icona software STORYGRAPHIA 0.9 Tutorial

Learn Storygraphia in a few steps

  • Before starting
    • -- Increase JVM memory size (see below)
  • Launch the program, create from scratch, basic actions
    • -- Start a new graph
    • -- Help: key "h" (help) - "z" closes "help"
    • -- Create new unit: key "u" (unit) - "z" unselect
    • -- Select unit with mouse click
    • -- Change unit ID: select unit - key "i" (id) - insert identifier - "z" unselect
    • -- Change unit text (default ID=text): key "t" (text) - insert text - "z" unselect
    • -- Move unit: select unit - key press "m" (move) and drag unit - "z" unselect
    • -- Create new edge: select tail unit - key "e" (edge) - select head unit
    • -- Change edge ID: select edge id - key "i" (id) - insert identifier - "z" unselect
    • -- Change edge label (default ID=label): key "l" (label) - insert label - "z" unselect
    • -- Delete unit or edge: select unit or edge - key "d" (delete)
    • -- Save story (asap): key "w" (write) - insert title - name file .json - side effect: storyprint in "storyprints" folder
    • -- Exit the program: key "q" (quit)
  • Import from text, Load a saved graph, Export, Reset, Navigate
    • -- Import from text file: write units, one per row, in a txt file; Storygraphia distributes them randomly in the window; then create edges, manually (see above)
    • -- Load a saved graph: open the .json file (see above)
    • -- Export to Twine: click on the Twine icon (top left) and select/new file .html
    • -- Reset narrative: click on SG icon (top left) and restart from the initialization page
    • -- Click on the "NAV" button, top right, to navigate the graph; if some unit is selected, navigation starts from that unit; select edges forward and backward to navigate; click "EDT" button, top right, to return to editing mode
  • Unit metadata: tags and agents
    • -- Create a new tag: select unit - menu item "new tag" - insert tag - tag vocabulary appears on the right
    • -- Tagging a unit: select unit - check item on menu - key "g" (taG)
    • -- Delete a tag from the story: select tag on the right column - key "d" (delete)
    • -- Create new agent and add to unit: select unit - key "a" - insert new agent name - agents list appears on the left
    • -- Add/delete existing agent to/from a unit: select unit - select agent on the left column - key "a" (add) / "d" delete
    • -- Change name to agent: select select agent on the left column - key "t" (text) - insert agent name
  • Story constraints: Propp function, Precondition-effect states, Tension values
    • -- Load a graph in Propp mode: window segmented vertically with Propp function slots, units distributed horizontally according to Propp tagging (if any)
    • -- Tag/Untag a unit with a Propp function: select unit - Propp menu appears - check/uncheck Propp function - key "r" (pRopp) to confirm - unit moved to checked function slot
    • -- Load a graph in preconditions/effects painting mode: as units are assigned states as preconditions/effects, edges are created accordingly, i.e. only edges that satisfy the precondition requirements
    • -- Load a graph in preconditions/effects sculpting mode: as units are assigned states as preconditions/effects, edges are deleted accordingly (that is, all edges are created from the unit, except the ones excluded)
    • -- Create a state for the story world: select unit (preconditions and effects menus appears) - insert new state item in one of the two menus - key "s" (state)
    • -- Tag/Untag a unit with either precondition or effect: select unit - check precondition/effect menu item
    • -- Load a graph in Tension value mode: window with an ideal dramatic arc in the background, units distributed vertically according to tension value (if any)
    • -- Insert/modify tension value of a unit: select unit - key "y" (y axis) - insert tension value, an integer [1-100]
  • Visualization commands (Warning: Restore display size to use commands above!)
    • -- Zoom-in/out: key "+"/"-"
    • -- Move display window on graph: key arrows
    • -- Restore original display size (to use editing commands): key "blank space"
  • Increase the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) memory size
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