- Getting Started
- Using the Map
- Searching
- Adding a Place
- Getting User Info
- Miscellany
- Teleporter help can be found along with the teleporter itself.
sing AWAtlas has a few prerequisites. The first, and most obvious, is that you must have access to the World Wide Web. The browser you use is up to you, but it must support imagemaps, forms, tables and redirects. Support for HTML 3.0 and Mozilla tags also comes in handy. The atlas was written for NetScape 1.1N and up, but should also work with Mosaic and derivatives just as well. There are also a few goodies for those using browsers with JavaScript support.
If you plan on adding locations to the atlas, you will want to register. This allows us to stop Web jokers from adding 10,000 places to the map that have no meaning whatsoever. It also allows us to have your E-mail address to notify you of events such as new neighbors moving in (if you so wish).
You can register by selecting the link at the main menu that leads to the registration form. You are required to fill out your E-mail address, AlphaWorld name, and desired atlas password, as well as your preferences on notification and privacy; the real name and homepage fields are optional. Filling out most of the items should be fairly straightforward. The two checkboxes after your E-mail address are used to indicate whether you want E-mail sent to you when a new or updated structure is added nearby a structure that you have listed, and whether you want to allow others to view your E-mail address. After filling in the information, click on the "Register" button, and the results will be shown. Barring complications, you will now be a registered AWAtlas user.
On Privacy
There has been a lot of debate recently in the AlphaWorld on the issue of balancing privacy and accountability. I have tried to take those issues into consideration, making it possible for users to keep their E-mail address private from other users.In the future, I can forsee a need for one citizen to contact another whose E-mail address is unlisted here. That scenario will be very rare, but when it does occur, I will be happy to forward messages between the two parties. On the other hand, please be forewarned that those who attempt to send frivolous mail through this means will be dealt with appropriately (appropriately meaning any way I can :). I am reasonable, but I am also intelligent. Don't take me for a fool and try to send love letters to
via me. Thank you!
Need to contact an unlisted user? The AWAtlas Administrator can help.
he map is the central focus of the atlas. It allows you to look at a graphical overview of an area. In addition, it contains links to the location search and addition forms. It has been designed to be as easy-to-use as possible, but there are a few secrets that can help you take maximum advantage of its features.
Before you enter the map screen, make sure you have your Web browser set to load images; otherwise, the map will not work correctly. Upon opening up the map, you will see the map itself, surrounded by various controls. The dots on the map denote locations added by atlas users. Each color stands for a specific type of structure, as shown on the legend to the right of the map. Below the map are controls for changing the size and magnification of the image, followed by a button to redraw the map with any changes you have made. Above the map are two input fields and two drop-down list boxes. Using them to enter a location will center the map on that location the next time the "Redraw" button is clicked. Please note that upon adding or updating a location, you must reload the map screen to see the changes, due to some browsers' caching.
One thing that many people fail to notice is that the map is clickable. By selecting any of the dots with the mouse, the relevant information will be shown on that location. If there is nothing listed at the location clicked on, it may be because you did not click close enough to the center of the dot; try increasing your magnification if you have repeated trouble. Others have reported that one must sometimes click on the corners of the dots to get information on it. This feature is not guaranteed to work 100% of the time, even though it has been tested and refined. Try using the search feature if you have trouble with clicking on the map.In most cases, however, you will be shown a table that lists all known information about a structure. By choosing the location link, you will be teleported to that place in AlphaWorld (assuming you have Web-page teleport set up correctly). Selecting the owner's name will provide information on that citizen including an E-mail address and home page URL (if applicable). If a picture is available, it will be shown. A link provided by the author "For more information" on the structure will also be shown if available.
rom the map screen, select the "Search" icon to fill out the search form. The various criteria that can be specified will be shown; check the checkbox next to the ones that you want to be considered in the search, and then fill out the input fields with the desired criteria. All input is case-insensitive.
Selecting the "Find it!" button will display the results of the search. These will be organized in the same manner as the location information on the map screen.
- The "Placename" search option allows you to specify a place name to match, and whether entries should be matched that contain the specified word(s), start with the word(s), or exactly match the word(s).
- The "Owner" search option allows you to find locations owned by a specific AWAtlas user.
- The "Location" search option allows you to find all listed structures that are within a certain distance of a specified location.
- The "Structure Type" search option allows you to restrict the search results to only those places which are of a certain structure type, e.g. Home, Business, etc.
dding your own creation to the atlas can be accomplished by selecting the "Add" icon from the map screen, and filling out the displayed form with the relevant information.
There are two sections on the form: required and optional information. Required information includes your AlphaWorld name, your AWAtlas password, and the location and name of the structure, along with the structure type. Optional information includes a description of the structure, the URL of a picture of the structure, and a URL for information on the structure. HTML tags are currently allowed in the description, but any abuses will result in a change in this policy.
Once you have filled out the appropriate information, select the "Add it!" button to add the structure to the atlas. Barring any errors, confirmation will be displayed, and your place will be in the atlas! E-mail will be sent to residents nearby who have requested notification.
If you have a location already listed in the atlas, and you would like to update its information, simply fill out the form again, using the same map location X & Y (altitude can change), and it will be updated.
Once you have filled out the form, select the "Search" button, and the results will be displayed. The information given on each user includes their AlphaWorld name, and the number of structures they have listed in the Atlas. Their E-mail address will be displayed, unless they have requested that it be kept private. Also shown will be their real name and their homepage URL, if provided by that user.
- Its too slow! Right now the atlas is running on one very overloaded Sparcstation IPC. Don't expect Cray speed here.
Technical Notes
The collection of programs that drive the atlas was written entirely in Perl, with the help of CGI.pm, the gd graphics library, GD.pm, and MsqlPerl. The database server used is miniSQL, a lightweight client server SQL database. All HTML and Perl coding, design and documentation by me (sopwith@cuc.edu). Many thanks go to the beta testers who made sure that everything worked right, and Worlds, Inc. for creating the AlphaWorld software that sparked all this. Also a tribute goes to Geek, who created and designed the original AlphaWorld Atlas, and Dataman, who seems to spend too much time assisting the community.Beta testers (in no particular order):
That Copyright
The copyright is there to protect me from those who would steal my design, rip off my graphics, and copy my code. The atlas will remain open to all who use it as intended; I'm not planning to sue all its users for patent infringement or anything.That said, I reserve the right to do anything at all with anything involving the atlas, and by allowing access to it, I do not necessarily give any rights at all to its users.
Please be aware that any usage of the term "AlphaWorld" in this software and/or Web site implies its status as a trademark of Worlds, Inc..
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If your web site, or a web site you know of needs webmastering, design, or programming, please contact me.
