ProcGenie Quick Reference

The two tables below serve as quick reference tables for the concepts and syntax of ProcGenie. For an in-depth discussion of ProcGenie's features, click the "user's guide" link at the top of this page.

Concepts Cheat Sheet

`Rewrite System`	An algorithm applying rewrite rules
`Grammar`	A rewrite system used to define a language
`Language`	The universe of potential generative results of a grammar
`Start Symbol`	A start symbol describes the starting element of a grammar
`Nonterminal`	A symbol that can be expanded by production rules to a string
`Terminal`	A terminal string with no more expansion allowed
`Production Rules`	Rules specifying the expansion of nonterminals to other nonterminals or terminals
`Graph`	A graph is a named nonterminal
`Cell`	Each cell on the graph is an anonymous nonterminal
`Component`	Each cell is made up of components. A component is an anonymous nonterminal or terminal
`Directional Rules`	Directional Rules are production rules specifying which way the generator can move on the graph
`Walker`	The "Walker" is a conceptul framework we use to describe the current coordinates and state of the generator on the graph during a generation run

Essential Syntax Cheat Sheet

`Escape`	After clicking the "Run" button, press the escape key to leave your generated text and return to your graph editor.
`[START]`	Defines a start symbol or entry point on a graph
`[E]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be x + 1 on graph
`[W]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be x - 1 on graph
`[N]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be y + 1 on graph
`[S]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be y - 1 on graph
`[NE]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be x + 1 and y + 1 on graph
`[NW]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be x - 1 and y + 1 on graph
`[SW]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be x - 1 and y - 1 on graph
`[SE]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be x + 1 and y - 1 on graph
`[U]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be z + 1 on graph
`[D]`	Production rule specifying that next cell can be z - 1 on graph
`[E, SE, W]`	Define multiple production rules by separating by commas
`\|`	Separate components with a pipe (or)
`[10]`	Define probability factors on each component by placing the factor within brackets. If no probability factor is defined, the components are processed as an if/else statement
`G(graphName)`	Call another graph by name as a named nonterminal
`G(graphName, number)`	Repeatedly call another graph by name as a named nonterminal specified number of times
`teleport(graphName, x, y, z)`	Immediately moves to the specified graph and coordinates
`refs(r1 r2 r3)`	Set reference objects to one or more reference objects named in parentheses and separated by spaces
`getRefsByName(r1 r2 r3)`	Sets reference objects to listed reference objects
`listRefs()`	Provides a list of reference objects; where appropriate, separates list with commas and the word "and"
`allRefs(tag1 tag2 tag3)`	Sets reference objects to all reference objects that have the listed tags
`notRefs(tag1 tag2 tag3)`	Sets reference objects to all reference objects that do not have the listed tags
`anyRef(tag1 tag2 tag3)`	Sets reference objects to any reference objects that have any of the listed tags
`randRef(tag1 tag2 tag3)`	Sets reference object to a random reference object that has the listed tags
`+(tagName)`	Adds a tag or tags to current reference objects
`-(tagName)`	Removes a tag or tags from current reference objects
`?(tagName)`	Constraint checking whether a tag or tags exist on current reference objects
`[varName = varValue]`	Sets a variable to a value
`[varName += varValue]`	Adds a value to an existing variable. If the existing variable is a number, performs math. If the existing variable is a string, concatenates.
`[varName -= varValue]`	Subtracts a value from an existing variable
`[varName includes varValue]`	Checks whether the value of an existing variable includes a string
`[varName === varValue]`	Checks whether an existing variable is equal to a value
`[choice: text (variables) (directions)]`	Defines a choice that encodes context and generates from that context.
`[link: (variables) (directions)]`	Defines a link that encodes context and generates from that context.
`parse(direction)`	Adds a parser to current generation run. Pressing submit after text entry begins a new generation run from the cell in which the parser is defined and heading in the direction specified in parentheses