pm39 command controlled vocab
A Controlled Vocabulary for Documenting ConTeXt Commands
Mostly for my own edification and understanding; comments appreciated! -Paul
Contents
Syntax
Vocabulary:
- Command Name
- Option Block
- Settings Block
- Scope
Command Name
The command name is the part of the command that is preceded by a backslash (\).
Option Block
The option block is a square bracket ({}) delimited set of comma-separated single-word options (may also have a numerical modifier with an arithmetic operator) included after the command.
Option keywords are not necessarily consistent across all commands.
Settings Block
The settings block is a square bracket ({}) delimited set of comma-separated settings in the form of key=value pairs included after the command.
The key=value pairs are consistent across all commands (a bold claim, but so far, true!).
Scope
The scope of a command is indicated by the \start and \stop commands for that command, or by curly bracket ({}) delimited content to which the command applies, included after the command.
Command Kinds
The command namespace may be extended by defining new forms of a command to semantically align to a particular use in a text. This is a KIND of the base command.
Command Kinds in the ConTeXt documentation are traditionally set in ITALIC UPPERCASE.
Argument Classes
Some commands can accept arguments that are of a particular class: a number, or a command, etc.
The documentation uses the following as known argument classes:
IDENTIFIER
- A label, a logical name
REFERENCE
- A label, a logical name
NAME
- A label, a logical name
CHARACTER
- A single character (glyph?) or text.
TEXT
- A piece of literal text.
MARK
- Information about document state (page number, section number)
DIMENSION
- A measure of linear distance. Can be static, dynamic, or computed.
NUMBER
- An integer
COMMAND
- A ConTeXt command.
PATH
- A file path to a file in the local filesystem.
COLOR
- A color name (or specification?)
CSNAME
- A TeX-protected sequence of characters
CONTENT
- Any amount and any kind of ConTeXt content: text, commands, etc.
General placeholders in the ConTeXt documentation are traditionally set in UPPERCASE.