enCore v.4 User's Guide

Beginner's Guide to enCore

enCore is a computer program that allows multiple users to connect via the Internet to a shared database of rooms and other objects and interact with each other and the database in synchronous time.

This guide is designed to get you started in enCore. Some of the basic commands are explained two different ways: either by typing in a command or by pointing and clicking with your mouse.

Once you have connected, click the help button at the top of the screen to get an index of help topics. Also, if you are in a room or looking at an object and you see the light bulb icon, you can click on this icon for specific help with that object.  You are also encouraged to print the enCore QuickStart cheat sheet for a handy reference of command functions you will perform in enCore.

A FEW BASIC COMMANDS
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To see how the room you're in looks like, just type look or click the look button. To get information about the objects around you, including yourself and other users, you can type:

look object
Example: look news - to see the description of that object

examine object
Example: examine news - to see the description, and additional information, like the owner of the object, and some commands on how to use it.

You could also simply click on the object link in the right-hand window to see the description or graphic image of the object if it has one, then click on the LOOK button to return (or right-click your mouse and select BACK).

If you have a player account (i.e., you are not a guest), one of the first things you should do after you connect is to set your personal preferences such as gender, description and so on.

To do set your preferences click on the Options button. Click on the select option to edit pull down menu and fill in the information as desired. If you have questions about the fields to fill in, click on the lightbulb for HELP.

COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
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To talk to someone in the same room as you are, you type a quotation mark " followed by what you want to say, like this:

"Hello there!

You see: You say, "Hello there!"
Everyone else in the room sees: Ann says "Hello there!"

You can use body language, also known as emoting, by typing a colon (:) followed by text like this:
:smiles

You see: Ann smiles.
Everyone else in the room sees: Ann smiles

Often, when several people are in the same room, you may want to address a particular person. To do that type 'to' followed by the name of the person you want to talk to, and then what you want to say.

to John Good to see you again :-).
John, you, and everyone else sees: Ann [to John]: Good to see you again

To communicate with people who are not in the same place you are, you can 'page' them:
page John Do you have time for a question?


MOVING AROUND
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In every room exits or entrances appear as links in the right-hand part of the screen, so you simply click on the link to move your location. Names of exits are also listed at the bottom of the text side of your screen. To move in a given direction simply type the name of the direction or exit. For example, if you see an exit named west, you type west to go there.

If you get lost you can always get back to where you started by typing home. A fast and convenient way to move around is to @join other users.

To see who else is logged in to enCore click on the WHO button or type
@who

If you see another user online named John, you can join him by typing:

@join John
Or click on the link in the location column of the Who browser.

Another way to move quickly between locations in enCore is to use the '@go' command if you know the name of the place. If, for example, you want to go to a place called 'Classroom', you type:

@go Classroom

People come to enCore for many different reasons: some come to work, others to hang out or visit with friends. Out of courtesy, you should always ask before you join someone. For example, if you want to talk to John, you should type

@knock John

If he wants to talk to you he can reply with

@invite person

Depending on the configuration of the enCore environment, real names and email addresses of users may be available. For more information about a given user you can type:

@whois name

Or, if you are using Xpress, click on the WHO button, then the person's name link.

REQUESTING A CHARACTER
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If you are a guest in enCore and not yet a member, you can get your own character by requesting one.  You can click the REQUEST icon in the button bar and fill in the form, or email an administrator for a character. 

PRIVACY AND SAFETY
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An occasional problem in enCore is harassment from anonymous guests or other users. To deal with this problem there are certain commands that you can use.

@gag person - This will effectively filter out anything the person says or pages until you type @ungag person.

@eject! person - Use this command to expell someone from a room you own.

@lock here with me - Will lock the room so nobody can come in. @unlock here will unlock your room.

You can also contact the administrator and ask them for help

@wizards - Will tell you the name or names of wizards who are online.

Finally, remember that one of the most useful help commands in enCore is this one: say Hi, I'm new here. Do you have a minute for a question?

Good luck and happy MOOing.

For more in-depth information about use of educational MOOs we refer you to our books _High Wired: On the Design, Use, and Theory of Educational MOOs_ (http://www.press.umich.edu/titles/09665.html) and _MOOniversity: A Students Guide to Online Learning Environments_ (http://vig.abacon.com/catalog/abbooks/0,2371,0205271146,00.html).

Guide adapted from the original MOOniversity Lite written by Jan Holmevik and Cynthia Haynes.

 

Screen Appearance || Quick Start || Beginner's Guide || | Getting around || Communicating ||Character options || Working with objects || Objects help ||Using MOO Mail || Creating objects and rooms ||Xpress options || Getting help || Command summary ||

Questions? Comments? Email Lennie Irvin
This guide is based on materials developed for the Encore Open Source Documentation Project by Lennie Irvin and Erin Karper. Menu courtesy of Milonic.

Page last updated 08-03-04--LI