Login Screen

 

The login screen is where you make your connections from Portal© to the game servers.  The main elements of the screen are discussed below.

 

Notes on Portal© Skins

Portal© offers the ability to "skin" your login screen to an almost infinite range of design possibilities.  While the functionality of the screen itself remains relatively consistent across all skins, the looks can vary widely.  The below descriptions refer to the basic, original skin that comes with installation.  Regardless of the skin you use, all button functions can be reached by right clicking on the profiles grid and selecting the desired function from the popup menu.

 

To invoke a skin yourself, right click anywhere on the login screen and select the Load Portal Skin item from the popup menu.  This will bring you to the Portal© Skin screen.  From here you will be able to peruse available skins and load up the one you desire.

 

Login Screen Elements

 

View Software License Agreement Button

This button will bring up the Software License Agreement screen, which displays the Software License Agreement for use and redistribution of the client.

Definitely read this license carefully, for any use beyond the login screen requires acceptance of the terms contained therein.

 

Player Profile Grid

Each login profile consists of a player name (who you wish to login as) and a MUD to log into.  Double click on this grid to accept the license and log into the selected profile.

 

Player Profiles Button

Press this button to work with or choose an existing player profile, or to create a new one.

 

Profile Wizard Button

Press this button to quickly and easily create a new player profile.  Simply follow the on-screen instructions to instantly create a new player profile.  You can also use this feature to import a profile.  It’s super quick and easy!

 

Login Online Button

Use this button to connect to a socket and log into the server with the player profile selected in the Player Profile Grid.  You will need an active socket connection to the internet for this button to be used.  If any passwords have been scripted for the profile, you will be prompted for them at this time.

 

Quick Connect Button

Use this button to quickly connect to a site using the default profile.  If you don't have a default profile, one will be created for you at this time.  A small screen will appear asking for the host and port of the server you wish to connect to.  Simply enter the site you desire, click the Accept button and off you go.  The last connection values (host, port, etc.) you enter are retained for an even quicker login next time.

 

Notes on the "Use Only CR" Checkbox on the Quick Connect Screen

The default send for MUD commands over a server is usually a command, followed by both a “carriage return” (CR) and a “line feed” (LF).  For a server, it can be different, as in some do not use the LF but only the CR.  To accommodate for this, you can have the commands appended with a CR+LF (unchecked) or just the CR (checked).  In general, if using the client to connect to a MUD, leave this box unchecked.  If connecting to a server, check the box.  If this doesn’t work, try reversing the check.

 

Work Offline Button

Use this button to open the client and work offline.  You may do this to work quietly on aliases, nicknames, etc.  You can do just about anything offline that you can do online, barring anything that actually needs the server to respond.

 

Help Button (yellow ? mark)

Brings up this help file.

 

Gaming Basics Help Button

Brings up the text-adventuring gaming basics help file.

 

Clear Passwords Button

This button only appears when the system is retaining a password for use with a character profile’s login (from manually entering it when the user tries to login the first time).  Pressing it will clear the retention of any passwords by the system.  This is useful if you entered in the wrong password the first time and need to enter the right one.

 

Exit Portal© Button

Pressing this button will cancel any login and close down the client program.  Use this button if you do not wish to accept the terms of the Software License Agreement.