Q - What's new in version 4.5 of the palace server ?

This FAQ gives you a summary of the new features and changes in version 4.5 of the palace server software.

CHANGES TO EXISTING COMMANDS

'kill - The `kill function now kills only for the default time. If you wish to kill for a length of time different from the default, you must now use `killfor (see below for details).

'track - The `track function now tracks only for the default time. If you wish to track for a length of time different from the default, you must now use `trackfor (see below for details).

'help - The `help function remains the same for non-operators. For owners and operators, however, `help now displays a "menu" of categories. For example, `help admin shows the administrative commands and `help commandname shows information on a given command. For a full list of all commands in alphabetical order, use `help all.

'autoannounce -The `autoannounce function still sets the server greeting to "message". However, `autoannounce with no "message" now displays the current message. To clear the server greeting, type `autoannounce "".

On/Off Commands - Any commands with on/off capability which used different commands to enable or disable the feature have been modified for consistent behavior. `command shows the status for these types of commands; `command on turns the command on; `command off turns the command off.

NEW COMMANDS

TYPE 1 AVATAR COMMANDS

Version 4.5 contains a whole set of commands relating to type 1 avatars, which are used for The Palace Viewer (TPV). TPV is no longer supported, so these commands are no longer functional.

OTHER COMMANDS

New `forward command - There is a new operator command which allows operators to set the server to automatically move users from one room to another when the first room becomes full. For example, `forward 86 110 will move users to room 110 when room 86 becomes full. You can set this up as a loop, but be careful: if all rooms become full, you'll have an endless loop disaster on your hands.

The syntax is - `forward from to

If you wish to forward the room you are in to another room, the 'from' is assumed. In the previous example, if you were in Room 86, you could just enter

`forward 110

and the equivalent to `forward 86 110 would be used.

New `killfor command - There is a new operator command `killfor which allows operators to kill (disconnect) a user for variable lengths of time.

The syntax is - 'killfor minutes name

`kill will only kill a user for the default time period now. The change was made to improve the reliability of the kill command when specifying a variable time.

New `tock command - There is a new operator command `tock which sends a message to the client announcing the servertime.

The syntax is - `tock

This chat can be parsed by a roomscript and used as a standard reference for time as well.

New `trackfor command - There is a new operator command `trackfor which allows operators to track a user for a variable length of time.

The syntax is - 'trackfor minutes name

`track will only track a user for the default time period now. The change was made to improve the reliability of the track command when specifying a variable time.

NEW ROOM FLAG

The client does not yet support authoring this new room flag, therefore, in order to use it, you must edit it directly into the pat file.

NOLOOSEPROPS

Adding NOLOOSEPROPS to the ROOMFLAGS portion of the Room Description causes any props dropped by users to vanish instantly, thus reducing clutter in your room.

NEW SPOT TYPES

The client does not yet support authoring these new spot types, therefore, in order to use them, you must edit them directly into the pat file. MANDATORY - This type means users must be in a MANDATORY area. It is very similar to NAVAREA, but, because it is server enforced, users cannot circumvent the intended behavior. FORBIDDEN - This type means that users cannot be in the specified area. It is very similar to DONTMOVEHERE, but, because it is server enforced, users cannot circumvent the intended behavior. LANDINGPAD - This type means that users will enter a room in the specified area.