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Oct 30, 1998, 1:58pm

Yes, my construction bots (mover bot, builder bot, surveyor bot, demolition bot) either record
or manipulate the result of aw_query; the survey record is in an editable form. (See the Delphi
news above.) What I am testing corresponds to most of your proposal (not the wildly wonderful
elliptical stuff, though!), except that I get the radius for each object (hypotenuse) by geometric
means (courtesy of Pythagoras) and calculate the effect of the universal rotation starting from
the object's arctan angle. Once the radius and angle of the rotated object location are known, the
problem becomes a variant of the moving avatar problem (the radius is the distance moved, the
deltax/z are derived by sine and cosine from the rotated angle).
There is one aspect of the moving avatar problem that becomes clearer in view of this solution,
however: in Movement.C, the negative and positive values returned by sine/cosine are correctly
interpreted for AW because Movement.C equates the avatar's angle of motion with the avatar's yaw
(which in AW is always calculated conterclockwise from N). To allow the avatar to move backwards,
or sideways, while continuing to face the old way, one would have to declare a separate angle of
motion, being careful to calculate it in AW fashion, with the first quadrant starting at due N.
You yourself notice that the object's yaw rotates as it takes the desired path around the circle
(the angle of rotation), not according to the angle of the radius where the object is built (the
avatar's angle of motion). I heartily agree: math was fascinating in school, but never so much
fun!


[View Quote] > Don't you just have to manipulate the results of the aw_query? It returns the objects in a
> zone. Once retrieved, you can then decide on a center, select the objects and sequence through
> each of them applying the same rotation algorithm.
>
> I am not sure how you want to select your objects. Maybe by owner id, or specify some kind of
> bounding box?
>
> The algorithm you want is more complicated than mine. You don't want to work out the yaw of
> the object as a tangent to your circle, that would get you into differentiation - hated that
> in school. Given an objects position, a center and an angle of rotation you can work out the
> new x,z coords.
>
> Lets see, if you look at the problem as "how do I move to the edge of my circle at a specified
> angle" then you have a simple forward movement from circle center algorithm.
>
> All you have got to start with is the circle_x , circle_z and object_x, object_z numbers. You
> have to work out the radius of the circle you want your object to scribe. I think this is the
> hardest part of all this.
>
> First work out the length of the sides of the triangle.
>
> delta_x = circle_x - object_x;
> delta_z = circle_z - object_z;
>
> Now work out the angle represented by the object and the circle center. Remember that all
> these angle things are in radians. This goes back to the tan(angle) = o/h equation so the
> angle = inverse tan(o/h).
>
> angle = atan(delta_x / delta_z); or = atan2(delta_x, delta_z);
>
> So the radius is
>
> radius = delta_z / cos(angle);
>
> Now to work out the position on the edge of the circle for any angle is simple.
>
> center_x = 100;
> center_z = 100;
> angle = 15;
>
> edge_x = center_x + (radius * sin(angle));
> edge_z = center_z + (radius * cos(angle));
> Move object to edge_x, edge_z;
>
> You could get fancy if you want to tilt your circle into the y plane.
>
> angle_yaw = 0;
> angle_pitch = 0;
>
> edge_x = center_x + (radius * sin(angle_yaw));
> edge_z = center_z + (radius * cos(angle_yaw));
> edge_y = center_y + (radius * sin(angle_pitch));
> Move object to edge_x, edge_z, edge_y;
>
> We are using a constant radius here but what if you wanted to rotate in an ellipse. I guess
> the radius would have to change with some function of the angle. Maybe you could set the
> radius for each step using
>
> radius = minimum_radius + (radius_variation * cos(angle));
>
> That way your radius would vary from the minimum_radius to the maximum radius (minimum +
> variation) based on the angle.
>
> There is more. We currently have an ellipse whose minimum and maximum dimensions are aligned
> with the NS and EW axis. You can now rotate your ellipse in the horizontal or vertical plane
> by adding an angle constant to the radius calculation.
>
> radius = minimum_radius + (radius_variation * cos(angle + (ANGLE%360)));
>
> You are also going to have to change the yaw of your objects based on how far around the
> circle they have moved but I think that's just a matter of adding the angle of rotation to the
> objects yaw.
>
> Of coarse, this is a total guess. Its has been years since I played with math's. Its quite fun
> to get back into it again. I was working with my 15 year old son doing algebra the other day.
> It takes a while for it all to come back, he is still faster at it than I am.
>
> Edward Sumerfield.
>
[View Quote]

Oct 31, 1998, 1:02am

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Nothing special about the arctan business (= your atan2(delta_x,
delta_z) ): it should yield the angle at the original object, just above
the unlabelled radius on your cool colored diagram. To that angle, I add
the user's selected rotation (in degrees). Which allows me to find out
what the width of the angle above radius h2 is. On your diagram, the
original angle looks like 100 degrees, the rotation like 65 degrees, and
the angle of the object to be built looks like 165 degrees. Since it is
165 degrees, and the radius h2 is known, I can proceed to use the avatar
solution of sine/cosine routes to the new x and z. Neither the yellow
triangle nor the red triangle come into it at all. Of course, I've been
so busy reading everybody's fascinating new bot and geometry ideas, that
I still haven't tested this out!

[View Quote] [View Quote]
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<HTML>
Nothing special about the arctan business (= your atan2(delta_x, delta_z)
): it should yield the angle at the original object, just above the unlabelled
radius on your cool colored diagram. To that angle, I add the user's selected
rotation (in degrees). Which allows me to find out what the width of the
angle above radius h2 is. On your diagram, the original angle looks like
100 degrees, the rotation like 65 degrees, and the angle of the object
to be built looks like 165 degrees. Since it is 165 degrees, and the radius
h2 is known, I can proceed to use the avatar solution of sine/cosine routes
to the new x and z. Neither the yellow triangle nor the red triangle come
into it at all. Of course, I've been so busy reading everybody's fascinating
new bot and geometry ideas, that I still haven't tested this out!

[View Quote] <P><IMG SRC="cid:part1.363A7DBA.DE282070 at ix.netcom.com" HEIGHT=80 WIDTH=100>

<P>Do you mean h1 or h2 assuming the avatar direction follows the yellow
arrow?
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>To allow the avatar to move backwards,
<BR>or sideways, while continuing to face the old way, one would have to
declare a separate angle of
<BR>motion,</BLOCKQUOTE>
I think I will add methods for move_right, move_left, move_up and move_down.
All retaining the same yaw.

<P>I have decided to extrapolate movement patterns from the Movement class.
So I will have a Shape class that can have inherited shapes like circle,
polygon or line even. Each version of the Shape class will take a Position
object and through multiple calls to its move method will translate the
coordinates within the Position object to the next location all around
the edge of the shape.

<P>You might end up with the following.

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Circle c(position, radius, step, start angle);
<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; for (int angle = 0; angle &lt; 24; angle++) {
<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; c.move()
<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; aw_change_state
<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; }

<P>Edward Sumerfield.
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>&nbsp;

[View Quote] <P>> Don't you just have to manipulate the results of the aw_query? It
returns the objects in a
<BR>> zone. Once retrieved, you can then decide on a center, select the
objects and sequence through
<BR>> each of them applying the same rotation algorithm.
<BR>>
<BR>> I am not sure how you want to select your objects. Maybe by owner
id, or specify some kind of
<BR>> bounding box?
<BR>>
<BR>> The algorithm you want is more complicated than mine. You don't want
to work out the yaw of
<BR>> the object as a tangent to your circle, that would get you into differentiation
- hated that
<BR>> in school. Given an objects position, a center and an angle of rotation
you can work out the
<BR>> new x,z coords.
<BR>>
<BR>> Lets see, if you look at the problem as "how do I move to the edge
of my circle at a specified
<BR>> angle" then you have a simple forward movement from circle center
algorithm.
<BR>>
<BR>> All you have got to start with is the circle_x , circle_z and object_x,
object_z numbers. You
<BR>> have to work out the radius of the circle you want your object to
scribe. I think this is the
<BR>> hardest part of all this.
<BR>>
<BR>> First work out the length of the sides of the triangle.
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; delta_x = circle_x - object_x;
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; delta_z = circle_z - object_z;
<BR>>
<BR>> Now work out the angle represented by the object and the circle center.
Remember that all
<BR>> these angle things are in radians. This goes back to the tan(angle)
= o/h equation so the
<BR>> angle = inverse tan(o/h).
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; angle = atan(delta_x / delta_z); or = atan2(delta_x,
delta_z);
<BR>>
<BR>> So the radius is
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; radius = delta_z / cos(angle);
<BR>>
<BR>> Now to work out the position on the edge of the circle for any angle
is simple.
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; center_x = 100;
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; center_z = 100;
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; angle = 15;
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; edge_x = center_x + (radius * sin(angle));
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; edge_z = center_z + (radius * cos(angle));
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Move object to edge_x, edge_z;
<BR>>
<BR>> You could get fancy if you want to tilt your circle into the y plane.
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; angle_yaw = 0;
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; angle_pitch = 0;
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; edge_x = center_x + (radius * sin(angle_yaw));
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; edge_z = center_z + (radius * cos(angle_yaw));
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; edge_y = center_y + (radius * sin(angle_pitch));
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Move object to edge_x, edge_z, edge_y;
<BR>>
<BR>> We are using a constant radius here but what if you wanted to rotate
in an ellipse. I guess
<BR>> the radius would have to change with some function of the angle.
Maybe you could set the
<BR>> radius for each step using
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; radius = minimum_radius + (radius_variation
* cos(angle));
<BR>>
<BR>> That way your radius would vary from the minimum_radius to the maximum
radius (minimum +
<BR>> variation) based on the angle.
<BR>>
<BR>> There is more. We currently have an ellipse whose minimum and maximum
dimensions are aligned
<BR>> with the NS and EW axis. You can now rotate your ellipse in the horizontal
or vertical plane
<BR>> by adding an angle constant to the radius calculation.
<BR>>
<BR>>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; radius = minimum_radius + (radius_variation
* cos(angle + (ANGLE%360)));
<BR>>
<BR>> You are also going to have to change the yaw of your objects based
on how far around the
<BR>> circle they have moved but I think that's just a matter of adding
the angle of rotation to the
<BR>> objects yaw.
<BR>>
<BR>> Of coarse, this is a total guess. Its has been years since I played
with math's. Its quite fun
<BR>> to get back into it again. I was working with my 15 year old son
doing algebra the other day.
<BR>> It takes a while for it all to come back, he is still faster at it
than I am.
<BR>>
<BR>> Edward Sumerfield.
<BR>>
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Oct 31, 1998, 1:48am

Just tested out the code for a builder bot modified to build a blueprint
with a rotation, if requested. Seemed to work. You can check the results
at 8s 93w on Beta, where there is a simple building to your south that
was moved by a mover bot to that location, and the same building design,
rotated 180 degrees, on your north, built by the revised builder bot.
(Also, further to the south, there is an empty space where there used to
be a huge building that was cleanly and neatly demolished by a
demolition bot, without touching the neighboring property.) While I was
there, I got some neighborly advice that matrix math was a good way to
do rotations.

[View Quote] [View Quote]

Oct 31, 1998, 11:42pm

The builderbot code that takes care of rotating the building objects
goes like this:
deltax := objx - builderbotx;
deltaz := objz - builderbotz;
deltah := Hypot(deltax, deltaz);
deltaw := Arctan2(deltax, deltaz) + Rotation;
SinCos(deltaw, sinix, cosiz);
deltax := sinix * deltah;
deltaz := cosiz * deltah;
objx := builderbotx + deltax;
objz := builderbotz + deltaz;
The middle 5 lines of straightforward trigonometry could be replaced by
2 lines of matrix math (thanks to Netropolis for this suggestion):
deltaz := (deltaz * Cos(Rotation)) - (deltax * Sin(Rotation));
deltax := (deltaz * Sin(Rotation)) + (deltax * Cos(Rotation));


[View Quote] [View Quote]

Oct 31, 1998, 11:58pm

The matrix math lines should read:
newdeltaz := (deltaz * Cos(Rotation)) - (deltax * Sin(Rotation));
deltax := (deltaz * Sin(Rotation)) + (deltax * Cos(Rotation));
deltaz := newdeltaz;

[View Quote] > The builderbot code that takes care of rotating the building objects
> goes like this:
> deltax := objx - builderbotx;
> deltaz := objz - builderbotz;
> deltah := Hypot(deltax, deltaz);
> deltaw := Arctan2(deltax, deltaz) + Rotation;
> SinCos(deltaw, sinix, cosiz);
> deltax := sinix * deltah;
> deltaz := cosiz * deltah;
> objx := builderbotx + deltax;
> objz := builderbotz + deltaz;
> The middle 5 lines of straightforward trigonometry could be replaced by
> 2 lines of matrix math (thanks to Netropolis for this suggestion):
> deltaz := (deltaz * Cos(Rotation)) - (deltax * Sin(Rotation));
> deltax := (deltaz * Sin(Rotation)) + (deltax * Cos(Rotation));
>
[View Quote]

Nov 1, 1998, 5:04pm

As well as the above code segment, that rotates the building, there is the
segment (mentioned in earlier discussions) that rotates each object as it
moves into its new location further along the circle (objw is the object's
yaw).
objw := objw + Rotation;
This code works for the standard trigonometric version and the compact
version taken from matrix math. The matrix math version, by the way, seems
to be nothing but the two "addition formulas" of trigonometric analysis,
cos(x + y) = (cos x * cos y) - (sin x * sin y)
sin(x + y) = (sin x * cos y) + (cos x * sin y)
after one has substituted in for the constant radius (hypotenuse) and the
known values of the relative coords at angle x (treating the rotation as
angle y).

[View Quote] > The builderbot code that takes care of rotating the building objects
> goes like this:
> deltax := objx - builderbotx;
> deltaz := objz - builderbotz;
> deltah := Hypot(deltax, deltaz);
> deltaw := Arctan2(deltax, deltaz) + Rotation;
> SinCos(deltaw, sinix, cosiz);
> deltax := sinix * deltah;
> deltaz := cosiz * deltah;
> objx := builderbotx + deltax;
> objz := builderbotz + deltaz;
> The middle 5 lines of straightforward trigonometry could be replaced by
> 2 lines of matrix math (thanks to Netropolis for this suggestion):
> deltaz := (deltaz * Cos(Rotation)) - (deltax * Sin(Rotation));
> deltax := (deltaz * Sin(Rotation)) + (deltax * Cos(Rotation));
>
[View Quote]

Oct 26, 1998, 4:49pm

To do work on someone else's objects, you'll need to get a privilege
password from them. See Changing The Owner, above, for some possibly
relevant information and one solution.


[View Quote] > if i log in a bot under one Citnumber, can i place an object that
> belongs to another Citnumber?
> eg:
> logn as 610932
> place an obj as 271946

Nov 7, 1998, 1:54am

First try reading the document called "Property" (which is all about Queries)
and then study Sample Program 2 (there are 5 lines that use Cell or Sector
coords derived from a specific AW location, 1N 1W in the program).

[View Quote] > A couple of questions to whoever can help:
>
> 1) aw_query requires the int x_sector and int z_sector parameters. Are these
> real AW coordinates (i.e. 32N, 5W) or are they the reference to the sector
> in the zone ?
>
> 2) I have noticed that aw_object_number occasionaly returns some large and
> sometime negative number. The following is part of a dump of values
> retrieved from Virtualy which has about 65,000 objects.
>
> 57837,286443,905945912,-9500,2500,9000,900,v5012.rwx,,
> 57838,286443,905945912,-10000,2600,9000,1800,v5231.rwx,,
> 1622163995,188537,909781012,-9200,3000,9100,0,col10m02.rwx,,
> 926433427,188537,909781016,-9200,3000,9350,0,col10m02.rwx,,
> 2043787557,188537,909781038,-9200,2050,9350,0,col10m02.rwx,,
>
> The first number is the aw_object_number which makes sense in the first two
> lines. Is this normal ? What do the negative numbers mean ?
>
> Thanks for for your help.
>
> Lucio & Emanuele

Nov 7, 1998, 2:15pm

In Sample Program 2, the Query is used to find a midispk object which has been
placed at 1N 1W on Beta world (this shows up in the CellX, CellZ in the first line
of handle_cell_object). These coords place it in SectorX=0, SectorZ=0 (this shows
up in the lines making calls to aw_query near the end of main and in the middle of
handle_query). SectorX=0, SectorZ=0 define the center Sector of a 9-Sector Zone,
ranging from X= -1 to +1 and Z= -1 to +1 (this shows up in the sanity-check line
in handle_cell_begin). You and the server communicate about the Zone with
reference to an array of 9 Sector-status containers, which is passed back and
forth during communications (Querying a Zone can take many communications). The
array is indexed from 0 to 2 in two dimensions, so you have to convert your 9
SectorX and 9 SectorZ coords to the corresponding array indexes: subtract your
center SectorX and SectorZ from 1, and then add the difference to the current
SectorX and SectorZ array indexes (this shows up in the last line of
handle_cell_begin: 1,1 minus 0,0 = 1,1, so you add 1 to SectorX and 1 to SectorZ
when indexing the array).
When I tested out the Delphi version of Sample Program 2, I placed a midispk at
Beta 1S 78W. So the line in my CellObject handler tests Cell_X = 78 and Cell_Z =
-1. That's in a Zone whose center Sector is at SectorX=10, SectorZ=0. So I did
aw_query(10, 0, SEQUENCE) at the end of the main procedure and in the ReQuery
handler. And the sanity-check in the CellBegin handler tests whether SectorX<9,
SectorX>11, SectorZ<-1, SectorZ>1. The line at the end of CellBegin updating the
SEQUENCE array adds the appropriate differences to the array indexes:
SEQUENCE[SectorZ + 1, SectorX - 9] finds the Sector-status container in the array
which is ready to be updated.

[View Quote] > First try reading the document called "Property" (which is all about Queries)
> and then study Sample Program 2 (there are 5 lines that use Cell or Sector
> coords derived from a specific AW location, 1N 1W in the program).
>
[View Quote]

Nov 9, 1998, 3:11pm

It sounds reasonable to me. I've programmed a surveyor bot that reads the entire
contents of a Zone (each object with its 10 attributes) into a textfile that
anyone can edit; and a builder bot that builds from a textfile of that type. My
original idea was to use a database, since databases are an integral part of the
Delphi system (including SQL, Access, Paradox, etc.), and I reduced it to
textfiles only to make the bots accessible to everybody. There are two
world-builders that I know of who are working on SDK mappers for their worlds,
one working in Delphi.

The bots can only query one Zone at a time, and live input mode is good only for
that Zone. Will you have your bot move around from Zone to Zone to detect new
construction?

By the way, Virtualy is a beautiful place. All the trouble you took to build
with so many landscape objects was worth it.

[View Quote] > Thanks to both.
>
> I had looked at the Property section of the Docs but was confused on the
> specific aw_query parameters I asked about. One reason I got confused is
> because I thought the ZONE was always referenced with respect to the
> position of the bot... thinking back I don't know how I got that idea.
>
> My objective is to build a bot that will keep the world synchronized with an
> SQL database. I am the builder of "Virtualy", a world entirely covered with
> a modular surface. The fact that the entire surface is covered with objects
> makes it impossible to use the traditional registry-based building control.
> To overcome this I have developed an SQL database structure (for the moment
> in MS-Access) which is periodically fed by a propdump. I have a set of
> queries and SQL scripts that allow me to monitor and do "bulk" maintenance
> on the world (For example: assign all objects in an area to a citizen so he
> can modify the ground and remove trees).
>
> The current problem is that changes made to the world by other citizens
> between the propdump and propload phases are lost. I believe an on-line SDK
> bot would eliminate this problem. I also think such a sync process should be
> fairly straight forward and similar to what the browser normaly does with
> the local cell.dat cache.
>
> My next step would be to build a reverse process that builds in the world
> from new records in the SQL database. This would eliminate the need for
> builder bot scripts (used in the beginning to create Virtualy) or the merge
> and propload which I currently use.
>
> In practice what I am aming at is an ODBC interface to the World Database
> :)))
>
> Comments on this idea ?
>
> Lucio

Nov 10, 1998, 3:02pm

When I read your previous message, I noticed you were having some of the
same problems I faced when converting the AWAPI from C to Object Pascal
for Delphi programmers. (Like the C use of 0 to mean nil.) I had never
actually tried to field multiple bot instances, so I wondered if that part
of the Delphi AWAPI would actually work, since it gave aw_create a third
parameter that is a Pointer to an untyped Pointer, and you said that in
VB, a simple variable parameter worked better. (Also that aw_instance_set
should be passed an untyped value.) I don't know if it is relevant, but I
did roughly the same program as the one you describe (based on the
multibot SDK document), and the three bot avatars appeared, said their
speeches, and then hung around until I finally pressed the Stop button to
aw_destroy each of them. Believe me, I don't know why the C version of
aw_create insists upon being passed the address of an untyped Pointer, but
at least it works. (In Pascal, you can't pass a nil into a parameter coded
as var {=ByRef} or const, so I had to declare the parameter as a Pointer
to an untyped Pointer.)

[View Quote] > I use vb6.0 and have managed to login 3 bots at a time, roughly
> following the greeter bot script (no greetings i'm afraid). I have 2
> questions at the moment. Can anyone help explaining these matter?.
>
> 1.
> Whether i log in 1 or more bots, they disappear from the world (Beta
> GZ) after some time, about a minute. Their instance number is still
> valid (selectable) but they are gone. The only way to get them back on
> stage is to select one of the bots with
> rc = aw_instance_set(<instance number>)
> and start from aw_enter(.World,0) to aw_state_changed() all over
> again.
> Strangely enough, this method sometimes gets all three bots back, even
> if I only explicitely select one of them and bring it back.
>
> The sequence i follow to create the bots is this one:
>
> rc = aw_create("auth.activeworlds.com", 5670, Inst)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_LOGIN_OWNER, .LoginOwner)
> rc = aw_string_set(AW_LOGIN_PRIVILEGE_PASSWORD, .PrivilegePassword)
> rc = aw_string_set(AW_LOGIN_APPLICATION, ApplicationName)
> rc = aw_string_set(AW_LOGIN_NAME, .Caption)
> rc = aw_login()
>
> rc = aw_enter(.World, 0)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_X, .we)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_Z, .ns)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_Y, .Altitude)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_YAW, .Rotation)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_TYPE, .Avatar)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_GESTURE, .Gesture)
> rc = aw_state_change()
> Call aw_say("Hi, I'm " & .Caption & ", a VB6.0 freak...")
>
> 2.
> I cant seem toget char* aw_string (AW_ATTRIBUTE a) working in VB6. The
> code I use
> Public Declare Function aw_string Lib "aw.dll" (ByVal awAttribute As
> AW_ATTRIBUTE) As String
> is useless, although a similar syntax for aw_int() works ok. I think
> it is because this is the only function retuning a string. Is there
> any workaround? <wishfull thinking> Maybe having a function with no
> return value that accepts a fixed length string as parameter, as in
> Kernel's GetPrivateProfileString.
>
> TIA. XelaG, agrigny at xs4all.nl

Nov 10, 1998, 5:46pm

In earlier versions of VB, you could get round VB's preference for VB
strings by providing a fixed-length string that was long enough to hold
whatever was returned by a C DLL function (Dim ReceiverString As String *
255, or ReceiverString = String(255,0)). VB would convert VB string
parameters to C strings if you declared them ByVal, but that only worked
for passing strings TO a C DLL, not for getting them FROM a C DLL. It was
up to you to find the ASCII Zero that C uses to mark the end of a returned
string. Don't know if this is still true.

Walter Knupe's idea about aw_wait is worth trying, as some callback events
seem to depend on it. But the Delphi version of the multibot program
worked without any mention of aw_wait (it just had a "repeat...until Stop"
loop).

[View Quote] > I use vb6.0 and have managed to login 3 bots at a time, roughly
> following the greeter bot script (no greetings i'm afraid). I have 2
> questions at the moment. Can anyone help explaining these matter?.
>
> 1.
> Whether i log in 1 or more bots, they disappear from the world (Beta
> GZ) after some time, about a minute. Their instance number is still
> valid (selectable) but they are gone. The only way to get them back on
> stage is to select one of the bots with
> rc = aw_instance_set(<instance number>)
> and start from aw_enter(.World,0) to aw_state_changed() all over
> again.
> Strangely enough, this method sometimes gets all three bots back, even
> if I only explicitely select one of them and bring it back.
>
> The sequence i follow to create the bots is this one:
>
> rc = aw_create("auth.activeworlds.com", 5670, Inst)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_LOGIN_OWNER, .LoginOwner)
> rc = aw_string_set(AW_LOGIN_PRIVILEGE_PASSWORD, .PrivilegePassword)
> rc = aw_string_set(AW_LOGIN_APPLICATION, ApplicationName)
> rc = aw_string_set(AW_LOGIN_NAME, .Caption)
> rc = aw_login()
>
> rc = aw_enter(.World, 0)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_X, .we)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_Z, .ns)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_Y, .Altitude)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_YAW, .Rotation)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_TYPE, .Avatar)
> rc = aw_int_set(AW_MY_GESTURE, .Gesture)
> rc = aw_state_change()
> Call aw_say("Hi, I'm " & .Caption & ", a VB6.0 freak...")
>
> 2.
> I cant seem toget char* aw_string (AW_ATTRIBUTE a) working in VB6. The
> code I use
> Public Declare Function aw_string Lib "aw.dll" (ByVal awAttribute As
> AW_ATTRIBUTE) As String
> is useless, although a similar syntax for aw_int() works ok. I think
> it is because this is the only function retuning a string. Is there
> any workaround? <wishfull thinking> Maybe having a function with no
> return value that accepts a fixed length string as parameter, as in
> Kernel's GetPrivateProfileString.
>
> TIA. XelaG, agrigny at xs4all.nl

Nov 10, 1998, 10:41pm

Yep, after about two and a half minutes of SDK inactivity, the server did
finally erase my three bots. (Watching them go through calisthenic routines one
after the other was worth the wait.) What if I don't use aw_wait and instead
give bot commands? Will the server erase them anyway? And how long is "-1"
milliseconds (in one of the examples)?

[View Quote] > Are you calling aw_wait() at all? You must call aw_wait() in order to
> receive any events. Also, aw_wait() periodically sends heartbeats to the
> servers so they know your bot is still alive. I assume the reason your bots
> are vanishing is that you are not calling aw_wait(), so after about a minute
> the world server gives up on your bots and disconnects them.
>
> After setting up your bots, your program should spend the majority of its
> time in a loop calling aw_wait(), as demonstrated in the sample programs.
>
> -Roland
>
[View Quote]

Nov 12, 1998, 2:23pm

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--------------45021886792784937FA91E06
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Programming more than one bot can be difficult, even in C, and certainly
in other languages (see the above threads started by XelaG). This seems
to be due primarily to typing instance parameters and the use of
aw_wait in the absence of callbacks. Attached is Sample2e, a Delphi
program that initializes three bots, lines them up in a row, has them
identify themselves, and lets them stand around long enough to
demonstrate the need for aw_wait.

--------------45021886792784937FA91E06
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Nov 12, 1998, 11:14pm

So, under the new AW rules, if Tazunu Inoue's Castle, which contains about
5680 objects, were to be moved to a better site by a mover bot, it should
be broken down into 57 parts to be separately moved and reassembled? Or
would the mover bot satisfy the AW server if it called aw_wait(60000) after
every 99th object in the building?

[View Quote] > Is it true, that the main world AW is now closed for bots as well ?
>
> its bad that aw_enter does not return giving an error code, and
> its even MORE bad that beta seems the only bot open place now....
>
> bots are not that interesting if you run them in an empty world only...
>
> Walter aka Faber

Nov 13, 1998, 1:53pm

Maybe you could speed up the review by collapsing all objects added in the same
cell to one, and then evaluating only those cases with more than n cells on that
day. After all, the most common kind of obnoxious building is paving over a lot
of cells at once (and then leaving them undeveloped). Constructing a 150-object
park (in a few cells) for someone to put a home in shouldn't raise a flag.

[View Quote] > Actually, technically the ban only applies to the addition of new objects,
> so your mover bot would be exempt.
>
> Unfortunately, the way the ban is enforced is by tallying the daily number
> of ADDs by citizen and then checking on anyone who registers above a certain
> threshold, so if you did move 5680 objects from one place to somewhere else
> it would show up as 5680 adds, assuming the move is implemented by deleting
> all of the old objects in the old location and then adding them all again in
> the new location. I guess you'd better drop me an email before doing it so
> I know to watch out for it.
>
> Sigh, I *really* need to get those building quotas implemented one of these
> days...
>
> -Roland
>
[View Quote]

Nov 14, 1998, 9:31pm

The new AW rules try to prevent obnoxious builder bots and obnoxious avatar
bots. The rule that a bot can only build so many objects (or cells) in one
day is good for AW citizens as well as the AW server, because it
discourages obnoxious paving programs everywhere in AW. The rule that
avatar bots can't run in or near GZ is good mainly for the AW server,
because it doesn't discourage obnoxious avatar bots that come and occupy
ordinary citizens' property away from GZ. Everybody can mute avatars to
discourage them, but gangster bots, unlike their doltish owners, will have
the patience of an evil angel.

Being able to see the name of an obnoxious citizen or tourist helps to
inhibit them, but seeing the [bot's name] is currently useless, as it
totally hides the malicious or stupid owner. I suggest that the AWAPI
servers display the owner's name plus the program's stated bot-name, so
that the same tactic of exposure can be applied, for example, showing
[Brat's GangsterBot] instead of just [GangsterBot].

[View Quote] > Is it true, that the main world AW is now closed for bots as well ?
>
> its bad that aw_enter does not return giving an error code, and
> its even MORE bad that beta seems the only bot open place now....
>
> bots are not that interesting if you run them in an empty world only...
>
> Walter aka Faber

Nov 17, 1998, 3:00pm

Does the usual bot rule forbidding bots at or near the GZ area exclude doing an
aw_query of property at or near the GZ area (assuming the bot is invisible or is
outside the GZ area)?

[View Quote] > Oops. Sorry about that. I upgraded AlphaWorld to a 2.1 server last night,
> and I forgot that 2.1 worlds disallow all bots by default.
>
> I've now set AlphaWorld to allow all bots. Consider this an "experimental"
> condition. The usual bot rules apply, including: 1) no bots at or near the
> GZ area, and 2) no large-scale automated building (small SDK auto-building
> projects of 100 objects or less will be tolerated for the time being as long
> as no noticeable problems arise on the server side).
>
> SDK apps have great potential for good, but also, unfortunately, for harm.
> We will see how it goes with AlphaWorld allowing all bots. If there are too
> many problems and/or abuses we may close it to bots in the future.
>
> -Roland
>
> ps. the aw_enter() problem should be fixed in build 8 of the SDK, just
> posted now.
>
[View Quote]

Nov 17, 1998, 8:22pm

Sample 2 is an example of an invisible bot that is located somewhere (it doesn't
need to have an avatar to change the midi on the midispk object, but Sample 2
only applies to midispk at 1N 1W--there are altogether 5 lines of code which
won't work except at or near the GZ area of Beta, and must be replaced if the
bot is to work elsewhere, even on Beta).

[View Quote] > As I understand it, an invisible bot is one that entered a world with
> aw_enter() but has not called aw_state_change(). If so, how can it be
> located in gz or anywhere else. Maybe Roland or someone else could
> expand on the subject of invisible bots, or post a url where I could
> get more details bout what they can/not do: i.e. can they speak?
> Thanks.
>
> On Tue, 17 Nov 1998 12:08:20 -0800, "Roland Vilett" <roland at lmi.net>
[View Quote]

Nov 15, 1998, 4:23pm

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--------------60CEAEA877B74AC9B3497BC2
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Attached is the Delphi AWAPI unit, updated for Build 9 of the aw.dll.

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AAEAAQA5AAAAaAwAAAAA
--------------60CEAEA877B74AC9B3497BC2--

Nov 15, 1998, 5:14pm

Should we give away our bot-programs? Or should we offer to run them
on someone else's behalf (getting their citizen# and
privilege-password)? There are serious technical problems for either
approach. (No, this is not a discussion of "how to make money from VR
programming", which rightly belongs in the wishful thinking newsgroup.)
If I were a non-programmer citizen, I'd hesitate to run a bot-program on
my computer, if it came from some virtual person, free or not. And
expecting ordinary citizens to scan open-source code looking for
viruses, when even programmers can't figure out other programmers' code,
is hopeless.
So should we offer to run our bot-programs on our own machines? All
builder-bot services, including the DJ Bot of Sample 2, can only be
given away if the recipient lends us a citizen# and a
privilege-password. The problem with the privilege-password is that it
is too broad. Until the citizen revokes it, a privilege-password can be
used to build or demolish objects owned by the citizen in any location
in any World. If all I want is to have the programmer run a builderbot
to build me a lawn and garden at x,z on AW, I don't want to put all my
other objects on AW and other worlds at jeopardy. It's like having to
give passwords to all my bank accounts in cities all over the world just
to withdraw money from one account in Chicago.
There should be SDK methods in support of secure transactions. The
problem here is trying to use a universal password for a particular
account. Is there some way that a privilege password can say which Zone
on which World it applies to? Or is there some other way to get round
this problem?

Nov 15, 1998, 10:40pm

Do you mean that (when it becomes legal to do so--see next comment) you will
give the citizen the program and the citizen will run the SeedBot program? or
that you will get a citizen# and privilege password from the citizen and you
will run the SeedBot on your machine (apparently this is already legal)?

[View Quote] > SeedBot asks for a citizen number and privilege password to use to build the
> seed object with. That's probably the best way to do it - make it
> customizable based on input, INI file settings, etc.
>
[View Quote]

Nov 20, 1998, 8:27pm

Is it okay for programmers to exchange program code designed for the SDK?

[View Quote] > There is a little problem to give away the bot-programs:
> <an excerpt from the licence agreement for the SDK>
> BETA LIMITATIONS. The Active Worlds SDK is currently Beta Software and is provided as is for the purposes of
> evaluation and testing only. By downloading the beta version of the SDK, you agree to not distribute the
> SDK, nor any applications based on the SDK, to any person for any reason.
> :(((
>
[View Quote]

Nov 20, 1998, 10:49pm

I did--an *.exe is an application, mere code is not (an application is code in a form that users can execute on their
computers). I just want to make sure that SDK programmers really could exchange code, as happens here on the newsgroup
all the time, or post their source where other programmers could see it. We can also run our own SDK applications. But
we can't distribute them: that's all that is currently forbidden.

[View Quote] > read the fine print - "to ANY person for ANY reason" :((
>
[View Quote]

Nov 17, 1998, 8:13pm

Is the line that updates the Sequence array correct? Shouldn't the z precede the
x? (Just the reverse of everything else!)

[View Quote] > I am working on an SDK app that should keep an SQL database in sync with the
> World Database. The reason for this is to help in the maintenance of my
> world Virtualy for which I already periodically propdump and load onto SQL
> server. In the long term however I want to create a building assistant bot.
>
> The program below works fine for the first number of aw_query calls.
> However, after a some 100 calls the aw_query starts to send the same objects
> back, apparently ignoring the the sequence numbers.
>
> The code is based on the Sample #2 apps on the SDK Docs. I have added some
> command line parameters. The last parameter toggles between a debug output
> (showing the sector and sequence numbers exchange) and a propdump format.
>
> I have reviewed the code and compared it to the sample (which used to work
> also on Virtualy) but have run out of neurons to find the bug. My C skills
> are quite new.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Lucio
>
> // sqlbot.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
> //
>
> #include "stdafx.h"
> #include "aw.h"
> #include <stdio.h>
> #include <stdlib.h>
> #include <string.h>
>
> #define ONE_HOUR (60 * 60 * 1000)
>
> #define DBNTWIN32
> #include <stdio.h>
> #include <windows.h>
> #include <sqlfront.h>
> #include <sqldb.h>
>
> void handle_cell_begin (void);
> void handle_cell_object (void);
> void handle_cell_end (void);
> void handle_query (int rc);
>
> int err_handler(PDBPROCESS, INT, INT, INT, LPCSTR, LPCSTR);
> BOOL gbOpen = FALSE;
>
> int owner;
> int sequence[3][3];
> int speaker_x;
> int speaker_y;
> int speaker_z;
> int speaker_yaw;
> int speaker_number;
> int cell_x;
> int cell_z;
> int coord_x;
> int coord_z;
> int sect_x;
> int sect_z;
>
> int flDebug;
>
> typedef struct strOBJECT_T
> {
> int AW_CELL_X;
> int AW_CELL_Z;
> int AW_OBJECT_NUMBER;
> int AW_OBJECT_OWNER;
> int AW_OBJECT_BUILD_TIMESTAMP;
> int AW_OBJECT_X;
> int AW_OBJECT_Y;
> int AW_OBJECT_Z;
> int AW_OBJECT_YAW;
> int AW_OBJECT_MODEL_LEN;
> int AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION_LEN;
> int AW_OBJECT_ACTION_LEN;
> char AW_OBJECT_MODEL[255];
> char AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION[255];
> char AW_OBJECT_ACTION[255];
>
> } strOBJECT, *pstrOBJECT;
>
> int DBInsertObject(char* user, char* pwd, char* server, pstrOBJECT obj);
>
> main (int argc, char *argv[])
> {
>
> int rc;
>
> /* check command line */
> if (argc < 7) {
> printf ("Usage: %s number password world NS WE DebugFlag\n", argv[0]);
> exit (1);
> }
>
> flDebug = atoi(argv[6]);
>
> /* initialize Active Worlds API */
> if (rc = aw_init (AW_BUILD)) {
> printf ("Unable to initialize API (reason %d)\n", rc);
> exit (1);
> }
>
> /* install cell update event handlers */
> aw_event_set (AW_EVENT_CELL_BEGIN, handle_cell_begin);
> aw_event_set (AW_EVENT_CELL_OBJECT, handle_cell_object);
> aw_event_set (AW_EVENT_CELL_END, handle_cell_end);
>
> /* install query callback */
> aw_callback_set (AW_CALLBACK_QUERY, handle_query);
>
> /* create bot instance */
> if (rc = aw_create (0, 0, 0)) {
> printf ("Unable to create bot instance (reason %d)\n", rc);
> exit (1);
> }
>
> /* log bot into the universe */
> owner = atoi (argv[1]);
> aw_int_set (AW_LOGIN_OWNER, owner);
>
> aw_string_set (AW_LOGIN_PRIVILEGE_PASSWORD, argv[2]);
> aw_string_set (AW_LOGIN_APPLICATION, "SQL Bot Test");
> aw_string_set (AW_LOGIN_NAME, "SQL Bot Test");
> if (rc = aw_login ()) {
> printf ("Unable to login (reason %d)\n", rc);
> exit (1);
> }
>
> /* log bot into the world */
> if (rc = aw_enter (argv[3], 0)) {
> printf ("Unable to enter world (reason %d)\n", rc);
> exit (1);
> }
>
> /* issue first property query */
>
> coord_x = atoi(argv[4]);
> coord_z = atoi(argv[5]);
>
> sect_x = aw_sector_from_cell(coord_x);
> sect_z = aw_sector_from_cell(coord_z);
>
> if (flDebug)
> printf ("Starting query at: %d, %d \n", coord_x, coord_z);
>
> aw_query (sect_x, sect_z, sequence);
>
> /* keep it running long enough !!! */
> while (!(rc = aw_wait (ONE_HOUR)));
>
> /* close everything down */
> aw_destroy ();
> aw_term ();
> return 0;
>
> }
>
> void handle_cell_begin (void)
> {
> int x, z; // used as indices for the sequence array
>
> cell_x = aw_int(AW_CELL_X);
> cell_z = aw_int(AW_CELL_Z);
>
> if (flDebug)
> printf ("Starting Cell: %d, %d \n", cell_x, cell_z);
>
> x = aw_sector_from_cell(cell_x) - sect_x;
> z = aw_sector_from_cell(cell_z) - sect_z;
>
> if (flDebug)
> printf (" Sec: %d, %d \n", x, z);
>
> /* sanity check: make sure sector coordinates are within range */
> if (x < -1 || x > 1 || z < -1 || z > 1 )
> {
> if (flDebug)
> printf ("Sector out of Range !!!");
> return;
> }
>
> sequence[x+1][z+1] = aw_int(AW_CELL_SEQUENCE);
>
> if (flDebug)
> {
> printf (" Seq: %d, %d, %d\n",
> sequence[2][2],sequence[1][2],sequence[0][2]);
> printf (" %d, %d, %d\n",
> sequence[2][1],sequence[1][1],sequence[0][1]);
> printf (" %d, %d, %d\n",
> sequence[2][0],sequence[1][0],sequence[0][0]);
> }
> }
>
> void handle_cell_end (void)
> {
> cell_x = aw_int(AW_CELL_X);
> cell_z = aw_int(AW_CELL_Z);
>
> if (flDebug)
> printf (" End: %d, %d \n\n", cell_x, cell_z);
>
> }
>
> void handle_cell_object (void)
> {
>
> pstrOBJECT pObj;
>
> pObj = (pstrOBJECT) malloc(sizeof(strOBJECT));
>
> pObj->AW_CELL_X = aw_int(AW_CELL_X);
> pObj->AW_CELL_Z = aw_int(AW_CELL_Z);
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_NUMBER = aw_int (AW_OBJECT_NUMBER);
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_OWNER = aw_int (AW_OBJECT_OWNER);
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_BUILD_TIMESTAMP = aw_int (AW_OBJECT_BUILD_TIMESTAMP);
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_X = aw_int (AW_OBJECT_X);
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_Y = aw_int (AW_OBJECT_Y);
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_Z = aw_int (AW_OBJECT_Z);
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_YAW = aw_int (AW_OBJECT_YAW);
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_MODEL_LEN = strlen(aw_string (AW_OBJECT_MODEL));
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION_LEN = strlen(aw_string
> (AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION));
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_ACTION_LEN = strlen(aw_string (AW_OBJECT_ACTION));
> wsprintf(pObj->AW_OBJECT_MODEL, "%s", aw_string (AW_OBJECT_MODEL));
> wsprintf(pObj->AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION, "%s", aw_string
> (AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION));
> wsprintf(pObj->AW_OBJECT_ACTION, "%s", aw_string (AW_OBJECT_ACTION));
>
> /* DBInsertObject("sa", "", "server", pObj);*/
>
> if (!flDebug)
> {
> printf("%d %d %d %d %d %d %d %d %d %s%s%s\n",
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_OWNER,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_BUILD_TIMESTAMP,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_X,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_Y,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_Z,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_YAW,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_MODEL_LEN,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION_LEN,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_ACTION_LEN,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_MODEL,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION,
> pObj->AW_OBJECT_ACTION);
> }
>
> free(pObj);
>
> }
>
> void handle_query (int rc)
> {
>
> if (!aw_bool (AW_QUERY_COMPLETE))
> {
> aw_query (sect_x, sect_z, sequence);
> if (flDebug)
> {
> printf ("Resend Query: %d %d\n", sect_x, sect_z);
> printf (" Seq: %d, %d, %d\n",
> sequence[2][2],sequence[1][2],sequence[0][2]);
> printf (" %d, %d, %d\n",
> sequence[2][1],sequence[1][1],sequence[0][1]);
> printf (" %d, %d, %d\n\n",
> sequence[2][0],sequence[1][0],sequence[0][0]);
> }
> }
> else
> printf ("Query Complete.\n");
>
> }

Nov 17, 1998, 8:03pm

I'm trying to develop a Bank Teller Bot that will accept virtual
deposits and withdrawals from another Bot that has been sent to the
Bank. What method should the Teller Bot use to identify the Bot's Owner?
The Bot's Session can be gotten from AW_EVENT_AVATAR_ADD, but this
doesn't lead me to the Owner that is running the depositing avatar's
Session. Doing a read of aw_login_owner seems to give me the Teller
Bot's owner. Will I get from the depositor avatar's Name to its owner's
Number (by way of aw_citizen_attributes_by_name) if I start from
AW_AVATAR_NAME, even though the avatar is the avatar of a bot and not
the avatar of a citizen?

Nov 17, 1998, 9:17pm

Whispering would be nice, but the documents warn us that the Chat type whisper is
only currently restricted to a bot session. (And I may want to stamp the owner
number on a goldbar object in the bank vaults: the password wouldn't work too
well there.) A virtual owner would be making a virtual deposit via the bot, which
could patiently wait for the bank to open, etc.

Anyway, a lot of things would be easier to do if we could find out the owner of a
bot, not the least being to prevent an obnoxious real person hiding behind a bot
avatar on the assumption that there's no method for finding out a bot's owner.

[View Quote] > Interesting scenario you are setting up. I see you are driven to make this a
> financial environment aren't you. A couple of comments.
>
> 1. Why do you need a bot to deposit money into a VBank. Wouldn't real
> people be doing that?
>
> 2. The depositors name is not enough to identify the depositor. I assume
> that a VBank customer must open an account in order to deposit money? If that
> is the case then the opening of an account can result in a new password for
> the back account. When the depositor wishes to interact with a teller they
> must whisper the password to the teller and therefore gain access to deposit
> or withdraw from the account.
>
> Edward Sumerfield.
>
[View Quote]

Nov 17, 1998, 9:20pm

Can the Teller Bot determine whether the Avatar is a Bot?

[View Quote] > At this time, It is not possible to determine another bot's owner through
> the SDK.
>
> -Roland
>
[View Quote]

Nov 18, 1998, 1:24am

It should be possible to set up, deposit to, withdraw from, or transfer an
account by means of a bot. And it should be possible for the owner of a virtual
bank to leave it, relying on a Teller Bot. The security of an account depends on
finding out the owner of the bot that arrives at the bank; and it equally depends
on finding out the owner of a bot who claims to be a Teller Bot. If your avatar
or your bot whispers your account password to a conman bot that is merely
standing in the bank waiting to fleece innocent bots that turn up there, your
account is in trouble. (And vice versa.)

[View Quote] > Interesting scenario you are setting up. I see you are driven to make this a
> financial environment aren't you. A couple of comments.
>
> 1. Why do you need a bot to deposit money into a VBank. Wouldn't real
> people be doing that?
>
> 2. The depositors name is not enough to identify the depositor. I assume
> that a VBank customer must open an account in order to deposit money? If that
> is the case then the opening of an account can result in a new password for
> the back account. When the depositor wishes to interact with a teller they
> must whisper the password to the teller and therefore gain access to deposit
> or withdraw from the account.
>
> Edward Sumerfield.
>
[View Quote]

Nov 18, 1998, 4:49pm

See the thread rc 200 above.

[View Quote] > Hello..
>
> I'm having a problem adding and changing objects....I'm using the code
>
> exactly as listed in the documentation for aw_object_add and
> aw_object_change.
>
> I'm just trying to do something simple - create an object and move it
> around....
>
> When I attempt to add an object, the object appears in the world, with
> all the
> right attributes filled out, but I get "unable to add object (reason
> 200)"
>
> I don't see reason 200 on the list, but I assume it has something to do
> with permissions,
> or something like that. I do have bot rights and building
> rights...(eminent domain rights).
> Restricted radius in the world is 0.
>
> After that, when I attempt to change the object with the object number
> returned in
> AW_OBJECT_NUMBER and the X and Z coords, I get "Unable to change object
> (reason 310)" (no build rights) and then the same error message with
> reason 204
> (can't find old element).
>
> So - first step is to understand reason 200 - anybody know this one?
>
> Second - I'm a bit unsure about why one needs to identify an object
> with both
> the object number *and* the X and Z coords - shouldn't the object number
> alone
> suffice? Or is it not guaranteed to be unique?
>
> The code - (SDK calls look strange because I'm using the version for the
> Gnu compiler )
>
> // Create Object
>
> Xcoord = 2000;
> Zcoord = 2000;
>
> altitude = 1000;
> yaw = 0;
>
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_X, Xcoord);
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_Z, Zcoord);
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_Y, altitude);
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_YAW, yaw);
>
> (AWStringSet) (AW_OBJECT_MODEL, "tree01.rwx");
> (AWStringSet) (AW_OBJECT_DESCRIPTION, "PineTop Airways");
>
> if (rc = (AWObjectAdd) ())
> printf ("Unable to add object (reason %d)\n", rc);
> else
> puts ("Object added");
>
> object = (AWInt) (AW_OBJECT_NUMBER);
>
> // change object position
>
> (AWWait) (5000);
>
> for (i = 0; i<100; i++) {
>
> deltaX = 1000; /* place holders - These will be random
> displacements */
> deltaZ = 1000;
>
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_OLD_NUMBER, object);
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_OLD_X, Xcoord);
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_OLD_Z, Zcoord);
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_X, Xcoord+deltaX);
> (AWIntSet) (AW_OBJECT_Z, Zcoord+deltaZ);
>
> Xcoord += deltaX;
> Zcoord += deltaZ;
>
> if (rc = (AWObjectChange) ())
> printf ("Unable to change object (reason %d)\n", rc);
> else
> puts ("Object changed");
>
> (AWWait) (1000);
>
> }
>
> Etc....
>
> Any suggestions appreciated......
>
> Thanks
>
> Chris Langton
> AKA MockingBird

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