UTIL

Usage: UTIL <command> [<parameters>]

The UTIL commands run server and services commands from AdminServ. They duplicate the functionality of various server commands.

FIELD - Set fields on users.

FLASH - Send news flash messages.

NOTICE - Send notices.

SERVER - Server management commands.

SERVICES - Services management commands.


Example:

/as help util <command>

Util commands work exactly the same way as their respective server commands. They are simply designed to be useful for scripting. You can run a util command manually to get the feel for it though.

Usage: UTIL FIELD SET <nickname> <field> <value>

Sets a specific value on a field.

Example:

/as util field John avatar Alien

/as util field Crystal sex Female

This will allow you to set fields with external methods or scripts. You'll be able to write a script that automatically adds an avatar to a bot or with external calls you can set information from your external database on users on the server.

Usage: UTIL FLASH [LOCAL|NETWORK] <message>

This will send either a local newsflash or a network-wide newsflash. This command mimics the server commands /lflash or /nflash.

Example:

/as util flash local -=This is a local newsflash=-

If you had a regular event on your server, you could script a newsflash to inform people as part of that event.

Usage: NOTICE [LOCOP|GLOBOP|SERVER|NETWORK|MFLASH] <message>

These commands send notices to various users. Locops will send a notice to every oper on the server. Globops will send a notice to every network operator who is +g, regardless of which servers they are on. Server will send a notice to everyone on the server. Network will send a notice to everyone on the network.

Example:

/as util network -=This is a global notice=- Our chat network is celebrating its first birthday, join #Administration for cake!

These notices can be particularly useful if you create a script that is disruptive in some way. Noticing first allows people to prepare.

Usage: UTIL SERVER [DIE|REHASH|RESTART]

These commands will shut down your server (die), rehash your server (clearing temporary server bans and similar), or shut down and then restart the server,
Example:

/as util server rehash

You will probably not want to write a script that will shut down your server. Once shut down, there may not be someone with sufficient access to bring it back up. But if you had a reason to, you could set up a script to shut down your server and then connect it to an event that you could configure to execute at a specific time. 
This way if you wanted to shut down your server at some particular time, you would not have to even be online to do it. Regular rehashing is a more practical and common use for scripts and events. Restarting might also be desired.

Usage: UTIL SERVICES [START|STOP]

This command will shutdown or start services on your server. 

Example:

/as util services start

You might want to shutdown services either if your network is only "open" during certain hours or if you want to do a quick shutdown, copy the logs, and then restart services.