This section covers some of the key terms you'll run across while reading this manual and using Savitar.
If you don't find the definition you are looking for here, try http://www.webopedia.com/'s dictionary of computer and internet terms.
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ANSI
Acronym for the American National Standards Institute. Founded in 1918, ANSI is a voluntery organization composed of over 1,300 members (including all the large computer companies) that creates standards for the computer industry. For example, the ANSI color and ANSI escape sequences that MUVEs use.
ANSI escape sequence
A sequence of special characters that sends a command to a device or program. Typically, an escape sequence begins with an escape character, but this is not universally true. MUVEs often use ANSI escape sequences to treat text with color and style information.
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client
The client part of a client-server architecture. Tytpically, a client is an application that runs on a personal computer or workstation and relies on a server to perform some operation. For example, a MUVE client is an application that enables you to send and receive text to a MUVE server.
command marker
Savitar defines command markers to signal the beginning of a local command. A command marker is made up of 1 or 2 characters which are user definable. The default command marker is "##".
CR/LF
Short for Carriage Return / LineFeed, a carraige return is a special code that moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line. Linefeed moves the cursor to the next line. Some MUVE servers detect the end of a line of input using a CR, others use a CR and LF (CR/LF). Savitar supports both types.
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HTML
Short for Hyper Text Markup Language, the authoring language used to create documents on the World Wide Web. HTML defines the structure and layout of a Web document by using a variety of tags and attributes. Savitar uses a subset of HTML as an optional means of displaying text.
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input pane
Savitar's input pane is that part of the world's session window where the user enters text input.
input trigger
A trigger that operates on things typed in the input pane.
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local command
Normally, commands entered in the input pane are sent directly on to the world server. However, if a command is entered preceeded by a command marker, it's treated as a local command, that is, it's not sent to the server but is interpreted and acted on by Savitar.
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macro
A name or key that represents a list of one or more commands. Savitar allows you to created macros so taht you can enter a single key or word to perform a whole series of actions.
MOO
Short for Mud, Object Oriented, a specific implementation of a MUD system developed by Stephen White.
MUD
Short for Multi-User Dungeon (or Multi-User Dimension) a cyberspace where users can take on an identity in the form of an avatar and interact with one another. Originally, MUDs tended to be adventure games played within enormous old castles with hidden rooms, trap-doors, exoctic beasts, and magical items. Nowadays, the term is used more generically to refer to any cyberspace.
MUVE
Short for Multi-User Virtual Environment. An all-encompassing term that covers MOOs, MUDs, Mucks, Mushes, 3-D worlds, and chat worlds.
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NCSA Telnet
A popular Mac OS telnet application.
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output pane
Savitar's output pane is that part of the world's session window where text arriving from the world's server is displayed.
output trigger
A trigger that operates on things displayed in the output pane.
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server
A computer or device on a netowrk that manages network resources. In the case of Savitar's usage, the server is the computer running the MUVE world Savitar is connecting to.
session window
The main window for a world. Its where all input and output are displayed.
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telnet
A terminal emulation program for TCP/IP networks such as the Internet. A standard agreed upon communication protocol between clients and servers for exchanging text information. Savitar supports a subset of this protocol.
trigger
Savitar supports the concept of "triggers", allowing you to set up interesting reactions that are triggered on one or more words that are received from the connected world (known as an output trigger), or one onr more words you have typed in the world input pane (known as an input trigger). You can even create triggers which operate on both input and output. Triggers can do all sorts of things like highlighting text, making a sound, or sending and automatic reply.
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variable
In Savitar, a variable is a synonym for macro.
variable marker
Savitar defines variable markers to signal the beginning of a macro in a line of input. A variable marker is made up of 1 or 2 characters which are user definable. The default command marker is "%%". When Savitar encounters a variable marker in a line of input, it will subsitute the %%<variable-name> with the variable's value.
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wildcard
A special symbol that stands for one or more characters. Savitar uses wildcards for matching triggers to incomint and/or outgoing text.
wildcard marker
Savitar defines wildcard markers to signal the beginning of a wildcard. A wildcard marker is made up of 1 or 2 characters which are user definable. The default command marker is "$$". When Savitar encounters a wildcard marker in a line of input or output, it will set the $$<variable-name> with the text encountered.
world
A MUVE hosted on a remote server.
world document
The setting information for a world saved out to the Mac OS as a file.
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XML
Short for eXtensible Markup Language, a specification developed by the W3C. XML is a pared-down version of SGML, designed especially for Web documents. It allows designers to create their own customized tags. Savitar uses XML to textually transfer its object data (trigger,macros,variables, and worlds.)
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