Added an /update switch and a corresponding update command to the typeclass switch system, this allows to soft-update a typeclass and re-run only its at_object_creation, which seems to be the most common use-case.

evennia/commands/default/building.py

@@ -1563,11 +1563,14 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
       @type                     ''
       @parent                   ''
       @swap - this is a shorthand for using /force/reset flags.
+      @update - this is a shorthand for using the /force/reload flag.
 
     Switch:
-      show - display the current typeclass of object
-      reset - clean out *all* the attributes on the object -
-              basically making this a new clean object.
+      show - display the current typeclass of object (default)
+      update - *only* re-run at_object_creation on this object
+              meaning locks or other properties set later may remain.
+      reset - clean out *all* the attributes and properties on the
+              object - basically making this a new clean object.
       force - change to the typeclass also if the object
               already has a typeclass of the same name.
     Example:
@@ -1580,7 +1583,7 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
     of the new typeclass will be run on the object. If you have
     clashing properties on the old class, use /reset. By default you
     are protected from changing to a typeclass of the same name as the
-    one you already have, use /force to override this protection.
+    one you already have - use /force to override this protection.
 
     The given typeclass must be identified by its location using
     python dot-notation pointing to the correct module and class. If
@@ -1592,7 +1595,7 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
     """
 
     key = "@typeclass"
-    aliases = ["@type", "@parent", "@swap"]
+    aliases = ["@type", "@parent", "@swap", "@update"]
     locks = "cmd:perm(typeclass) or perm(Builders)"
     help_category = "Building"
 
@@ -1624,6 +1627,9 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
         if self.cmdstring == "@swap":
             self.switches.append("force")
             self.switches.append("reset")
+        elif self.cmdstring == "@update":
+            self.switches.append("force")
+            self.switches.append("update")
 
         if not obj.access(caller, 'edit'):
             caller.msg("You are not allowed to do that.")
@@ -1637,11 +1643,14 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
         if is_same and not 'force' in self.switches:
             string = "%s already has the typeclass '%s'. Use /force to override." % (obj.name, new_typeclass)
         else:
+            update = "update" in self.switches
             reset = "reset" in self.switches
+            hooks = "at_object_creation" if update else "all"
             old_typeclass_path = obj.typeclass_path
 
             # we let this raise exception if needed
-            obj.swap_typeclass(new_typeclass, clean_attributes=reset, clean_cmdsets=reset)
+            obj.swap_typeclass(new_typeclass, clean_attributes=reset,
+                    clean_cmdsets=reset, run_start_hooks=hooks)
 
             if is_same:
                 string = "%s updated its existing typeclass (%s).\n" % (obj.name, obj.path)
@@ -1649,7 +1658,10 @@ class CmdTypeclass(COMMAND_DEFAULT_CLASS):
                 string = "%s changed typeclass from %s to %s.\n" % (obj.name,
                                                          old_typeclass_path,
                                                          obj.typeclass_path)
-            string += "Creation hooks were run."
+            if update:
+                string += "Only the at_object_creation hook was run (update mode)."
+            else:
+                string += "All object creation hooks were run."
             if reset:
                 string += " All old attributes where deleted before the swap."
             else:

evennia/typeclasses/models.py

@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ class TypedObject(SharedMemoryModel):
             return any(hasattr(cls, "path") and cls.path in typeclass for cls in self.__class__.mro())
 
     def swap_typeclass(self, new_typeclass, clean_attributes=False,
-                       run_start_hooks=True, no_default=True, clean_cmdsets=False):
+                       run_start_hooks="all", no_default=True, clean_cmdsets=False):
         """
         This performs an in-situ swap of the typeclass. This means
         that in-game, this object will suddenly be something else.
@@ -438,16 +438,16 @@ class TypedObject(SharedMemoryModel):
                 sure nothing in the new typeclass clashes with the old
                 one. If you supply a list, only those named attributes
                 will be cleared.
-            run_start_hooks (bool, optional): Trigger the start hooks
-                of the object, as if it was created for the first time.
+            run_start_hooks (str or None, optional): This is either None,
+                to not run any hooks, "all" to run all hooks defined by
+                at_first_start, or a string giving the name of the hook
+                to run (for example 'at_object_creation'). This will
+                always be called without arguments.
             no_default (bool, optiona): If set, the swapper will not
                 allow for swapping to a default typeclass in case the
                 given one fails for some reason. Instead the old one will
                 be preserved.
             clean_cmdsets (bool, optional): Delete all cmdsets on the object.
-        Returns:
-            result (bool): True/False depending on if the swap worked
-                or not.
 
         """
 
@@ -483,9 +483,12 @@ class TypedObject(SharedMemoryModel):
             self.cmdset.clear()
             self.cmdset.remove_default()
 
-        if run_start_hooks:
+        if run_start_hooks == 'all':
             # fake this call to mimic the first save
             self.at_first_save()
+        elif run_start_hooks:
+            # a custom hook-name to call.
+            getattr(self, run_start_hooks)()
 
     #
     # Lock / permission methods