QuickStart


Publishing / FTX / QuickStart /

FTX Quick-start page for the extremely impatient

Note: If you have more time, there is also the fuller FTX User Guide.

What is FTX?

FTX is is an enhanced text format developed by LUGNET, designed to co-exist peacefully with plain text and be readable in raw form. FTX offers many of the same great features as HTML, but in a simpler and more direct way.

As you’ll see below, FTX is much closer to WYSIWYG (”What you see is what you get”) than HTML is, so FTX is pretty easy to learn. Below is a fast-paced, in-your-face, try-to-cram-it-all-onto-one-page demonstration.

Simple formatting. Each block of text separated by a blank line is formatted as a separate paragraph. Put text in curly braces { } to make italics. Put text in square brackets [ ] to make boldface. Put text between pairs of underscores _ to make underlined words or letters. Put text between pairs of vertical bars | to make computer words.

You write...

I can write {italics} and [boldface]. I can make _T_hree _L_etter _A_cronyms. I can write |computer words|.

You get...

I can write italics and boldface. I can make Three Letter Acronyms. I can write computer words.

(Learn more about text features)

Line breaks. In FTX, multiple lines in a paragraph are normally adjoined as if they had been written on a single line. When a paragraph is sent to a web browser, the web browser decides where to break the paragraph back into lines based on the width of the available area. Use FTX’s special line-break character ¬ to force a line-break.

You write...

[Paragraph title]¬ Paragraph text...blah blah blah blah blah.

You get...

Paragraph title
Paragraph text...blah blah blah blah blah.

(Learn more about making line-breaks)

Hyperlinks. Write a URL or page name between angle brackets < > to make a hyperlink. Insert text after the URL to make a labeled hyperlink.

You write...

I know how to make a plain hyperlink: <http://www.lugnet.com/publish/ftx/quickstart/hyperlink> and I know how to make a <http://www.lugnet.com/publish/ftx/quickstart/hyperlink labeled hyperlink>.

You get...

I know how to make a plain hyperlink: http://www.lugnet.com/publish/ftx/quickstart/hyperlink and I know how to make a labeled hyperlink.

(Learn more about making hyperlinks)

Images. Write an image’s URL in double-angle brackets << >> to embed it in your page.

You write...

<<http://www.baseplate.com/ideas/human-scale/clock/clock-hands.jpg>>

You get...

Optionally include a target URL between the <<’s to make an image clickable.

You write...

<http://www.baseplate.com/ideas/human-scale/clock/ <http://www.baseplate.com/ideas/human-scale/clock/clock-hands.jpg>>

You get...

(Learn more about including images)

Headers. Lines of -’s or =’s below a line of text make headers.

You write...

Primary header ============== Secondary header ----------------

You get...

Primary header

Secondary header

(Learn more about making section headers)

Lists and tables. Special characters in column 1 make special things such as bulleted lists, numbered lists, and simple tables.

You write...

* Strawberries * Bananas * Kiwis + Chocolate pudding + Pepperoni pizza + Apple pie ~ One ~ Two ~ Three ~ Two ~ Four ~ Six ~ Three ~ Six ~ Nine

You get...

Strawberries
Bananas
Kiwis

Chocolate pudding
Pepperoni pizza
Apple pie

One	Two	Three

Two	Four	Six

Three	Six	Nine

(Learn more about making lists and making simple tables)

Computer code. A vertical bar | in column 1 of a paragraph makes it into a chunk of computer code.

You write...

| 10 PRINT "HELLO, WORLD!" | 20 FOR I = 1 TO 100 | 30 PRINT I, I * I | 40 NEXT I

You get...

10 PRINT "HELLO, WORLD!"
20 FOR I = 1 TO 100
30 PRINT I, I * I
40 NEXT I

Similarly, a pair of vertical bars || in column 1 of a paragraph makes it into a chunk of computer code with a lightly shaded background and border:

You write...

|| 10 PRINT "HELLO, WORLD!" || 20 FOR I = 1 TO 100 || 30 PRINT I, I * I || 40 NEXT I

You get...

10 PRINT "HELLO, WORLD!" 20 FOR I = 1 TO 100 30 PRINT I, I * I 40 NEXT I

(Learn more about displaying computer code)

Table options. Table cells can be optionally bottom-aligned with v, top-aligned with ^, horizontally centered with |, left-aligned with <, right-aligned with >, and vertically centered with -.

You write...

~v| </fibblesnork/lego/guide/space/minifig/classic-1.html </fibblesnork/lego/guide/images/minifig/small/classic-1.jpeg>>¬1978 ~v| </fibblesnork/lego/guide/space/minifig/classic-2.html </fibblesnork/lego/guide/images/minifig/small/classic-2.jpeg>>¬1978 ~v| </fibblesnork/lego/guide/space/minifig/classic-3.html </fibblesnork/lego/guide/images/minifig/small/classic-3.jpeg>>¬1982 ~v| </fibblesnork/lego/guide/space/minifig/classic-4.html </fibblesnork/lego/guide/images/minifig/small/classic-4.jpeg>>¬1984 ~v| </fibblesnork/lego/guide/space/minifig/classic-5.html </fibblesnork/lego/guide/images/minifig/small/classic-5.jpeg>>¬1984

You get...

1978

1982

1984

(Learn more about making simple tables)

LEGO sets. You can include LEGO sets if you know the set number.

You write...

<<LEGOSet(6054)>>

You get...

6054 Forestmen's Hideout
198 elements, 2 figures, US$17.50, 1988
LEGO > SYSTEM > Castle > Forestmen

(Learn more about including LEGO sets)

LDraw parts. You can include LDraw parts if you know the LDraw part code and LDraw color number.

You write...

<<LDrawPart(2337:46)>>

You get...

(Learn more about including LDraw parts and LDraw colors)

LUGNET member polls. You can include a LUGNET member poll if you know the poll number.

You write...

<<Poll(1)>>

You get...

LUGNET Member Poll

by Suzanne Rich Eaton

Why do you think The LEGO Company puts tiny holes in LEGO baggies?

	to save money on plastic
	because holy bags are easier to rip open
	because holy bags are more rip-resistant
	so little kids don’t suffocate
	so the bags won’t explode in airplanes
	those are the air-holes for minifigs!
	so bags don’t muffle the magical clinking sound
	to squeeze all the air out -- so it weighs less

View Results

Well, that’s it in a nutshell. For more details, please read the FTX User Guide.

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