New Features in zMUD 7.0x

Summary:

Faster Perl-based trigger engine with Regular Expression support. 

Fast and stable Mapper with instant zone loading and fast speedwalking.  Compatible with zMapper for graphical map enhancements.

Windows XP Theme support. 

Trigger creation wizard.

Feature	Description
PERL-based Regular Expressions	Uses the Open Source PCRE Perl Regular Expression Library.  ALL Triggers now run from two to ten times faster.  Full Regular Expression support is provided, including captured substrings, named substrings, and nested wildcards.  Not only does every zMUD user benefit from the speed improvements, but advanced users can use the regular expressions for even more powerful triggers.  Regular expression conditions are fully supported by multi-state triggers, providing more triggering power than any other MUD client.
Database-driven Automapper	The Automapper module in zMUD has been rewritten from scratch to use an SQL database engine (using the MDAC database software that comes with Windows).  This is the same mapping engine used in zMapper and zExplorer.  zMUD map databases can be customized using the external zMapper program (available seperately) to graphically enhance your maps.  Maps enhanced with zMapper can be displayed within zMUD when zMapper is installed using the automatic zMapper plugin for zMUD. The speed and stability of the mapper has been greatly improved.  When you double-click on a zone, the zone is now loaded instantly.  You can now speedwalk across multiple zones as easily as you speedwalk within a single zone.  Speedwalk calculations are incredibly fast compared to any previous mapper.  Options have been added for sending only a certain number of directions at once for MUDs that restrict speedwalking.  Custom exit commands have been improved and can be mapped to standard directions for faster keypad walking through special exits.  Portal commands have been added to support teleportation spells.
Windows XP Themes	The entire look and feel of zMUD has been updated for the modern Windows XP operating system.  All users of zMUD will benefit from the more colorful icons used in zMUD.  For Windows XP users, zMUD fully supports the XP Themes so that zMUD will look and feel like other applications on your computer.
Trigger Wizard	Use the new wizard to create common triggers for your MUD.  Advanced users can write their own custom wizards to help people create MUD-specific triggers. [More detailed information]

New Features in zMUD 6.6x

Summary:

Official support for Simutronics games such as Gemstone III and Dragonrealms.  Inline images, Pueblo support, MXP <FRAME> and <DEST> tags, MCP, Socks5 proxy support, improved VT100 support.  VBScript and JScript scripting, Multi-state triggers, floating-point variables, FTP, better control of classes, improved COM support.  Also has significant speed improvements in loading time, automapper, script execution, and text scrolling.  Uses less memory and less disk space.

Feature	Description
Simutronic GSL Support	zMUD is the ONLY 3rd party MUD client that officially supports the Simutronics GSL protocol used in MUDs such as Gemstone and Dragonrealms.  This support also provides inline image support via the MXP <IMAGE> tag, and Pueblo emulation for those MUDs that still support the old Pueblo protocol.
Flexible Scripting	Now you can write scripts in ANY scripting language supported by Windows.  Using the Windows Scripting Engine, you can write scripts in VBScript, JavaScript, or any other language that you install that supports this Microsoft engine (such as PerlScript).  You can freely mix scripting languages in your files using the zMUD %mss function.  zMUD Scripting is still the fastest and most optimized scripting language for MUD playing, but if you don't want to learn zMUD Scripting, you can now use your favorite scripting language instead. [zMUD COM object model documentation]
Multi-state Triggers	The most powerful trigger system just got better: multi-state triggers.  Add multiple conditions to your triggers for handling multiple lines, or other complex situations.  It's a full "state machine" that you can control to provide powerful processing of MUD output. [More detailed information]
FTP	zMUD includes a full FTP client.  Using the new #FTP command you can now download files to and from your MUD.  You can even download a file directly into the zMUD Editor, and then Save your changes and have the file automatically sent back to the MUD.  Great for world-building.
Floating Point Variables	zMUD now supports floating point variables for more mathematical applications. [More detailed information]
MCP	MUD Client Protocol support.  This protocol utilizes various packages to enhance MUD clients and servers.  Specifically, the simpleedit package is supported for MUSHes and MOOs that use it for world building.  This protcol allows a command on the MUD to send a text file directly to the zMUD editor where you can edit it and save the changes back to the MUD.  No other MUD client supports the wide range of MUD Protocols included in zMUD! [More detailed information]

New Features in zMUD 6.1x

Summary:

Improved user interface including dockable windows, MUD list searching, Visual gauge buttons, syntax checker and debugger, nested class folders, COM scripting and COM plugins, MXP (Mud eXtension Protocol) and MCCP (Mud Client Compression Protocol) support, International customization, many bug fixes.

New Features for new zMUD users:

Feature	Description
Searchable MUD List	The master MUD listing from the MUD Connector is now loaded instantly and can be searched quickly by keyword.  Makes it easier to browse the over 1300 MUD games on the Internet to find one you like.  [Read more about MUD List]
Redesigned Settings Editor	The Settings Editor (used to create and edit aliases, triggers, keyboard macros, etc) has been redesigned to work more like Windows Explorer.  Classes are now folders and can be nested and contain other settings.  Setting type (alias, trigger, etc) are like file types.  Multiple windows can be opened and settings can be dragged and dropped between windows to easily exchange settings with others.  [Read more about Settings Editor]
Syntax Checker	Color highlighting shows you at a glance zMUD command keyboards, variables, etc.  Syntax errors in your settings are indicated.  Popup help as you type helps you learn how to write scripts.
Dockable Windows	Windows can be dragged together to tile horizontally, vertically, or on top of each other using window tabs.  Once you have the windows set up the way you want, use Save Layout to save your arrangement and zMUD will always remember how you like your windows arranged. [Read more about Docking] [See full screenshot]
International Customization	All text output in zMUD, including dialog prompts, menus, buttons, etc can be easily translated to a different language.  Language files for German, Italian, and many other languages should be available soon.  You can also use this feature to completely personalize zMUD.
Status Icons	Global status icon shows you the state of the MUD even when zMUD is in the background.

New Additions to the zMUD Scripting language:

Feature	Description
Visual Gauges	Keep track of values such as Hit Points, Mana, etc using visual gauge buttons.  Appearance and size can be completely customized.  [Read more about Gauges]
Nested Classes	Class folders can be nested for better organize your settings.  [Read more about Class Folders]
Sub Menus	Menu items can now be used to form nested submenus. [Read more about Menus]
Enable/Disable Individual Settings	Each setting can be individually enabled or disabled instead of just controlling the class.
Named Triggers and Buttons	Triggers, Buttons, and Status settings can be individually named and referred to by name for enabling, disabling, or editing.
Command Input Triggers	Match commands sent to the MUD against patterns and alter the command before the MUD sees it. [Read more about Command Input Triggers]
#WAIT can be used in loops	The #WAIT command has been rewritten to work more as expected.  #WAIT can now be used within loops to better control timing of commands. [Read more about the #WAIT command]
Debugger	Debug your scripts by stepping through them a line at a time while monitoring variables in zMUD.  Set breakpoints on script lines, or on access to items such as variable value changes. [Read more about the Debugger]
COM Scripting	Access any Windows COM object from a zMUD script.  Control your email from within zMUD! [Read more about COM Scripting]
Arrays	In addition to normal "sparse" array support that has always been part of zMUD, true arrays are now available, mostly for use by COM objects
Global Settings	Global variables, aliases, buttons, and menu items provide even more customization of zMUD.  Using global menus and buttons you can alter the main zMUD menu and toolbar.

New Features for MUD game coders:

New Features for zMUD Plugin Developers:

Page last updated on February 17, 2004