Union Micro

I’ve decided to start making some videos of my products and different demonstrations. The first video is available in the post below this one – this video took me TWO DAYS to make and it’s only a minute long! It would have taken me a matter of an hour but it was my first video ever using QuickTime formats so I had no clue what I was doing.

Also, Second Life seems to choke up when you try to play movies that are bigger than 320×240, so trying to shrink the video down to such a small size while still being able to read the hover-text was almost impossible!

Anyway, now I know how to do it so be on the lookout for more videos and a little theatre-type thing to go up at Union Micro so you can view them from Second Life.

The much awaited easy update feature is finally here! Now whenever I release an update you can just rez an update disk and it will go through and update ALL of your doors, cars and controllers on the specified channel (provided they are at least the versions released today or higher). Watch video!

There are many changes in all of the objects (especially the doors) so I highly recommend REPLACING your objects instead of transferring scripts. After this update you shouldn’t have to manually upgrade your objects ever again – or seldomly since the current update procedure will only update the main scripts of your objects. Why you ask? Because it’s a very difficult process to allow all scripts to be updated inside of other prims of an object and they are seldomly changed.

Elevator car updated to 1.4.0:

• Added the easy update features.
• Added a reset broadcast.
• When the elevator car is reset it will now tell other parts of the system that it has been reset.
• Cleaned up code in the “_elevator” script.
• Removed some unused code and some dormant debugging code.
• Cleaned up code in the “_currentfloor” script and renamed it to “_current_floor.”

Elevator stations updated to 1.3.0:

• Added the easy update features.
• Stuck call buttons will now reset when the elevator car is reset.
• Modified the LED scripts so that they work independently of their link numbers.
• Allows for easier modifications.
• Allows for a single/common “_main” script between all sets of doors.

Controller updated to 1.3.0:

• Added the easy update features.
• Added an API to allow for basic plug-ins.
• Sends link messages of service requests from doors.
• Sends link messages of floors that the elevator car passes.
• Sends link messages of floors that the elevator car stops at.
• Sends link messages when the elevator car is reset.
• Example script included.

Other fixes and updates:

• The communication protocol was also changed a little bit to extend the API so all previous versions of the elevator parts are NOT compatible with these ones.
• Some scripts have been slightly renamed so that they follow similar naming conventions.
• All “_updater_*” scripts have been updated to change over to a new update server. The old server will be completely removed soon.

Elevator car updated to 1.3.2:

• Fixed a critical bug that would cause an elevator car to plummet to the ground when a deactivated floor button was touched.
• The code that prevented people from touching a deactivated button was commented out for some reason. *oops*

I’m going to start work on an easy updating system like I use in my Sales Reporting server. You just rez a disk and it updates your objects. I’m planning on releasing this in the next feature update which should be 1.4.0. Until then I will keep fixing bugs. I have no ETA on this at the moment but I realize how much of a pain it is to replace your elevator every time there is an update, and I apoligize for this. In most cases you can just replace the scripts but in this release you need to replace a script in all of the floor buttons and the main “_elevator” script.

I sent out a new update last night and I will post the release notes here once Second Life comes back up and I can read the notecard. Major features added were the back door explained in a post below as well as an automatic updater (which I’m not 100% sure is working correctly). I tested the auto-updater before I sent out the update using my delivery server (old faithful) and it worked fine for me, but I received a report today that someone kept receiving updates without requesting them. This may be due to the problems with Second Life today, but I’ll test it later when I can login and I’ll also update this post with release notes.

Updated July 19th, 2006:
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Elevator car updated to 1.3.1:

• Fixed a bug introduced with the updater code. There was a stray link message that was triggering the update process (with 0 as the version number instead of the actual version – thus the reason you got a new package) when you installed your elevator.

Updated July 18th, 2006:
—————————-
Elevator car updated to 1.3.0:

• Added a back door to allow me to get the owner menu from other cars. This will be a big help with technical support and installing elevators.
• Added the abilitly to update your elevator car yourself. Simply use the Update button located in the owner dialog.
• I will no longer send out automatic updates unless I need to for some reason.
• This means less update spam! Although I know I enjoy getting lots of product updates from other people.
• Check www.unionmicro.net for news about updates, or join the Union Micro Support group.
• It has no members, it’s getting lonely!
• Streamlined the code a little bit.
• Slightly more efficient.
• Removed un-needed bits of code.
• You may or may not notice a difference.

Elevator stations updated to 1.2.0:

• Doors now check for updates when they are rezzed.

Controller updated to 1.2.0:

• Controller now checks for updates when it is rezzed.

Other fixed and updates:

• Revised the instructions notecard some more. It now contains a bit more information.
• Changed the Interior Elevator Kit box contents. It now contains boxes of the other components instead of the components themselves.
• This simply makes it easier for me to send out updates.

There’s been a problem with the Code Snippits section ever since I switched to DreamHost and I’ve been forgetting to fix it. Well today they’ve been fixed since Second Life is down. Hopefully it didn’t cause anyone any inconvenience.

Since 1.5 was giving me problems with inserting tags wherever it wanted to, I decided to upgrade to 2.0. The posts looked normal but they weren’t validating – I’m a perfectionist so it has to validate! Same reason why I can’t stop sending out updates and upgrades to most of my products! This elevator just keeps gettng better and better. I should probably stop updating so much because I’m sure it’s pretty annoying to have to replace your elevator every other day.

Anyway, here’s a short list of upcoming changes and additions to the elevator system:

• Going to add a back door into most/all of the elevator parts. This is not meant to spy, but for me to be able to help people install their elevators much more easily. It will allow me to get the owner menu from the elevator car and to touch the controller to invoke its notecard reader. I get so many requests in the run of a day for issues with the elevator that this needs to be done to streamline technical support.
• Going to add a check in the notecard reader that prevents people from specifying incorrect channels (such as a string instead of an integer thus resulting in an integer of 0 [public chat channel] when the string is changed over to an integer – HUH? lol).

I also plan on starting an elevator installation service after I script-in the back door. It will probably cost about L$100 per floor, but I haven’t decided on a price yet. The purpose is to extend the elevator system into the reach of those residents who aren’t mechanically inclined with the workings of Second Life. I will, however, continue to provide free technical support so long as you don’t expect to teleport me and have me install and configure things – there are step-by-step instructions in the notecard after all.

I’m almost getting to the point where I’m considering version 2.0 of the elevator system. Why? Because I’ve added so many things into the code that it’s becoming un-manageable and bloated. I think that a rewrite may be quite far away since the elevator seems to be working pretty smoothly as it is and it might be a waste of my resources.

Oh and by the way, I released a new elevator car called “Aurora.” It’s a sexy elevator car that is intended to shoot its way up the side of your buildings. Head over to Union Micro in Pigra to have a look-see!

Don’t forget! There is also a commercial version of the Interior Elevator kit available for purchase as well! Stop by the store and click the display on the wall to get more information.

I’ve released another update to the elevator system. I will probably be releasing ANOTHER one in the next couple of days that will included a bugfix or two and possibly a couple of new features. I’ve also included a 20 floor version of all elevator cars when you purchase a 10 floor version.

Updated July 16th, 2006:

Elevator car updated to 1.2.0:

• Added DoorTime option.
  • Allows you to specify how long you want your doors to stay open for.
• Reduced interference from other objects.
  • Will only respond to commands from other objects owned by the same owner.

Elevator stations updated to 1.1.0:

• Added DoorTime option.
• Reduced interference from other objects.

Controller updated to 1.1.0:

• Reduced interference from other objects.

All objects now automatically set their object description to their current version.

I’ve changed the prize in the Lucky Chair from the QuickChat to the Animation Director.

I’ve also changed the textures at the Union Micro store. The exterior textures have been changed, the interior textures have been changed and I’ve added shadows and lighting.

I released the update a couple of days ago and forgot to post the news item on this site. I still haven’t released the full-permission version because I’m trying to figure out how I should go about it to minimize the chances of me being ripped off.

I was thinking about making some sort of authentication server, but that would mean I couldn’t sell the elevator in vendors because each person who bought it would need to be coded into their copy of the elevator. I plan on writing a licence agreement but I don’t know how much that’ll cover me. Anyway… I started a thread to discuss the new update here.

Here’s the final release notes for 1.1.0:

• Added Access Control Lists.
  • Restrict access to certain floors.
• Added the option to choose installation methods (relative/absolute).
• Added the option to adjust elevator speed.
• Modified the way floor buttons are illuminated.
  • They now stay illuminated until you arrive at the selected floor.
  • Illumination colour is now customizable by entering RGB values .
• Fixed a bug that would appear when selecting the current floor from inside of the elevator car.

Yes, that’s right… finally an update to the elevator! Things I plan to include in the next update are:

• Access lists
  • Now you can have Allowed and Denied avatars per floor
• Customizable speed*
• Relative floor configuration option
  • Allows you to set all floors as distances from the elevators starting position
  • Ideal for use in the new package listed at the bottom of this post
• Lower prim doors**
  • Uses dialogs instead of prim buttons
  • Removed LED floor number display

*Planned but not yet tested (may not make final release)
**Not included in update. To be sold separately.

I also plan on releasing a new package for the current Interior Elevator aimed at content creators (replacing the current no-copy/transfer version). This will be a full-permission package allowing builders to include it in their builds. This does not allow the elevator to be re-sold independently. I still have to write up a license agreement detailing the purchaser’s rights. This package will likely retail in the vicinity of L$10,000.