Applescript PBEM support

[PashaDawg]

Nice. I don't know much about Applescript. But, you can build apple scripts into Automator.

I have not spent a lot of time working on this, but the one thing that is still laborious is putting the turn number at the end of each email's subject line. That turn number is important for keeping track of various turn emails (which go into a smart mailbox in Mail for each particular game).

Do you know of a way to insert a text "variable" into a line of text, etc.?

In any case, it still reduces that hosting time significantly. I don't have to create or address the emails, and the attachments are made automatically.

Maybe Ygorl has some ideas, too. I know he created some Applescript stuff.

Pasha

[Psientist]

Lucky you asked! The most recent version I posted has that capability built in (keeping track of turn numbers, posting them to the subject line!).

What I'm trying to research is a way to applescript Mail rules so that when a player sends a turn, the script automatically moves the attachment turnfile to a specified folder, and notifies a webpage that keeps track of who has sent, and received which turns in a game. I have found in past PBEM games (civilization, warlords) that player confusion over this is the source of most delays.

I know how to script the website part, but my initial forays into the mail rule applescript is going unexpectedly haltingly.

[Gandalf Parker]

On linux there are programs which "sort" incoming mail to "folders" for spam handling and such. You might look for applescript examples to do that. You should be able to modify one to handle a specific type of subject line and sort it out.

For the notify web-page part I went the lazy route by having the webpage display the actual files. Or in this case, possibly something that lists the emails that are in that incoming game folder that the first routine sent them off to.

[PashaDawg]

Yes. I am stuck sending "status" emails to the players in between turns as a reminder and as a safeguard in case any players think they sent their turn (or if I never received the turn). A website might be nice, or a script that would automatically figure out which players have played and send an email. I think a reminder email is helpful to players. It would be to me. Dreams, dreams, dreams.

[Gandalf Parker]

PashaDawg:
Is that a mac need? linux? windows?

[PashaDawg]

Hi Gandalf:

I have a Mac. I have an automator "workflow" that I posted earlier. It makes hosting PBEM a lot faster. It now takes less than 5 minutes to host the turn and get all the emails out. But it could be quicker if I did not need to manually add the turn number to each email subject line. I am not cranky, but why not do even better!

Maybe I will take a look at some of the websites about using Automator.

Pasha

[Gandalf Parker]

If the game switch tells it to output a scoreboard file then you can get the turn from that.

Or you can do a check of the .2h files with
dom3 --verify gamename
and the turn number will be in the tiny .chk file