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Apr 4, 2001, 10:36am

Hi All,

As its most probably impossible to find out directly from AWInc itself,
maybe someone else can help.

I am looking for a database type file listing the objects available in
AW. Pretty much like the object name/size/texture list - as they have in
the help section of the AW Browser. Preferably with even more
information if such a thing exists (description tagging, solid off/on
etc).

Does anyone know of such a database or list that could be easily
converted into a csv type file? Also looking for similar databases/lists
of any other "free for use" objects/textures used in AW.

For those that are wondering - I have written a Xelagot script that
allows the bot to describe, list, search for and display various objects
and/or textures upon user command within the aw browser. But it is only
as good as the database the bot has to work with, this of course is the
hard part.

Due to the fact that Xelagot string list files are basically csv style
in standard format this will also hopefully allow future integration
into a MySQL (or PostgreSQL or similar) database that can also then be
used for website listings and many other server applications that can
access databases like MySQL.

Any hints, tips, help or partial/complete databases welcome :)

Btw, I do intend releasing a public version of the script if possible
once I have thoroughly sorted out the possibilities.

--
Cheers,

Who

Apr 5, 2001, 6:33pm

[View Quote] Impossible? Well, perhaps if I was asked I could of answered your question,
but I havnt heard from you so yes, it would be impossible going that route.

Guys, i dont know where this "impossible to find out from AWInc itself"
thing comes from in many people , maybe in the past, sure, but things are a
bit different now - if you need the answer to a question, just email
support at activeworlds.com and I always do my best to help out on anything
Activeworlds related =P

> I am looking for a database type file listing the objects available in
> AW. Pretty much like the object name/size/texture list - as they have in
> the help section of the AW Browser. Preferably with even more
> information if such a thing exists (description tagging, solid off/on
> etc).

Not at the moment, but there will be one on the new website when it get put
online in a couple of months.

Facter
AW Support.

Apr 6, 2001, 4:46pm

I do not understand why AW would need months to accomplish this data text file.
It is a simple task in DOS of just writing a txt file from the appropriate
folder the objects, textures, etc., are stored in. The txt file then can be
offered. Takes approximately 5 minutes to make all the lists for a HUGE path. I
realize AW may have a full plate but I find not putting off, getting done,
tying loose ends quickly... keeps all happy and makes for a better tomorrow.
Just a thought... The customer may give up within those few long months...





[View Quote] [View Quote]

Apr 6, 2001, 5:00pm

Well,
If it's a 5 minute job why didn't you do it instead of writing that message? :)

It takes a hair longer than that altho not very long yer right, I know because I
did it at one time. But I cannot fathom why anyone would bug Facter for it since
as you say it's a pretty trivial task to do yourself. In fact, while yer at it,
may as well list all the jpeg dimensions and such. :)

The object list in the AW help was originally generated from the database I did, I
went a hair further and wrote a little program that went and got all the textures
from the RWX files. Still took less than a day, I believe it was actually a few
hours including the program to gen the HTML Looking at the source now, I see it
looks like it's been modified by something like Frontpage, which is pretty sad. :)
Doesn't make sense to do it manually, I'm surprised to see manual mods to it when
doing it from a database would be faster and then it's easier to maintain.

ANYhoo, why not just roll your own?





[View Quote] > I do not understand why AW would need months to accomplish this data text file.
> It is a simple task in DOS of just writing a txt file from the appropriate
> folder the objects, textures, etc., are stored in. The txt file then can be
> offered. Takes approximately 5 minutes to make all the lists for a HUGE path. I
> realize AW may have a full plate but I find not putting off, getting done,
> tying loose ends quickly... keeps all happy and makes for a better tomorrow.
> Just a thought... The customer may give up within those few long months...
>
[View Quote]

Apr 6, 2001, 5:11pm

As you may have read in MY post, the work is done in DOS from the folders... Now...
how do you expect me to access AW's main folders? I can't... Plus, I am not under
pay fro AWCOM... I was just putting out how it could be done quickly... as to
dimensions of jpg files... that would be a useless piece of info unless I am missing
something... the rest as far as filename, date, etc as seen in a dir of dos is all
that is relative. Was offering suggestions and solutions of how to avoid the back
burner paradigms of average small businesses. Wishing all peace and health *S*





[View Quote] > Well,
> If it's a 5 minute job why didn't you do it instead of writing that message? :)
>
> It takes a hair longer than that altho not very long yer right, I know because I
> did it at one time. But I cannot fathom why anyone would bug Facter for it since
> as you say it's a pretty trivial task to do yourself. In fact, while yer at it,
> may as well list all the jpeg dimensions and such. :)
>
> The object list in the AW help was originally generated from the database I did, I
> went a hair further and wrote a little program that went and got all the textures
> from the RWX files. Still took less than a day, I believe it was actually a few
> hours including the program to gen the HTML Looking at the source now, I see it
> looks like it's been modified by something like Frontpage, which is pretty sad. :)
> Doesn't make sense to do it manually, I'm surprised to see manual mods to it when
> doing it from a database would be faster and then it's easier to maintain.
>
> ANYhoo, why not just roll your own?
>
[View Quote]

Apr 6, 2001, 5:31pm

You can access AW's "main" folder : http://aw2.mpl.net/aw

You can get lots of informations from the registry, Andras'
rwxtract.exe can generate a registry list the used textures. Just the
tags informations is missing.

[View Quote]

Apr 6, 2001, 5:47pm

[View Quote] Well I did give up with response from AW. Almost one month ago, I was
making objects to complete one of the Mars collections, the translucent pink
'pane' collection. I contacted Facter beforehand by telegram, asking him if
they were interested. The reply was 'yes', if I included a registry entry
for the objects. I worked hard for one week on these and other Mars objects,
and sent the first few objects to Facter, with registry entry.... I never
got a reply.... so yes, people do get tired of waiting, we do things for
free but it does not mean our time is cheap.

Just my 2 cents.

Apr 6, 2001, 9:35pm

If you read the ORIGINAL post from Who, he/she is looking for more than just
a file listing ... he mentions that he would like descriptions, textures
that the objects use, tagging info, etc. THAT is a useful thing and is an
enormous cataloging task even with a process to produce the raw information
from the object path.

Once they have the information... it needs to go into a usable format ...
(i.e. the web-pages Facter spoke about).

Be fair will ya! Geesh!

Grims


I am looking for a database type file listing the objects available in
in

[View Quote]

Apr 6, 2001, 11:28pm

Sorry I thought we ALL had a copy of the AW objects...

[View Quote] > As you may have read in MY post, the work is done in DOS from the folders... Now...
> how do you expect me to access AW's main folders? I can't... Plus, I am not under
> pay fro AWCOM... I was just putting out how it could be done quickly... as to
> dimensions of jpg files... that would be a useless piece of info unless I am missing
> something... the rest as far as filename, date, etc as seen in a dir of dos is all
> that is relative. Was offering suggestions and solutions of how to avoid the back
> burner paradigms of average small businesses. Wishing all peace and health *S*
>
[View Quote]

Apr 7, 2001, 4:10am

BTW sorry about being snappy about linux, it's a nice OS I just think it's a
little over-hyped :)

[View Quote] > Hi All,
>
> As its most probably impossible to find out directly from AWInc itself,
> maybe someone else can help.
>
> I am looking for a database type file listing the objects available in
> AW. Pretty much like the object name/size/texture list - as they have in
> the help section of the AW Browser. Preferably with even more
> information if such a thing exists (description tagging, solid off/on
> etc).
>
> Does anyone know of such a database or list that could be easily
> converted into a csv type file? Also looking for similar databases/lists
> of any other "free for use" objects/textures used in AW.
>
> For those that are wondering - I have written a Xelagot script that
> allows the bot to describe, list, search for and display various objects
> and/or textures upon user command within the aw browser. But it is only
> as good as the database the bot has to work with, this of course is the
> hard part.
>
> Due to the fact that Xelagot string list files are basically csv style
> in standard format this will also hopefully allow future integration
> into a MySQL (or PostgreSQL or similar) database that can also then be
> used for website listings and many other server applications that can
> access databases like MySQL.
>
> Any hints, tips, help or partial/complete databases welcome :)
>
> Btw, I do intend releasing a public version of the script if possible
> once I have thoroughly sorted out the possibilities.
>
> --
> Cheers,
>
> Who

Apr 7, 2001, 12:50pm

Hi,

[View Quote] Yes it is :)

I actually have data from an old webpage I made (that took days to
construct) and now some further info thanks to Andras and his reggen
utility. The only problem with 'reggen' is that it seems to make a
number of errors when reporting the number of vertices and polygons in
quite a few objects. I am still considering whether to include this info
or not.

Currently I am working basically on an object path that I use, it
doesn't have all the aw objects (who really needs 50 different ppXX.rwx
anyway). I have about 1300 objects and 1400 textures and XelaG will be
happy to note it works pretty well with this many as it did when it was
900 objects in the database (speed wise for the bot to process).

Current information I am including or considering including in the
database is as follows:

Models:
Description, Textures, Size, Tagged?, Solid Off/On(Collision), Prelight,
Vertices, Polygons

Textures:
Description

I am interested in any other suggestions as to what to include as I
believe if i am going to do this I may as well do it right and not leave
out useful information.

I currently have included all info for all those objects/textures except
all the "human" descriptions - and of course a number of the
vertices/polygons is wrong.

The bot script allows for searching the object database for a word match
to list available models. Also will describe objects (will search and
describe textures soon - need to write descriptions first). The bot will
also display any texture or object that is requested for display. This
it will do for anybody.

The script also allows one to modify/add/delete objects and textures
within the database, but of course these commands are restricted to
certain people (dont want strangers deleting the database now do we....)
:)

For anyone who is interested, this script and database is currently
running in the world Nirvana by the bot "Ameret" at gz. To get a list of
commands to see it in action say "commands".

> Once they have the information... it needs to go into a usable format ...
> (i.e. the web-pages Facter spoke about).

Thats where Xelagot string lists and databases have a commonality - they
can be used in csv (comma separated lists) format for inclusion and use
by either. Various web utilities and languages allow for accessing
databases for displaying information.

> Be fair will ya! Geesh!

lol, a fast typist would be better :)

>
> Grims


--
Cheers,

Who

Apr 7, 2001, 2:04pm

[View Quote] Except for one thing: you may *not* include a comma in your field. CSV does
allow commas if the field is surrounded by "", xelagots don't.

:)

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