 Mud Manager Help Index

How To ...

Use Mud Manager

Defining a mud

Connect to the host

Get technical support

Register shareware

Commands

File menu

Edit menu

View menu

Session menu

Window menu

Help menu


File menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

New	Creates a new mud definition.
Open	Opens an existing mud definition.
Close	Closes an opened mud definition.
Save	Saves an opened mud definition using the same file name.
Save As	Saves an opened mud definition to a specified file name.
Print	Prints the mud session transcript.
Print Preview	Displays the mud session transcript on the screen as it would appear printed.
Print Setup	Selects a printer and printer connection.
Exit	Exits Mud Manager.


Edit menu commands

The Edit menu offers the following commands:

Undo	Reverse previous editing operation.
Cut	Deletes data from the document and moves it to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies data from the document to the clipboard.
Paste	Pastes data from the clipboard into the document.
Clear	Clears all text from the session window.


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Shows or hides the toolbar.
Status Bar	Shows or hides the status bar.
Font	Changes the default font, not!
Wordwrap	Enables word wrapping.


Session menu commands

The Session menu offers the following commands:

Connect	Connects to the specified host.
Disconnect	Disconnects from the specified host.


Window menu commands

The Window menu offers the following commands, which enable you to arrange multiple views of multiple documents in the application window:

New Window	Creates a new window that views the same document.
Cascade	Arranges windows in an overlapped fashion.
Tile	Arranges windows in non-overlapped tiles.
Arrange Icons	Arranges icons of closed windows.
Split	Split the active window into panes.
Window 1, 2, ...	Goes to specified window.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Index	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
Using Help	Provides general instructions on using help.
About	Displays the version number of this application.


File New command
New command (File menu)

Use this command to create a new document in Mud Manager.

You can open an existing document with the Open command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+N


File Open command
Open command (File menu)

Use this command to open an existing document in a new window.  You can open multiple documents at once.  Use the Window menu to switch among the multiple open documents.  See Window 1, 2, ... command.

You can create new documents with the New command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+O


File Open dialog box

The following options allow you to specify which file to open:

File Name

Type or select the filename you want to open.  This box lists files with the extension you select in the List Files of Type box.

List Files of Type

Select the type of file you want to open:

Select .mud files to open a mud definition file.

Drives

Select the drive in which Mud Manager stores the file that you want to open.

Directories

Select the directory in which Mud Manager stores the file that you want to open.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File Close command
Close command (File menu)

Use this command to close all windows containing the active document.  Mud Manager suggests that you save changes to your document before you close it.  If you close a document without saving, you lose all changes made since the last time you saved it.  Before closing an untitled document, Mud Manager displays the Save As dialog box and suggests that you name and save the document.

You can also close a document by using the Close icon on the document's window, as shown below:


File Save command
Save command (File menu)

Use this command to save the active document to its current name and directory.  When you save a document for the first time, Mud Manager displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your document.  If you want to change the name and directory of an existing document before you save it, choose the Save As command.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+S


File Save As command
Save As command (File menu)

Use this command to save and name the active document.  Mud Manager displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your document.

To save a document with its existing name and directory, use the Save command.


Send command (File menu)

Use this command to send the active document through electronic mail.  This command presents a mail window with the active document attached to it.  You may then fill out the To: field, Subject: field, etc., and add text to the body of the message if you wish.  When you are finished you may click the "Send" button to send the message.


File Save As dialog box

The following options allow you to specify the name and location of the file you're about to save:

File Name

Type a new filename to save a document with a different name.  A filename can contain up to eight characters and an extension of up to three characters.  Mud Manager adds the extension you specify in the Save File As Type box.

Drives

Select the drive in which you want to store the document.

Directories

Select the directory in which you want to store the document.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File 1, 2, 3, 4 command
1, 2, 3, 4 command (File menu)

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the File menu to open the last four documents you closed.  Choose the number that corresponds with the document you want to open.


File Exit command
Exit command (File menu)

Use this command to end your Mud Manager session.  You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.  Mud Manager prompts you to save documents with unsaved changes.

Shortcuts

Mouse:	Double-click the application's Control menu button.

Keys:	ALT+F4


Undo/Can't Undo command (Edit menu)

Use this command to reverse the last editing action, if possible.   The name of the command changes, depending on what the last action was.  The Undo command changes to Can't Undo on the menu if you cannot reverse your last action.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+Z or

ALT-BACKSPACE


Cut command (Edit menu)

Use this command to remove the currently selected data from the document and put it on the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Cutting data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+X


Copy command (Edit menu)

Use this command to copy selected data onto the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Copying data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+C


Paste command (Edit menu)

Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents at the insertion point.  This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+V


Clear command (Edit menu)

Use this command to clear all data from the session window.

It is important that you periodically clear your session window.  The shareware version of this program was built using the standard edit control for displaying text.  The edit control has a maximum size and will stop refreshing after this limit is reached.  Future releases of the program will alleviate this requirement.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+DEL


Connect/Disconnect command (Session menu)

Use this command to connect/disconnect to or from the host.

Connecting to the mud host is typically done when the window is opened using the auto-connect option on the mud definition dialog.  This connect option is available when not already connected.  The disconnect option is only available once connected to your host.  You are automatically disconnected from the host when you close a mud window.

Note: The connect/disconnect toolbar button is the same regardless of whether you are connected or not.  Mud Manager will take the appropriate action based upon your connection state.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+ENTER


Wordwrap command (View menu)

Use this command to enable or diable word wrap on the session windows.

Changing this preference will only take effect by closing any opened windows and opening them again.  Any new windows that are opened will inherit this behavior.


Font command (View menu)

Use this command to change the default font.

Changing fonts is NOT supported in the shareware version of this program.  The future release will support fonts, colors, and lots of other neat things.  This is just a teaser.


View Toolbar command
Toolbar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in Mud Manager, such as File Open.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar.  The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in Mud Manager,

To hide or display the Toolbar, choose Toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T).

Click	To

Open a new document.

Open an existing document.  Mud Manager displays the Open dialog box, in which you can locate and open the desired file.

Save the active document or template with its current name.  If you have not named the document, Mud Manager displays the Save As dialog box.

Print the active document.

Remove selected data from the document and stores it on the clipboard.

Copy the selection to the clipboard.

Insert the contents of the clipboard at the insertion point.

Clears the contents of the session window.

Connects or disconnects to or from the selected host.


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, and keyboard latch state. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Status Bar is displayed.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the Mud Manager window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.

The right areas of the status bar indicate which of the following keys are latched down:

Indicator	Description

CAP	The Caps Lock key is latched down.

NUM	The Num Lock key is latched down.

SCRL	The Scroll Lock key is latched down.


New command (Window menu)

Use this command to open a new window with the same contents as the active window.  You can open multiple document windows to display different parts or views of a document at the same time.  If you change the contents in one window, all other windows containing the same document reflect those changes.  When you open a new window, it becomes the active window and is displayed on top of all other open windows.


Cascade command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in an overlapped fashion.


Tile command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Tile Horizontal command (Window menu)

Use this command to vertically arrange multiple opened windows in a non-overlapped fashion.


Tile Vertical command (Window menu)

Use this command to arrange multiple opened windows side by side.


Window Arrange Icons Command

Use this command to arrange the icons for minimized windows at the bottom of the main window.  If there is an open document window at the bottom of the main window, then some or all of the icons may not be visible because they will be underneath this document window.


Split Command (Window menu)

Use this command to split the active window into panes.  You may then use the mouse or the keyboard arrows to move the splitter bars.  When you are finished, press the mouse button or return to leave the splitter bars in their new location.  Pressing escape keeps the splitter bars in their original location.


1, 2, ... command (Window menu)

Mud Manager displays a list of currently open document windows at the bottom of the Window menu.  A check mark appears in front of the document name of the active window.  Choose a document from this list to make its window active.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using Mud Manager and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of Mud Manager.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of Mud Manager.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the Mud Manager window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and document.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.

A title bar may contain the following elements:

Application Control-menu button

Document Control-menu button

Maximize button

Minimize button

Name of the application

Name of the document

Restore button

When the window is minimized, the icon that is displayed is determined by the connection state:

Represents a mud window that is not connected to its host.

Represents a mud window that is connected to its host.


Scroll bars

Displayed at the right and bottom edges of the document window.  The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location in the document.  You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the document.


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the Mud Manager window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a document window.


Next Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the next open document window.  Mud Manager determines which window is next according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F6


Previous Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the previous open document window.  Mud Manager determines which window is previous according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+CTRL+F6


Close command (Control menus)

Use this command to close the active window or dialog box.

Double-clicking a Control-menu box is the same as choosing the Close command.

Note:  If you have multiple windows open for a single document, the Close command on the document Control menu closes only one window at a time.  You can close all windows at once with the Close command on the File menu.

Shortcuts

Keys: 	CTRL+F4 closes a document window

ALT+F4 closes the mud window or dialog box


Restore command (Control menu)

Use this command to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Switch to command (application Control menu)

Use this command to display a list of all open applications.  Use this "Task List" to switch to or close an application on the list.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+ESC

Dialog Box Options

When you choose the Switch To command, you will be presented with a dialog box with the following options:

Task List

Select the application you want to switch to or close.

Switch To

Makes the selected application active.

End Task

Closes the selected application.

Cancel

Closes the Task List box.

Cascade

Arranges open applications so they overlap and you can see each title bar.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Tile

Arranges open applications into windows that do not overlap.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons of all minimized applications across the bottom of the screen.


View Ruler Command
Ruler command (View menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Choose Font Dialog
Choose Font dialog box

You cannot change the font in the shareware version of Mud Manager.  This is just a teaser for the commercial release of the product.


Choose Color Dialog
Choose Color dialog box

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Edit Find Command
Find command (Edit menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Find Dialog
Find dialog box

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Edit Replace Command
Replace command (Edit menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Replace Dialog
Replace dialog box

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Edit Repeat Command
Repeat command (Edit menu)

Use this command to repeat the last editing command carried out.  The Repeat menu item changes to Can't Repeat if you cannot repeat your last action.

Shortcut

Key:	F4


Modifying the Document

Each child window of the Mud Manager main window represents one mud definition document.  The window can either be connected or disconnected to or from the mud host.  The top pane of the mud window will display the text sent from your mud host when events occur.  This window will scroll to keep up with the text as it comes in.  The bottom pane is where you type in your commands.  After typing a command, hitting the enter key will send the command to your host.  Once sent, the current command will be highlighted so that you can either correct what you typed if you made a mistake, or you can just key over the selected text with a new command.

Please remember to clear your window periodically.  If you do not, you will eventually reach the text limit of a standard edit control.  This problem will be fixed with the commercial version of Mud Manager.


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.


Using Mud Manager

Mud Manager is a winsock based application that simplifies the process of connecting to and interacting with the various mud hosts on the internet.  A mud (short for multi-user dimension) is basically a virtual community of residents that have common interests.  If you are interested in mudding, please refer to the rec.games.mud.announce and rec.games.mud.misc usenet newsgroups for more information.

The first step in using Mud Manager is to create a mud definition.  This can be done simple by clicking on the [image] on the toolbar.  Define the mud document by filling in the mud definition template.  When you are finished, click on the OK button.

The rest is easy.  Next, if you did not define the host as being auto-connect, connect to the host by clicking on the [image] on the toolbar.  Each host will then tell you how to create or request a new character.  Once you have a character generated, update your mud definition with your new persona and password.


How to Register My Shareware

Registering is easy.  If you really like Mud Manager, send $10, your name, and your internet email address to:

Bill Hyman

1020 Gateshaed Ln.

Matthews, NC   28105

If you register you will:

•	Receive newsletters regarding Mud Manager

•	Get better support if you have problems

•	Qualify for beta-testing the future releases of Mud Manager

•	Make me happy!


Getting Technical Support

You can snail-mail me at:

Bill Hyman

1020 Gateshaed Ln.

Matthews, NC   28105

But I will guarantee a reply if you e-mail me at:

bill.hyman@bsis.com

Please be aware, authoring and supporting shareware is not my primary job.  I have a day job, and a family,  so I will try my best to answer your questions and release bug fixes.


Mud Definition Dialog Help

The following dialog is the mud definition dialog.  This screen allows you to specify the unique attributes of each mud host that you connect to.

The following is a description of each field:

The name field is the user-defined name of the host.  This is the title that will appear on each windows title bar.

The hostname field is the true internet address of the mud host.  This name can be the fully qualified host name as in sncils.snc.edu, or the internet address.

The port field holds the unique port on the host that the mud host is using.  Consult your specific mud site for what value to use here.

The persona field will contain the name of your character in this world.  The persona name can be used if specifying a connect string as described below.

The password field can contain your password for this character within the world you are connecting to.  It also can be used in the connect string as described below.

The connect string field can contain a block of text that you want sent to the host once you connect.  Often, the connect string will log you onto the mud host.  You can use replacement strings for the persona and password fields so that they will be utilized when you connect.  For example, if you used the following as a connect string:

connect %persona %password

Mud Manager would immediately send the connect text with your user specified persona and password to the host.  Always preceed the replacement string with a percent sign.  The shareware version of Mud Manager only lets you have two user-defined strings, persona and password.  The future release will have an unlimited number of replacement strings for advanced macro usage.

The auto-connect option defines whether you want Mud Manager to automatically connect to the host when you open the mud definition.  If not selected, you will have to manually connect to the host after opening a .MUD file.


File Print command
Print command (File menu)

Use this command to print a document.   This command presents a Print dialog box, where you may specify the range of pages to be printed, the number of copies, the destination printer, and other printer setup options.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+P


Print dialog box

The following options allow you to specify how the document should be printed:

Printer

This is the active printer and printer connection.  Choose the Setup option to change the printer and printer connection.

Setup

Displays a Print Setup dialog box, so  you can select a printer and printer connection.

Print Range

Specify the pages you want to print:

All	Prints the entire document.
Selection	Prints the currently selected text.
Pages	Prints the range of pages you specify in the From and To boxes.
Copies

Specify the number of copies you want to print for the above page range.

Collate Copies

Prints copies in page number order, instead of separated multiple copies of each page.

Print Quality

Select the quality of the printing.  Generally, lower quality printing takes less time to produce.


Print Progress Dialog

The Printing dialog box is shown during the time that <<YourApp>> is sending output to the printer.  The page number indicates the progress of the printing.

To abort printing, choose Cancel.


File Print Preview command
Print Preview command (File menu)

Use this command to display the active document as it would appear when printed.  When you choose this command, the main window will be replaced with a print preview window in which one or two pages will be displayed in their printed format.  The print preview toolbar offers you options to view either one or two pages at a time; move back and forth through the document; zoom in and out of pages; and initiate a print job.


Print Preview toolbar

The print preview toolbar offers you the following options:

Print

Bring up the print dialog box, to start a print job.

Next Page

Preview the next printed page.

Prev Page

Preview the previous printed page.

One Page / Two Page

Preview one or two printed pages at a time.

Zoom In

Take a closer look at the printed page.

Zoom Out

Take a larger look at the printed page.

Close

Return from print preview to the editing window.


File Print Setup command
Print Setup command (File menu)

Use this command to select a printer and a printer connection.  This command presents a Print Setup dialog box, where you specify the printer and its connection.


Print Setup dialog box

The following options allow you to select the destination printer and its connection.

Printer

Select the printer you want to use.  Choose the Default Printer; or choose the Specific Printer option and select one of the current installed printers shown in the box.  You install printers and configure ports using the Windows Control Panel.

Orientation

Choose Portrait or Landscape.

Paper Size

Select the size of paper that the document is to be printed on.

Paper Source

Some printers offer multiple trays for different paper sources.  Specify the tray here.

Options

Displays a dialog box where you can make additional choices about printing, specific to the type of printer you have selected.

Network...

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter.


File Page Setup Command
Page Setup command (File menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>