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Editing Logs Quickly

Do the following:

• Get the log off the cambot
• Verify the file downloaded correctly onto your machine
• Make a copy of the file you've saved on your machine for a backup
• Clear the cambot
• Open the file you'll be working on, on your machine
• Remove the log header and footer
• Remove all emoticons
• Run the spell checker and grammar checker.

That's it! Now let's walk through that step by step.

• Get the log off the cambot

  You'll want to set your MU* client so that it will log for you, and check to be sure you're saving the file into the proper directory on your own personal computer at home. Make sure you have an appropriate set of directories on it as well. As an example, I have on my personal machine a directory called "Gaming" with a subdirectory for each game that I'm editing for, i.e. "Starfall" or "Indigo."

  Each game subdirectory on my personal machine has two sub-subdirectories as well: "Archives," for the complete raw log I've downloaded from the server, and "Working," for the copy of the log which I'm editing. I do this so that I have an unedited copy of the complete, unchanged raw log in case I somehow screw up the edited version I'm working on. I was taught to NEVER work on the originals, for precisely that reason -- but to instead always make a copy of the original, and work on that. You'll want to set your machine up in the way that works best for you personally, of course.

  In order to save the log off the cambot, you need to be in the same room as the cambot itself, and you'll probably want to ask anyone that's present to be silent for just a moment, so that random bits of conversation aren't accidentally recorded along with the log. Once you are in the same room as the cambot is in, and your client is logging properly to the desired directory on your personal machine, simply start a fresh, clean log (so nothing's in the saved file except the cambot's logged contents), then type viewlog and wait until the entire log has downloaded. At that point, turn off logging, so no excess bits are accidentally added to the end of what you've just downloaded from the cambot.

• Verify the file downloaded correctly onto your machine

  This is mostly to cover yourself, so there are no mistakes with erased logs. Remember, once a log is cleared off the cambot, it's gone. Having scared myself more than once in regards to accidentally erasing logs, I recommend taking a moment to verify you have a good, complete version of the desired log, from beginning to end, saved onto your personal machine.

• Make a copy of the file you've saved on your machine for a backup

  The reasoning behind this one is pretty much explained above. Again, this is what I do to be sure I don't screw up a log. You'll want to develop your own routine, of course, so you're doing what works best for you.

• Clear the cambot

  Once you're sure you have a complete version of the log you wish to edit, just type clearlog on Reality Fault to erase the log stored on the cambot. This will give you a nice clean cambot again, ready for the next game.

• Open the file you'll be working on, on your machine

  The first step to the actual editing. We'll assume you can do this one on your own. ;-)

• Remove the log header and footer

  This step is actually a matter of personal preference. Some GMs like to have only IC information go up in their logs, so that reading the logs is rather like reading a novel. However, other GMs like leaving the OOC header and/or footer information on the log, to be put up on the logs page as well.

  Most important is that you do what you are comfortable with in regards to your choice of whether or not to remove them. The only thing we ask is that you maintain consistency.

• Remove all emoticons

  Emoticons such as ;-) or =^.^= or O.o are extremely disruptive to the smooth IC flow of a game, and a pain for an editor to search for, since they often have slight differences that make them easy to miss. We recommend you ask your players to avoid using them, and that you edit them out when they slip into a log, as sometimes occurs.

• Run the spelling and grammar checker

  You'll want to use whatever works best for you, of course. As a single example, I open my logs in Word to run the spell checker, but save in .txt. This is because of the odd characters in .doc files that don't show up in .txt files -- things like ellipses (...) or quotation marks (") need to be in their text forms. Also, for words like attaché you'll want to use the proper HTML for the accented e on the end; i.e. attaché.

  One thing you need to settle for yourself right away is what tense the game is being told in. Most people write in the present tense (I jump to the roof!), but feel non-consciously that a story goes in the past tense (I jumped to the roof!). You can edit your game's logs either way -- it's entirely up to you. The one thing you'll want to be sure of is that the tense remains constant throughout. Tip to the editor with not much free time, however -- leave it in present tense. ;-)

  If you'd like more information on HTML, here's a nice, clear page with various special characters you can use in HTML, and here is a page just on special characters.

That's it! You now have an edited log. Now you can just follow the directions on your realm's log page in order to put up your new, edited log, then email notification to all your fellow players on the game's emailing list. Enjoy!

However, if you'd like to do a slightly more thorough bit of editing, please continue on to the next page.