Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- display_files [2017/12/06 17:01] – g00r00
+++ display_files [2023/01/26 07:32] (current) – g00r00
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 === Random Display Files ===
-Mystic has the capability to allow up to 36 variations of any display file to be selected a random each time it is displayed.  This is done by changing the last character in the file extension to a number from 1 to 9 or a letter from A to Z, but IN ALL CASES at a minimum a file with a 1 must exist for Mystic to select a randomly displayed file.
+Mystic has the capability to allow for an unlimited number of variations
+of any display file which will be selected at random when the file is
+displayed.  If for example the base filename of the display file is "test"
+then any addition files with a .# after the base filename will be included
+and selected to display at random whenever the "test" display file would
+normally display.  For example:
-For example:  If the display file named EXAMPLE.ASC and EXAMPLE.AS1 exists, Mystic will randomly select any one of the following files that may exist for display, because a filename with a 1 as the last character of the extension exists:
+   test.ans
+   test.1.ans
+   test.2.ans
+   test.10.ans
-   EXAMPLE.ASC   EXAMPLE.ASA   EXAMPLE.ASK   EXAMPLE.ASU
+In the above example, any time the "test" display file would normally display
-   EXAMPLE.AS1   EXAMPLE.ASB   EXAMPLE.ASL   EXAMPLE.ASV
+Mystic will randomly select one of the files.
-   EXAMPLE.AS2   EXAMPLE.ASC   EXAMPLE.ASM   EXAMPLE.ASW
-   EXAMPLE.AS3   EXAMPLE.ASD   EXAMPLE.ASN   EXAMPLE.ASX
+=== Terminal Size Specific Display Files ===
-   EXAMPLE.AS4   EXAMPLE.ASE   EXAMPLE.ASO   EXAMPLE.ASY
-   EXAMPLE.AS5   EXAMPLE.ASF   EXAMPLE.ASP   EXAMPLE.ASZ
+Mystic allows for display file variations to be defined for custom terminal
-   EXAMPLE.AS6   EXAMPLE.ASG   EXAMPLE.ASQ
+sizes and it will select the most appropriate file based on the user's current
-   EXAMPLE.AS7   EXAMPLE.ASH   EXAMPLE.ASR
+terminal size.  For example, if the base display file name is "test" then
-   EXAMPLE.AS8   EXAMPLE.ASI   EXAMPLE.ASS
+variations can be created based on column size, line size, or both.  Here is
-   EXAMPLE.AS9   EXAMPLE.ASJ   EXAMPLE.AST
+an example of creating some column-based variations:
+   test.ans          < Displays to users with less than 120 columns
+   test.c120.ans     < Displays to users with 120-159 columns
+   test.c160.ans     < Displays to users with 160+ columns
+The line size can also be defined as well, for example:
+   test.c132x37.ans   < Displays to users who have 132x37 or larger terminal
+This system can even work side by side with the random display file system!
+For example:
+  scroller.1.ans
+  scroller.2.ans
+  scroller.1.c160.ans
+  scroller.2.c160.ans
+In this example Mystic would select randomly either scroller.1.c160 or
+scroller.2.c160.ans if the user had 160+ columns, otherwise it would
+select one of scroller.1 or scroller.2 display files whenever the
+display file "scroller" is requested to display.
+**//(NOTE: The column based file naming also works for all of Mystic's
+template files and menu files as well!)//**
 === Baud Rate Emulation ===
 Mystic allows every display file to be shown as if it were being displayed at a specific modem baud rate.  This can be accomplished in a number of ways, from embedding a [[displaycodes|Display Code]] within the display file itself, to using parameters when executing from a [[menu_commands|Menu Command]] or MPL/Python script.
+Mystic does its baud rate emulation on the server side, which means that
+it will work on any terminal that can connect to your BBS.  The terminal
+does not have to have any sort of baud rate capabilities like other BBS
+systems use which means that Mystic's baud rate emulation will even work
+on legacy DOS or older system terminals and terminals not designed to be
+used with a BBS!
 === Event-Based Display Files ===