AlaMOO User's Guide					Introduction
MOO Interface	Character Options	Getting Around	Communicating	Working with Objects	Objects Help
Creating Objects and Rooms	Xpress Options	Getting Help	Command Summary	Beginner's Guide	QuickStart

Understanding the MOO Interface

AlaMOO runs a version of MOO called Encore, designed for educational use by Cynthia Haynes and Jan Rune Holmevik. MOOs traditionally have been only text-based, but what makes EnCore different is that it contains a graphical user interface (or GUI) which greatly simplifies many common MOO functions and integrates the MOO with the web. The text-based character of the MOO is preserved on the left hand side of the screen and the graphical (or Xpress) interface is on the right. This part of the guide will explain what all of these parts are and how they work.

The command window is where you type commands for the MOO to process. Commands can be anything: saying something to the room of people that you are in, displaying a URL, working with an object on the MOO, or a variety of others. The command window also contains a set of buttons which allow you to switch between various "modes."

Normal mode allows you to type commands into the MOO. If the MOO does not understand a command, it will respond with "I don't understand that." Examples of commands: look <object> , @go <room> , @examine <object>

Say mode prefaces anything that you type with the "say" command. When you hit enter, what you have typed will appear in the talk window as "You say, "Whatever." Useful when you are conversing only.

Emote mode prefaces anything that you type with the"emote" command. When you hit enter, what you have typed will appear in the talk window as <Yourname> <emote text>: Joe jumps up and down.

The talk area is where the MOO displays the output of text commands, including the speech and emotes of other players. It also displays some information when you look at an object, such as the URL displayed in the viewing area and a list of the object's contents. When you are navigating the MOO or working with objects, the MOO will also display some of the output of those commands in the talk area.

The viewing area (or Xpress interface) is where the MOO displays descriptions and web pages. By default, it displays the description of the room where you are located. You can refresh this description by clicking on the LOOK button on the button bar. Here is an explanation of what a room description usually contains:

Whenever you click on a link to look at a person or an object, the viewing area will display their description. Also, when you display a web page by using a web projector or the URL command, the web page will display in the viewing area. Despite the viewing area changing what it displays, you are still in the original room. You can return to the description of the room again by clicking on the LOOK button in the button bar (the LOOK button functions sort of like a BACK button).

The button bar provides buttons which offer access to various features of the MOO, such as changing options for your player, sending mail, creating objects and making accounts.

The following table summarizes the function of each button. If you are a guest or a student, you may not have all of these buttons on your toolbar.