Documentation Standards - PCGen Documentation

# Documentation Standards

This page will be used to provide standards to follow in the creation of documentation pages for PCGen.

## General Documentation Standards

1. Each page should have information commented in the page which should contain the names of those contributing to the creation and maintenance of the page. There should also be a brief description of the purpose of the page and in the case of LST File Tag Pages, a basic to how to create the specific LST Objects covered by that page.
2. The documentation should, in general, document what PCGen, with its LST Tags and OS Tokens, DO. Instances of documenting what PCGen WONT do should be minimized.

## LST Tag Documentation Standards

The following is a generic example of the format to be used when documenting LST tags. You can copy the code and use it as a starting point for new entries if you wish. Following the entry will be a detailed explanation of how the format is should be used.

*** New

Tag Name: TAG:x

Variables Used (x): Text (Explanation)

Variables Used (x): Number (Explanation)

Variables Used (x): Property (Explanation)

What it does:

Explanation of what this tag does and how to use it.

Example:

`TAG:EXAMPLE`

Description of what this example tag does.

Deprecated Syntax:

`TAG:EXAMPLE`

Identify deprecated syntax.

Where it is used:

Explanation of where this tag may be used in terms of lines and files.

### Anchors

If you examine the source code you will see that the first line of the entry contains a named anchor next to the horizontal rule. This is so the entry can be linked to from the index and other relevant entries. The anchor name should match the tag name up to the first variable minus any symbols used. See the source code for examples

### State of the entry

Some entries are labeled “ New “/” New “, ” Updated “/” Updated “, or ” Deprecated “. When the state of a tag entry has changed in the current or immediately previous development cycle the state will appear in red . Entries whose state has gone unchanged through at least one full stable release cycle will have their state displayed in “ black “. Tag entries marked for deprecation will marked in ” red “ until they are removed from the PCGen Tag Dictionary.

CSS styles used:
“ New “ tag doc entry states marked in “ red “ use the CSS style “lstnew”.
“ Updated “ tag doc entry states marked in “ red “ use the CSS style “lstupnew”.
“ New “ or ” Updated “ tag doc entry states marked in ” black “ use the CSS style “lststatus”.
“ Deprecated “ tag doc entry states use the CSS style “lstdep”.

### Tag Name

The tag name is entered with the whole structure and syntax demonstrated. The variables are indicated using the letter x, y and z. You can use u, v, w and other letters if needed.

### Variables Used

All the variables that can be used are explained. Number variables can be standard numbers or formulas or other variables if the tags accepts them. Text variables accept text strings, names and other text forms. Property variables indicate that the variable must be one of several properties hardcoded into the program. These properties are usually presented in a list following the variable.

### What it does

A complete explanation of the tag and its uses.

### Example

Examples of the tag in as many variations as needed to demonstrate the variety of uses of the tag.

### Deprecated Syntax

Obsolete LST tag syntax is included here. When the deprecated syntax represents a complete LST tag entry, a link to the deprecated listing is provided. Were applicable, the version in which the syntax was deprecated should be included as per the ‘State of the Entry’ information listed above.

### Conversion Example

Obsolete LST tag conversion examples are included here. The form of the example generally takes the form of:
`old lst code` becomes `new lst code` .

### Where it is used

Some times it may be helpful to indicate exactly where the tag may be used. Most times this is indicated by the page the entry is found on.

## LST Tag Documentation Style Guide

The LST Tag Documentation Style Guide will be placed here.

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