Preferences (Game Settings)

Customize your HogwartsLive experience. Change password, email, timestamps, notifications, bio, and module-specific settings. Make the magical world yours.

What Are Preferences?

The Preferences page (prefs.php) is your personal control panel for customizing how HogwartsLive looks, behaves, and communicates with you. Think of it as the magical equivalent of a Remembrall crossed with a wardrobe mirror crossed with a very organized filing cabinet - except instead of remembering what you've forgotten, it remembers exactly how you want your game experience configured. Change your password, adjust email notifications, select visual themes, set timezone offsets, edit your character bio, and configure dozens of module-specific options.

Preferences are divided into categories: Account Preferences (password, email), Display Preferences (UI layout), and Game Behavior Preferences (notifications, timestamps, commentary behavior). Modules can add their own preference sections, creating a dynamic system that grows with the features you use. All changes are saved immediately when you click Submit and take effect right away.

Accessing Preferences

How to Get There:

Navigation Link: "Preferences" appears in main navigation menu
Alive Players: Can access from village navigation
Dead Players: Can still access preferences (return link goes to news)
Public Profile Link: "View Your Public Profile" link also provided (alive players only)
Direct URL: prefs.php

Account Preferences

Security & Contact:

Password:

Two Fields: "Password" and "Retype" must match
Minimum Length: 4 characters (will show error if shorter)
Encryption: MD5 hashed before submission (network sniffing protection)
Double Hash: Server applies second MD5 hash for storage
Leave Blank: If you don't want to change password, leave both fields empty
Confirmation: "Your password has been changed." on success
Error Messages: "Your passwords do not match." or "Your password is too short. It must be at least 4 characters."
JavaScript Validation: Client-side check before submission

Email Address:

Validation: Must be valid email format (checked by is_email() function)
Server Restrictions: If Config::requirevalidemail=1, email changes blocked
Locked Email Message: "Your email cannot be changed, system settings prohibit it. Use the Petition link to ask the server administrator to change your email address if this one is no longer valid."
Purpose: Used for Owl Post notifications, password recovery, system announcements
Privacy: Email never displayed publicly to other players
Optional: If Config::requireemail=0, email can be invalid/blank
Confirmation: "Your email address has been changed." on success

Display Preferences

Visual Customization:

Show Config Sections in Tabs:

Type: Boolean (checkbox)
Default: True (enabled)
Purpose: Organizes preference form into tabbed sections
When Disabled: All preferences show as single long form
Recommendation: Keep enabled for easier navigation

Game Behavior Preferences

Gameplay Customization:

Email Notifications:

Send email when you get new owl?: Boolean - receive email notifications for Owl Post
Send email for system generated messages?: Boolean - receive emails for system messages
Use Case: Stay notified of messages even when not logged in
Note: Requires valid email address set

Allow Profanity in Received Owls:

Field: dirtyemail
Type: Boolean (checkbox)
When Enabled: Profanity filter disabled for mail you receive
When Disabled: Profanity in received Owl Post censored
Default: Usually disabled (censored)
Note: Doesn't affect outgoing mail or commentary

Timestamp Display:

Type: Enum (dropdown with 3 options)
Option 0 - None: No timestamps shown in commentary
Option 1 - Real Time: Shows actual date/time (e.g., "12/25 1:27pm")
Option 2 - Relative Time: Shows time elapsed (e.g., "1h35m", "2 days ago")
Affects: Commentary timestamps across all chat areas
Personal Preference: Doesn't affect what others see

Timestamp Format:

Field: timeformat
Type: String (20 character max)
Default: "[m/d h:ia]" (e.g., "12/25 1:27pm")
PHP date() Format: Uses standard PHP date formatting codes
Preview: Shows current time in your format
Examples: "[Y-m-d H:i:s]" = "2025-12-27 15:30:45", "[l, F j]" = "Saturday, December 27"
Brackets: Typically wrapped in square brackets by convention
Advanced: Requires knowledge of PHP date formatting

Time Offset:

Type: Integer (hours)
Purpose: Adjust timestamps for your timezone
Format: Number of hours to offset (positive or negative)
Example: Server is UTC, you're EST (-5), set offset to -5
Preview: Shows current time and offset time
Affects: All timestamp displays throughout game
Math: Server time + (offset * 60 * 60) seconds

Don't Jump to Comment Areas:

Field: nojump
Type: Boolean (checkbox)
When Enabled: Page doesn't auto-scroll to commentary after posting/refreshing
When Disabled: Automatically scrolls to commentary section (default behavior)
Use Case: Prefer to stay at top of page after commenting
Anchor Tags: Disables #commentary anchor jumping

Character Biography

Bio Editing:

Short Character Biography:

Field: bio
Type: String (255 character maximum)
Display: Shows on your player biography page (bio.php)
Public: Visible to all players
Content: Character description, personality, backstory, RP preferences
Sanitization: comment_sanitize() removes unsafe content
Color Codes: Supports LoGD backtick color formatting
Timestamp: biotime updated when bio changes

Bio Blocking:

Admin Lock: Admins can block bio editing (biotime > "9000-01-01")
Blocked Message: "You cannot modify your bio. It has been blocked by the administrators!"
Reason: Usually for inappropriate content violations
Appeal: Use Petition system to request unblock

Module Preferences

Dynamic Module Settings:

How Module Prefs Work:

Auto-Discovery: System queries modules with 'prefs' infokey
Namespace: Module prefs prefixed with "modulename___setting"
Types: user_* (user-editable) and check_* (permission-based)
Sections: Modules can add titled sections to form
Storage: Saved in module_userprefs table
Per-User: Each player has own module preference values

Module Pref Examples:

Combat Modules: Auto-use healing items, preferred spell selection
Notification Modules: Alert preferences, spam filtering
UI Modules: Display options, layout preferences
Feature Modules: Feature-specific toggles and settings

Hooks:

checkuserpref Hook: Modules can validate/modify pref before display
notifyuserprefchange Hook: Called when module pref changes
Dynamic Defaults: Modules can set conditional defaults
Permission Checks: check_* prefs can be gated by permissions

Strategy & Tips

Preferences Optimization

Change Password Regularly: Good security practice, especially if account shared
Valid Email Important: Needed for password recovery and notifications
Timestamp Format: "[m/d h:ia]" is readable, "[H:i:s]" is precise, pick your style
Time Offset: Set correctly for accurate timestamps (calculate server - your timezone)
Relative Timestamps: "1h35m ago" more useful than "12/25 1:27pm" for active chat
Email Notifications: Enable for Owl Post if you want offline notifications
Disable System Emails: If you get too many, turn off system message emails
Profanity Filter: Keep enabled unless you prefer uncensored mail
No Jump Pref: Enable if commentary auto-scroll annoys you
Tab Config: Keep enabled for organized preference display
Bio Editing: Use all 255 characters - make your character memorable
Color Codes in Bio: Backtick codes work - use sparingly for emphasis
Module Prefs: Explore module sections - they often have useful options
Save After Each Section: Submit button saves all changes at once
Password Length: 4 character minimum is low - use longer for security
JavaScript Required: Password encryption requires JS enabled

Preferences Summary: Access via prefs.php to customize game settings. Account: Password (4+ chars, MD5 hashed), Email (validated, may be locked). Display: Tab Config (default true). Game Behavior: Email on Owl Post, System mail, Profanity filter (dirtyemail), Timestamps (None/Real/Relative), Format ([m/d h:ia] default), Time offset (hours), No jump to comments. Bio: 255 char max, public, can be admin-blocked. Module prefs: user_* and check_* settings, modulename___setting namespace, stored in module_userprefs. Save process: Change detection via serialized oldvalues, selective updates, Settings Saved confirmation. Security: Client MD5 hash, server double-hash md5(md5(pass)), comment_sanitize() for bio, is_email() validation. Form uses showform(), JavaScript md5pass() for password encryption.

Hogwarts Live Player's Guide