root/1.8.3/trunk/game/txt/hlp/pennattr.hlp

& ATTRIBUTE FLAGS
  Attribute flags are set on an object's attributes using @set, or applied
  to attributes globally using @attrib. Their names (and, when applicable,
  the character used in examine as shorthand for the flag) include:

  no_command ($)    Attribute will not be checked for '$' commands and
                    '^' listen patterns.
  visual (v)        Attribute can be seen by anyone via get(), eval(),
                    ufun(), zfun(), and similar functions.
  no_inherit (i)    Attribute will not be inherited by the children of
                    this object.
  no_clone (c)      Attribute will not be copied if the object is @clone'd.
  regexp (R)        Match $-commands and ^-listens using regular expressions.
                    See 'help regexps'.
  case (C)          Match $-commands and ^-listens case sensitively.
  safe (S)          Attribute may not be modified, without unsetting this flag.
  mortal_dark (m)   Attribute cannot be seen by mortals. This flag can only
                    be set by royalty and wizards.  "hidden" is a synonym.

  Continued in 'help attribute flags2'
& ATTRIBUTE FLAGS2
  noname (N)        Attribute won't show name in @o-* messages.
  nospace (s)       Attribute won't append a space in @o-* messages.
  wizard (w)        Attribute can only be set by wizards.
                    This flag can only be set by royalty and wizards.
  veiled (V)        Attribute value will not be shown on default examine,
                    but is still otherwise accessible (for spammy attribs).
  debug (b)         Show debug output when this attribute is evaluated.
  nearby (n)        Even if this attribute is visual, it can only be
                    retrieved if you're co-located with the object.
  public (p)        This attribute can be evaluated by any object, even
                    if safer_ufun is in use. DANGEROUS! AVOID!
  aahear (A)        ^-listens on this attribute match like @aahear
  amhear (M)        ^-listens on this attribute match like @amhear

  Continued in 'help attribute flags3'
& ATTRIBUTE FLAGS3
  prefixmatch       When a user attempts to set an attribute using @<attrib>,
                    this attribute will be matched down to its unique
                    prefixes. This flag is primarily used internally.
  `                 This attribute is a branch. See: help ATTRIBUTE TREES
& ATTRIBUTE TREES
& ATTR TREES
& ATTRIB TREES
& `
Attributes can be arranged in a hierarchical tree; these are called
"attribute trees", and a conceptually similar to the way that
files and directories/folders are organized on computer filesystems.
Attribute trees can be used to reduce spam when examining and to
provide organized control over permissions for related attributes.

Attribute trees use the backtick (`) character to separate their
components (much as filesystems use / or \). For example, the
following attribute name would be a couple levels down in its tree:

    CHAR`SKILLS`PHYSICAL

Attribute names may not start or end with the backtick, and may not
contain two backticks in a row.

All attributes are either branch attributes or leaf attributes.
A branch attribute is an attribute that has other branches or leaves
beneath it; a leaf attribute is one that does not. Any attribute may
act as a branch. If you try to create an unsupported leaf, branch
attributes will be created as needed to support it.

See 'help attribute trees2' for more information and examples.

& ATTRIBUTE TREES2
& ATTR TREES2
& ATTRIB TREES2
& `2
Attribute trees provide two immediate benefits. First, they reduce
spam when examining objects. The usual * and ? wildcards for attributes
do not match the ` character; the new ** wildcard does. Some
examples of using examine:
   examine obj              displays top-level attributes (plus object header)
   examine obj/*            displays top-level attributes
   examine obj/BRANCH`      displays only attributes immediately under BRANCH
   examine obj/BRANCH`*     displays only attributes immediately under BRANCH
   examine obj/BRANCH`**    displays entire tree under BRANCH
   examine obj/**           displays all attributes of object

The same principles apply to lattr(). @decompile obj is a special case,
and displays all attributes.

Branch attributes will be displayed with a ` in the attribute flags
on examine. 

See 'help attribute trees3' for more information and examples.

& ATTRIBUTE TREES3
& ATTR TREES3
& ATTRIB TREES3
& `3
The second benefit of attributes trees is convenient access control.
Attribute flags that restrict attribute access or execution
(no_inherit, no_command, mortal_dark, wizard) propagate down
attribute trees, so if a branch is set mortal_dark, mortals can
not read any of its leaves or subbranches either.

Attribute flags that grant access (e.g. visual) do NOT propagate down
trees.

These properties make attribute trees ideal for data attributes:
  &DATA bank = Data for each depositor is stored here, by dbref
  @set bank/DATA = no_command
  &DATA`#30 bank = $2000 savings:$1000 loan @ 5%
  ...

They're also handy for things like character attributes:
  @attribute/access CHAR = wizard mortal_dark no_clone no_inherit
  &CHAR #30 = Character data
  &CHAR`SKILLS #30 = coding:3 documentation:1 obfuscation:5
  ...

See 'help attribute trees4' for information about @parent and attribute trees.

& ATTRIBUTE TREES4
& ATTR TREES4
& ATTRIB TREES4
& `4
Attribute trees interact with @parent in several ways.

As usual, children inherit attributes from their parent unless the
child has its own overriding attribute. However, children that wish
to override a leaf attribute must also have their own (overriding)
copy of all branches leading to that leaf. This means that when you do:

  &BRANCH parent = a branch
  &BRANCH`LEAF parent = a leaf
  &BRANCH`LEAF child = a new leaf

In this case, a new BRANCH attribute will be created on the child,
so '-[get(child/BRANCH)]-' will return '--'. This may not be what
you actually want.

If a branch on the parent is set no_inherit, it will not be inherited,
regardless of any other flags that may be present. If a branch is
inherited, the child object can not loosen any access restrictions to
inherited attributes that are set by the parent (although it may loosen
access restrictions to its own attributes on the same branch). The child
object may impose stricter restrictions, however, and these may prevent
access to inherited parent data.
& NONAME
& NOSPACE
  @o-* Attributes set NONAME will not prepend the enactor's name to their
  message. Similarily, attributes set NOSPACE will not append a space
  to the enactor's name in their message.

  > @create anvil
  > @lock anvil=#false
  > @ofailure anvil=s strength is not enough to pick up the anvil.
  > @set anvil/ofailure=nospace
  > get anvil
  (spectators see:)
  Walkers strength is not enough to pick up the anvil.

  > @ofailure anvil=The anvil is too heavy for %N to pick up.
  > @set anvil/ofailure=noname
  > get anvil
  (spectators see:)
  The anvil is too heavy for Walker to pick up.