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You are looking at a command called read

read
read {object}
read {object} for[wards] | back[wards] | rev[ersed] | alpha[betical]

You can read all of the contents of an object as if it were a book.

You can read an object no matter where it is.. this saves you having to teleport to a specific book of commands or instructions before reading it.

read book of trade to see its contents in the default order (forwards) which is date order: oldest to newest.

The assumption is that you will be reading a book and sualy we start ith chapter one.

Use the keyword backwards (or its variants) to see the contents in date order: newsest to oldest. Like reading news with newser info first.

Use the keyword alpha to see the contents in alphabetical order: doorways first then A-Z, just like look.

read the command called readall which is similar yet different.
read the command called lock to stop people reading something.
read the command called examine to read what is written in an object not all of is contents.
read the command called edit to write in something
read the command called contribute to add chapters to a book

Scripting notes:
Sends out the trigger word 'examines' if the object is in the same location as the actor reading it.

Created by wolis, last updated 21 Mar 2015

Code

get $target;
if $target > 0 then chklock else chkorder;

##chkorder:
get $target,$text;
if $target > 0 then chklock else fail;

##chklock:
$tkey = $target's keyid;
if $tkey > 0 then itslocked else examit;

##itslocked:
print "[$actor] discovers that [$target] has been locked with [$tkey]";

##examit:
$order = 'date_asc'; rem - the default;
if $text like alpha then setalpha;
if $text like back|rev then setreverse;

msg $loc,$actor,$actor,0,'force',"force:look $target,examineall_$order";

if $target's loc eq $actor's loc then sayso else sayaway;

##sayso:
set $actor's host to $target;
set $actor's hosthow to 'reading';
say 'examines',"[$actor] starts to read [$target]";

##sayaway:
$is = (seems to be,appears to be,is);
$actn = (distracted,pre-occupied,reading something,learning);
print "[$actor] $is $actn";

##setalpha: $order = '';
##setreverse: $order = 'date_desc';
##setordered: $order = 'date_asc';

##fail:
var $click_cmd to 'read';
var $desc_intro to 'Click on an object to read:

';
look $loc,list,info <> '';
msg $loc,$actor,$actor,0,'force',"force:look $loc,list";