip

No install required just unzip it, run scite.exe from the Scite folder. Go into options in the menu and choose escript properties. Look in the file for the line with ECOMPILEHOME and set it to your \pol\scripts folder, save it and you are set.

[tekproxy]

Notepad2 is also pretty good if you want ultra-lightweight. If you look at the source, it says it's based off of Scite. It has pascal syntax highlighting, line numbering, smart tab handling, etc... It makes notepad replacement. The only bad thing is since it's based off Scite it doesn't like very large files, but how often does that happen?

UltraEdit definately does require and install. It has all the features you'd expect from an 80 dollar text editor, including search/replace all open tabs/files in project. Tabbed browsing, customizable syntax highlighting, autocompletion, hex editor, savable workspaces, sings you sweet songs in the mornings, makes you coffee, rubs your feet, you can set it up to compile your scripts with one button. It's got more features than I know what to do with. I was a stout Notepad2 user until I got tired of having 10-20 of them open and having to alt-tab between them all. The distro also comes with some stuff for different text editors.

[goat]

Well, since this is just going to be a part time gig, I'm not inclined to drop 40$ on a script editor, so I think Scite wins the pageant.

As far as core and distro go, 095 does have a lot of nasty areas, but it does compile (for the most part, some of the scripts don't exactly work). So I think that until 097 is completed all the way, 095 is my best bet.

With that said, I have a couple of open ended questions before I move this thread over to the 095 discussion forums.
-how does one go about editing the AOS tool tips/make them have text in them in the first place?
-What is the purpose of the "add set" command?
-How are new accounts/characters created?
-At what time are the scripts compiled (ie if I wanted to edit a spell or something, do I have to take the server down completely, edit it and put it back up)?
-Is it possible to make a 095/097 core hybrid by using the established scripts (eg the npc maintenance scripts, the gm tools etc)?

[tekproxy]

I think add set has something to do with adding book sets, random guess.

New accounts are added with the .newaccount command, dig around through all the docs and commands directories.

Scripts are compiled when you compile them. For many scripts you don't have to restart the server, you just have to setup POL to not cache interactive scripts, in pol.cfg. Also check out the .unload command.

You can make the 095 distro compile for 097. Is that what you're asking?

[goat]

The .newaccount trick doesn't work. It doesn't appear to work. I don't get any of the sysmessage returns the command supposedly has. Is there any other way?

I'm still lost on the AOS tooltips.

Yes, that was exactly what I asked. I might try sticking 095 together with 097 and see if i can come out with a working version.

New problem: my text commands don't work. "bank" and the "follow" commands are the only ones I've checked so far, but the text doesn't even appear when i say those commands, let alone the function. Any ideas?

[tekproxy]

Prefix the command with a dot. If you're not of the propper command level then it will not work. When you type a dot it should turn into C: and you type your command.

.newaccount might not be the command and it's been ages since I've done 095, but if you look in commands.txt in the docs directory, it should tell you