Rob's Ramblings

Thursday, 30 March 2017

Retrochallenge 2017/04

OK... after only a few years* hiding away, I've put myself in for this again.

I've set a much smaller goal this time; something I think I can achieve, instead of something I want to achieve!  This is, I think, an important difference.  I got nowhere the last two times, mostly because I was a bit too ambitious for the limited time available to me.  (I've only sort of partially achieved the "tidy the cable nest" of 2012, and never did get anywhere with the dial-up thing from 2013.)

So this year's goal:  Write something that will allow browsing a (static) viewdata database from a web browser for use with the new Wordpress-based viewdata.org.uk.  I have a browser already, but it's a bit clunky and not very easy to incorporate into anything else.  So a nice re-write is in order, whereby I can take advantage of "modern technologies" like javascript and AJAX calls, to make the effect more seamless, and I intend to "borrow" the code behind edit.tf and the teletext-browser version thereof to make things easier..

If I can do that, I might try and finish off enough of the new version of the website to actually launch it, but no promises!!


* - Four.

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Tuesday, 28 March 2017

edit.tf hashing in php

For lack of somewhere else to put it, herewith a port to PHP of the method of encoding a videotex frame into the hash value used by the absolutely excellen edit.tf.

Ok, blogger seems to be upset by quoted php... weird.  So...   Click Here !

Thursday, 23 March 2017

IMAGE, the MUD.

More disk delving coughed up the following log file...  Anybody else remember IMAGE ?


*

 13 December 1985: 
Welcome to IMAGE....
Tel. Nos are 0935-78476/7.

The system is running FREE for
debugging.

Demo character is Code:10006
Name: WALLY , Password: DEMO

Paul Chappell
Viewdata Systems (SW) Ltd,
40/42 Hendford,
Yeovil,
Somerset.

Options Available are:

0. Exit
1. Play IMAGE
2. Chatline

Select Option: 1
Enter Your Code Number   :10014
Enter Your Character Name:MENOLLY
Enter Your Password      :MADSYS
Initialising Data.......... ***  MAIL MESSAGES WAITING  ***
    Enter MAIL to read them

Press Any Key to Continue: 

You are at the south end of a long tree lined road leading
off down a steep hill. Through the branches far to the north
you can see the top of a mysterious tower, surrounded by
trees, purched on the top of high hill.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see A DH BROAD SWORD, SOME PLATE ARMOUR, A STAGGERING WROOT, 

Command: MAIL
From: KANE
On  : 14/12/85 at 18:46:06
------------------------
THANKS FOR THE BUG....
ITS FIXED NOW. YOU CAN GO WEST AND NOT EAST.

Erase Messages ?Y

Command: I   N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are half way up a steep hill.
To the west you see a gap in the trees that line
the road. The road continues down the hill to
the north and up to the south.
By the gap is a blue sign.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: SCOR

Name:  MENOLLY the Peasant
Weap:  DH BROAD SWORD
Arm :  PLATE ARMOUR
Str :  17 
Exp :  35 
Gold:  82 
Cakes: 28 
Last: SCOR
Has :  Nothing


Command: WHO

Somewhere about there is:
MENOLLY the Peasant


Command: A STAGGERING WROOT approaches you
 N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are at the bottom of a steep hill to the south
to the east there is a stone faced building with
a sign hanging from a tall pole by the front door.
To the north you can see a cross roads.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are at a large cross roads.
To the west you can see the entrance to a tall
concrete, official looking building surrounded
by trees.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see E
Nothing Special


Command: 
 
Your Journey Continues...


This is a corner of a wide empty road
to the west the road leads to a cross roads.
To the north you can see a building at the
side of the road.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are on a long north south road.
On the west side of the road is a long low brick
building with a large illuminated sign on the wall.
To the north you can see a cross roads.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are in a small l shaped room. The walls are covered with
light blue wall paper and there is blue carpet on the floor.
Along on wall is a long sofa, again in blue.
A young and pretty receptionist sits at her desk and says,
"i'm sorry but graham carter is out at the moment."
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: E
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are on a long north south road.
On the west side of the road is a long low brick
building with a large illuminated sign on the wall.
To the north you can see a cross roads.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are on a long north south road.
A small east west road crosses here.
To the south you can see a large brick building
at the side of the road.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
  
Your Journey Continues...


You are standing at a cross roads.
Roads lead off in all directions.
To the north there appears to be a tall
sign by the side of the road.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are on a north south road.
On the west side of the road is a long
brick building, with a sign standing
outside on a tall pole.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are on the corner of a road which
narrows to the east.
To the south you can see a long brick
building. There is a tall wooded hill
to the north.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are in a dense dark forest
on the lower slopes of a tall hill.
You can see nothing through the tightly
packed trees and thick undergrowth.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


This is a wide clearing in the forest.
At the centre of the clearing is a tall
triangular stone tower. Standing by the
closed heavy wooden door is a small
metal box with some writing on it.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: 093582277               77822
THE HEAVY DOOR SWING OPEN

You are in a small dusty stone room
within the tall tower. In the west wall
is a small doorway leading to a small
metal chamber. A wooden door stands
open to the south.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


This is a small plain metal room.
On the wall there is a small panel
with a big red button on it.
.
There is a small doorway to the east.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: PUSH BURRON
PUSH WHAT?

Command: OUSH BUTTON
I don't understand!

Command: PUSH BUTTON
A METAL PANEL SLIDES ACROSS THE DOORWAY THEN OPENS AGAIN

This is a small plain metal room.
On the wall there is a small panel
with a big red button on it.
.
There is a small doorway to the east.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see 9 Gold Crowns, 

Command: PUSH BUTTON           GET GOLD    
Ok...

Command: GET GOLD    
There is no gold here!

Command: PUSH BUTTON
A METAL PANEL SLIDES ACROSS THE DOORWAY THEN OPENS AGAIN

This is a small plain metal room.
On the wall there is a small panel
with a big red button on it.
.
There is a small doorway to the east.
The rain swirls about you.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: PUSH BUTTON
?
A METAL PANEL SLIDES ACROSS THE DOORWAY THEN OPENS AGAIN

This is a small plain metal room.
On the wall there is a small panel
with a big red button on it.
.
There is a small doorway to the east.
The rain swirls about you.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command:    PUSH BUTTON
A METAL PANEL SLIDES ACROSS THE DOORWAY THEN OPENS AGAIN

This is a small plain metal room.
On the wall there is a small panel
with a big red button on it.
.
There is a small doorway to the west.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


This is a dank underground chamber
dug out of the stone of the hill
there is a doorway to the east.
And a trap door in the floor.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: D
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are in a small stone room with lichens growing on the walls.
Stone stairs on the west wall lead up to an oak door.
A dim light seeps into the room through an opening in the north wall.
You can just make out a large archway in the east wall.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: E
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are at the west end of a large dark hall.
The east end is lost in darkness. To the south there is an
archway.
In the gloom you can make out a long wooden table and some
broken chairs.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: E
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are at the east end of a long hall.
Set into the east wall is a large fire place, but it does not
seem to have been used for many years.
Everything is covered in a thick layer of dust.
There is a crack in the north wall.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see 2 Gold Crowns, 

Command: GET GOLD
Ok...

Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


South bank of wide fast moving underground river.
To the south is a large crack in the wall.
Across the river in the north wall is a finely carved archway.
There is a sign caved in the rock above the arch,
and a boat tied to the south bank.
It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


Beside the river there is a spiral stairwell leading down.
There is a narrow path to the east.



It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: D
 
Your Journey Continues...


Small dark chamber. In the centre is a small stone spiral stair
leading up.
You can see a wide exit to the south and you can just make out
a small tunnel to the east.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: S
 
Your Journey Continues...


The roof is low here. You have to stoop.
The chamber walls are covered with crumbling mosaics, split
in places by huge cracks. The floor is strewn with rubble.
A glow is coming from an opening in the west wall.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see A WYVERN approaches you
 Nothing Special


Command: S
 
Your Journey Continues...


You find that one of the many holes and cracks in the south
wall is the entrance to a small tunnel which ends at a
't' junction.


It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are in a very narrow chasm with steep sloping walls.
To the east there is a passage ajoining the north wall.
The chasm continues west.


It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


This is a wide empty hall.
Set into the west wall are two huge iron gates guarded by two
fearsome stone dogs.
The gates are old and rusty, and one is slightly open.

It is warm and dry here.
*

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are in a high passage with richly carved pillars
supporting wide gothic arches. To the east there are some
iron gates. Feint whispers of smoke drift in from the west
of the passage.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


A high ledge runs around a gigantic cavern.
The opposite side of the cavern is obscured by smoke.
A bright light reveals the dark outline of a tall tower in the
middle of the cavern. The ledge curves to the north and west.
There is a passage leading east.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see A CENTAUR, 

Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


The ledge curves north and east.
To the north it narrows to no more than a few inches across
before disappearing into the smoke.


It is warm and dry here.

You can see 6 Gold Crowns, 

Command: GET GOLD
Ok...

Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are on a wide ledge surrounded by smoke.
To the east it is blocked by a curtain of fire.
To the west the ledge narrows. One end of an old bridge is
attached to the ledge.
The bridge leads south to the top of a high tower.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: S
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are at the top of a tall crumbling tower.
There is an old bridge leading north, and stone stairs
leading down.


It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: D
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are in an empty, dusty stone room.
Light pours in through an open door in the north wall.
A stone staircase on the south wall leads upwards.


It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


This is a wide dusty courtyard surrounded by walls.
To the north is a large gateway.
To the south is a tall crumbling stone tower.


It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are standing in a large arched gateway.
The old iron gates have long since rusted, and fallen from their
hinges. To the south is a seemingly empty stone courtyard with a
tall tower at its centre. To the north an old ruined city
stretches into the distance.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: N
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are on a crossroads just north of a large archway.
There is a long straight road leading north.
..
The roads are lined with crumbling and ruined buildings.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are halfway along a 40 yard long road.
The road runs parallel with a high stone wall. To the west
you can see a large golden building which shines out like a
beacon amongst the ruins of the city. There is a crossroads to
to the east. There is a dense forrest to the north.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are at the end of the road.
To the south is a large iron double door, set into the
walls of a golden temple.
The road rus off to the east.
To the north is a dark forest.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: S
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are in the entrance hall of the temple.
The floor is tiled with bright mosaics and the walls
are hung with rich tapestries. A heavy iron door is set into
the north wall, smaller doors lead off to the east and west.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: E
 
Your Journey Continues...


This is a small room with a large basin cut into
the middle of the floor. Ropes are strung across
the room from high on the walls and the remains
of old garments hang from them.
There are doors in the south and west walls.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see 8 Gold Crowns, 

Command: GET GOLD
Ok...

Command: S
 
Your Journey Continues...


There is a long wooden table in this room, with plane
wooden benches along either side. Old plates and mugs
lie scattered on the table and floor. In the east wall
is a large broken stained glass window.
Doors lead off to the north and west.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: W
 
Your Journey Continues...


This is a small square room with a spiral stair in the
middle leading up. There are carvings and holy
paintings on the walls.
There is a door in the east wall.

It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: U
 
Your Journey Continues...


You are in a large circular domed room that
seems to be made completely out of gold!
a massive golden alter curves around the north side
of the room. Carved into it is the number '110.25'
in the centre of the room is a spiral stair.
It is warm and dry here.

You can see Nothing Special


Command: WHO

Somewhere about there is:
MENOLLY the Peasant


Command: MAIL KANE
Msg>Is this 110.25                  '110.25' the             in the 'circular domed room th         ...made from gold'
Msg>above the golden tample, the sacred No. required by that guy
Msg>in r   the arch over near the white temple .... ? It doesn't work, yet]it         
Msg>it's the only number I've yet   t found that sounds like it could be
Msg>right........
Msg>.
Msg>..      Ta, Rob.
Msg>

Command: WHO

Somewhere about there is:
MENOLLY the Peasant


Command: INV
You have A DH BROAD SWORD, SOME PLATE ARMOUR, 107 GOLD CROWNS, 28 HONEY CAKES, 
Command: SCOR

Name:  MENOLLY the Peasant
Weap:  DH BROAD SWORD
Arm :  PLATE ARMOUR
Str :  17 
Exp :  5 
Gold:  107 
Cakes: 28 
Last: SCOR
Has :  Nothing


Command: SPELLS
The Commands & Spells You Can use NOW are:
ERROR DETECTED - CONTACT PAUL CHAPPELL.
Filing Character - Please3$  1$3$#  33 $

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