Manual:DIL Manual/send()

send

The send function is a built-in DIL (DikuMUD Interactive Language) function that sends a message to all DIL programs in the current local environment that are waiting for messages of the SFB_MSG class.

Syntax

send(string message)

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
message	string	The message string to send to waiting DIL programs

Return Value

This function does not return a value (void).

Functionality

The send function broadcasts a message to all DIL programs in the current local environment that:

• Are currently waiting with the SFB_MSG flag
• Have the message class SFB_MSG enabled
• Are in the same local environment as the sender

The message is not received by DIL programs that are not set up to wait for the SFB_MSG message class.

Message Reception

When a DIL program receives a message sent via the send() function:

• The program's activator variable contains a unitptr to the unit that sent the message
• The program's argument variable contains the string message that was sent
• The command(CMD_AUTO_MSG) evaluates to true

Examples

Basic Message Sending

dilbegin message_sender();
code
{
   send("hello_world");
   quit;
} dilend

Jail System Example

dilbegin fnpri(FN_PRI_RESCUE-1) jailstay(du : integer);
external
   integer add_reward@justice(criminal_symname : string, criminal_idx : integer, crime_type : integer);
   rem_db_entry@justice(criminal : unitptr, extra_type : string, juris : string);
   getfrom_safe(prisoner : unitptr);
   set_char_flags@justice(char : unitptr, setting : string);
var
   sname : string;
   jd : unitptr;
   id : string;
   juris : string; 
   k : string;
   gold : integer;
   g : string;
code
{
   heartbeat := PULSE_SEC * SECS_PER_MUD_HOUR;
   juris := self.outside.zoneidx;
   sname := self.outside.symname;
   jd := findsymbolic("database@justice");
   id := "$reward "+ self.symname + " " + itoa(self.idx) + " "+ juris;
   k := "$reward "+ juris;
   if( "$reward" in self.extra)
   {
      jd.extra.[id].names.[4] := "-1";
      self.extra.[k].names.[4] := "-1";
      jd.extra.[id].descr := self.name+" is currently serving time in jail.";
   }
  :loop:
   pause;
   if (sname != self.outside.symname)
   {
      jd := findsymbolic("database@justice");
      jd.extra.[id].names.[4] := "65";
      self.extra.[k].names.[4] := "65";
      gold := atoi(jd.extra.[id].names.[2]); 
      g := moneystring(gold,1); 
      jd.extra.[id].descr := "A reward of " + g + " has been offered for the head of "+self.name;
      set_char_flags@justice(self, "wanted");
      log("Jailbreak: "+self.name+" has escaped from the "+ juris +" jail."); 
      quit;
   }
   if("$reward" in self.extra)
   {
      jd := findsymbolic("database@justice");
      jd.extra.[id].names.[4] := "-1";
      jd.extra.[id].descr := self.name+" is currently serving time in jail. "+itoa(du)+" hours remaining";
   }
   if ((du % 4) == 0)
     send("jailfood");
   if (du == 24)
   {
      act("At last! The very last day of your term!",
          A_ALWAYS, self, null, null, TO_CHAR);
   }
   else if (du == 12)
   {
      act("Only half a day left 'till your freedom!",
          A_ALWAYS, self, null, null, TO_CHAR);
   }
   else if (du <= 1)
     goto release;
   else
   {
      act("You make another mark on the wall. Only "+itoa(du)+" hours till freedom!",
          A_ALWAYS, self, null, null, TO_CHAR);
   }
   du := du - 1;
   goto loop;
   :release:
   act("Your term is over! You are thrown out of the jail and sent home.",
       A_ALWAYS, self, null, null, TO_CHAR);
   getfrom_safe(self);
   link(self, findroom("accuse_room@" + juris));
   rem_db_entry@justice(self, "$reward", juris);
   set_char_flags@justice(self, "arrest");
   quit;
} dilend

Message Receiver Example

dilbegin message_receiver();
code
{
   wait(SFB_MSG);
   send("Received message: " + argument);
   quit;
} dilend

Error Handling

The function performs type checking:

• Validates that the parameter is a string type
• If the parameter is null or invalid, the function fails silently
• The C implementation includes null pointer checking before sending the message

Note: The C implementation shows that the function calls dil_test_secure() after sending the message, which may trigger security-related checks.

Usage Notes

• Messages are only sent to programs in the same local environment
• Only programs waiting with SFB_MSG will receive the message
• The function is commonly used for inter-program communication
• Use the 'aware' keyword in DIL programs that need to receive messages from their owner
• Use the 'recall' keyword to preserve program state across saves/reloads
• The function is different from sendtext() which sends text directly to a player

Related Functions

• sendto - Sends a message to DIL programs in a specific unit
• sendtext - Sends text directly to a player
• sendtoall - Sends a message to all DIL programs in a unit
• sendtoalldil - Sends a message to all DIL programs in all units

See Also

• SFB_MSG - Message class flag for receiving messages
• wait - Function for waiting on specific message classes
• activator - Variable containing the message sender
• argument - Variable containing the message content