Routines
To use this feature on a story created in normal mode, you will need to switch to expert mode. You can do this from the Settings > Options menu.
Routines are sub-graphs that allow you to lighten your main graph. Routines are reusable (you can use the same routine multiple times). You can also include routines within routines.
To create a routine, use the Routines tool:
Example of creating a routine.
Routines have the same features that you are already familiar with, but there are some rules to use them correctly.
- There can only be one entry point in a routine.
- A routine cannot contain an end sequence.
Creating Exit Points
A routine can have multiple exit points. These are created in the same way as end sequences, but they do not contain any text ! Indeed, the exit points of a routine will not be displayed in the story reader : they are only used to return to the parent graph.
To differentiate them from end sequences, they are displayed in yellow :
Example of a routine graph.
Additionally, to easily identify them, exit points can be named:
Example of a routine exit point.
Using a Routine
When you have created a routine, the link popup offers several tabs. The Sequences tab corresponds to sequences of the current graph, and the Routines tab corresponds to your routines.
You can link routines within another routine's graph, but you cannot link a routine within its own graph !
Example of linking to a routine.
Once linked, a routine will appear as a red diamond. The exit points will be displayed like a sequence with choices.
Example of a graph with a routine.
By double-clicking on routines within a graph, you can access the editing of that routine's graph. And by clicking the button, you will be able to return to the main graph.
Testing a Routine
When you use the test reader on your main graph, routines will be transparently taken into account. However, you will not be able to navigate to a particular sequence within a routine.
If you are in the routine editing menu, the test reader launch button turns yellow: you will only test this routine.
Testing a routine.
Creating a Routine from a Part of the Graph
In addition to manually creating routines, you can also transform part of your graphs into a routine.
To do this, you can use the multi-selection. Simply draw a selection rectangle on the graph, or use the "Shift" key and click on the sequences you want to add to your routine.