Inform 7 Notes — 22 of 35

Book - The Ontology Lab Whiteboard

The whiteboard is writable scenery in the Ontology Lab. The description is "A regulation-issue whiteboard with a metal tray.[if read text of the whiteboard is not empty] [the contents of the whiteboard][end if]". The read text is "SCRIBBLE ON ME". Understand "board" as the whiteboard. Understand "scribble [text] on [whiteboard]" as writing it on.

A board state description is a kind of value. Board state descriptions are user scribbling, blank slate, and outlined. The whiteboard has a board state description called the current board state. The current board state is usually blank slate. After erasing the whiteboard, now the current board state is blank slate. After writing on the whiteboard, now the current board state is user scribbling.

To say the contents of the whiteboard: say "Scribbled on the whiteboard is:[command clarification break]"; silently try reading the whiteboard.

The metal tray is a supporter. It is part of the whiteboard. The description is "This narrow metal tray is built to support markers and erasers."

A marker is a kind of writing tool. A marker cap is a kind of thing. The description of a marker cap is usually "This cap keeps the marker from drying up." A marker cap is part of every marker. Does the player mean doing something with the marker cap: it is unlikely. Instead of doing something other than examining with the marker cap: say "There is no need to fiddle with the marker cap."

The black marker is a marker on the metal tray. The description is "This is as generic a whiteboard marker as you'll ever hope to find. It has a black cap."

Report writing it on (this is the detailed report writing rule): say "You take the cap off the marker, write on [the second noun], and replace the cap carefully." The detailed report writing rule is listed instead of the report writing rule in the report writing it on rulebook.

An eraser is an erasing tool. The description is usually "A classic fuzzy whiteboard eraser, none too clean." On the metal tray is an eraser.

Test whiteboard with "read whiteboard / erase whiteboard / x whiteboard".