| Chapter 17: Activities |

| 17.32. Starting the virtual machine

1. When it happens. This activity is provided solely as a "hook" for any low-level tasks which need to be performed when the virtual computer which runs Inform story files is starting up. This happens much earlier than "when play begins" rules, and should be used only as a last resort.

It should be remembered that Inform can produce story files for several different virtual computers. On some of these, it will not be safe to print any text during this activity, as the windows which would display such text do not yet exist.

2. The default behaviour. None.

3. Examples. No detailed examples will be given here, but the activity might be used (for instance) to set styles for the Glulx windows shortly to be brought into existence.

281
| Example Blankness Emptying the status line during the first screen of the game.

Previous | Contents | Next