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The STML system handles structuring the text into lists directly by using symbols you would also normally use to outline a list if you had a typewriter. So, having an unnumbered list in the middle of the text is as easy as typing like this:
When asked about his favourites, Homer Simpson compiled a quite simple list:
- Beer.
- More Beer.
- Even more beer.
Giving this information made him actually really thirsty...
When asked about his favourites, Homer Simpson compiled a quite simple list:
Beer.
More Beer.
Even more beer.
Giving this information made him actually really thirsty...
STML recognizes a list like this just by looking at the beginning of the line. If there is one of the characters “-“, “+”, “*”, or “#”, the parser assumes that this paragraph should be part of an unnumbered list and opens or continues one. The multitude of symbols allows stacking of lists up to four layers deep:
:h1 Cake production
How to produce a cake? Well, do it like this:
- Go shopping. You have to buy:
* Eggs and salt,
* Butter and lard,
* Milk and flour,
* Some saffron.
- Put everything together nicely.
- Mix it.
- Prepare the stove:
* Clean it if needed.
* Put the cake-to-be into it.
- Bake the cake.
How to produce a cake? Well, do it like this:
Go shopping. You have to buy:
Eggs and salt,
Butter and lard,
Milk and flour,
Some saffron.
Put everything together nicely.
Mix it.
Prepare the stove:
Clean it if needed.
Put the cake-to-be into it.
Bake the cake.
The main parts of the cake production process are outlined in a first list. Some items, however, need further description and for them internal additional lists are opened. The system detects this by the new list item open character “*”. As soon as the identifier of the outer list reappears (“-“), the inner list is closed and the outer one continues.
As this example shows, STML is rather sloppy about empty lines for separation. As already described, they split the text into paragraphs, but otherwise, one is rather free in using them or leaving them out. We'll see some exceptions later.
Note that while STML allows you to use those different characters for list item tagging, the selection of one certain character type does not at all influence the HTML output character for that particular list in any way. It's totally up to the HTML presentation engine to cope with those lists and render them appropriately.
Of course, STML does not only support unnumbered lists, but also numbered ones:
Managing a wedding is rather easy. Only do the following steps:
1) Find a preacher.
2) Go to the church.
3) Say “Yes” when asked.
4) Celebrate.
You should, however, bear in mind that there is normally no possibility for a “test run”...
Managing a wedding is rather easy. Only do the following steps:
Find a preacher.
Go to the church.
Say “Yes” when asked.
Celebrate.
You should, however, bear in mind that there is normally no possibility for a “test run”...
Numbered list items are also started with one out of four constructs: “1)”, “1.”, “a)”, or “a.”. “1” can be any number (also with more than one digit), “a” can be any character (but only exactly one). As you see in the example, the numbers are increased for each item, but this is no constraint at all for the output list to be assembled correctly - it will always be numbered independantly.
Normally, the STML system will fallback to usual paragraphs as soon as a new paragraph starts without a list item indicator. Sometimes, however, one has to split the content of one list item itself into several paragraphs. For these cases, a continuation mark “.” can be used:
Information about some U.S. presidents:
- Kennedy, John F.: He was president in the 1960ies, launched the Apollo space flight program and was murdered only three years after becoming president.
. Even though the Kennedy family is rather large, the famous violin player Nigel Kennedy does not belong to it. One reason could be, that Nigel actually comes from the UK instead of the U.S.
- Nixon, Richard: President of the 1960ies and early 1970ies. He had some trouble regarding a certain hotel in Washington. Something similar to “waterfall”...
Information about some U.S. presidents:
Kennedy, John F.: He was president in the 1960ies, launched the Apollo space flight program and was murdered only three years after becoming president.
Even though the Kennedy family is rather large, the famous violin player Nigel Kennedy does not belong to it. One reason could be, that Nigel actually comes from the UK instead of the U.S.
Nixon, Richard: President of the 1960ies and early 1970ies. He had some trouble regarding a certain hotel in Washington. Something similar to “waterfall”...
The dot-continuation continues always on the current list level. In stacked lists, the level for a continuation paragraph can be indicated by the list mark for that level directly followed by the dot:
To become a star, simply follow these instructions:
1) Give yourself a cool name. Rap musicians could name themselves “Da big rappa”. Hip-Hoppers should go as something like “DJ Blasta Masta”.
2) Take a computer with a music program and compose something or let the machine do the job. Take care:
- You need a loud bass line.
- For the American market, take black singers talking about “bitches” and “niggas”.
- In the European market, follow the successful “marawosi” scheme: Man raps, woman sings. Hey, this //has// been a success in the early 1990ies...
2). Of course, you could also take some musicians and real instruments instead of the computer. But that's not cool, dude!
3) Let everyone sing and dance your masterpiece. You'll be famous, interviewed in TV and the girls want you to be the father of their children.
To become a star, simply follow these instructions:
Give yourself a cool name. Rap musicians could name themselves “Da big rappa”. Hip-Hoppers should go as something like “DJ Blasta Masta”.
Take a computer with a music program and compose something or let the machine do the job. Take care:
You need a loud bass line.
For the American market, take black singers talking about “bitches” and “niggas”.
In the European market, follow the successful “marawosi” scheme: Man raps, woman sings. Hey, this has been a success in the early 1990ies...
Of course, you could also take some musicians and real instruments instead of the computer. But that's not cool, dude!
Let everyone sing and dance your masterpiece. You'll be famous, interviewed in TV and the girls want you to be the father of their children.
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