In-game Editor Updates

[Tiernan]

I've spent a couple weeks working on the in-game text editor to fix a couple bugs and present a consistent interface.

Features & Fixes:

-- Exceeding the maximum length does not auto-terminate editing, it merely reports that the line was not accepted.
-- .h actually displays the editor list of commands now.
-- .x <cmd> replaces .d <cmd>, as eXecute is more intuitive.
-- .d# replaces .R# as Delete is more intuitive.
-- .r displays a 75-char ruler.
-- .q terminates editing like the '~' character on a blank line.
-- Maximum character size always displayed.
-- Create / Append mode is displayed to give editors more feedback on which mode they are in.
-- Updated "editor" and "write" help-files.  (

To be copied over when the server is rebooted).[/list]Here's what the in-editor help list looks like:

Code Select Expand

Help on text editing:
.c          clear the text.
.d#         delete # lines from the end of the text.
.f          format the text into ONE paragraph.
.h          show this message.
.i          format the text into one or more, indented paragraphs.
.p          proof / spell check the text.
.q | '~'    terminate editing.
.r          display a 75-character ruler.
.s          show the text so far.
.x <cmd>    execute command <cmd>.


Here's a sample of how the editor first appears when writing on an in-game message board:

Code Select Expand

Write your message.
Text Editor: (4096 character maximum) [create mode]
Type .h on a new line for help.  Terminate with '~' or .q on a new line.
[---|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----]
->
Limitations:

I wasn't able to find a quick solution for deleting specific lines other than the last X lines or a way to begin inserting into the text at a specific line number.  I have some ideas on how these may be done within the existing editor framework, however they are particularly complicated and I wanted to get these changes into the mainstream.  I'll revisit making further editor updates based on time, need, and priority.  I think these changes will make dealing with the editor less cumbersome.

[Yokunama]

Thanks!

I've always wished that ".h" to actually did something.

[Larrath]

Hallelujah.

[spawnloser]

Beautiful, Tiernan.

[Seeker]

Love the ruler bar, and adore ".h".


Seeker

[Red Sunrise]

Thanks so much!

[moab]

This is very cool.

Thanks!

*wince*

Can we get a replace command?

like .r sowrd sword

*grovel*

[EvilRoeSlade]

Limitations:

I wasn't able to find a quick solution for deleting specific lines other than the last X lines or a way to begin inserting into the text at a specific line number.  I have some ideas on how these may be done within the existing editor framework, however they are particularly complicated and I wanted to get these changes into the mainstream.  I'll revisit making further editor updates based on time, need, and priority.  I think these changes will make dealing with the editor less cumbersome.

Prioritizing.  I like it!

[Moofassa]

I have a younger sibling who often comes to my place and watches me arm for a few minutes. He called me the other day asking me how to pull up a help menu. I told him it was .h.... we troubleshooted for about an hour to no avail. Thank you.

[mansa]

Can we get the editor updates for the character creation section, too?

[Tiernan]

Can we get the editor updates for the character creation section, too?

Char-gen is also handled with the revised editor.  The only place that doesn't use the revised editor is mudmail from the external menu.  Typically correspondence with the staff is managed by email not mudmail and I felt that the system is probably better off as deprecated.

[Aldiel]

You rock, Tiernan.  Thanks!

[ale six]

Out of curiousity, is the new stuff in yet, or do we need to wait on a reboot?

[Tiernan]

Next reboot.  Curse our outstanding stability this week!  (Okay, not really, I like seeing the server run from Saturday to Saturday without a crash).

[Tamarin]

Way to jinx it, Tiernan.

[Malifaxis]

The whimsy of the god (staff) is the law and reality of man(player)kind.