New Truth & Beauty Lab Products 2/2012

The Truth & Beauty Lab (formerly Restless Studio) would like to inform you of some new products that may be useful, interesting, fun, entertaining, or otherwise of value.

Smart Rings and Smart Cuffs - http://bit.ly/y1hNrX

Stylishly textured in gold or silver, this line of single sculpted prim Smart Jewelry from the Truth & Beauty Lab can query Wikipedia, provide answers from Wolfram Alpha, emit a wide variety of particle displays, animate your avatar during particle displays, scan the area for objects and avatars, and target an object or avatar with a particle beam. One advantage of owning a Smart Ring or Smart Cuff is that, since the items are worn as attachments, you can travel anywhere on the grid and your Pandorabot featured ring or cuff is there to command.

Menhir Internationalized Pandorbots - http://bit.ly/ysFh7w

The Menhir Pandorabot is a single prim object shaped and textured as a Menhir ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menhir ). Menhir Pandorabots are scripted to include all the features of the Truth & Beauty Lab Pandorabots and the textured single sculpted prim provides a realistic recreation of a Menhir. Preconfigured Menhir language versions are available in English, Deutsch, Español, Français, Italiano, Nederlands, Polski, and Português. The language configured Menhir will query the Wikipedia in that language, understanding that language chat and responding in that language when possible.

Smart Dance Pole & Smart Tip Jar Combo Pack - http://bit.ly/rMzxle

Automatically login an avatar and have it automatically start pole dancing, chatting, quoting Wikipedia, greeting new arrivals, delivering notecards and landmarks, monitoring and responding to group chat, and more. A super smart pole dance bot! The Truth & Beauty Lab Smart Dance Pole is scripted with the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On and configured for use as a dance pole. It is an artificially intelligent dance pole and integrates with the Smart Tip Jar, accepting tips, triggering a pole dancing bot to undress, emote, change outfits, and interact with your visitors. Using an integrated Smart Dance Pole and Smart Tip Jar allows you to maintain an artificially intelligent pole dancing bot avatar who accepts tips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round without monthly fees or hourly charges. The Smart Tip Jar can automatically trigger your dance pole bot avatar to undress when a tip threshold is reached and get dressed after a specified duration. NOTE: The Smart Tip Jar splits all tips - 90% going to the owner and 10% going to the Truth & Beauty Lab.

T3-M4 Scanning Follower Droid - http://bit.ly/zj69hQ

The Truth & Beauty Lab T3-M4 Scanning Follower will follow its owner at a configurable offset and can be controlled via a dialog menu interface. Included in its features is the ability to scan the area for objects and avatars then assemble and display a report which includes statistics on the resource consumption of the detected objects and avatars. The T3-M4 Scanning Follower can fire a laser at selected avatars or detected objects/avatars from one of its scans. It also makes cute bot sounds. The boxed product includes preconfigured Scanning Followers - two T3-M4 Astromech Droids. The droids are a realistic reconstruction of the T3-M4 from the Old Republic Star Wars era. The T3-M4 Scanning Follower integrates with the Truth & Beauty Lab Pandorabots so versions of it that chat, query Wikipedia, supply answers from Wolfram Alpha, greet arrivals, etc are also available in the marketplace store. A single prim Eye Candy Scanning Follower is also available for those who prefer to conserve resources and display cool visuals while providing identical functionality as the 39 prim T3-M4 Scanning Follower.

Particle Textures Display Heart - http://bit.ly/y0Fyaa

This single prim sculpted heart rotates, emits particle displays using the particle textures in its contents, and accepts new particle textures allowing you to view your particle displays easily and quickly. The prim cycles through whatever particle textures are in its contents. Clicking the heart prim steps to the next particle texture.

Truth & Beauty Lab Heart Follower - http://bit.ly/y4rPKK

This single prim sculpted heart rotates, follows its owner at a specified offset, changes textures, emits particle displays, and can be used to scan the area for objects and avatars producing a complete detailed report.

Second Life Haiku Generator - http://bit.ly/AjiqZ9

Rez this portrait of Basho, the famous Japanese haiku poet, and click it to get an automatically generated Second Life related haiku. Each time the portrait is clicked a different Second Life related haiku will be generated. The large collection of words and phrases used to construct the haikus is constantly growing and the haikus are generated on a server so you never have to update the inworld object.

The Truth & Beauty Lab Marketplace - http://bit.ly/xaFZ92

Many more new, entertaining, informative, useful, fun, and interesting products are available at the Truth & Beauty Lab Marketplace. Please visit https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/44210 and browse the shop.

Feedback

Do you have suggestions, requests, comments, criticism, kudos, testimonials, funny stories, etc. concerning any of the Truth & Beauty Lab products? Email missyrestless@gmail.com or IM Missy Restless and let me know what you think. I'm always happy to help if I can and many products ideas and improvements have originated with suggestions and requests from clients & casual encounters.

Internationalizing Your Pandorabot's Wikipedia Query

If you want to allow non-English speaking Second Life residents to trigger a Pandorabot Wikipedia query in that person's native language then use the following settings in the Configuration notecard of your Pandorabot.

In order to detect German (Deutsch)  residents input and also to output Deutsch answers from your Pandorabot, use these settings:

LANG_CODE = de
LANG_NAME = Deutsch
WIKIPEDIA_TRIGGERS = was ist ein ,?, was sind die ,?, was ist ,?, was sind ,?, wer sind ,?, wer ist ,?, wo ist ,?, wo sind ,?, what is ,?, what's ,?, what're ,?, what is a ,?, what is an ,?, what is the ,?, what are the ,?, what's a ,?, what's an ,?, who is ,?, who are ,?, who're ,?, who's ,?,,?

To detect French (Français) residents input and output Français answers from your Pandorabot, use these settings:

LANG_CODE = fr
LANG_NAME = Français
WIKIPEDIA_TRIGGERS = quelle est la ,?, qui est le ,?, ce sont ,?, quelles sont les ,?, ce qui est une ,?, qu'est-ce qu'un ,?, quels sont les ,?, ce qui est ,?, qui est ,?, qui sont ,?, où est ,?, what is ,?,what's ,?,what're ,?,what is a ,?,what is an ,?,what is the ,?,what are the ,?,what's a ,?,what's an ,?,who is,?,who are,?,who're,?,who's,?,,?

 To detect Dutch (Nederlands) residents input and output Nederlands answers from your Pandorabot, use these settings:

LANG_CODE = nl
LANG_NAME = Nederlands
WIKIPEDIA_TRIGGERS = wat is een ,?, wat zijn de ,?, wat is de ,?, wat is ,?, die is ,?, die ,?, what is ,?, what's ,?, what're ,?, what is a ,?, what is an ,?, what is the ,?, what are the ,?, what's a ,?, what's an ,?, who is ,?, who are ,?, who're ,?, who's ,?,,?

To detect Italian (Italiano) residents input and output Italiano answers from your Pandorabot, use these settings:

LANG_CODE = it
LANG_NAME = Italiano
WIKIPEDIA_TRIGGERS = cosa è un ,?, ciò che è uno ,?, qual è il ,?, cosa è ,?, chi è ,?, che è il ,?, cosa sono ,?, chi sono ,?, quali sono le ,?, what is ,?, what's ,?, what're ,?, what is a ,?, what is an ,?, what is the ,?, what are the ,?, what's a ,?, what's an ,?, who is ,?, who are ,?, who're ,?, who's ,?,,?

To detect Portuguese (Português) residents input and output Português answers from your Pandorabot, use these settings:

LANG_CODE = pt
LANG_NAME = Português
WIKIPEDIA_TRIGGERS = o que é ,?, quem é ,?, o que é o ,?, quem é o ,?, quais são ,?, quem são ,?, o que é um ,?, o que é um ,?, o que são o ,?, what is ,?, what's ,?, what're ,?, what is a ,?, what is an ,?, what is the ,?, what are the ,?, what's a ,?, what's an ,?, who is ,?, who are ,?, who're ,?, who's ,?,,?

To detect Spanish (Español) residents input and output Español answers from your Pandorabot, use these settings:

LANG_CODE = es
LANG_NAME = Español
WIKIPEDIA_TRIGGERS = lo que es ,?, quien es ,?, ¿cuál es la ,?, quien es el ,?, ¿cuáles son ,?, que son ,?, ¿qué es un ,?, lo que es un ,?, ¿cuáles son las ,?, what is ,?, what's ,?, what're ,?, what is a ,?, what is an ,?, what is the ,?, what are the ,?, what's a ,?, what's an ,?, who is ,?, who are ,?, who're ,?, who's ,?,,?

To detect Polish (Polski) residents input and output Polski answers from your Pandorabot, use these settings:

LANG_CODE = pl
LANG_NAME = Polski
WIKIPEDIA_TRIGGERS = co jest ,?, , który jest ,?, co jest ,?, , który jest ,?, jakie sa ,?, którzy sa ,?, co jest ,?, co jest ,?, jakie sa ,?, what is ,?, what's ,?, what're ,?, what is a ,?, what is an ,?, what is the ,?, what are the ,?, what's a ,?, what's an ,?, who is ,?, who are ,?, who're ,?, who's ,?,,?

 And so ends the most awesome blog post ever.

How to Make METAbolt based Pandorabots' Chat Appear to Come from the Alt Avatar

A new option in the METAbolt_Config notecard controls whether a METAbolt based Pandorabot's chat originates from the base prim or the alt avatar bot. Setting USE_LSL_SAY = TRUE in METAbolt_Config causes all chat from the bot to appear as if it is coming from the avatar thereby making it even more difficult for a guest to tell if he or she is chatting with a bot or a real person.

This uses METAbolt's LSL API and therefore only works if the MD5's METAbolt password is specified in the MD5SUM variable in METAbolt_Config. Find the METAbolt password in METAbolt preferences by clicking Application -> Preferences -> Security/L$. Copy the password and chat the following within 20 meters of your METAbolt based Pandorabot:
    /777 password=the-password-string-you-copied
The Pandorabot should then chat the MD5'd password. Copy the MD5 string, edit METAbolt_Config and set MD5SUM=the-md5-string-you-copied.

METAbolt based Pandorabots supporting this feature include:

• Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On
• Smart Dance Pole & Tip Jar Combo Pack
• Smart Dance Pole
• Smart Sex Bot Fur Base

Note, you must have the METAbolt LSL API plugin loaded for this to work. The METAbolt Wiki has instructions on auto-loading the LSL API plugin.

METAbolt Based Pandorabots Updated With Multiple Tip Jar Support

All METAbolt based Pandorabots have been updated to provide support for deployment of multiple Smart Tip Jars. The products updated are:

• Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On
• Smart Dance Pole
• Smart Dance Pole and Tip Jar Combo Pack
• Smart Tip Jar 

The Smart Tip Jar now includes a notecard setting to specify the key of the METAbolt based avatar bot to associate with the tip jar. The Tip_Config notecard in the Smart Tip Jar can be modified to set BOT_KEY. Once a valid key is specified in Tip_Config that tip jar will only trigger outfit changes in the avatar designated by that key. The avatar bot's key can be located in the base prim description field or, with some viewers, in the avatar bot's profile. Connecting the Smart Tip Jar to an individual avatar bot allows multiple tip jars to operate within 20 meters of each other.

If you only deploy a single METAbolt based Pandorbot and a single Smart Tip Jar then there is no need to set the BOT_KEY in Tip_Config.

Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On is not associated with or sponsored by METAbolt (http://www.metabolt.net).

How to Create Custom Pandorabot Responses

Second Life Pandorabots come preconfigured with AI response capabilities using Wikipedia, Wolfram Alpha, and an Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity (A.L.I.C.E.) programmed in AIML. By default, all Pandorbots use a customized Bot ID at pandorabots.com for their AIML responses. This default Bot ID has been extensively customized for use in Second Life by the Second Life Pandorbots. However, some owners of Second Life Pandorabots may wish to customize their Pandorabot to provide responses specific to their deployment (e.g. shop attendant, tour guide, roleplay bot, etc).

Create Your Own Bot At Pandorabots.com
In order to provide site specific customized responses for your Pandorabot you need to create your own Bot at pandorabots.com. First, sign-up for an account at pandorabots.com by visiting http://pandorabots.com/botmaster/en/new-account. After you have registered for an account and logged in, click "Create a Pandorabot". Enter a name for your Pandorabot in the name field and select one of the "Startup AIML" choices. The default Pandorabot Bot ID uses Dr Wallace's A.L.I.C.E. for the startup AIML and this is the one you should select if you are going to be copying the Second Life Pandorabots AIML (see below).

Train Your New Bot
Once you have entered a name and selected a startup AIML, click "Create Pandorabot". You are now ready to either train or program your customized Pandorabot. The easiest way to provide custom responses is by "training" the Pandorabot. Click on the "Train" button near the top of the page. This allows you to enter phrases a human might say to your Pandorabot, see what the Pandorabot would reply, and type in the response that you would like your Pandorabot to give instead.

Edit Your New Bot's Properties
In addition to training your Pandorabot for specific phrase recognition and custom responses you can edit the Properties of your Pandorabot by clicking on the "Properties" button near the top of the page. Fill in, add, or change any of the Property fields on this page and click "Submit Changes" at the bottom of the page.

Upload Replacement And New AIML Files
Advanced botmasters can more extensively program the Pandorabot by editing the AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language). This allows you to more generally specify patterns to recognize, categories, and templates with which to respond. To edit your Pandorabot's AIML, click on the "AIML" button near the top of the page. Here you can download, modify, and upload the AIML files your Pandorabot uses. First, let's see how you would replace some of your Pandorabot's AIML files with the ones I have customized for use in Second Life.

To use the AIML I have customized download a zip file of my AIML files at http://tinyurl.com/c433udn . My modified AIML files have been  named "AnaA", "AnaB", and so on denoting they replace the default AIML files named "A", "B", and so on.

Once you have downloaded my custom AIML return to the AIML tab at pandorabots.com. In the right hand column, uncheck the AIML files you will be replacing (e.g. uncheck A.aiml if you will be uploading my AnaA.aiml). At the bottom of the page, upload the custom AIML files you wish to use (e.g. the ones you downloaded from Scribd).

In addition to uploading my custom AIML replacement files you can create your own new AIML file specifying the responses you wish your Pandorabot to use. Copy an existing AIML file, rename it, and modify the categories, patterns, and templates to suit your individual bot's deployment. For instance, copy the "pandorabots" AIML file and rename it "MyShop.aiml" replacing the categories, patterns, and templates with phrases to match and responses suited to your shop. Upload your new AIML file(s).

Publish Your New Bot And Copy The Bot ID
Once you have customized your Bot as pandorabots.com you must "Publish" it to get a Bot ID. Click on the bot's name then the "publish" link. You will be taken to a page which says:
This pandorabot is published at:
http://www.pandorabots.com/pandora/talk?botid=blablabla 
Where "blablabla" above is your Bot ID. Copy this string.
Edit the Configuration notecard in your Second Life Pandorabot.
Add a line at the top of the notecard something like:
    BOT_ID = b8dad52dce344c95
but instead of "b8dad52dce344c95" use the Bot ID you copied
above. Save the notecard. You're done.

Subsequent changes to AIML you make at pandorabots.com will
be reflected immediately in your Second Life Pandorabot once
you republish your bot at pandorabots.com.

How to Start METAbolt Every Time Windows Starts

The PC on which your METAbolt client is running can restart for a variety of reasons. Microsoft frequently installs updates which require a restart. Power interruptions, system crashes, and other temporary failures can cause your computer to reboot. You can easily configure your system to restart METAbolt when this happens thus keeping your bot(s) active and logged into Second Life.

Follow the procedure outlined previously and create a BAT file to start your METAbolt bot(s).

Copy the BAT file(s) to the Windows System Startup Folder:

Start -> All Programs -> Startup on the Start Menu

On Windows 7 this is the folder: 

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Windows 7 does not allow shortcuts in this Startup folder so a copy of your BAT file rather than a shortcut must be created. Earlier versions of Windows will allow a shortcut.

Smart Tip Jar Enables Pole Dance Bot to Act as Tipped Stripper

The newly released Restless Studio Smart Tip Jar integrates with the Restless Studio Smart Dance Pole accepting tips, triggering a pole dancing Pandorabot to strip, emote, change outfits, and interact with your visitors. Using an integrated Smart Dance Pole and Smart Tip Jar allows you to maintain an artificially intelligent pole dancing bot avatar who accepts tips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round without monthly fees or hourly charges. The Smart Tip Jar can automatically trigger your dance pole bot avatar to get naked when a tip threshold is reached and get dressed after a specified duration.

The Smart Tip Jar is designed to be used by a bot logged in via METAbolt and utilizing the Smart Dance Pole but can be used as a normal tip jar as well. The tip jar is a sculpted single prim with a gothic design and glossy glass texture. The tip jar object has No Copy / Modify / Transfer permissions to allow the owner to resize, retexture, configure, and give the Smart Tip Jar as a gift.

Both the Restless Studio Smart Tip Jar and the Restless Studio Smart Dance Pole are available on the Second Life Marketplace as follows:

• Smart Tip Jar - L$295
• Smart Dance Pole - L$395
• Smart Dance Pole & Tip Jar Combo Pack - L$650

The Restless Studio Smart Tip Jar Manual is freely available for download or viewing in PDF format.

Setup a Pole Dance Bot with the Newly Released Smart Dance Pole

I recently modified the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On and integrated it into a dance pole I created. I released this as the Restless Studio Smart Dance Pole, available on the Second Life Marketplace. Using the smart dance pole you can easily setup a pole dance bot.

Setup steps are detailed in the Restless Studio Dance Pole Manual. To setup your Restless Studio Smart Dance Pole for use with a METAbolt avatar:

1. Create a Second Life account with Scripted Agent Status set to bot 
2. Install METAbolt on a Windows computer and enable Auto Sit 
3. Drag the Restless Studio Smart Dance Pole from your inventory to the desired location 
4. Right click the pole and select "Edit"; Click the "Contents" tab of the edit window
5. Edit the Configuration notecard and set FIRST_NAME and LAST_NAME 
6. Drag desired animations from your inventory into the dance pole Contents 
7. Set the "Description" field of the dance pole to your dance bot avatar's Key 
8. Place your dance pole bot avatar within 10 meters of the pole 
9. Login your dance pole bot with METAbolt

This allows you to have a dancer on her pole in your club 24/7. Since the smart dance pole is a Pandorabot, it can chat with your guests, query Wikipedia, send email, check spelling, greet new arrivals, deliver notecards and landmarks, and all the other features of a standard Pandorabot. All for L$395.

Private Channel Pandorabots and Chat Channel Spam

Recently I received a report from a customer whose Pandorabot suddenly started spewing spam into local chat. I traced the problem down to a freebie penis that continually announces its location on channel 2. The customer's Pandorabot had been configured to listen on channel 2 rather than the local chat channel (channel 0).

This does not appear to be a common problem. I've only had one report of private channel spam and there are hundreds of Pandorabots scattered all over the grid. It may be limited to the rare case where a Pandorabot is listening on channel 2 and a resident wearing the OnDuty penis is within chat range. I've asked whether continually announcing your location on a private channel is considered griefing and have yet to receive a reply.

If your Pandorabot suddenly starts spewing spam take the following steps:

• Turn your Pandorabot off by saying "menu" on the Pandorabot's chat channel then clicking the "OFF" dialog menu button
• Edit the Configuration notecard and change the CHANNEL setting. I recommend using a channel number greater than 10 as private chat spam has thus far only been detected on channel 2.
• Restart your Pandorabot by clicking the base prim. If you cannot see the base prim, click View -> Highlight Transparent or CTRL-ALT-T
• Email missyrestless@gmail.com or IM Missy Restless to report the problem. Please provide as many details as possible including channel number and a copy of the chat spam.

I have not yet filed an abuse report against the OnDuty Penis as I'm not sure this is considered abuse (seems to me it should be). I will be making a free Pandorabot update available with private channel spam protection.

How to Upgrade Your Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On

There have recently been a number of improvements to both METAbolt and the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On. Support for the recently released METAbolt Group Responder has been added to the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On. This allows your bot to detect trigger phrases in group chat and respond with customized group IM's. Additional security has been added to the METAbolt LSL API and configuration for this security feature has been added to the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On. Also added is support for easily moving your Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On to another SL object (e.g. a drum kit or dance pole). Many improvements have also been made to the Pandorabot scripts.

If you own a Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On and want to freely upgrade to the current version, you can do so by following these steps:

• Copy any changes you have made to configuration notecards
• Copy/Move any items you have added to the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On Base Prim (e.g. landmarks, notecards, textures, ...)
• Take the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On Base Prim back into your inventory (log your bot out, right click the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On Base Prim and select "Take")
• IM Missy Restless (search for "Missy Restless", click on the "Missy Restless" search result, click on "View Full Profile", click "Instant Message")
• Drag and drop the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On Base Prim item from your inventory onto the Instant Message window (note, the object will have the name of your bot)

You should receive the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On update as soon as I receive notice of the transfer. When you receive the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On box, rez it, open the box, copy the contents to your inventory, and rez the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On Base Prim. You will need to re-do any changes you made to your previous Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On Base Prim (use the saved configuration notecards as reference). Note: I may be away from my computer - if you do not hear from me drop me a reminder.

Enjoy!

Moving the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On Into Another Object

The Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On base prim is, by default, a box. The box disappears when the METAbolt logged in avatar bot sits on it and reappears when the avatar logs out. What if you want that base prim to remain visible and you want it to be something other than a boring box ? Maybe you want it to be a drum kit for your bot drummer or a bar for your bot bartender. Here's how to do that.

First, get the latest Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On from the Second Life Marketplace or by exchanging your current base prim for the latest. Follow the setup procedure described in the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On Manual but add these two settings to the METAbolt_Config notecard:

INVISIBLE_BASE = FALSE
RESIZE = FALSE

Set TEXT_ENABLED = FALSE in the Configuration notecard.

That's it, you can move the scripts and notecards into any object that has Modify permission. I've even had success moving the scripts into already scripted objects although of course this can be problematic if the existing scripts have channel or other conflicts with the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On scripts.

When moving the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On to another object it may be necessary to adjust the sit target. This is a vector consisting of 3 offsets from the base prim - left/right, forward/back, and up/down. The sit target can be specified in the METAbolt_Config notecard with the TARGET setting. For instance, a sit target for a thin vertical object where you want the avatar at the bottom of the object might be:

TARGET = <0.0,0.0,-0.6>

A drum bot might need a sit target toward the rear of the object:

TARGET = <0.0,-0.5,0.2>

How to Enable the METAbolt LSL API for Outfit Changes

Quick & Easy Summary
To enable Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On dialog menu outfit changes, set your METAbolt preferences to disable LSL command security and autorun the LSL API plugin.

Background
Recently the METAbolt LSL API was moved from the METAbolt core to a plugin. In addition, preferences were added to allow METAbolt users to restrict the LSL API use to the owner and/or a scripted object. These changes, although arguably beneficial for METAbolt architecture and security, broke the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On dialog menu commands for outfit changes.

If you are not using outfit folder changes via the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On dialog menu interface then you do not need to make any changes.

In order to re-enable outfit changes in METAbolt 0.9.51.0 and later you will need to make the following changes to your METAbolt preferences (Application -> Preferences).

Enforcing LSL Command Security
The easiest way to enable dialog menu outfit folder changes is to disable LSL command security. This can be done in the Application -> Preferences -> General -> Security/L$ METAbolt preferences pane by unchecking the "Enforce LSL command security" checkbox. See the section "Enhanced LSL API Security" below for an alternate, more secure, and somewhat difficult way to enable outfit folder changes via the dialog menu.

Loading the METAbolt LSL API Plugin
In addition to disabling LSL command security (or using enhanced LSL API security) you will also need to load the LSL API Plugin. To load the plugin automatically on each startup of METAbolt, go to the Application -> Preferences -> Plugins METAbolt preferences pane. In the "Available plugins" window, click on "MB_LSLAPI" then click the ">" button to add it to "Selected plugins". Click "Apply" and "OK". Alternately, the plugin can be loaded manually by clicking "Plugins -> MB_LSLAPI".

Individual Avatar Preferences
Each avatar you login with METAbolt has their own individual preference settings. The preference settings described above (disable LSL command security and autorun the LSL API plugin) must be done for each avatar. To do so, login as an avatar and make these changes to your preferences. Repeat for each METAbolt avatar you use for which you would like to enable outfit folder changes via the dialog menu.

Enhanced LSL API Security
Additional LSL API security is available with the "Enforce LSL command security" checkbox in the METAbolt preferences via the Application -> Preferences -> General -> Security/L$ checkbox. To enable outfit folder changes via the dialog menu _and_ enforce LSL command security you need to set the Master Avatar and Object UUID's. To find the Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On base prim UUID you will need some elementary LSL script skills. Create an LSL script with the default state entry as follows: 

state_entry() { 
        llOwnerSay("Owner UUID is " + (string)llGetOwner());
        llOwnerSay("Object UUID is " + (string)llGetKey()); 
}


Drop the script into the base prim Contents. Copy the base prim owner's UUID to the "Avatar UUID" setting. Copy the object UUID string to the "Object UUID" setting. Delete the script from the base prim Contents. Make sure the "Enforce LSL command security" box is checked then click "Apply" and "OK". Repeat for each avatar for which you wish to enable enhanced LSL API security.

METAbolt LSL API Documentation
METAbolt maintains an excellent website with News, Announcements, Downloads, an Add-On/Plugin Directory, a Community Forum, and the METAwiki which provides extensive documentation & tips. The following METAwiki pages provide information on the LSL API:

• General information on how to use the API
• Using preferences
• Controlling the API security level
• Auto loading the MB_LSLAPI plugin

How to Login Multiple Pandorabots with METAbolt

If you are using METAbolt to login more than one Pandorabot then you may find it convenient to create a DOS batch file allowing you to login multiple bots with a single click. To do so, follow this procedure:

• Exit METAbolt if already logged in
• Start METAbolt - enter your avatar's first and last name
• Enter the password
• Check the "Remember my password" option box
• Check the "Create av BAT file" option box
• Click on the login button

This will create a BAT file with the name of your avatar in the "Roaming" folder. To find the location of your Roaming folder:

• Click on the "Help" menu on the top right hand corner of METAbolt
• Select the "About METAbolt" menu option
• "Data Dir" is the location of your Roaming folder

If your bot's name is Jane Doe then the BAT file will be called Jane_Doe.bat, the INI file will be called Jane_Doe_METAbolt.ini.

Repeat the above procedure for each of the bots you wish to login with METAbolt, creating a BAT file in the Roaming folder for each bot. After this is done you can create a master BAT file for all of your bots as follows:

• Open Notepad from the Windows Start menu
• Copy the contents of each of the BAT files in your Roaming folder into Notepad
• In Notepad click  "File -> Save As" and save the file with an extension of ".bat" (e.g. by the name "Login_All.bat")

For example, a batch file to login two avatars named Anya Ordinary and Easy Islay with METAbolt might look something like: 

@ECHO OFF

START "" /D "C:\Program Files\METAbolt (64 bit)\" "C:\Program Files\METAbolt (64 bit)\metabolt.exe" Anya Ordinary password1

START "" /D "C:\Program Files\METAbolt (64 bit)\" "C:\Program Files\METAbolt (64 bit)\metabolt.exe" Easy Islay password2

You can now create a Desktop shortcut for your METAbolt login master BAT file:

• Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folder where your master BAT file was saved
• Right click on the BAT file and select "Send to -> Desktop"
• An icon for the shortcut to your BAT file will now appear on your desktop

Make sure all METAbolt bots are logged out and click on the newly created desktop icon for your BAT file shortcut. Your bots will all be logged in with METAbolt.

How to Setup a Quiet Model Pandorabot

Recently I assisted a shop owner with the setup of 6 Pandorabot METAbolt Add-Ons to be used as models in her store. Basically, the Pandorabots just needed to login, stand in a pose before a product board, wear the skin/shape/clothing/attachments the shop was selling, and shut the f**k up. If you want to deploy multiple "quiet" Pandorbots, here is how to do so.

First, set NAME_ENABLED = TRUE. This means that the Pandorabot will only respond to chat that includes either her first or last name. Set the first and last names to some strings not commonly used in chat. Also, set the CHANNEL to a non-zero value - the bot will be listening on a private channel and not on local chat. Set AI_ENABLED = FALSE.

Here is an example Pandorabot Configuration notecard for a "quiet" Pandorabot:

FIRST_NAME = Something_Not_Common
LAST_NAME = Also_Not_Common
NAME_ENABLED = TRUE
TEXT_ENABLED = FALSE
RESTRICTED_ACCESS = 1
CHANNEL = 9
GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
AI_ENABLED = FALSE

If you are deploying a Pandorabot as a model you may not want her to act as a greeter, issuing a welcome to new arrivals and delivering notecards and landmarks. To disable the greeter functionality of the Pandorabot, simply delete the Greeter script from the Pandorabot's base prim. You may want to make a copy of the Greeter script before deleting it. Delete the Greeter script in all Pandorabot model's base prims.

If you have multiple Pandorabot METAbolt Add-Ons deployed in the same general vicinity then you need to assign them unique channels. Edit the METAbolt_Config notecard and set the CHANNEL for each Pandorabot to a unique positive integer.

Using the Free EVE Avatar as a Pandorabot

You can use the really cute and well done EVE Avatar as the avatar for your Actorbot or METAbolt Pandorabot. Login to the Second Life Marketplace as the account you use as your Actorbot or METAbolt bot and search for "EVE Avatar". Click on the "EVE Avatar (Free)" link (somebody else copied the original and is selling it for L$100).

Login to Second Life as the account you use for your Actorbot or METAbolt bot, accept delivery of the EVE Avatar, rez the new object from your inventory, unpack and copy it to your inventory. After delivery and unpacking you can simply wear the new EVE folder and your bot should look like the EVE avatar. Logout of Second Life and Log back in using either Actorbot or METAbolt (I'm assuming here that you have already setup your Actorbot or METAbolt as a Pandorabot).

Caution: you cannot use sit and stand animations in the Pandorabot base prim with the EVE avatar as they cause the underlying shape to stick out of the robot attachments.

I Just Want a Greeter - What are my Options?

One common question I get goes something like:

"I'm searching for a bot who welcomes my guests and talks to them. Must my pc be running all the time with the viewer open ? Or do you use your own software ? Is the Bot always logged in ?"

Pandorabots come in several styles all of which can be used as greeters, provide artificially intelligent chat, query Wikipedia, deliver notecards/landmarks, and more. Your options for setting up a Pandorabot greeter/conversationalist include the following:

1. The 2-D Pandorabot V5 is basically a texture applied to a scripted object. The 2-D Pandorabot V5 does not need a viewer running nor is it logged in to Second Life - it is simply an object that is rezzed at your store or home. It can be configured as a greeter, chats, queries Wikipedia, spell check, and other features you expect from a Pandorabot. However, it is a static two dimensional cutout and is not as realistic as the other Pandorabots.
2. A 3-D sculpted Pandorabot V5 is similar to the 2-D Pandorabot V5 but is a sculpted object made to resemble a parrot. It can be rezzed in place or worn. It is a static three dimensional sculpted prim and does not require a viewer nor is it logged into SL.
3. An animated 3-D shape and particle display that contains a Pandorabot V5. Similar to both of the above, the Inner Spheres Pandorabot is a rezzed object, does not need a viewer, and does not need to be logged into SL. It is a rotating set of geometric shapes and particle displays - intelligent eye candy!
4. A 3-D animated avatar Pandorabot is the most sophisticated of the Pandorabots. These require a viewer and must be logged into Second Life just like any avatar. They provide a realistic animated avatar and, in some ways, are indistinguishable from a "real" person :) They use a thin text client as viewer so they consume very little computer resources. The viewer can be left running and minimized without undue strain on a normal system. The 3-D animated avatar Pandorabot must be logged in to be visible. They come in two varieties - the Actorbot Add-On and the METAbolt Add-On. I prefer and recommend the METAbolt Add-On as it is lighter weight, in active development, and supports the physics layer. Both are Windows only clients.

The prices for the models of Pandorabot described above are:

• 2-D Pandorabot V5 is L$245
• 3-D sculpted Pandorabot V5 is L$245
• 3-D Inner Spheres Pandorabot is L$245
• 3-D animated avatar Pandorabot is L$395

All are available on the Second Life Marketplace at http://tinyurl.com/3goercp

Update for METAbolt

A new version of METAbolt has been released. This is primarily a maintenance release with a few new features. See the forum post for details on changes and the download page for binaries and source code.

From the forum post:

[ Features ]

It's now possible to change profile picture by dragging and dropping image or texture on to it
Inventory items can be dragged and dropped onto the avatar profile photo as well as the give box at the bottom of the profile window

[ Ehancements ]

Checkboxes on Group Information window to list group on profile and disable group notices are now functional
Group roles can be created/deleted
Group roles can be assigned/unassigned to avatars
Chat/IM text is now in black instead of gray

[ Fixes ]

Logged in avatar was disappearing from radar
Object Manager was not updating if teleported while it's open
Land owner on About Land was not showing
META3D camera was not working
Land properties was not updating after a TP
The support email address on the Exception window was wrong
Worn Attachments and META3D windows were crashing if TPed while they are open

METAbolt Upgrade Supports Physics Layer

A newly updated METAbolt client is available for download. The new version, released May 30, includes support for the new physics layer. Linden Lab recently added the physics layer which allows avatars to configure parameters that control breast, stomach, and butt bouncing. Prior to this release, avatars logged into Second Life with METAbolt could not wear the physics layer.

Here is the notice from the METAbolt forum:

This is a major upgrade and may require you to remove the version you have and then install this one...that is only if you experience issues after the upgrade.

What's new and what's changed?

[ Features ]

* New feature to upload images under the Tools menu option
* The new "body physics" layer is now supported
* New META3D feaure to view and intereact with objects in 3D via the "View 3D" button on the Object Manager window
* You are also to view and interact with attachments/huds via the attachments icon, in 3D.

[ Enhacements ]

* Files can now be attached to Group Notices
* Upgraded to the latest version of libomv
* Inventory folders are now displayed in alphabetical order by default

[ Fixes ]

* Return button in Object Manager was not checking for land owner and was disabled all the time
* Minor bug fixes in Inventory

Pandorabot vs Actorbot vs METAbolt - Which Bot to Buy ?

People seem to often be confused about which of the Restless Studio Pandorabots to purchase. I am frequently asked which one best suits their needs and what is the difference between them. I'll try to provide a brief overview of the differences between the various models and a capsule feature review.

All of the Pandorabot models provide an artificial intelligent chat, Wikipedia query, greeter, notecard/landmark dispenser, spell check, email, group invites, speech synthesis, and dialog menu interface.

The simplest Pandorabot is the Pandorabot V5 which comes in a variety of appearances. In addition to the male, female, and Steven Colbert / Bob Dobbs two dimensional textured cutouts there is also a 3D sculpted parrot either perching on a stand or worn on the owner's shoulder. The 2D cutout Pandorabots are really all the same and each can be configured to appear as male, female, rotating Bob/Steven head, parrot, or any texture you add to the contents. The 3D sculpted parrot can only be configured to appear as the sculpted object either perched or worn.

The Inner Spheres Pandorabot includes the same scripts and functionality as the Pandorabot V5 but appears as rotating changing textured geometric shapes that emit a variety of particle displays. This is intended to serve as an art display or club entertainment as well as provide the standard AI chat and Wikipedia query features of the Pandorabot V5. The Inner Spheres Pandorabot can also be worn and you can configure it to appear as your avatar.

The Pandorabot Actorbot Add-On and Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On are 3D animated Pandorabots that appear as an avatar and provide all of the Pandorabot features as well as the ability to cycle through dances and stand animations. Whereas the Pandorabot V5 and Inner Spheres Pandorabot are prims that you rez, the Actorbot and METAbolt Pandorabots are actual Second Life avatars that are automatically logged into Second Life via a free desktop client that you run or (in the case of the Actorbot) via a server that you pay for by the hour (5L per hour per Actorbot).

It can be difficult to choose between the Actorbot and METAbolt Pandorabots. The differences and features of each make them well suited for a variety of deployments. I'll try to review each briefly to give you an idea of which might be better suited for your needs.

Actorbots can be programmed to perform specific actions when a given trigger condition is met. For instance, if an Actorbot is paid 250L that could trigger an action. Actions can be any one of instant message, chat, send group invitation, give object, wear outfit, play animation, stop animation, or sit on prim. The Actorbot Pandorabot is more programmable and scriptable than the METAbolt Pandorabot. On the other hand, the METAbolt Pandorabot utilizes an extremely lightweight desktop client that can run as many bots as you like. The Actorbot desktop client is limited to three free Actorbots, does not have near the features of the METAbolt client, and is somewhat more resource intensive. If you want to "drive" your bot via your desktop then the METAbolt Pandorabot is better equipped and really quite feature full.

Use the Inner Spheres Pandorabot as an Avatar

The Inner Spheres Pandorabot, a set of rotating geometric objects, can be worn as an attachment. In fact, using the alpha mask feature of the appearance editor, you can make your avatar invisible and wear the Inner Spheres Pandorabot. In this way you appear to be rotating cool objects emitting particles!

First, edit your appearance (Edit -> Appearance). Save your current appearance in case you want to restore it later by clicking the "Save As" button and giving it a name. Click the Alpha tab. Check all of the Alpha boxes (Head Alpha, Upper Alpha, Lower Alpha, Hair Alpha, and Eye Alpha). Click "Save As" and save your invisible appearance.

Click "OK" and exit the appearance editor. You should now appear invisible except for any attachments you may be wearing. Remove all attachments. I even detach my AO as an invisible avatar really doesn't need an AO.

Locate the Inner Spheres Pandorabot in your inventory. Right click on the Inner Spheres Pandorabot and select "Attach to -> Spine" (or another attachment point if spine is in use). You should appear as rotating geometric objects and respond as a Pandorabot.

The most common problem with wearing a Pandorabot as an attachment is the use of the greeter when teleporting to other locations. I recommend turning the greeter off or minimalizing your greeting. To configure the greeter and a few other things to tailor your Pandorabot as an attachment you will need to edit your configuration notecards.

Right click the Inner Spheres Pandorabot you are wearing and select "Edit". In the Contents tab of the edit window find the Configuration notecard. Right click the Configuration notecard and select "Open". Add the following lines to the top of the Configuration notecard:

FIRST_NAME = <your avatar's first name>
LAST_NAME = <your avatar's last name>
NAME_ENABLED = TRUE
TEXT_ENABLED = FALSE
RESTRICTED_ACCESS = 1
HOVER_ENABLED = FALSE
GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
AI_ENABLED = FALSE

Save your changes and close the edit window. Some of the above are only suggestions based on my experience using Inner Spheres as my avatar appearance. I like to set NAME_ENABLED = TRUE because then the Pandorabot will only respond when either my first or last name is used in local chat. Otherwise it responds to all local chat and that can be annoying. Since I will be teleporting to other locations I turn the greeter off. Use your own judgment.

If you wish to leave your greeter on but fine tune it's behavior, set GREET_ENABLED = TRUE in the Configuration notecard and edit the greeter configuration notecard Greeter_Config. Several parameters allow you to adjust your greeter in the following ways:

If you wish to send new arrivals an Instant Message greeting, set
GREET_ENABLED = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE

If you wish to give new arrivals a landmark, set
GIVE_LANDMARK = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE

If you wish to give new arrivals a notecard, set
GIVE_NOTECARD = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE

If you wish to give new arrivals the named notecard NOTE_NAME,
GIVE_NAMED_NOTECARD = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE

I also like to edit the Inner_Config notecard and set:

SOUND_ON = FALSE

Finally, I edit the Inner Spheres Pandorabot and position it a little higher so the rotating prims don't go underground and the whole assembly appears to float slightly above my head. This way I can wear a cape or hat or other attachments and it will look like the invisible caped person with rotating geometric objects floating over her head is present.