---
layout: page
title: MCI Codes
---
## MCI Codes
ENiGMA½ supports a variety of MCI codes. Some **predefined** codes produce information about the current user, system, or other statistics while others are used to instantiate a **View**.

## General Information
MCI codes are composed of two characters and are prefixed with a percent (%) symbol.

> :information_source: To explicitly tie a MCI to a specific View ID, suffix the MCI code with a number. For example: `%BN1`.

> :information_source: Standard (non-focus) and focus colors are set by placing duplicate codes back to back in art files:

![Example](../assets/images/mci-example1.png "MCI Colors")

Some MCI codes have additional options that may be set directly from the code itself while others -- and more advanced options -- are controlled via the current theme.

## Relationship with Menus, Art, and Themes
A MCI code that appears in a `menu.hjson` entry corresponds to that found in it's associated art file. This same MCI code can be referenced in the `theme.hjson` in order to apply a theme.

See [Menus](../docs/configuration/menu-hjson.md) and [Themes](themes.md) for more information.

## Predefined Codes
There are many predefined MCI codes that can be used anywhere on the system (placed in any art file).

| Code | Description  |
|------|--------------|
| `BN` | Board Name |
| `VL` | Version *label*, e.g. "ENiGMA½ v0.0.12-beta" |
| `VN` | Version *number*, eg.. "0.0.12-beta" |
| `SN` | SysOp username |
| `SR` | SysOp real name |
| `SL` | SysOp location |
| `SA` | SysOp affiliations |
| `SS` | SysOp sex |
| `SE` | SysOp email address |
| `UN` | Current user's username |
| `UI` | Current user's user ID |
| `UG` | Current user's group membership(s) |
| `UR` | Current user's real name |
| `LO` | Current user's location |
| `UA` | Current user's age |
| `BD` | Current user's birthday (using theme date format) |
| `US` | Current user's sex |
| `UE` | Current user's email address |
| `UW` | Current user's web address |
| `UF` | Current user's affiliations |
| `UT` | Current user's theme name |
| `UD` | Current user's *theme ID* (e.g. "luciano_blocktronics") |
| `UC` | Current user's login/call count |
| `ND` | Current user's connected node number |
| `IP` | Current user's IP address |
| `ST` | Current user's connected server name (e.g. "Telnet" or "SSH") |
| `FN` | Current user's active file base filter name |
| `DN` | Current user's number of downloads |
| `DK` | Current user's download amount (formatted to appropriate bytes/megs/etc.) |
| `UP` | Current user's number of uploads |
| `UK` | Current user's upload amount (formatted to appropriate bytes/megs/etc.) |
| `NR` | Current user's upload/download ratio |
| `KR` | Current user's upload/download *bytes* ratio |
| `MS` | Current user's account creation date (using theme date format) |
| `PS` | Current user's post count |
| `PC` | Current user's post/call ratio |
| `MD` | Current user's status/viewing menu/activity |
| `MA` | Current user's active message area name |
| `MC` | Current user's active message conference name |
| `ML` | Current user's active message area description |
| `CM` | Current user's active message conference description |
| `SH` | Current user's term height |
| `SW` | Current user's term width |
| `AC` | Current user's total achievements |
| `AP` | Current user's total achievement points |
| `DR` | Current user's number of door runs |
| `DM` | Current user's total amount of time spent in doors |
| `DT` | Current date (using theme date format) |
| `CT` | Current time (using theme time format) |
| `OS` | System OS (Linux, Windows, etc.) |
| `OA` | System architecture (x86, x86_64, arm, etc.) |
| `SC` | System CPU model |
| `NV` | System underlying Node.js version |
| `AN` | Current active node count |
| `TC` | Total login/calls to the system *ever* |
| `TT` | Total login/calls to the system *today* |
| `RR` | Displays a random rumor |
| `SD` | Total downloads, system wide |
| `SO` | Total downloaded amount, system wide (formatted to appropriate bytes/megs/etc.) |
| `SU` | Total uploads, system wide |
| `SP` | Total uploaded amount, system wide (formatted to appropriate bytes/megs/etc.) |
| `TF` | Total number of files on the system |
| `TB` | Total file base size (formatted to appropriate bytes/megs/gigs/etc.) |
| `TP` | Total messages posted/imported to the system *currently* |
| `PT` | Total messages posted/imported to the system *today* |
| `FT` | Total number of uploads to the system *today* |
| `FB` | Total upload amount *today* (formatted to appropriate bytes/megs/etc. ) |
| `DD` | Total number of downloads from the system *today* |
| `DB` | Total download amount *today* (formatted to appropriate bytes/megs/etc. ) |
| `MB` | System memory |
| `MF` | System _free_ memory |
| `LA` | System load average (e.g. 0.25)<br>(May not be available on some platforms) |
| `CL` | System current load percentage<br>(May not be available on some platforms) |
| `UU` | System uptime in friendly format |
| `LC` | Last caller to the system (username) |
| `LT` | Time of last caller |
| `LD` | Date of last caller |
| `TU` | Total number of users on the system |
| `NT` | Total *new* users *today* |
| `NM` | Count of new messages **address to the current user** across all message areas in which they have access |
| `NP` | Count of new private mail to the current user |
| `IA` | Indicator as to rather the current user is **available** or not. See also `getStatusAvailIndicators()` in [Themes](themes.md) |
| `IV` | Indicator as to rather the current user is **visible** or not. See also `getStatusVisibleIndicators()` in [Themes](themes.md) |
| `PI` | Ingress bytes for the current process (since ENiGMA started up) |
| `PE` | Egress bytes for the current process (since ENiGMA started up) |

Some additional special case codes also exist:

| Code   | Description  |
|--------|--------------|
| `CF##` | Moves the cursor position forward _##_ characters |
| `CB##` | Moves the cursor position back _##_ characters |
| `CU##` | Moves the cursor position up _##_ characters |
| `CD##` | Moves the cursor position down _##_ characters |
| `XY`   | A special code that may be utilized for placement identification when creating menus or to extend an otherwise empty space in an art file down the screen. |


> :information_source: More are added all the time so also check out [core/predefined_mci.js](https://github.com/NuSkooler/enigma-bbs/blob/master/core/mci_view_factory.js) for a full listing.

> :memo: Many codes attempt to pay homage to Oblivion/2, iNiQUiTY, etc.


## Views
A **View** is a control placed on a **form** that can display variable data or collect input. One example of a View is
a Vertical Menu (`%VM`): Old-school BBSers may recognize this as a lightbar menu.

| Code | Name                 | Description      | Notes |
|------|----------------------|------------------|-------|
| `TL` | Text Label           | Displays text | Static content. See [Text View](views/text_view.md) |
| `ET` | Edit Text            | Collect user input | Single line entry. See [Edit Text](views/edit_text_view.md) |
| `ME` | Masked Edit Text     | Collect user input using a *mask* | See [Masked Edit](views/mask_edit_text_view.md) and **Mask Edits** below. |
| `MT` | Multi Line Text Edit | Multi line edit control | Used for FSE, display of FILE_ID.DIZ, etc. See [Multiline Text Edit](views/multi_line_edit_text_view.md) |
| `BT` | Button               | A button | ...it's a button. See [Button](views/button_view.md) |
| `VM` | Vertical Menu        | A vertical menu | AKA a vertical lightbar; Useful for lists. See [Vertical Menu](views/vertical_menu_view.md) |
| `HM` | Horizontal Menu      | A horizontal menu | AKA a horizontal lightbar. See [Horizontal Menu](views/horizontal_menu_view.md) |
| `FM` | Full Menu      | A menu that can go both vertical and horizontal. | See [Full Menu](views/full_menu_view.md) |
| `SM` | Spinner Menu         | A spinner input control | Select *one* from multiple options. See [Spinner Menu](views/spinner_menu_view.md) |
| `TM` | Toggle Menu          | A toggle menu | Commonly used for Yes/No style input. See [Toggle Menu](views/toggle_menu_view.md)|
| `KE` | Key Entry            | A *single* key input control | Think hotkeys |

> :information_source: Peek at [/core/mci_view_factory.js](https://github.com/NuSkooler/enigma-bbs/blob/master/core/mci_view_factory.js) to see additional information.

### Mask Edits
Mask Edits (`%ME`) use the special `maskPattern` property to control a _mask_. This can be useful for gathering dates, phone numbers, so on.

`maskPattern`'s can be composed of the following characters:
* `#`: Numeric 0-9
* `A`: Alpha a-z, A-Z
* `@`: Alphanumeric (combination of the previous patterns)
* `&`: Any "printable" character

Any other characters are literals.

An example of a mask for a date may look like this: `##/##/####`.

Additionally, the following theme stylers can be applied:
* `styleSGR1`: Controls literal character colors for non-focused controls
* `styleSGR2`: Controls literal character colors for focused controls
* `styleSGR3`: Controls fill colors (characters that have not yet received input).

All of the style properties can take pipe codes such as `|00|08`.

### View Identifiers
As mentioned above, MCI codes can (and often should) be explicitly tied to a *View Identifier*. Simply speaking this is a number representing the particular view. These can be useful to reference in code, apply themes, etc.

A view ID is tied to a MCI code by specifying it after the code. For example: `%VM1` or `%SM10`.

## Properties & Theming
Predefined MCI codes and other Views can have properties set via `menu.hjson` and further *themed* via `theme.hjson`. See [Themes](themes.md) for more information on this subject.

### Common Properties

| Property    | Description  |
|-------------|--------------|
| `textStyle` | Sets the standard (non-focus) text style. See [Text Styles](#text-styles) below |
| `focusTextStyle` | Sets focus text style. See [Text Styles](#text-styles) below |
| `itemSpacing` | Used to separate items in menus such as Vertical Menu and Horizontal Menu Views. |
| `height` | Sets the height of views such as menus that may be > 1 character in height |
| `width` | Sets the width of a view |
| `focus` | If set to `true`, establishes initial focus |
| `text` | Set's the view's text if applicable, such as a [TextView](./views/text_view.md) or [EditTextView](./views/edit_text_view.md) amongst others. See [MCI Formatting](#mci-formatting) below for advanced formatting options using the |
| `submit` | If set to `true` any `accept` action upon this view will submit the encompassing **form** |
| `itemFormat` | Sets the format for a list entry. See [Entry Formatting](#entry-formatting) below |
| `focusItemFormat` | Sets the format for a focused list entry. See [Entry Formatting](#entry-formatting) below |

These are just a few of the properties set on various views. *Use the source Luke*, as well as taking a look at the default `menu.hjson` and `theme.hjson` files!

### Custom Properties
Often a module will provide custom properties that receive format objects (See [Entry Formatting](#entry-formatting) below). Custom property formatting can be declared in the `config` block. For example, `browseInfoFormat10`..._N_ (where _N_ is up to 99) in the `file_area_list` module received a fairly extensive format object that contains `{fileName}`, `{estReleaseYear}`, etc.

### Text Styles

Standard style types available for `textStyle` and `focusTextStyle`:

| Style    | Description  |
|----------|--------------|
| `normal` | Leaves text as-is. This is the default. |
| `upper` | ENIGMA BULLETIN BOARD SOFTWARE |
| `lower` | enigma bulletin board software |
| `title` | Enigma Bulletin Board Software |
| `first lower` | eNIGMA bULLETIN bOARD sOFTWARE |
| `small vowels` | eNiGMa BuLLeTiN BoaRD SoFTWaRe |
| `big vowels` | EniGMa bUllEtIn bOArd sOftwArE |
| `small i` | ENiGMA BULLETiN BOARD SOFTWARE |
| `mixed` | EnIGma BUlLEtIn BoaRd SOfTWarE (randomly assigned) |
| `l33t` | 3n1gm4 bull371n b04rd 50f7w4r3 |

### Entry Formatting
Various strings can be formatted using a syntax that allows width & precision specifiers, text styling, etc. Depending on the context, various elements can be referenced by `{name}`. Additional text styles can be supplied as well. The syntax is largely modeled after Python's [string format mini language](https://docs.python.org/3/library/string.html#format-specification-mini-language).

#### MCI Formatting
For more advanced layouts, you may want to apply formatting to MCI codes. In this case, an alternative syntax is supported similar to standard [Entry Formatting](#entry-formatting).

MCI codes can be surrounded by `{` and `}` in the `text` field in your `theme.hjson` for a Text Label (`%TL` aka [Text View](./views/text_view.md)). Some examples:
```hjson
text: "|00|07{BN!stylel33t}" // render board name in "l33t" text

// MCI codes that produce a number can use appropriate stylers as well
text: "|00|07{SD:,}"
// ...or perhaps
text: "|00:07{SD!countWithAbbr}"
```

> :bulb: MCI formatting also applies when programmatically calling [setText()](https://github.com/NuSkooler/enigma-bbs/blob/6710bf8c084487be2ee1d46d72a05d17a7b166f4/core/text_view.js#L148) of [TextView's](./views/text_view.md) and derived views.

### Additional Text Styles
Some of the text styles mentioned above are also available in the mini format language:

| Style | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `normal` | Leaves text as-is. This is the default. |
| `toUpperCase` or `styleUpper` | ENIGMA BULLETIN BOARD SOFTWARE |
| `toLowerCase` or `styleLower` | enigma bulletin board software |
| `styleTitle` | Enigma Bulletin Board Software |
| `styleFirstLower` | eNIGMA bULLETIN bOARD sOFTWARE |
| `styleSmallVowels` | eNiGMa BuLLeTiN BoaRD SoFTWaRe |
| `styleBigVowels` | EniGMa bUllEtIn bOArd sOftwArE |
| `styleSmallI` | ENiGMA BULLETiN BOARD SOFTWARE |
| `styleMixed` | EnIGma BUlLEtIn BoaRd SOfTWarE (randomly assigned) |
| `styleL33t` | 3n1gm4 bull371n b04rd 50f7w4r3 |

Additional text styles are available for numbers:

| Style             | Description   |
|-------------------|---------------|
| `sizeWithAbbr`    | File size (converted from bytes) with abbreviation such as `1 MB`, `2.2 GB`, `34 KB`, etc. |
| `sizeWithoutAbbr` | Just the file size (converted from bytes) without the abbreviation. For example: 1024 becomes 1.  |
| `sizeAbbr`        | Just the abbreviation given a file size (converted from bytes) such as `MB` or `GB`.  |
| `countWithAbbr`   | Count with abbreviation such as `100 K`, `4.3 B`, etc.  |
| `countWithoutAbbr`    | Just the count |
| `countAbbr`       | Just the abbreviation such as `M` for millions.   |
| `durationHours` | Converts the provided *hours* value to something friendly such as `4 hours`, or `4 days`. |
| `durationMinutes` | Converts the provided *minutes* to something friendly such as `10 minutes` or `2 hours` |
| `durationSeconds` | Converts the provided *seconds* to something friendly such as `23 seconds` or `2 minutes` |


#### Examples
Suppose a format object contains the following elements: `userName` and `affils`. We could create a `itemFormat` entry that builds a item to our specifications: `|04{userName!styleFirstLower} |08- |13{affils}`. This may produce a string such as this:

![Example](../assets/images/text-format-example1.png "Text Format")

> :bulb: Remember that a Python [string format mini language](https://docs.python.org/3/library/string.html#format-specification-mini-language) style syntax is available for widths, alignment, number prevision, etc. as well. A number can be made to be more human readable for example: `{byteSize:,}` may yield "1,123,456".