.. image:: /images/picD.png
:align: left
-.. raw:: latex
-
- \dropcap{d}
-
-uring our travels, we've encountered certain terms which have particular
-significance in the context of the Inform text adventure development
-system; here are brief definitions of many of those specialised words and
-phrases.
+|D|\uring our travels, we've encountered certain terms which have
+particular significance in the context of the Inform text adventure
+development system; here are brief definitions of many of those specialised
+words and phrases.
.. glossary::
The generated effect of the player's input, usually by the `parser`
but also occasionally by the designer's code. It refers to a single
task to be processed by Inform, such as DROP KETTLE, and it's stored
- in four numbers: one each for the action itself and the ``actor``
+ in four numbers: one each for the action itself and the :var:`actor`
object who is to perform it (the player or an `NPC`), one for the
- ``noun`` -- or direct object, if present -- and a fourth for the
- ``second`` noun -- if it exists, for example the "POT" in THROW
+ :var:`noun` -- or direct object, if present -- and a fourth for the
+ :var:`second` noun -- if it exists, for example the "POT" in THROW
KETTLE AT POT. See also `fake action`.
alpha-testing
The designer may test from any other part of the program *if* an
object *has* a certain attribute, *give* an attribute to an object
or take it away as need arises. For instance, the attribute
- ``container`` states that the object is capable of having other
+ :attr:`container` states that the object is capable of having other
objects placed inside it.
avatar
dictionary word
A word written in single quotes '...' within the `source file`,
usually (but not exclusively) as one of the values assigned to an
- object's ``name`` property. All such words are stored in the
+ object's :prop:`name` property. All such words are stored in the
`dictionary`, which is consulted by the `parser` when attempting to
make sense of a player's command. Only the first nine characters
are significant (thus ``'cardiogram'`` and ``'cardiograph'`` are
embedded routine
A routine that is defined in the body of an object, as the value of
one of its `properties`. Unlike a `standalone routine`, an embedded
- routine doesn't have a name of its own, and returns ``false`` if
+ routine doesn't have a name of its own, and returns `false` if
execution reaches the terminating marker ``]``.
entry point
standalone routine
A routine which is not part of an object. Unlike an `embedded
- routine`, it must provide a name of its own, and it returns ``true``
+ routine`, it must provide a name of its own, and it returns `true`
when execution reaches the terminating marker ``]``.
statement