This section describes how to do several common tasks.

Adding a record to the snapshot database

(i.e., specifying a before-and-after picture for a call):

To add a record to the snapshot database, you must either be editing a sequence in graphics mode, or must be proofreading a getin/getout or sequence. When the program is unable to do a call, it will prompt you 'Call not found, add it?'. At this point, enter the name of the call to be added and click on the 'Process or add' button. The program then displays a snapshot record that can be edited. Move each dancer within the after picture to their ending position and set their Roll and Active attributes.

Hint: After moving a dancer to their (final) ending position, set their Roll attribute before selecting the next dancer.

Multiple noses on a dancer indicate that the dancer may be facing in any of the indicated directions. This feature is useful for defining calls such as Tag The Line in which all dancers have two possible facing directions before the call. Dancers that are not active during the call should usually be defined with 4 noses for both the before and after pictures.

Writing a sequence:

There are two modes for writing a sequence: graphics mode and text mode.

1. In graphics mode, dancer icons are displayed and updated as calls are added/deleted from the sequence. Several options are available such as searching for calls that can be done from the current position, and searching for resolves from the current position (8-dancer choreography only).
    
2. In text mode, the screen becomes one large edit box and a few buttons. No dancer icons are displayed.

See Sequence - Special Characters.

Notes:

• Each line of text must have an even number of "%"s and an even number of "$"s.
• The parentheses "(" and ")" as well as "[" and "]" must be properly matched.
• An indented line is considered a continuation of the preceding line. Indentation is used to continue the call on the next line.

Example of sequence text:

%Heads% Right & Left Thru & %1/4 More%,
%Sides% Half Sashay,
As Couples Scoot & Weave,
[As Couples Spin The Top & %Roll%],
Double Pass Thru,
Peel & Trail, %New Ends Roll%,
Split Square Thru %On 3% Grand Swing Thru $Double$,
Explode %And% Touch 1/4,
Split Circulate %1 & 1/2% (check Diamonds),
%6 By 2 Acey Deucey%,
Flip The Diamond & %Roll%,
Eight Chain 5,
L.A. (Near Home)

Writing a dance:

1. Create a list for the dance. The list should contain all calls at the level that you're calling and all calls on all lower levels. For example, if you are writing an A2 dance, your list should contain all calls on the A2 list and all calls on lower level lists.
2. Create one or more sequence databases (if necessary) to hold the sequences for the dance. Be sure to set the 'Maximum level' within the sequence database. Existing sequence databases can be used as well.
3. Edit the sequence databases to set the default list to the list created above in step 1.
4. Use Sequence then New sequence [Graphics] to create new sequences.
5. Print the sequences.

Calling from a laptop:

From the main menu, select Sequence followed by View.

Changing the level of a call

Writing sequences in parallel:

Sequences can be written in parallel instead of sequentially. That is, instead of writing one complete sequence after another, start about 50 sequences by writing down the first few calls of the sequence. Then type the sequences into the computer via New sequence [Graphics]. Use Print incomplete sequences followed by Print list to print the sequences with their current ending formations. Add the next few lines to each sequence and go back &add those lines using the program.

Doing a frequency count for a set of sequences:

1. Create a list to hold the frequency count.
2. For each sequence database from which you wish to count calls, from the main menu select 'Parse' followed by 'Parse several sequences'. Select the database and range of records to process. Accept the default output file (\pallseq.out). Select the list created above in step 1. Select 'No' for 'Zero all use counts in list?'.
3. The program then parses the sequences selected and updates the list. Delete the output file.
4. Repeat step 2 and 3 until all sequences have been processed.
5. View or print the list.
   • To view the list: From the main menu, select 'List' followed by 'View' and select the list created above in step 1. After the list is displayed, select 'Display' then 'Change Use count range' and set the minimum to 0 and the maximum to 9999. Then select 'Display' then 'L-H side' then 'Use count'. Then select 'Display' then 'Sort by' then 'Descending use count'.
   • To print the list: From the main menu, select 'List' followed by 'Print a list'. Select the list created in above in step 1. Select the 'Frequency count' option, and decide whether to send the output to the printer or to a text file. Click on the 'Print' button.

Adding a New Call