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Opening something (past tense opened)

Opening makes something no longer a physical barrier. The action can be performed on any kind of thing which provides the either/or properties openable and open. The 'can't open unless openable rule' tests to see if the noun both can be and actually is openable. (It is assumed that anything which can be openable can also be open.) In the Standard Rules, the container and door kinds both satisfy these requirements.

In the event that the thing to be opened is also lockable, we are forbidden to open it when it is locked. Both containers and doors can be lockable, but the opening and closing actions would also work fine with kinds which cannot be.

We can create a new kind on which opening and closing will work thus: 'A case file is a kind of thing. A case file can be openable. A case file can be open. A case file is usually openable and closed.'

The meaning of open and closed is different for different kinds of thing. When a container is closed, that means people outside cannot reach in, and vice versa; when a door is closed, people cannot use the 'going' action to pass through it. If we were to create a new kind such as 'case file', we would also need to write rules to make the open and closed properties interesting for this kind.

Typed commands leading to this action

    "open [something]"

Rules controlling this action

    before    opening the trunk   
    instead    opening the trunk   
    check        an actor opening  can't open unless openable rule
    check        an actor opening  can't open what's locked rule
    check        an actor opening  can't open what's already open rule
    carry out    an actor opening  standard opening rule
    report        an actor opening  reveal any newly visible interior rule
    report        an actor opening  standard report opening rule