• The header, , shows the sequence database (e.g., TEMPPLUS), the index of the sequence within the database (1), and the number of text lines contained in the box (10).
   
• A sequence may contain up to 20 formation pictures, which can be inserted via the Insert formation button (described in the Edit Buffer section).
   
• Right-clicking the mouse within the Processed Text Box invokes a pop-up menu with the following functions:
  • Edit sequence text
  • Print...
  Double-clicking the left mouse button at the end of a line within the Processed Text Box displays a formation picture of the dancers after executing the calls on the line clicked.
   
• When the number of text lines in the sequence exceeds a specified amount, the program automatically searches the GETOUT database for resolves from the current formation. If one or more GETOUTs are found, that number is displayed in red immediately beneath the last line of the sequence. Pressing Ctrl+G displays the Getouts - For Current Position window, from which a resolve can be selected and added to the sequence.

• Calls may be entered in their entirety (e.g., "Relay the Deucey") or as one-word abbreviations (e.g., "RTD") in which case the program automatically expands the abbreviation into its corresponding prose name (e.g., "RTD" is expanded into "Relay The Deucey"). If there are multiple expansions for a given abbreviation (e.g., "ST" could be "Star Thru", "Swing Thru", "Slide Thru", etc.) the program prompts you to select the desired expansion from a list. If the entered text is not a recognized call and the program is unable to find an expansion for the abbreviation, a dialog box appears into which you can add a new expansion, if desired.
  A quick note about abbreviations: an abbreviation is a single word (no spaces); when CSDS encounters an abbreviation, it is expanded. This is controlled by the Abbreviation Database. Each call has 2 default abbreviations:
  1. The concatenation of the first letter of each word;
  2. The concatenation of the first two letters of each word (i.e., Follow Your Neighbor is FOYONE)
   
• Multiple lines of text (i.e., calls) may be entered into the Edit Buffer. To create a new line at the current cursor position, press the Insert new line button (or Alt-W).
   
• Pressing the Enter-key tells the program to execute the calls within the Edit Buffer. If the calls are successfully executed, the dancers are updated to their ending position and the processed calls are moved from the Edit Buffer to the Processed Text Box.
   
• The button (or Ctrl+I) inserts a picture of the formation at the current cursor location. The inserted formation must be on a separate line within the sequence text. Do not insert a formation in the middle of a call.
   
• The button (or Ctrl+R) clears the contents of the Edit Buffer. The text is erased and cannot be retrieved.
   
• The button (or Ctrl+W) inserts a new line into the Edit Buffer at the current cursor position. You may insert as many lines in the buffer for editing purposes as you'd like; however, the program removes all blank lines when the sequence is saved.
   
• To split up a line of text into more than one line (known as a logical line), make sure that the first part of the logical line starts in column #1, and that all remaining lines start in column #2 or beyond. For example, perhaps the call "Centers Fan The Top & Hinge, Other Boy Run," is a bit cumbersome to fit on one line. Split the call into two lines like this:

  Centers Fan The Top & Hinge,

  Other Boy Run,

   
• The button (or Ctrl+F) displays the Find calls (via Prefix + Call) window which searches for calls that the program can do from the current position. A prefix, such as "As Couples", may be entered, and the program will search for calls of the form "As Couples call".
   
• The button (or Ctrl+D) displays the Find calls (via Snapshot Database) window which searches for calls that the program can do from the current position using the Snapshot Database.
   
• The button (or Ctrl+G) displays the Getouts - For Current Position window, which allows a resolve to be selected from the GETOUT database.
   
• The Navigation Buttons, , move the dancers forward or backward either one call at a time or all calls at once.
  • (or Ctrl+F11) moves the dancers to the beginning of the sequence, undoing all calls from the Processed Text Box (effectively clearing the Processed Text Box). The 'un-done' text is inserted before the first line of the Edit Buffer.
  • (or F11 or Ctrl+U) moves the dancers backward one call, undoing the last call (one logical line of text) from the Processed Text Box, and moves the text to the beginning of the Edit Buffer.
  • (or F12) moves the dancers forward one call, executes the next call (one logical line of text) in the Edit Buffer, and moves the text to the end of the Processed Text Box.
  • (or Ctrl+F12) moves the dancers to the end of the sequence, executing all calls in the Edit Buffer (effectively clearing the Edit Buffer). The executed text is inserted after the last line of the Processed Text Box.
   
• There are a few special-purpose characters that may be inserted into the text of the sequence:

  '%' toggles highlighting (underline + italic). '$' toggles extra highlighting (underline + italic + bold). '(' and ')' enclose comments. '[' and ']' modify call interpretation. For example, [As Couples Swing Thru] & Roll ===> does an individual Roll. [As Couples Swing Thru & Roll] ===> does an As Couples Roll. (note: CSDS defaults to applying the concept to the entire text string that follows, hence      As Couples Swing Thru & Roll ===> does an As Couples Roll). [Run Wild 3/4] Reset ===> does a 3/4 Run Wild then a Reset. Run Wild [3/4 Reset] ===> does a Run Wild then a 3/4 Reset. (note: CSDS prefers the fraction to precede the call.) '{' and '}' modify call display and interpretation. The format is {display;execute;level} a) display is displayed when the sequence is viewed or printed. b) execute is what the program executes. c) level is the level assigned to the call. An indented line is considered part of the previous line.

  For example, the text corresponding to the Processed Text Box shown at the beginning of this help file (above) is:

  Heads Fan The Top,
  Extend Twice,
  Centers Fan The Top & %Hinge%,
     $Other Boy Run$,
  (#formation#)
  All Coordinate (mixed sex),
  Ferris Wheel,
  Centers Veer Left & That Girl Run,
  Extend,
  Girls Trade,
  Spin The Top,
      

The Dancer Area displays two sets of dancers:

• The Before dancers show the setup prior to executing the call.
   
• The After dancers show the setup after executing the call.
   
• The executed call is shown in a box near the line connecting the two sets of dancers.
   
• The background grid (dashed lines) and the axes (solid lines) can be hidden or shown via the menu option Display | Grid.
   
• The dancer sizes and colors may be modified via the menu option Display | Dancer settings....
   
• The upper right portion of the dancer area shows the FASR the current position, if applicable.

• List associates a list of calls with the sequence (or set of sequences). A list keeps track of how many times each call or concept is used within a set of sequences. The dropdown list allows you to choose a different list to associate with the sequence (or set of sequences).
  • The button (or Ctrl+L) allows the list to be viewed. This can also be accomplished via the View | List menu item. Viewing a list allows you to see which calls you haven't yet used for the dance that you are writing, aiding you to write a dance that exercises most calls on the list.
     
  • The button allows a new list to be created, and associated with the sequence (or set of sequences).
     
  • The button clears the Use Count for all the calls on the current list. Clearing the Use Count resets the list, making the count for each call become zero.
   
• Difficulty assigns a difficulty level (Easy, Medium Easy, Medium, Medium Hard, or Hard) to the sequence. The default is 'Medium'.
   
• Rating assigns a rating to the sequence. Available Ratings are '-'=not rated, 1=Awful, 2=Bad, 3=Average, 4=Good, 5=Excellent. The default is '-' (not rated).
   
• Star, when checked, marks the sequence as being an especially good sequence.
   
• In print list, when checked, means that the sequence is in the list of sequences waiting to be printed.

• The button clears the Use Count for all the calls on the current list. Clearing the Use Count resets the list, making the count for each call become zero.
   
• The button edits the current list.
   
• The button edits the current list by call or level only.
   
• The button modifies the colors used in the checkboxes and call list.
   
• The button hides the List Panel. When hidden, the List Panel is replaced with a single button , which restores the List Panel when clicked.
   
• The checkboxes filter the calls displayed from the current list.
  • Primary+InRange, when checked, shows all calls on the list that are marked as the primary level (e.g., Plus) and that have a use count within the desired range (e.g., 0 to 0).
  • Primary+OutOfRange, when checked, shows all calls on the list that are marked as the primary level (e.g., Plus) and that have a use count outside of the desired range. The number of times each primary call has been used will show to the right of the call (in the 'Use' Column).
  • Secondary+InRange, when checked, shows all non-primary calls on the list that have a use count within the desired range (e.g., 0 to 0).
  • Secondary+OutOfRange, when checked, shows all non-primary calls on the list that have a use count outside of the desired range.
   
• The header shows the Use Count range and the number of items in the list. The Use Count range may be modified by editing the list.
   
• The call list shows the calls on the current list as filtered by the checkboxes, the level of each call, and the Use Count associated with the call. The list may be sorted by Text, Level, or Use Count by clicking on the column header of choice. A little triangle is displayed in the column header indicating the sorted column. Clicking the header of a sorted column toggles the sort order between ascending and descending.
   
  

• New sequence [Graphics] selects a new sequence database so you can write another sequence.
   
• Edit sequence [Graphics] selects an existing sequence (database and index) to be edited.
   
• Sequence history list (Ctrl+P) selects a sequence to be edited from the list of previously edited sequences.
   
• New sequence (same database) (Ctrl+N) creates the next sequential sequence within the current sequence database.
   
• Previous sequence (same database) edits the previous sequential sequence within the current sequence database.
   
• Next sequence (same database) edits the next sequential sequence within the current sequence database.
   
• Print... allows the sequence to be printed to a printer or to a file.
   
• Add sequence to a dance adds the current sequence to a dance. A dialog box allows you to select the dance, the frame, and the position within the frame.
   
• Upload to ceder.net Choreography Database uploads the sequence to the Choreography Database at ceder.net (/choreodb), so you can share the sequence with other callers (requires an internet connection).
   
• Properties shows the properties for the current sequence.
   
• Parse sequence parses the sequence (for debugging purposes), showing the internal handles (calls, concepts, identifiers, numerics, etc.) used by CSDS.
   
• Definitions of Calls and Concepts allows access to the Ceder Chest Square Dance Definitions.
   
• Close (Ctrl+Q) closes the Edit Sequence window, usually returning you to the CSDS main menu.

• Sequence text invokes a Notepad-like text editor to edit the entire sequence text (Processed Text and Edit Buffer). The Edit Buffer is appended to the processed text prior to invoking the text editor.
   
• Problems displays a dialog box that allows the sequence to be marked as having problems, so it can be corrected later. A sequence may be marked as having any or all of the following problems:
  • Too long
  • Too short
  • Does not resolve
  • Illegal choreography
  • Awkward flow
  • Overflow
  • Not liked by dancers
  • Heads/Sides used after first line
  • Same hand used twice in a row
  • and 3 user-defined problems.
   
• Copy Text to Clipboard copies the entire sequence text (Processed Text and Edit Buffer) to clipboard.
   
• New getout allows new getouts to be added to the GETOUT database.
   
• New getin allows new getins to be added to the GETIN database.
   
• Abbreviation database edits the abbreviation database to add or delete abbreviations and expansions.
   
• List database edits the list database to add a new call or concept.
   
• Parse database edits the parse database, which allows for different ways to spell a call or concept.

• Colors and relative sizes... changes the colors and sizes of the text displayed for a sequence. For example, comments (text within matching parentheses) could be set to purple and 80% of the size for normal text.
   
• Font... changes the font name and font size used for the Edit Buffer, Processed Text, and the last call executed.
   
• Dancer settings... changes the sizes and colors of the Before and After dancers.
   
• Inserted formation size... changes the size of formation pictures inserted into the sequence.
   
• Before picture enables whether or not the Before formation is displayed.
   
• Axes enables whether or not X and Y axes are displayed.
   
• Grid enables whether or not dashed grid lines are displayed.
   
• List Panel enables whether or not the List Panel (lower right) is displayed.
   
• Getout count (after N lines) tells the program when to automatically display the number of getouts available from the current ending position. A number from 0 to 99 can be selected, which indicates the number of processed text lines required before the program automatically searches for getouts.

• Calls (via Prefix + Call) searches for calls that can be done from the current position. You can specify a level range, whether or not to use fuzzy matching, and, most importantly, a prefix string. The prefix string is text inserted before the call: for example, the prefix string could be "Centers", in which case the program would search for calls that the Centers could do.
   
• Calls (via Snapshot Database) searches the snapshot database for calls that can be done from the current position. You can specify a level range and whether or not to use fuzzy matching.
   
• Getout displays a list of getouts from the GETOUT database for the current position. If a getout is selected from the list, it is added to the end of the Processed Text Box, and the dancers will be updated accordingly.
   
• Getin displays a list of getins from the GETIN database for the current position. If a getin is selected from the list, the contents of the Processed Text Box is replaced with the selected getin.
   
• Getouts at or below max level only, when checked, the program only searches for getouts at or below the maximum level specified for the current sequence database. It is generally a good idea to have this menu item checked, otherwise, when you are writing a Plus-level sequence, the program may display a lot of C4-level getouts.

• Set all flags sets the four 'No' flags described below.
   
• Clear all flags clears the four 'No' flags described below.
   
• No expansions, when checked, the program does not expand text strings prior to executing the call. For example, the program expands "Catch anything 3" into "Square Thru 3 To A Wave; anything; Step & Fold".
   
• No extrapolations, when checked, the program does not call internal subroutines to process concepts such as As Couples, Phantom, Blocks, Concentric, etc.
   
• No split ups, when checked, the program does not try to divide the overall formation into smaller formations in order to execute the call. When checked, the program can not execute 4-dancer calls from 8-dancer formations (e.g., it can not do Right & Left Thru from Facing Lines).
   
• No fuzzy matches, when checked, the program does not execute calls from positions that do not exactly match the starting formation as specified in the snapshot database.
   
• Debug mode, when checked, outputs debugging information while a call is being executed.

• List displays the list associated with the current sequence database. The list is primarily used to keep track of which calls have not yet been used within a set of sequences.
   
• Last GETOUT record used displays the last record used from the GETOUT database.
   
• Last snapshot record used displays the last snapshot record used by the program during call execution. If the program incorrectly executes a call, viewing the snapshot record often gives you a clue as to what went wrong. (A snapshot record is a before-and-after picture used by the program to execute calls.)
   
• Formation bitmap displays a bitmap of the current After formation. You can view, modify, and save the bitmap picture as desired.
   
• Dancer data displays coordinates and dancer attributes for the current After formation. It is used for debugging purposes.
   
• Dates used displays a listing of dates where the sequence was used.
   
• Level displays a list of calls for a selected level.

• The Help menu item displays this help page.

• invokes the Select Sequence Database window to create a new sequence in Graphics mode - same as File | New sequence [Graphics].
• invokes the Select Sequence Database And Index window to select another sequence to edit in Graphics mode - same as File | Edit sequence [Graphics].
• (or Ctrl+P) selects a sequence for editing from the Sequence history list - same as File | Sequence history list.
• (or Ctrl+N) creates a new sequence in the current database - same as File | New sequence (same database).
• selects the previous sequential sequence in the current database - same as File | Previous sequence (same database).
• selects the next sequential sequence in the current database - same as File | Next sequence (same database).
• (or Ctrl+E) edits the sequence text - same as Edit | Sequence text.
• shows the properties of the current sequence - same as File | Properties.
• displays the sequence Problems dialog box which allows the sequence to be marked as needing further edits. - same as Edit | Problems.
• prints the current sequence to a printer or to a file - same as File | Print....
• adds the sequence to a dance - same as Edit | Add sequence to a dance.
• uploads the sequence the the Choreography Database at ceder.net (requires an internet connection) - same as File | Upload to ceder.net Choreography Database.
• changes the colors and relative sizes of sequence text - same as Display | Colors and relative sizes....
• changes the font used for sequence text - same as Display | Font....
• changes the sizes and colors of dancer icons - same as Display | Dancer settings....
• shows the grid - same as Display | Grid (checked).
• hides the grid - same as Display | Grid (not checked).
• (or Ctrl+B) displays a formation bitmap of the After formation - same as View | Formation bitmap.
• displays the Ceder Chest definitions of calls and concepts - same as File | Definitions of Calls and Concepts.
• displays the help file you're currently reading - same as Help.