How To Include This Module. What to do to make use of the syntax module in a new command-line tool. @h Status. The syntax module provided as one of the "services" suite of modules, which means that it was built with a view to potential incorporation in multiple tools. It can be found, for example, in //inform7//, //inbuild// and //syntax-test//, among others. //syntax-test// may be useful as a minimal example of a tool using //syntax//. By convention, the modules considered as "services" have no dependencies on other modules except for //foundation// and other "services" modules. A tool can import //syntax// only if it also imports //foundation// and //words//. @h Importing the module. We'll use the term "parent" to mean the tool which is importing //syntax//, that is, which will include its code and be able to use it. As with any imported module, (*) The contents page of the parent's web must identify and locate the module: = (text as Inweb) Import: somepath/syntax = (*) The parent must call |SyntaxModule::start()| just after it starts up, and |SyntaxModule::end()| just before it shuts down. (But just after, and just before, the corresponding calls to //foundation//.) But in addition, the parent of //syntax// must define some Preform grammar: (*) || to recognise sentences modifying the language which is currently being parsed; (*) || to recognise structurally important sentences; (*) || to recognise sentences which divide up the text, normally headings; (*) || to recognise sentences where a comma plays a role normally expected to be played by a colon. Though compulsory, these don't need to do much: see //syntax-test: Unit Tests//. @h Using callbacks. Shared modules like this one are tweaked in behaviour by defining "callback functions". This means that the parent might provide a function of its own which would answer a question put to it by the module, or take some action on behalf of the module: it's a callback in the sense that the parent is normally calling the module, but then the module calls the parent back to ask for data or action. The parent must indicate which function to use by defining a constant with a specific name as being equal to that function's name. A fictional example would be = (text as Inweb) @d EXPRESS_SURPRISE_SYNTAX_CALLBACK Emotions::gosh = void Emotions::gosh(text_stream *OUT) { WRITE("Good gracious!\n"); } = The syntax module has many callbacks, but they are all optional. The following alphabetical list has references to fuller explanations: (*) |AMBIGUITY_JOIN_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| can rearrange ambiguous readings as added to a syntax tree: see //SyntaxTree::add_reading//. (*) |ANNOTATION_COPY_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| can perform deep rather than shallow copies of node annotations when these are essential: see //Annotations::copy//. (*) |ANNOTATION_PERMISSIONS_SYNTAX_CALLBACK|, |MORE_ANNOTATION_PERMISSIONS_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| and |EVEN_MORE_ANNOTATION_PERMISSIONS_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| gives permission for nodes of given types to have annotations with given IDs, and effectively provides a way to create custom annotations: see //Annotations::make_annotation_allowed_table//. (*) |BEGIN_OR_END_HERE_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| is called when a new extension beginning or ending sentence is found in the source text being broken into sentences: see //Sentences::make_node//. (*) |LANGUAGE_ELEMENT_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| is called when a sentence is found matching the nonterminal ||: see //Sentences::make_node//. (*) |LOG_UNENUMERATED_NODE_TYPES_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| is called to log a node type not recognised as one of the enumerated |*_NT| values: see //NodeType::log//. (*) |NEW_HEADING_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| is called when a new heading sentence is found in the source text being broken into sentences: see //Sentences::make_node//. (*) |NEW_HEADING_TREE_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| is called when a new syntax tree is being created, and needs to be given a matching tree of headings: see //SyntaxTree::new//. (*) |NODE_METADATA_SETUP_SYNTAX_CALLBACK|, |MORE_NODE_METADATA_SETUP_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| and |EVEN_MORE_NODE_METADATA_SETUP_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| adds new syntax tree node types: see //NodeType::metadata_setup//. (*) |PARENTAGE_EXCEPTIONS_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| allows exceptions to the rules about which nodes in a syntax tree can be parents of which other nodes: see //NodeType::parentage_allowed//. (*) |PARENTAGE_PERMISSIONS_SYNTAX_CALLBACK|, |MORE_PARENTAGE_PERMISSIONS_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| and |EVEN_MORE_PARENTAGE_PERMISSIONS_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| adds permissions for nodes to be parents of each other: see //NodeType::make_parentage_allowed_table//. (*) |PROBLEM_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| is called when a syntax error is found, and can prevent this from being issued to the terminal as an error message: see //Sentences::syntax_problem//. (*) |NEW_NONSTRUCTURAL_SENTENCE_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| is called when a new, regular sentence is found in the source text being broken into sentences: see //Sentences::make_node//. (*) |IS_SENTENCE_NODE_SYNTAX_CALLBACK| is asked whether a given node represents a regular sentence or not: see //NodeType::is_sentence//.