I Moved

I have been struggling to come up with a help blog that would work better for Barre. After looking at my shopping list of requirements and talking with a friend about it. I came to the conclusion that I just need to get my own website. I turned to my friend and said "Hook me up!" Boom! 10 minutes later BarreHUD.com was online. It helps to have friends in the web biz. *LOL*

So here its the link to my new blog...    www.BarreHUD.com 

Huggies,
Rach

Barre Version 3.0 Almost Ready

New Features – Version 3.0

Skins! Barre now has the ability to theme the HUD. We have included some
additional themes with this version. See Skins section for details.

Club Invite! This is great for club hosts. Club Invite can be found when clicking
on the Invite Button. You will see in the display list the option to invite all. When
you click this it send out invites to any open dance spots left in your HUD to
anyone in range. It won’t re-invite someone that is currently on the HUD.

Cache Loader! The Cache Loader will cycle thru the animation in the HUD
until you stop it. This will load them to your cache helping to eliminate that
stall you see after you selected a dance. You can find the trigger for this
in the tools menu by clicking on the ‘TOOLS’ button then look for
‘Cache Loader’.

Timer Function! The Timer script was added to help deal with laggy
regions. It’s not a perfect fix but it does help. LSL scripts are horribly 
inaccurate when it comes to timing due to the heavy influence that dilation
and FPS have on it.

Here is a quote from the LSL Wiki that explains an issue with dilation on scripts…
“Time dilation is a method the server uses to cope with simulator lag.
Physics and script generated lag can result in time dilation. Time dilation
slows script time & execution. When time dilation is zero script
execution halts.”

What I have done is to add a timer that takes the influences of server lag,
recalculates the effect on the scripts, and then sends a termination signal. 
This in combination with the primary timer brings the timed dances better in
line with the requested play time. You still get some inaccuracies due the way
scripts are treated by the server but it is now closer to the requested play time
then we have ever seen.

In the Tools button menu you will find a macro called “M!Timer Toggle”. This will
turn on and off your timer script in the event you find you don’t need it. The script
is suspended when it is turned off so that it will have less of an impact on script 
cycles.

You will also find in the Tools button menu the macro “M!Timer Debug” . This
turns on and off a feed of information to chat that you the HUD owner can only
see. It gives you the name of the dance that was just completed, total time
executed, the dilation at completion, and the FPS at completion of the
dance. These are all important things to look at when calculating sequences 
and adjusting play times. This will also let you see the effects of a laggy SIM
on the HUD. Keep in mind this will only give you information during a timed
dance or a sequence where timing is a factor for each dance.


Host Solo! On far right side of the dance display list you will see that the texture
is highlighted in a different way. This is to indicate that clicking in this area will
solo the host with the dance indicated. All other dancers will not be affected by
the dance change. The host can rejoin the rest of the dancers by clicking in the
main body of the dance button just left of the Host Solo button. Host rejoining the
main dance is done by simply re-syncs the dancers.

SKINS
Barre now has the ability to change its look. A variety of skins have been included
with version 3.0. You can find more skins at the Rachael Rockers Shop.  To
change the skin/theme of the HUD click the ‘TOOL’ button. You will find in the
display list ‘M!SKIN ---‘ Clicking on the M!SKIN macro will change the theme
of the HUD. There are varying contrasts to pick from.

SKIN DEVELOPERS
I will be posting a link here for the Skin Template and Info after the release of
version 3.0.

The Note Card Macro
[SKIN]Front texture UUID key, Top hide texture UUID key, Sides and back
color vector,  Button highlighter texture UUID key, Speed scroll highlighter
bar texture UUID key, Text color vector, Text highlight color texture vector

This method reveals the UUID of the textures you use and is not a great
way to use if you wish to sell a skin. So I have developed a script that can
be used by skin vendors. See the downloads above for the script and the
note card Macro [DO] command. The Skin Vendor Development Pack
includes the resources to help you make commercial skins for the HUD
. But keep in mind Rachael Rockers and its staff makes no promises
that your creations (skins) will not be copy botted by some malicious
person.  Content theft is not something that is in our control. 

For vector color options see this website: http://lslwiki.net/lslwiki/wakka.php?wakka=color

The default skin macro looks like this…
[!NAME]SKIN - Default|[SKIN] f32c8958-e1a3-e451-445c-d869a9ad5a5e,
f62a82fb-8177-370b-6d0b-659806476be6, <1.0, 1.0, 1.0> ,
d54af482-8c5b-603b-c455-e781883be79e,
e3e6ae24-435f-a95f-6b5a-fbf950034430, <1.0, 1.0, 1.0>, <1.0, 0.0, 1.0>

Fixes
There are a few fixes in this version. 

Re- Sync when clicking the dance again

Active Check has been modified to function quicker to help prevent
errors is someone crashes or logs out while they are on the HUD. This
should boot them quicker, limit errors and help prevent lag.

Random and Sequence Modes have been modified to stop when in none
dance modes in a menu. This will stop the HUD from selecting thing when
the user goes into a menu that dances or sequences are not listed on.

Random and Sequence Verbose text has been changed to be more user
friendly.

Macro Say comments have been modified to stop double lines in chat.

Commas are not allowed in Emotes. Use /’ to put a comma in an Emote now.
[NAME]Commas work now|[SAY]|HI Guys/’ How are you all?

Fixed [REPEAT] it was sending text to chat when it repeats

IN THE WORKS – To be done
Login sizing and positioning
Configuration options set in Tools NC
Loader occasionally starts a new load when it is actively loading
Add new missing AV filter options – prevent bug error
Shorten timing on the invite to keep the

Choreography & Dance Theory in SL

Just a few notes on choreography & dance theory in SL. I will add more to it as things pop into my head. If you have anything to add please do so in the comments below.

Lead – The lead manages the micro choreography of the dance. This person initiates step changes that the followers continue. Typically a signaled change is done with hand pressure, but other signals are common.  In SL the HUD host is the lead. Ultimately it is the host’s responsibility to make your dance crew look awesome.

Choreography – A sequence of movements. In SL we blend many different styles of animations to create a look that meshes with the environment and as well as music. To many it has become a mathematical formula using a stopwatch to manage these abilities. In doing so much of the emotional aspects were removed from the dance.

Typically all SL dance HUDs allow choreography in a linear fashion. When Poetry of Dance came along these preconceived method were broken by the ability to use 3 dimensional movements without the need of animations to place the avatars position. (Poetry of Dance currently is by invitation only) 

Imperfection is Perfection – Art is beautiful to the beholder.  Sometimes parallels are appealing. But we find ourselves looking at the unusual with awe. When you remove the parallels, the linear you step beyond the common and into the unusual.  Dare to be imperfect… Dare to be different!

Pre-Stance – These are used to pose the lead and follower before the dance starts. Any professional dancer knows this is a very important stage in the dance. These movements or poses set the emotional stage for the dance that will follow.  A respectful pause is used to help build the audiences anticipation.

Post-Stance – Immediately after the dance concludes the lead and followers will pose in a completion stance. This is the final signal to the crowd of the conclusion. This must be choreographed carefully since it can leave the audience feeling as if they have missed out on the end of the dance.  Generally a reach or fall is used at this point with pause.  It is important for the lead to judge the response of the audience to know when to enter a respect and bow sequence.

Sense of Reality – The human mind does not check out when you log in to SL. Although some would argue that it does. The same thoughts and desires still apply. We have only moved them to a different environment. In that we need to think of what is expected for the dance to be enjoyable or needed for it to be possible for the mind to interpret.  2 rocks dancing the samba in a bowl of chili is a bit of a stretch for anyone’s mind.  (Now watch that be the next greatest hit on SL Broadway. *Rolls Eyes)

Sequence - This is a series of event or list. When referring to sequences in the dance realm of SL it is a list of dances with timing that is played sequentially. So dance A is played for a time specified then dance B... and so on. This is the main standard of SL.

Sequence Sets - A group of sequences played in sequential order. This is typically macro sequences. When played, these sequences continue on by playing the next macro event line or jump to a pre-specified macro sequence. The reasons behind using marco sequence set are many but primarily it gives you extended abilities far beyond that of standard sequences.

Offset - This is a choreography effect to create a dimension in your dance set. Lining up dancers in a linear method is a burlesque style. In modern dance offsets or staggers are used for a dimensional effect. As simple as this concept is it is not used in many stage shows in SL. In clubs a 180 offset give some wonderful effects to partner dancing or even groups if done right. 180 also gives a friendly non imposing style. Nothing is worse then trying to walk around a line dance group that is taking up all the dance floor in a laggy club.

Here is a nice discussion on modern dance that you may find useful. It outlines some points I leaned as a child being force to attent dance class. *Rolls Eyes*
Simple Guide To Choreography


A great source of information on SL dances and choreography can be found by following the link...
Dance Queens Blog

ToolBox

The ToolBox gives you the ability to easily add or remove dance slots, storage slots, and the flight helper. So when you find that you want to host more then 8 dancers on your HUD you are able to take out the ToolBox and load in additional dance slots. If you find you need to load more note cards then adding additional storage slots is helpful. But try to keep things on the low end to help reduce lag. The more you put in the HUD the more the servers have to work. If you are over 45 scripts in the Barre HUD then you are exceeding "fair usage limits". Fair usage limits are not a requirement but more of a courtesy to other SL users. One of the main concepts of Rachael Rockers is to provide a better product that uses less server resources.

Whenever loading in dances or using the ToolBox it is best to do it in a region that is not laggy.

To load in more dance slots or storage slots, rez the ToolBox on the ground. Then rez your HUD next to it. It must be within 4 meters.

Touch the ToolBox. You will then get a pop-up menu.

You can select adding Dance Slots, Storage Slots or Flight Helper.

If you selected Dance or Storage Slots you will get a menu that asks you how many you want in the HUD. A general rule of thumb here is 10 Dance Slots and 4 Storage Slots. But if you are host or entertainer you may 

need more. After you have selected the amount you want, the  HUD will be loaded with the scripts you requested. This takes some time. You should plan for about 5 minutes. Less time if you are not loading very many scripts into the HUD. 

You will see the text above the ToolBox turn red and count up the scripts being loaded. Your HUD will reboot. Answer no to any popups from the HUD at that time. Then the text above the ToolBox will  turn white. At that point it will tell you that you may take your HUD into inventory.

It's important to keep the amount of script you wear, run as low as possible. Something that most scriptwriters don't realize is that if a script is turned off but still in an item that is worn it is still using time slices and memory from the server. Sure the overall thumbprint is reduced, but not by much. Simply put, having 20 dance slots and 20 storage slots in a HUD that has never used more then 5 at a time seems foolish.  Even with setting the the state off it is still resource abusive.

HOLY MACROS!!!

Expect corrections and updates! *blows the eraser dust off the page*

MACROs were added to give the user more of a customizable experience.  These abilities extend farther than just shout or play an animation. The powerful MACRO engine can drive the core features of the HUD. It is designed to allow other scripters the ability to mesh their scripts into the HUD and use the core features. 

Macros are identified on the display by ‘M@’ or 'M!' as leading characters in the name.  This helps you to find one quickly, plus the command interpreter process it differently. This provides an additional boost to performance.
The 'M!' will not execute when you are running in 'Random' or 'Sequence' modes. It will continue the previously executed event until the timer fires the next event.

Running a Macro will not stop an existing active animation UNLESS you are firing a new animation, issuing a [STOP] command or issuing a [NOANI] command. This means if you EMOTE via a Macro you won't halt your dancing.

Macros are case and spacing sensitive. Proper syntax is important! You will get some strange results if Macro stream is not written correctly.

You write a Macro on a note card and load it into the HUD the same way you load a dance in. You must then click the 'Floppy' button and follow the loading possess to load it in to the storage slot. See Demos included with the HUD and How to Load for more information.

[NAME] or [!NAME] -  [NAME]given name|

Used to declare a macro.The text following will be use to identify the the macro in the HUDs display list. The command must then be terminated using '|'.

If '!' is used it will protect the macro from random mode executions. Any macro with the 'M!' prefix with not auto fire in a sequence or random mode event. The Macro Compiler will continue the previously executed event until the random timer fires the next event.

 [NAME]Give T-shirt|  or  [!NAME]Give T-shirt| 

 

[HUD SMALL] – Shrinks HUD to small size.  This does not hide the HUD.

[HUD BIG] – Expands HUD to full size. This does not show the HUD from a hidden position.

[HUD STATS] – Displays memory usage, current selected database,…

[HUD SHARE]ON/OFF – (Poetry of Dance Only) Turns off remote HUD sharing. Does not allow remote HUDs to piggy back on your HUD and uses your dance slots and animations. Remote control functions are turned off too.

[LISTANI] –Sends a list to chat of all of the animations in the HUD with a total count at the end of the list.
[LISTSD] –Sends a list to chat of all of the sound files in the HUD with a total count at the end of the list.
[LISTTEX] –Sends a list to chat of all of the textures/pictures in the HUD with a total count at the end of the list.
[LISTLM] –Sends a list to chat of all of the landmarks in the HUD with a total count at the end of the list.
[LISTNC] –Sends a list to chat of all of the note cards in the HUD with a total count at the end of the list.
[LISTOBJ] –Sends a list to chat of all of the objects in the HUD with a total count at the end of the list.

[NEXT]

(BARRE V2.1, Poetry of Dance)- Moves to next line in display list. This is typically used in conjunction with the [JUMP] or [LOOP:xx] commands in dance sequences or multi line macros.

The following lines create a jump to point in a sequence. This is useful for creating loops in a sequence.

[NAME]Top|[NEXT]

[NAME]Go To Top|[JUMP]Top

 [JUMP] – [JUMP] Reference line |

 Jumps to any command or dance in the current database. This will find the first instance of the ‘Reference line’ indicated after the jump command and run it. Execution will continue on from the jump to point in the list. All other sequence of events is bypassed.

The following line will jump to a line or dance called ‘Top’

[NAME]Go To Top|[JUMP]Top

[LOOP:xxx] – [LOOP:number of loops] Jump to line|  

(BARRE V2.1, Poetry of Dance)-  When executed will jump to the line indicated until it has looped the specified number of times. Can have commands following it and will execute those command when the final loop cycle is completed. LOOP can execute over 200,000,000 loops in a sequence. The command is reset at the first execution of a new LOOP command. Only 1 loop cycle can be active at one time.

The Following will loop 3 times to ‘Top’. When finished it will say “Done Looping” then execute the [NEXT] command.

[NAME]Top|[NEXT]

SomeDance|7

[NAME]Loop to Top|[LOOP:3]Top|[SAY]Done Looping|[NEXT]

[REPEAT]- Creates an endless loop.  Pause will force it out of repeat mode. If un-pausing and the macro with the repeat is still selected the REPEAT function with start over again until a different macro or animation is selected.

[MYNAME]- lets you rename the HUD so it displays a different name when saying something in chat. This is useful for joking around or event hosting.

[ENDNAME] – Returns the name of the HUD to its default name.

[PLAY]- Plays the sound file listed, if the sound file is not in inventory it will error. This function will play sounds if UUID is given instead of the name of the file. This is useful if you don’t want to load the sound file into the inventory of the HUD.

[VOLUME] – [VOLUME]Number

Sets the sound play volume 1.0 is loudest, 0.1 is softest.

[NAME]Volume .5[VOLUME]0.5

 

[AVSELECT] – [AVSELECT]

This function fires the radar function allowing you to select an avatar name from a dynamically generated display list. The HUD will now only focus ‘Gives, URLs, and Invites at this specific avatar until another AVSELECT  has be ran.

The range of the radar is set to 96 meters. This is the maximum range allowed my Second Life. The radar returns a list first 16 avatars it sees. This is generally the closest avatars it sees. Sometimes newly TPed in avatars are not seen on laggy SIMs.  If the avatar you wish to select does not show up on the list it helps to move closer to the avatar you are trying to select. 16 is a high limit that is set by Linden Labs. Currently it is not possible to exceed this limit in a sensor sweep.

[ME] - Sets HUD focus on the HUD owner and gives the HUD the owners name. This function can play havoc with [AVSELECT]. To avoid this issue use the [ME] before the [AVSELECT] function.

[GIVE] – [GIVE]Category Number OR [GIVE]Item Name

Gives an object, clothing, notecard, texture/picture, … to the avatar that the HUD was told to focus on. .  [AVSELECT] must be used before [GIVE] so that the HUD has focus on an avatar to give something to.

 Category 0=Picture, 3=Landmark, 5=Clothing, 6=Object, 7=Notecard, 21=Gesture

This function has 2 modes. The first is a selection mode. When you put a category number after the [GIVE] statement it will display a list of items in the HUD inventory that are of that category. You can then select the item and it will be sent to the avatar that has HUD focus.

The second mode is used when you have the name of the item you are giving entered after the [GIVE] statement. The HUD will not ask you anything but simply give out the item to the avatar that has the HUDs focus.

The following macro displays the name “Give T-shirt”. It asks for the avatar that you want to focus the GIVE at. It will then display a list of clothing items in the inventory of the HUD. As soon as you select the item from the list it will be sent to the avatar.

[NAME]Give T-shirt|[AVSELECT][GIVE]5

The following macro displays the name “Give T-shirt”. It asks for the avatar that you want to focus the GIVE at. The [GIVE] function will the look for the item named “RachaelRockersT” and sent it to the avatar.

[NAME]Give T-shirt|[AVSELECT][GIVE]RachaelRockersT

 [URL] – [URL] Message|SomeURL.com

Sends a URL popup to the person the HUD is focused on.  [AVSELECT] must be used before [URL] so that the HUD has focus on an avatar to send the URL to. [AVSELECT] is optional if there is an avatar currently focused on by the HUD.

(To prevent spamming and greifing this function will force the HUD sleep for 10 seconds. Privacy concerns: Using this function can reveal the IP Address of the person opening the URL. Although this is a normal logging function of any website it can be used in combination to reveal ‘alts’ and potentially the identities of the persons opening the URL. Please understand this is not the intended purpose of this function. )

The following macro displays the name “Send Website”. It asks for the avatar that you want to focus the URL at. After the name is selected it sends a popup giving the avatar the choice of opening the website or not.

[NAME]Send Website|[AVSELECT][URL]Rachael Rockers|http://rachealrockers.blogspot.com/

[LOADDB] – [LOADDB]Database Number|Note card Name

Forces HUD to load a database with a specified note card. Use this to load in note cards to databases without having to go through the process of selecting the database and then picking a note card.

The following macro will display the name “Load Happy Dances” and will load “Database 02” with the Note card named “HappyDances” after if it finished loading it will display “Database 02”.

[NAME]Load Happy Dances|[LOADDB]02|HappyDances

[DO] – [DO]RADIO-radiostation.com:8020

The purpose of the DO command is to trigger other 3^rd party scripts. These scripts must be designed to interpret the command sent to it.

[DO]RADIO-radiostation.com:8020 this will send to the scripts in the HUD using this command.

llMessageLinked(LINK_SET, 5000, " RADIO-radiostation.com:8020","");

The scripter’s that understand this command will be able to use the information that is send to their script. They will be able to create a script that will DO other functions that are not provided by this HUD.

Note: I won’t answer any questions about this feature. I expect 3^rd party creators to have the knowledge to interpret the information I have provided. If you DON’T understand this feature then I suggest that you do not write scripts for it.

I do not support 3^rd party scripts and will not trouble shoot or assist with a HUD repair that have them in it.

3^rd Party script creators must agree and understand that their scripts will be auto deleted in the event that ‘GOD Mode’ is activated on the HUD.

[STOP]/ [END ALL] Stops everything! This will force any avatars on the HUD to clear their animation lists and put them in a stand animation. This is can be used to clear avatars of pesky animations that won’t go away.  

[NOANI] – stops all animations of all slots. DOES NOT stop the macro. Use this to stop a dance but continue to run the Macro.

[PAUSE:time] will pause the HUD and not fire an event until it has cycled. This cannot be stopped.

Voice Functions

[WHISPER:##] OR [WHISPER]

If you change the voice channel it will not default back to channel 0. You must add in a macro statement like [SAY]| . That will reset the channel to 0.

[SAY:##]  OR  [SAY]

[SHOUT:##]  OR  [SHOUT]

[REGION:##] OR [REGION]##

[SAY]| does the same as [END SAY]  That has been removed from the compiler.
\name inserts the  name of the current AV that has focus from the HUD. To set focus on a AV see the [AVSELECT] or [ME] function. Can be used like this...
[SAY]HI \name.|

Animation Control Functions

The following functions only work with the 'Poetry of Dance' HUD

[INVITE]# Invites to a specific slot

[CLEAR]slot…   Resets that slot to null, dumps Dancers and resets group to null …[AVSELECT][INVITE]slot

[GROUP]X|ANIMATE or PS …. (tells channel x to play that animation)

[SET GROUP]##,SLOT...  (puts slot on channel x) this sets it to that group

Yay! My New Help Site/Blog

Hi everybody!!!This is the start of my help blog for Racheal Rockers HUDs.

First off... YES!!! Racheal is spelled WRONG! You are wondering why. (insert dramatic pause) Nothing dramatic about it. Rachael was used in Second Life so I used Racheal for my avatar name.

What to expect...  Spelling ... Grammar are out the door! I won't spend large amounts of time documenting  my SL creations. I write code for enjoyment. Documentation, I don't enjoy. So I will provide what I can, when I can. If there is someone out there that wants to pickup the pieces by documenting my works. I would be happy to let you.

Why do I do this... Its not for the money! My online enjoyment is virtual worlds. Second Life is my main place to be, but I do go to "Open Simulator" worlds. I really enjoy seeing the growth of the open source virtual worlds.

What do I do in RL? One guess and yes, it has something to do with computers. *ROFL*

How long did it take to create my works? I really don't know... I never stop updating. My current base HUD has been under development for about a year to this point. I have a hard time calling any HUD a create a full production HUD because I am always looking for things that I can improve. It's just never good enough for me. There I go again, obsessing.

Can you create a HUD just for my animation store? Contact me in world. I can create branded versions.

Can you make me a special version for my significant other? Contact me in world with your request.

Are you married? *Blushes* OMG Yes! *Happy Face*


There is a list of people I want to thank for testing, giving me feedback or just being there for me.
Diawa - OMG! Girl you kicked my ass everyday making me reach farther. Thank you! Love you!
Thunda - You figured out how to use the HUD! Proof anyone can! *Giggles* Huggiez!
Crystal - Thank you for telling me my blue wasn't blue enough , a place to hide and script at.
Guerilla Burlesque - HOOOO! You guys rock! You get a lifetime supply of huggz!
CherryBlond - A few words can change a persons outlook. *Smiles* You may never know how much you inspired me that day. Thank you!
Savage - For giving me a shoulder to cry on.
Elva - For interupting me everytime I was obsessing.
Juju - *Happy Face*
Exodus Rock Club - For the music that brought me back to sanity.



- more to come! -