NexusMud help : display

Introduction

The semi-graphic mode is something totaly new (or so i think) in a
mud. It's a great help to play and offer many possibility.

To use it, you need a totaly compatible VT100, ANSI terminal. We tested
it on the following systems without troubles :

- Sun/unix (using xterm)
- Dec/unix (using xterm)
- Silicon graphic and HP workstations
- Vax/VMS (in VT100 mode)
- IBM PC (both Linux and DOS/windows)
- MAC

The commands related to the semi-graphic mode are : DISPLAY, RESIZE, COLOR

If you are using UNIX and don't have an xterm supporting colors, just
ask us, we have the source and compilled version of one with the default
colors used for NEXUS.

How to set and use the semi-graphic mode

To activate the semi-graphic mode, use the command DISPLAY 1 or DISPLAY 2.
To go back to normal display, use : DISPLAY 0

The only difference between display 1 and 2 is that the display 2 use the
alternate graphic characters set. If display 1 works fine for you but you
have troubles in display 2 see : HELP DISPLAY TROUBLE

By default, it's assumed that you are using a 24 lines terminal or window.
If your screen is smaller (not recommanded) or bigger, you can tell to the
program the number of lines that you can display with : RESIZE <nb line>

If your terminal can display colors, you can turn the color mode on with
COLOR. (to turn it of, type COLOR again). It's not recommanded to use this
mode if you can't display colors as it will slow down your display. (and
send more stuff on the net).

A typical "display" screen should look like that :

                              ^
                              |
                              |
                    Scrolling area for text
    MAP                       |             Position of People in group
     |                        |                         |
     v                        v                         v
==============================================================    ^
**  ""." . | HP   : 16/16    . /.\ .  Power : 0    A . . . . .    |
^^*^O"." .O| Mana : 71/62     / | \   Wimpy : 0    B . . . . . fixed part
.....X.....| Move : 122/109  <W-X-E>  Prot. : OFF  C . . . . . of screen
***^.    . |                  \ | /                D . . . . .    |
***..    .O|                   \./ <- EXITS          1 2 3 4 5    v
Second line of prompt                                             ^ Prompt
First line of prompt                                              v lines

If you have only one or less line for the prompt or if the fixed part of
the display is scrolling, try to RESIZE your screen with a lower number of
lines.

If you have more than 2 empty lines at the bottom of the screens, try to
RESIZE with a higer number. On some computer you may need to have 3 empty
lines at the bottom of the screen or all will become messy...

If you get some funny stuff with lot of strange \033[01 stuff (or something
looking like escape sequences) see : HELP DISPLAY TROUBLE

Some tests to help you fix the display correctly

The following lines will help you determine if you can use one mode or
another...

This is our reference : TEST of the escape sequences.

Now, the following line should be in bold :

TEST of the escape sequences.

And this one reversed :

TEST of the escape sequences.

If there was no difference between the two test-lines and the reference,
nothing is lost for you, try the display anyway.
If you got strange characters between the two test-lines and they
weren't reversed or in bold, see : HELP DISPLAY TROUBLE

Test of the color mode :

This line should be in black :

TEST of the escape sequences.

The next line should be in red :

TEST of the escape sequences.

And this one in blue :

TEST of the escape sequences.

If you don't have any colors, don't use the color mode. If you are using
an xterm under UNIX try to find one that can display colors or ask Aldur
or Chris.
If you had colors but they were wrong, that's not important. It's only that
you are using a wrong color maps. Try to change it if you can. (For UNIX
user, ask Aldur or Chris).

Now we will test the capacity of using the alternat characters set :

                 lqqqqqk
                 x     x      SORRY, DON'T WORK IN THE HELP, 
                 x     x      JUST TRY IT !
                 mqqqqqj

If you had a nice square, all is ok and you can use display 2.

If you didn't had anything, it's certainly that you are using a font
that don't have those characters defined. If you are using a xterm (or
something smiliar) Try to press the CTRL key and the right button of your
mouse. You should have a menu for the VT Fonts. Choose another font than
Default. (For exemple, medium).

If you had something like that :
                 lqqqqqK
                 x     x
                 x     x
                 mqqqqqj
You can't use the display 2, use display 1 instead...

How to solve common problems

- When switching to display 1 or 2, i get only grabbage.

Try switching back to display 0. Type RESIZE 24 and swith to dispaly 1.

If using UNIX, try to quit the game and type : set term=VT100

If using VMS, try to quit the gane and type : set terminal/device=vt100

If using an IBM or MAC, make sure that your terminal prog. is in
VT100, ANSI compatibility.

- I am using X under unix but i don't have any colors.

Try to find a color xterm or ask one of the imps for one...

- I got the wrong colors.

Change your colors map if possible.
Ask an imps for the colors map used in NEXUS.

- Some characters are missing or wrong when using display 2.

Try to change the font you are using. For an xterm, it's CTRL+Right mouse
button and choose something other than default.

- The fixed part of the screen is scolling under display.

Try to resize your screen to a lower value. (Default is 24 lines)

- I don't get less than two lines of prompt under display

Try to resize your screen to a lower value. (Default is 24 lines)

If nothing work, ask an imps ! :)

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