Miscellaneous notes (CSDS quirks?)

• Centers

  Centers always denotes the 4 dancers closest the center of the set. From a 1x8, if you want the centers on each side, you must say Each Side Centers or Split Centers. (i.e., Each Side Centers Trade).
  Of course, if the Split Centers are Boys, Girls, Heads, Sides, etc., you could simply identify them as Boys, Girls, etc. Similarly, the term Ends has the same problem. Use Each Side Ends or Split Ends (if it's a bad hair day J). Use the term Outsides or Outer 4 to identify the outermost 4 dancers.
   

• Center formation

  From Parallel Waves after a 1/2 Circulate, you must say Center Column, Center Line, Center Wave, or Center 1x4 if you want that setup.
  From this formation, just saying Centers or Center 4 would activate the Center Diamond as the points of the Diamond are actually closer to the center of the set than the Ends of the center 1x4.
   

• Center Six

  From setups such as after an Acey Deucey 1 & 1/2 from Parallel Waves, if you want the Center 1x6 formation to do the call, you can not say Center 6: you must say Column Of 6, Line Of 6, Wave Of 6, or Center 1x6. You can not say Center 6 because the program calculates the Center as being the dancers closest the center of the set (in this case, the End of the Center 1x6 would not be considered part of the Center 6 since the point of the center Diamond is physically closer to the center of the set). Similarly, from the same setup, you should either say Center Diamond, Center Single 1/4 Tag, Center Column, Center Line, or Center Wave instead of Centers or Center 4.
   

• Each Side Centers | Ends

  From 1x8 formations:
  • Each Side Centers identifies the Centers of each 1x4 (as in Each Side Centers Trade).
  • Each Side Ends identifies the Ends of each 1x4 (as in Each Side Ends Run).
  • The program also accepts the terms Split Centers and Split Ends.
   

  • Marked as Proofread

    For a sequence to be marked as proofread, it must have a valid ending.
    • For normal sequences or opening biggies, the sequence must end with a Right & Left Grand, Left Allemande, (You're) Home, Promenade Home, Wrong Way Promenade Home, Single File Promenade Home, or Wrong Way Single File Promenade Home in which each dancer is in sequence with their original partner.
    • For a sequence to be proofread, it can not end with a Dixie Grand: it must end with a Dixie Grand followed by a Left Allemande.
    • Also, a sequence can not end with a Promenade or a Single File Promenade: it must end with a Promenade Home or a Single File Promenade Home.
    • For singing call sequences, Men must end with their Corners or their R-H Ladies.
    • For modules, the sequence must end in the defined ending position for the sequence database.
     

  • Fractions

    Fractions should be placed before the call, not after (e.g., 3/4 Run Wild instead of Run Wild 3/4).
    Although the program will usually correctly bind the fraction to the correct call even if the fraction follows the call, you may run into trouble. For example, a text string such as 'Run Wild 3/4 Reset' would be parsed as 'Run Wild' followed by '3/4 Reset'). Bracketed parentheses, "[" and "]" can be used to force specific fraction binding. For example, [Run Wild 3/4] Reset does a 3/4 Run Wild then a full Reset. Run Wild [3/4 Reset] does a full Run Wild then a 3/4 Reset.
    Fractions greater than 1 require an additional character, '&' or '+'. E.g., Do not use "1 1/2". Use "1 & 1/2", "1 + 1/2", or "1 and 1/2".
     

  • Heads always Heads, and Sides are always Sides

    CSDS uses the 'Challenge'-model of identifying dancers, namely that each dancer retains their sex and couple number.
    From a squared set, if you call Four Ladies Chain 3/4, then try a call such as Heads Square Thru, you will run into problems.
    Use Head Position or Side Position to activate the dancers at those spots.
    For example:

    Four Ladies Chain 3/4,

    Head Position Pass The Ocean,

    Extend,

    Linear Cycle (1P2P)

     

  • From Static Set, Identifying Dancers does not always move them into the middle

    From a static set, the call Heads Nothing will not move the Heads into the middle. Neither should a call such as Heads U-Turn Back, Heads Partner Trade, or any other 1-dancer or 2-dancer call that does not require the Heads to work with the opposite couple.
    If you want the Heads to move into the middle and do nothing, say Heads Move In, Heads Step Ahead or Heads Press Ahead. Using a call that is a r-dancer call, or using a 2-dancer call that requires them to work with the opposite dancer will move them into the middle.
    From a Static Set, Heads Parter Tag ends in a "O" formation.
     

  • From Static Set, using Sides after using Heads

    CSDS uses the 'Advanced and Challenge' model of square breathing.
    That is, if named dancers from a squared set do a call requiring them to work with their opposites, they remain in the center of the square. Ladies Chain is the only exception that returns to a squared set. This is done for consistency-sake.
    From a squared set, after Heads Touch 1/4, or Heads Box The Gnat, wouldn't you want them to end in the center? Basic and Mainstream choreography tends to be a bit fuzzy in terms of precise positioning as opposed to Advanced and Challenge choreography. To be consistent, the active dancers remain in the center of the set.
    Hence, CSDS will not be able to execute the following from a squared set:
    1. Heads Right & Left Thru,
    2. Sides Pass The Ocean,
    The second call above can not be done because the Heads are in the center of the set.
    The fix is to add 'backaway', which also informs the dancers that they probably won't be active for the next call.
    For example, this works fine:
    1. Heads Right & Left Thru & backaway,
    2. Sides Pass The Ocean,
    In the future, perhaps, I will modify how this works, just add 'backaway', 'back away', or 'back up'.
     

  • Split the Outsides

    The call Centers Split The Outsides First Left Next Right does not automatically end in lines. You must say Around 1 To A Line to get lines. This is necessary because there are other things that the active dancers could do, such as Come Into The Middle.
     

  • Asymmetric Identifiers

    To designate the <N> dancers closest a particular wall...
    • Near <N> - those closest the couple #1 wall
    • NearFarSpotTwo <N> - those closest the couple #2 wall
    • Far <N> - those closest the couple #3 wall
    • NearFarSpotFour <N> - those closest the couple #4 wall
       
    • <N> can often be replaced with a formation such as Box, Wave, Line, Diamond
    • To have the wave on your left to do a Swing Thru, you need to say "NearFarSpotFour 4 Swing Thru".
    • Note that you are required to specify both the identifier (e.g., "NearFarSpotFour" (one word)) and the number of dancers (e.g., 4).
    You can also designate couple numbers, such as
    • Couple #1
    • Couple #1 and #4
    • If you designate more than one couple, put the lower number first.
       
    • Couple #2 position - those at the couple #2 position in a squared set.
    Other identifiers:
    • Those facing the caller
    • Those facing the back of the hall
    • Those not facing the caller
    • Those not facing the back of the hall
    The Parse Database allows similar variations such as 'those facing the music'.
    Asymmetric calls:
    • Face The Music
    • Face The Back Of The Hall
    • Face The Second Position
    • Face The Fourth Position
    • Who's On (First,Second,etc.)
     

  • The word "All"

    A call such as Centers Work Tandem, Hocus Pocus or Ends Are Stable, Team Up may not work as expected.
    In cases such as these, the program will try to activate only the designated dancers. If you want all dancers to be active you must add the word All (or an equivalent such as Everyone) to the call (e.g., Ends Work Stable, All Team Up).
     

  • Girls <anything> As Boys <anything>

    Precede the call with 'Do Your Part' or just 'DYP'. For example,,
    • DYP Girls Chase Right, Boys Circulate
    • Do Your Part Ends Shakedown Centers Left Wheel Thru
     

  • Anchor, Drag, Ignore, Prefer

    These concepts require the word 'For'. I.e.,
    • ANCHOR anyone For anything
    • DRAG anyone For anything
    • IGNORE anyone For anything
    • PREFER anyone For anything
     

  • Invert The Column

    The C2 call Invert <fraction> must be entered either as <fraction> Invert The Column or Invert The Column <fraction>.
    That is, the words 'The Column' must be entered as part of the call. This is necessary because the parser can not distinguish between the call Invert and the C4 concept Invert (ends & centers). For example, from the parser's standpoint, an Invert 3/4 Mix could mean several things (3/4 Invert The Column & Mix; Invert The Column then 3/4 Mix; or do the Invert of a 3/4 Mix). Similarly, the C2 call Cross Invert has the same problem.
     

  • Touch By

    Touch By requires the delimiter 'By' not 'And' (e.g., Touch By 1/4 By 1/2). This is because the generalized version of the call is Touch By By (By <anything>...). From a column of 8, there could be 4 anything calls. Since the word 'And' is frequently used to join two calls together as one, a call such as Touch By 3/4 Dosado And Slither By 3/4 Dosado can not to be unambiguously parsed if 'And' is a delimiter.