There are a number of issues that make call entry less than completely
straightforward. These have to do with variations that calls have--directions
(as in quarter left), numbers (as in square thru 3 or three quarter
thru), person designators (as in sides kickoff), subcalls (as in clover
and [quarter thru] or vertical tag your neighbor or shuttle [rally] or
in roll motivate), and modifiers (as in strut left or trans cross
chain reaction).
To list all possible variations in the menu would be unwieldy for a variety of reasons. Because of this, various methods are used to shorten the menu and to allow the user to specify the desired variation. These methods will be discussed in detail presently, but in most cases what happens is the following:
In Sd, the menu lists only the base calls with special keywords
as in face <DIRECTION> or square thru <N>. When you
click on such a menu item, a new menu appears listing the possible choices.
In Sdtty, the "menu" (that is, what you see if you type a question
mark) also has keywords. You can type the item just as shown, e.g.,
quarter <DIRECTION> or square thru <N> (you would actually type the
angle brackets) and then answer the question that Sdtty asks. But there is
an easier way--you can type what you want directly. That is, just type
quarter left or square thru 3. If you want to see the choices,
type quarter <DIRECTION> or whatever, and then type a question mark.
Calls that take a direction have the keyword <DIRECTION> in them in the
menu, like pass <DIRECTION> or spin a windmill, outsides <DIRECTION>.
You can just type the call naturally, for example, pass in or shuttle left.
You can also type such things in a piecemeal fashion, typing the keyword "<DIRECTION>"
literally, and then typing the direction.
When using the mouse with Sd, the second way is the
only way--click on the call, and then select the
direction from the new menu that will appear.
If you decide you don't want that call, click the `Cancel' button.
The menu lists all possible directions, including some that may not be legal in the given context.
Calls that take a number have the keyword <N>, <N/4>, or <Nth>
in their name. Examples are the calls
eight chain <N>,
invert the column <N/4>,
and
square thru, but on the <Nth> hand <ANYTHING>.
You can just type the call naturally, for example, invert the column 3/4 or
square thru 2 or 1/4 thru or square thru but on the 3rd hand.
You can also type such things in a piecemeal fashion, typing the keyword "<N>"
or "<N/4>" or "<Nth>"
literally, and then typing the number(s).
If the keyword was <N/4>, enter just the value of N.
When using the mouse with Sd, the second way is the
only way--click on the call, and then select the
number from the new menu that will appear.
If you decide you don't want that call, click the `Cancel' button.
Not all values of N will be meaningful for all calls. For example, you
can eight chain 5, but you can't invert the column 5/4.
Some calls have the words quarter, half, or three quarter
in their names. Examples are quarter thru, quarter the deucey,
quarter mix, quarter the alter, and quarter chain and circulate in.
These are listed in the Callerlab lists with the words spelled out, though
individual preferences vary. Some people prefer to write 1/4 thru and
3/4 thru. Sd and Sdtty list the call as <N/4> thru
in the menu. When using mouse input in Sd, you click on that and then
click on a number (only 1 and 3
are legal, of course). You can also type <N/4> thru and then type
1 or 3, or you can type the call directly, either in numbers or in words. That is,
you can type either 1/4 thru or quarter thru. No matter how you
enter one of these calls, it will always be printed out in words, as in
three quarter thru or half chain and circulate in.
These work like the others in a straightforward way. The calls appear in the menu
with the <ANYONE> keyword, as in patch the <ANYONE>.
You can just type the call naturally, for example, patch the sides.
You can also type such things in a piecemeal fashion, typing the keyword "<ANYONE>"
literally, and then typing the designator.
When using the mouse with Sd, the second way is the
only way--click on the call, and then select the
designator from the new menu that will appear.
If you decide you don't want that call, click the `Cancel' button.
The gender designators are boys and girls. This is the way they
appear in the Callerlab Mainstream list. The author does not take a position
on whether the adult terms would be more reasonable words to use in any given context.
You must use your own judgement in deciding what to say.
Not all designators are legal in all cases; for example, you can't call
leads run from a tidal wave.
The program specifically refuses to recognize the meaning of the designators centers
and ends while in a 1x8 setup (e.g., a tidal wave). This is because these terms
can be ambiguous in such a setup. If you want the centers of each 1x4, you must use
the EACH 1X4, EACH LINE, EACH COLUMN, or EACH WAVE concept in order to make the
centers or ends designators work. Of course, in many cases, other designators,
such as boys or girls can identify the same people unambiguously.
If you want to designate the 4 people in the center of the set, use center 4.
Outer pairs specifies the others.
Calls that use tagging calls have the keyword <ATC> (for Any Tagging Call) in
them, as in <ATC> your neighbor or <ATC> chain thru and scatter reaction.
Specify these in the usual way. In Sdtty you can type the <ATC> directly
or you can enter the complete call.
At C3 and above, the tagging calls include the calls revert <ATC> and
reflected <ATC>, which make use of another tagging call.
When using mouse input in Sd, you
will be presented with another menu. In Sdtty, you can type in the
entire call directly, as in revert cross flip chain thru reactivate.
Some calls have an "<ANYTHING>" in them when they appear in the menu,
such as clover and <ANYTHING> or <ANYTHING> and roll.
The "<ANYTHING>" is intended to be replaced by a subcall.
When you type these in, put the subcall in brackets. That is, you literally type
something like:
clover and [tandem shazam]
[flip the diamond] and roll
busy [lockit]
catch [erase] 2
slant [swing thru] and [turn and deal]
fascinating [ah so]
[jay walk] and plenty, turn the star 3/4, interrupt
before the star turns with [trade circulate]
The subcall in brackets may be any combination of concepts and calls, and these may be nested. As an example of this, you can type:
[[vertical tag your neighbor] and spread] percolate
clover and [3/4 stable left catch
[[reflected flip your neighbor] and spread] 3]
(Two of the examples above don't fit on one line in this manual, but you would type them on one line.)
The brackets are required. Without them, the program couldn't tell the difference between
clover and [[swap around] and roll]
and
[clover and [swap around]] and roll
You can also enter such things in a piecemeal fashion, typing the keyword "<ANYTHING>"
literally, and then typing the subcall when the program asks for it. For example, you
could type
clover and <anything> ENTER
and then type
square thru 2 ENTER.
When using the mouse with Sd, the second way is the
only way--click on the call, and then select the subcall.
Important note: Nesting these subcalls too deeply can make the program
run very slowly. You should not type more than two consecutive left brackets.
If you need to nest things more deeply than that, use the word "<ANYTHING>",
and enter the subcall when the program asks for it. For example, suppose we wanted
to enter:
[[[trans cross reactivate to a diamond] chain thru] and
anything] percolate, boys to a wave
(Berkshires C4 weekend, May 1996.) (As if that weren't complicated enough,
note that the word "anything" in the above call is the literal "anything" concept,
not the <ANYTHING> mechanism of Sdtty.)
This is too complicated to type directly. We would instead type:
<anything> percolate, boys to a wave
The subcall we want is now [[trans cross reactivate to a diamond] chain thru]
and anything. When asked for the subcall, we type:
<anything> and anything
The subcall we want is now [trans cross reactivate to a diamond] chain thru.
When asked for the subcall, we could type that directly, or we could type:
<anything> chain thru
and then type:
trans cross reactivate to a diamond
These "mandatory" subcalls, with the keyword <ANYTHING> in the menu,
are just one of many types of modifications. See section Call Modifications, for
some other types of modifications.
A number of calls, all of whose definitions start with a circulate, are subject
to a special circulate modification mechanism, recognized at C2, and officially
called the "(anything)" concept. The call name (e.g. "motivate")
is preceded by a word or phrase such as "in roll" telling how the
circulate should be modified. Examples are
in roll motivate bias trade perk up split counter coordinate (not actually a type of circulate) counter cover up (not actually a type of circulate)
These variations are in the menu as "<ANYCIRC> motivate".
They can be typed in just as shown above.
You can also enter them in a piecemeal fashion, typing the keyword "<ANYCIRC>"
literally, and then typing the circulate replacement as a complete call,
for example, "out roll circulate".
When using the mouse with Sd, the second way is the
only way--click on the call, and then select the
circulate replacement from the new menu that will appear.
If you decide you don't want that call, click the `Cancel' button.
Only bona-fide circulate-type calls, and other well-recognized similar
things such as split counter percolate can be obtained by this method.
You can get more general substitutions by using the `<ANYTHING>' (as opposed to
`<ANYCIRC>') mechanism. The more general substitutions are in brackets.
For example, you can type `[2/3 recycle] percolate', which is of course pronounced
"2/3 recycler's percolate".
Note that
trade motivate (an instance of <ANYCIRC> motivate)
and
[trade] motivate (an instance of <ANYTHING> motivate)
are very different. The latter is of course pronounced "trader's motivate."
There is a third way to enter such calls. By giving the `simple modifications' or `allow modifications' command and then just entering the call (e.g. `motivate'), the program will ask you for replacements. These replacements may be anything and will appear in brackets in the final transcript. This is discussed in section Call Modifications.
As discussed above, the program considers these to be actual concepts, even though they aren't really.
Some calls use these concepts in ways that have a tricky word order.
Whether the word order is tricky or not, you can always enter the concept
followed by the call as separate items.
For example, in Sd, you can click on left followed by
chase right. In Sdtty, you can type in left and then
chase right.
In addition, Sdtty allows more natural text entry. You can type in
grand swing thru or chase left directly.
Other examples of this phenomenon are
switch to an interlocked diamond unwrap the magic diamonds hang a left scoot and cross ramble trans cross reactivate revert cross flip chain thru cross nuclear reaction
No matter how you entered it, the calls will be printed out with the words in the correct place.
The foregoing only applies to calls in which the word is an actual concept
or modifier. Some calls happen to have the word cross as part of
their names. Examples are: cross and wheel, cross and turn,
cross your neighbor, and crossfire. Such calls appear in the
menu just as they are spelled.
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