Because of the way the MOO is set up, everything in it can be considered an "object." Different kinds of objects have different kinds of features and serve different functions in the MOO. For example, web projectors allow you to display web pages in the viewing areas of anyone in the same room with you. Recorders log all of the text action which occurs in a particular room. Notes allow people to record written statements onto them.
You can refer to an object by its name (and objects can have aliases giving them more than one name), or by its object number. The MOO assigns every object a number, and object numbers should always be preceded by the # sign. If you are trying a command with an object name and you get "I don't understand that," you may want to try the command again using the object number in place of the name.
There are some general commands for working with objects that apply to all objects. These commands allow you to get more information about an object, to move it places, and to see where it is located.
This part of the guide will cover general commands for working with objects, and offer pointers to specific help about using specific objects such as web projectors and recorders.
Getting more information about an object
You can get more information about an object by typing commands into the command window. You can then use this information to help you figure out how to use an object or what an object is used for. You can also get some information about an object by clicking on its link in the viewing area. Here is a summary of commands for getting more information about an object.
| Command | What it does |
| look <object> | Displays the object's description in the talk area and the viewing area. |
| @examine <object> | Displays a description of the object in the talk area and the viewing area. Displays the object number, the aliases, and a list of the commands that you can use on an object in the talk area. |
| @contents <object> | Displays a list of the contents of an object (such as a recorder) in the talk area and the viewing area. |
| @d <object> | Displays in the talk window only a quick summary of information about the object including the object number, its aliases, its location, its owner and its size. |
| @contents me | Displays a list of what objects you are carrying in the talk window. |
| help <object> | Displays the help for that object. |
| @verbs <object> | Displays a list of all the commands you can use on an object. |
Moving objects around
When you create an object (except for a room), you start out by "carrying" the object. This means that the object is located on your person. When you move from room to room, the object moves with you. You can leave an object in a room, pick up an object from one room and carry it with you, and give an object to another person. You can also "teleport" objects from place to place.
Some objects, especially web projectors and recorders, need to be located in a room for them to work properly. If you are having trouble getting a web projector or a recorder to work, make sure that the recorder or the web proector is located in the room. (You can tell if an object is located in a room because it will show up in the room's description.) If it's not, you need to put the object in the room.
Here is a summary of commands for moving objects around. You can refer to the object by its name or by its object number. If you are using the object number, make sure that you put a # sign in front of it.
| Command | What it does |
| inventory | Lists all the objects that you are carrying. |
| drop object | Places the object in the room that you are located in. |
| take object | Picks up an object from the room that you are in. You are now "carrying" the object. |
| give object to person | Gives the object to a person in the room with you. |
| @move object to place | Moves the object to the place you specify. (Note; you may have to use the object number for the place.) |
| @lock <object> with here | This will lock the object in a specific place so that others can not pick up the object and walk off with it. In the new EnCore 3.0, you can lock object by clicking an icon in the viewing area. |
| @lock <object> with me | Locks the object with you so that it goes where you go. |
You can usually get more help with an object by typing help object into the command window. You can also click on the help button on the button bar and use the help browser to search for help on your object.
This section will compile a set of links to help with specific objects. Each of these objects has been programmed to perform specific tasks based upon commands called verbs.
| Object | What it does |
| Web projector | Allows you to show web pages in the viewing area. |
| Recorder | Allows you to record all text action that happens in a room. |
| Note | Allows people to write down information. |
| Note Board | Allows people to post any number of notes--like a container for notes. |
| Generic Bot | Allows you to create an interactive text bot that responds to certain words. |
| Slide Projector | Allows you to show text "slides" in the talk area. |
| Letter | Allows you to write a note directed only for another person. |
| Recitable Note | Allows you to write a note that a user can "play" back line by line. |
| Container | Allows you to put objects inside a container. |
| Webpg Room | Allows you to create a room that shows as an HTML page. |
| Classroom | Allows you to create a room with special features for education. |
| Moderated Rm | Allows you to create a room good for presentations with many people. |