Actions: Detail view  Back to full view A single action in detail. About the action rulebooks

Standard actions which change the state of things
Locking it with , Unlocking it with , Switching on , Switching off , Opening , Closing , Wearing , Taking off 

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 teapot when the teapot is scenery   

before    asking someone to try doing something when the person asked is not the current interlocutor  giving orders needs an interlocutor rule   name  unlist 

NB: the change greeting command to greeting rule is listed before the giving orders needs an interlocutor rule in the before rules 

NB: the check going during convnode rule is listed before the say goodbye when moving rule in the before rules 

instead of    opening the trunk   

instead of    opening the window   

instead of    examining or opening the manila folders   

instead of    opening the door   

check    an actor opening  can't open unless openable rule   name  unlist

check    an actor opening  can't open what's locked rule   name  unlist

check    an actor opening  can't open what's already open rule   name  unlist

carry out    an actor opening  standard opening rule   name  unlist

carry out    opening a container  mark items as seen on opening a container rule   name  unlist 

NB: the mark items as seen on opening a container rule is listed after the standard opening rule in the carry out opening rules 

report    opening the can of beer   

report    an actor opening  reveal any newly visible interior rule   name  unlist

report    an actor opening  standard report opening rule   name  unlist