Here on this page is a tutorial on how to learn to build using the keyboard method. If you find this method confusing, you can try the mouse method here. To start out go to AWNewbie's ground zero and in one of the directions along the road. This tutorial was written by Ryan.

1. First we need to make sure that the NumLock light on your keyboard isn't on. The light is located in the upper right-hand corner of your keyboard. If the light is on, then look just under that light for the NumLock key to turn the light off.

2. Now, head along the road and find one of the checkered walls.

Once you have found one, right-click it. An object properties box will come up. Just ignore that box for now. Find the insert key on your keyboard, tap that key then use the arrow keys (below the insert key in a little group, not on the far right of your keyboard) to move your object far out into open territory.

If you get an error message like this: Building Inspector: You are not allowed to encroach into another's property, then your checkered wall is overlapping some of AWNewbie's land. In AW, objects made by different owners cannot overlap, so be sure to move your objects so that they're not overlapping someone else's land. Note that tourist objects can be freely edited by other tourists, as well as deleted.

3. Once you have a copy of your wall in a blank area, we are going to change it into another object. Right-click your wall, and in the object line of the object properties box, change "wall031.rwx" to "walk003.rwx". Close the object properties box. The checkered wall should turn into a grey floor object.

If you get an error message like this: Building Inspector: Only registered objects can be used for construction, then you put in an invalid object code.

4. Now we will add a wall object to your floor. There is a formula to adding new objects: "right-click, insert, down-arrow once". Whenever you want to add a new object, you first right-click the object to bring up the object properties box. Then you tap the insert key (you are "inserting" a new object). Afterwards you always tap the down-arrow key once. You should get into the habit of following this formula, as it will add a new object and line it up with the old one.

So what you want to do is right-click the checkered wall, tap the insert key once, then tap the down-arrow key once. Change the code in the object line of the object properties box from "walk003.rwx" to "pp01.rwx". Your build should now look like this:

5. We will now move the wall object to the end of the floor object. Right-click your wall (do not tap the insert key, this adds a new object - we just want to move the wall) and tap the up arrow exactly eight times, slowly. Remember you are using the group of arrow keys at the bottom. They do not have numbers on them. After your wall is up at the edge, tap the left arrow key four times to put it in the corner. Check behind the wall and make sure it is lined up exactly with the walk. It should like this:

6. Now we will make another wall to complete that side of the build. Remember the formula to make a new object? Right-click the wall, tap insert once, tap the down-arrow key once, tap the right arrow key exactly eight times, then close the object properties box. It is important to check and make sure it is lined up correctly with the walk.

7. We will now make a new wall object. Use the formula: right-click one of the walls, tap the insert key, then tap the down-arrow key once. Now we have to rotate the wall, using the Page Up or Page Down keys.

Tap the Page Up or Page down key exactly 6 times to turn your new wall piece 90 degrees so you can fit it perfectly into the corner. You need to rotate it exactly 6 times BEFORE moving the object so the piece stays in line. You rotate, then move. Never rotate, move, rotate. After you've rotated the piece, use the arrow keys to slide it into the corner. You should check all around to make sure it is in line with the walk object.

8. Add a new wall panel to that side (right-click, insert, down-arrow, then use the appropriate arrow key 8 times). You then need to rotate that piece to make another corner, using the directions in step 7. Continue adding the wall panels along the perimeter of the walk until it is completely enclosed on all four sides.

9. Right-click one of your walls and change the code in the object line of the object properties box from "pp01.rwx" to "pd01.rwx" (D is for door) to form a door. Right-click another wall and change the code in the object line of the object properties box from "pp01.rwx" to "pw01.rwx" (W is for window).

10. Now let's use your floor object to form the roof. We will be using the + key on the far right side of your keyboard to lift the object up.

Right-click your floor object, tap insert, tap the down-arrow key once, then tap the + key exactly 8 times. If you go too far up, you can use the - key to lower your object.

11. The house is a bit empty, so let's take a field trip to the object yard to find some objects to put in it. Click Here to go to the object yard. If that doesn't work, go to the Teleport menu and click "To..". Fill out AWNewbie for the world and 36.6s 40.6w for the coordinates.

In the object yard, click the Furniture and TVs sign. There, right-click some objects you like and write down the codes for them.

Once you have all the codes you want, click the back arrow in your AW browser twice to return to your home.

12. Back at your build, add new objects using your floor. Use the codes you got from the object yard. Feel free to move the furniture in any way you want, using the arrow keys for moving, Page Up and Page Down keys for rotating, and the + and - keys for raising and lowering your objects.

You can also hold down shift while moving an object to shift it at a smaller increment for more accuracy. Don't use the shift button while moving walls, floors, or roofs, or your build will be out of line.

Congratulations! You've finished the basic building tutorial. Remember that all builds in AWNewbie are temporary only. If you would like to learn about ways you can further edit objects, then click here.

Click Here to return to the tourist pages.