Pattern viewer for forum threads

[rowett]

It would be nice if it could reach an integer zoom. (It's always slightly off.)

You can press one of the following keys to get integer zooms:

• 1 - zoom 1x
• 2 - zoom 2x
• 4 - zoom 4x
• 8 - zoom 8x
• 6 - zoom 16x
• 3 - zoom 32x
• shift 2 - zoom -2x
• shift 4 - zoom -4x
• shift 8 - zoom -8x
• shift 6 - zoom -6x

These keys also control zoom:

• [ - zoom out
• ] - zoom in
• shift [ - halve zoom
• shift ] - double zoom
• f - fit pattern
• F - toggle autofit

Alternatively if you want to post a pattern and have it open at a specific zoom use the ZOOM script keyword.

Code: Select all

#C [[ ZOOM 20 ]] want exactly x20 zoom when pattern opens
x = 3, y = 3, rule = Life
boo$
obo$
bbo!

[rowett]

Build 182 is now live on conwaylife.com

Please note: you will need to refresh your browser to use the new build

For the examples below click on a thumbnail to see full size. Hotkey "n" toggles between thumbnail and full size.

Enhancements since the last released build:

• added support for bounded grids
  • Plane, Tube/Torus, Cross-surface, Klein-bottle and Sphere

  Code: Select all

  #C [[ THUMBNAIL ]]
x = 79, y = 79, rule = B3/S23:T79,79
10b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$2b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$2b2o12b2o20b2o12b
2o12bobo$bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$b2o12b2o12b
obo12b2o12b2o$15b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$7b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$7b
2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$6bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$6b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o
20b2o$6b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$12b2o20b2o
12b2o12bobo12b2o$12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$11bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o
$11b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$11b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$3b2o20b2o12b2o
12bobo12b2o$3b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$2bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$2b2o
12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$2b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$16b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o
12b2o$8b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$8b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$7bobo12b2o
12b2o20b2o12b2o$7b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$7b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$o
20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12bo$o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12bo$o12b2o12b2o20b2o
12b2o12bo$12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$12b2o
12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$4b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$4b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12b
obo$3bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$3b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$3b2o12b2o12bob
o12b2o12b2o$17b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$9b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$9b2o
12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$8bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$8b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o
20b2o$8b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$2o12b2o20b2o
12b2o12bobo$bo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bo$o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12bo$o12b
2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20bo$13b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$5b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo
12b2o$5b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$4bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$4b2o12bobo
12b2o12b2o20b2o$4b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$18b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$
10b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$10b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$9bobo12b2o12b2o
20b2o12b2o$9b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$9b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$b2o20b
2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$obo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$2o
12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$14b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b
2o$6b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$6b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo$5bobo12b2o12b2o
20b2o12b2o$5b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o$5b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$19b2o
12b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o$11b2o20b2o12b2o12bobo12b2o$11b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o
12bobo$10bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o12b2o$10b2o12bobo12b2o12b2o20b2o!
• added support for Alan Hensel's isotropic non-totalistic rules (with optional History)

  Code: Select all

  #C [[ THUMBNAIL ]]
x = 77, y = 222, rule = B34tw5y_S23
37b2o$17b3o18b2o$16bo3bo16bo2$15bo$14b2obobo$14bobo2bo$16b4o$12bo6bo$
16bobob3o8b3o$9b2o4bo5b2o8b2o$8b2o4bo17bobo$6bo3bo20b2ob2o$5bo3b2o$5bo
$5bo3b2o$6bo3bo20b2ob2o$8b2o4bo17bobo$9b2o4bo5b2o8b2o$16bobob3o8b3o$
12bo6bo$16b4o$14bobo2bo$14b2obobo$15bo2$16bo3bo16bo$17b3o18b2o$37b2o
10$67bo$65bobo3b3o$66b2o2bo3bo2$69bo$68b2obobo$68bobo2bo$70b4o$66bo6bo
$70bobob3o$63b2o4bo5b2o$62b2o4bo$60bo3bo$59bo3b2o$59bo$59bo3b2o$60bo3b
o$62b2o4bo$63b2o4bo5b2o$70bobob3o$66bo6bo$70b4o$68bobo2bo$68b2obobo$
69bo2$66b2o2bo3bo$65bobo3b3o$67bo10$37b2o$17b3o18b2o$16bo3bo16bo2$15bo
$14b2obobo$14bobo2bo$16b4o$12bo6bo$16bobob3o8b3o$9b2o4bo5b2o8b2o$8b2o
4bo17bobo$6bo3bo20b2ob2o$5bo3b2o$5bo$5bo3b2o$6bo3bo20b2ob2o$8b2o4bo17b
obo$9b2o4bo5b2o8b2o$16bobob3o8b3o$12bo6bo$16b4o$14bobo2bo$14b2obobo$
15bo2$16bo3bo16bo$17b3o18b2o$37b2o51$62bo$60bobo3b3o$61b2o2bo3bo2$64bo
$63b2obobo$63bobo2bo$65b4o$61bo6bo$65bobob3o$58b2o4bo5b2o$57b2o4bo$55b
o3bo$54bo3b2o$54bo$54bo3b2o$55bo3bo$57b2o4bo$58b2o4bo5b2o$65bobob3o$
61bo6bo$65b4o$63bobo2bo$63b2obobo$64bo2$61b2o2bo3bo$60bobo3b3o$62bo10$
32b2o$12b3o18b2o$11bo3bo16bo2$10bo$9b2obobo$9bobo2bo$11b4o$7bo6bo$11bo
bob3o8b3o$4b2o4bo5b2o8b2o$3b2o4bo17bobo$bo3bo20b2ob2o$o3b2o$o$o3b2o$bo
3bo20b2ob2o$3b2o4bo17bobo$4b2o4bo5b2o8b2o$11bobob3o8b3o$7bo6bo$11b4o$
9bobo2bo$9b2obobo$10bo2$11bo3bo16bo$12b3o18b2o$32b2o!
• added support for Generations rules (totalistic and isotropic non-totalistic)

  Code: Select all

  #C [[ THUMBNAIL ]]
x = 200, y = 200, rule = 2/13/21:T200,200
88.A6$A58$61.A24$107.A11$37.A!
• added support for totalistic hex neighbourhood rules
  • hex display automatically selected for hex rules
  • hotkey "/" will toggle hex display (note this does not change the rule)
  • new script command [[ HEXDISPLAY ]] will switch on hex display (used for unsupported patterns you want to show on a hex grid)

  Code: Select all

  #C [[ THUMBNAIL GRID ]]
#C p9: p9 inside, p3 outside
x = 37, y = 37, rule = B2/S34H
10b2o$9b5o$8b3o2b3o$8b2o5b2o8b2o$9bo6bo7b5o$2b2o5b2o5b2o5b3o2b3o$b5o4b
o6bo5b2o5b2o$3o2b3o2b2o5b2o5bo6bo$2o5b2o2b3o2b3o5b2o5b2o$bo6bo4b5o7bo
6bo$b2o5b2o5b2o8b2o5b2o$2bo6bo6bo7b5o2b3o$2b2o5b2o4b4o4b3o2b5o$3b3o2b
5ob3ob3ob3o5b2o$5b5o2b4o4b4o$7b2o5bo7bo$14b10o$15bo7bo$15b10o3b2o$16bo
7bo2b5o$8b2o5b4o4b6o2b3o$7b5o2b3ob3ob3ob2o5b2o$6b3o2b5o4b4o3bo6bo$6b2o
5b2o7bo4b2o5b2o$7bo6bo7b2o4bo6bo$7b2o5b2o7bo4b2o5b2o$8bo6bo7b2o4b3o2b
3o$8b2o5b2o5b5o4b5o$9b3o2b3o4b3o2b3o4b2o$11b5o5b2o5b2o$13b2o7bo6bo$22b
2o5b2o$23bo6bo$23b2o5b2o$24b3o2b3o$26b5o$28b2o!
• hex neighbourhoods are also supported with Generations rules

  Code: Select all

  #C [[ THUMBNAIL AUTOFIT ]]
x = 5, y = 5, rule = B23456/S2456/8H
o2$bo$b2o$o3bo!
• added ability to define or randomly generate 512bit transition maps
  • transition map defines the next generation state for every permutation of the 2-state Moore neighbourhood
  • there are 2^9 possible inputs = 512 bits and this leads to 2^512 (roughly 1.34x10^154) unique rules

    Code: Select all

    0 1 2
    3 4 5  -> 4'
    6 7 8
    
    The first few entries for Conway's Life are as follows:
    Cell 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 = 4'
    0    x x x x x x x x x = 0
    1    x x x x x x x x y = 0
    2    x x x x x x x y x = 0
    3    x x x x x x x y y = 0
    4    x x x x x x y x x = 0
    5    x x x x x x y x y = 0
    6    x x x x x x y y x = 0 
    7    x x x x x x y y y = 1  B3!
    8    x x x x x y x x x = 0
    ...
    511  y y y y y y y y y = 0
    

  • new script command [[ MAP <map> | <threshold> ]] defines transition map for all generations
  • new script command [[ MAPODD <map> | <threshold> ]] defines transition map for odd generations (in which case [[ MAP ]] is used for even generations)
  • either supply <map> which is a base64 encoding of the 512 bit transition map
  • or supply random <threshold> which is a value <0.0..1.0>
  • MAP base64 string and density are shown in the help information
  • any defined rule is ignored and replaced with the MAP definition
  • see here for a demonstration

  Code: Select all

  #C [[ MAP 0.2 AUTOFIT THUMBNAIL ]]
#C generate a random map which overrides the defined rule below
#N Acorn
#O Charles Corderman
#C A methuselah with lifespan 5206.
#C http://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/index.php?title=Acorn
x = 7, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
bo5b$3bo3b$2o2b3o!
• added support for Mark Niemiec's x, y and z states
• if a pattern can not be displayed or executed an appropriate error message is displayed at the bottom of the viewer
• help information now includes pattern name and originator if specified in the RLE using #N and #O
• "Click to Control" message now uses colour animation
• added state value to coordinate display
• added new aliases for Generations rules and some isotropic non-totalistic rules
  • alias list is now shown in help information
• scripts that don't include waypoints can display a message [[ "Welcome to my pattern" ]]
• generation display now shows decimal places for millions
• notification is displayed when all cells are dead

Fixes since the last released build:

• multiple [[ LOOP ]] or [[ STOP ]] script commands are now flagged as errors
• bounding box calculation occasionally created a box too high
• custom colours DEAD and DEADRAMP were switched
• help information for the tile count was only updating every even generation
• patterns of any size can now be deleted when they hit the large grid boundary
• pattern reader fails fast on patterns that are too big

Comments, feedback, suggestions and bug reports welcome!

[M. I. Wright]

Christ, this just keeps getting better and better! No criticism or bug reports from me this time around (those'll probably come later, no worries), just a sincere thank-you for taking the time to make the forum so much more engaging and easier to use.

[rowett]

No criticism or bug reports from me this time around (those'll probably come later, no worries), just a sincere thank-you for taking the time to make the forum so much more engaging and easier to use.

My pleasure. Looking forward to the bug reports...

[blah]

It seems that you can't rotate the view (the angle slider in the menu that comes up) on hexagonal grids. The slider moves and the graphics stay put.

[rowett]

It seems that you can't rotate the view (the angle slider in the menu that comes up) on hexagonal grids. The slider moves and the graphics stay put.

The Hex display does not support rotation. The angle slider should not appear. Thanks for reporting!

EDIT: This is fixed and will be in the next released build. See here for the test case.

[rowett]

The updated hotkey map detailing the LifeViewer keyboard controls is here.

Please note: you may need to refresh your browser to see the updated map.

[rowett]

Build 187 is now live on conwaylife.com

Please note: you will need to refresh your browser to use the new build

For the examples below click on a thumbnail to see full size. Hotkey "n" toggles between thumbnail and full size.

Enhancements since the last released build:

• Rules
  • Von Neumann neighbourhoods are now supported for totalistic and Generations rules

    Code: Select all

    #N Von Neumann Totalistic
x = 23, y = 23, rule = B1/S01234V
5bo$6bo$5b4o$4b3ob3o$3b3o4b3o$2b3o7b3obo$4o10b3o$2bo13bo$2b2o12b2o$3bo
13bo$3b2o12b2o$4bo13bo$4b2o12b2o$5bo13bo$5b2o4bo2bo4b2o$6bo6bo6bo$6b3o
10b4o$6bob3o3bo3b3o$10b3o4b3o$12b3ob3o$14b4o$16bo$17bo!
#C [[ THUMBNAIL AUTOFIT ]]

    Code: Select all

    #N Von Veumann Generations
x = 23, y = 23, rule = B1/S34/31V:T160
5bo$6bo$5b4o$4b3ob3o$3b3o4b3o$2b3o7b3obo$4o10b3o$2bo13bo$2b2o12b2o$3bo
13bo$3b2o12b2o$4bo13bo$4b2o12b2o$5bo13bo$5b2o4bo2bo4b2o$6bo6bo6bo$6b3o
10b4o$6bob3o3bo3b3o$10b3o4b3o$12b3ob3o$14b4o$16bo$17bo!
#C [[ THUMBNAIL ZOOM 2 ]]
  • Wolfram 1D rules are now supported

    Code: Select all

    #N Wolfram 1D
#O Chris
x = 3, y = 1, rule = W30
obo!
#C [[ THUMBNAIL AUTOFIT ]]
• Help information
  • neighbourhood is now displayed in help information
  • display mode (Hex or Square) is now displayed in help information
  • aliases are now grouped by rule family
• Hotkeys
  • shift and hotkey "/" now sets display mode to pattern default (Hex or Square)
  • shift and hotkey "1" sets zoom to the nearest integer zoom
• Bounded grids
  • you can now specify just one dimension for bounded grids and it is used for both width and height
• Script commands
  • new script commands [[ LINEAR ALL|X|Y|ZOOM ]] and [[ BEZIER ALL|X|Y|ZOOM ]] set camera transition mode for X, Y, ZOOM or ALL elements at once (default is BEZIER)
  • new script command [[ SQUAREDISPLAY ]] to force square display mode (for unknown rules that are autodetected as Hex)
• [[ TITLE ]] string can now contain variables
  • #B the LifeViewer build number
  • #N the pattern name (if defined)
  • #O the pattern originator (if defined)
  • #R the pattern rule name
  • #T the program title ("LifeViewer")
  • ## the # symbol
• Step back
  • increased maximum STEP to 50
  • increased step back generations to 2500
• Aliases
  • added GlideLife to the aliases
• UI
  • improved the "Auto", "Fit" and "Help" buttons
• Performance
  • improvements for next generation calculations and colour updates
• General
  • improved rule error checking, pattern state validation and error messages

Fixes since the last released build:

• Generations rules
  • state display was incorrect
  • decay states were not counted in bounding box
  • patterns including script commands were marked as VIEWONLY
  • two of the aliases were incorrect
  • state 1 of patterns with only 2 states was being drawn in black
• Hex display
  • angle UI slider should not display
• Bounded grids
  • left column of bounded box was sometimes not drawing correctly
  • patterns with an odd height were being drawn one line too high
• Points of interest (POIs)
  • POIs would be incorrectly located if display mode switched between Hex and Square
• Waypoints
  • reset state should use the first waypoint theme

The updated hotkey map detailing the LifeViewer keyboard controls is here.

Comments, feedback, suggestions and bug reports welcome!

[gameoflifeboy]

LifeViewer glitches after this pattern is run to stabilization:

Code: Select all

x = 8, y = 8, rule = Life
bo$2b2obo$obo2bobo$2bo2bobo$bo3b3o$6b2o$obo3bo$8o!

[rowett]

LifeViewer glitches after this pattern is run to stabilization

This has been fixed and will be in the next released build. Thanks for reporting!

Test case is here.

[gmc_nxtman]

Noticed a bug in this post. After the top right pattern dies out, two bits seem to continually oscillate back and forth:

Code: Select all

x = 38, y = 37, rule = B3/S23
34bo$7b2o25b2o$6b2o25b2o$2bo4bo$2b2o$b2o$33b2o$32b2o$33bo23$bo30b2o$b
2o28b2o$2o30bo$6b2o28bo$5b2o29b2o$6bo28b2o!

[PHPBB12345]

Test case is here.

Code: Select all

#C [[ "&" ]]
#N R-pentomino
#C A methuselah with lifespan 1103.
#C http://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/index.php?title=R-pentomino
x = 3, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
b2o$2ob$bo!

Code: Select all

#C [[ TITLE "&" ]]
#N R-pentomino
#C A methuselah with lifespan 1103.
#C www.conwaylife.com/wiki/index.php?title=R-pentomino
x = 3, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
b2o$2ob$bo!

[rowett]

Noticed a bug in this post. After the top right pattern dies out, two bits seem to continually oscillate back and forth

This has been fixed and will be in the next released build. Thanks for reporting!

Test case is here.

[rowett]

Code: Select all

#C [[ TITLE "&" ]]
#N R-pentomino
#C A methuselah with lifespan 1103.
#C www.conwaylife.com/wiki/index.php?title=R-pentomino
x = 3, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
b2o$2ob$bo!

This has been fixed and will be in the next released build. Thanks for reporting!

Test case is here. You may need to refresh the browser on first viewing the test case.

[PHPBB12345]

Code: Select all

#N Wolfram test
#O Chris
x = 3, y = 1, rule = W105
obo!

[rowett]

Code: Select all

#N Wolfram test
#O Chris
x = 3, y = 1, rule = W105
obo!

Wolfram rule numbers must be even. This has been fixed and will be in the next build. Thanks for reporting!

Test case is here.

[PHPBB12345]

LifeViewer support backslash escaping?
for example:

Code: Select all

#C [[ TITLE "\\" ]]
#C [[ "\\" ]]
#N R-pentomino
#C A methuselah with lifespan 1103.
#C http://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/index.php?title=R-pentomino
x = 3, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
b2o$2ob$bo!

[rowett]

LifeViewer support backslash escaping?

No, but I'm not sure it's needed. LifeViewer doesn't treat backslash as a special character.

Code: Select all

#C [[ TITLE "\" ]]
#C [[ "\" ]]
#N R-pentomino
#C A methuselah with lifespan 1103.
#C http://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/index.php?title=R-pentomino
x = 3, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
b2o$2ob$bo!

[rowett]

Added B0 emulation support for totalistic rules with Hex or Von Neumann neighbourhoods. This will be in the next released build.

Code: Select all

#CXRLE Pos=0,0 Gen=0
x = 5, y = 3, rule = B02/S0V
bobo2$2ob2o!

Test case is here.

[PHPBB12345]

Code: Select all

#C [[ "[code] #C " ]]
#N R-pentomino
#C A methuselah with lifespan 1103.
#C www.conwaylife.com/wiki/index.php?title=R-pentomino
x = 3, y = 3, rule = B3/S23
b2o$2ob$bo!
[/code]

[rowett]

< code > block inside < viewer > block

I can fix this but I don't know what you're trying to achieve by nesting a < code > block inside a < viewer>, please let me know.

[PHPBB12345]

< code > block inside < viewer > block

I can fix this but I don't know what you're trying to achieve by nesting a < code > block inside a < viewer>, please let me know.

oh...

[JohanB]

1. Can I have a shortcut key to close the viewer?

I find myself doing the following:
Read a post, click on "show in viewer"
play around with the pattern (using the keyboard).
continue with the rest of the thread... Oh wait viewer is in the way. Press [esc].
I then have to aim for the X with the mouse, whereas 95% of my time I'm using the keyboard.

Can you assign a key to close the viewer. [esc] would be ideal but you've already used that for pause,
seeing as there are many other keys also assigned to pause, I'd still like to campaign for [esc] = close.
If not some other key on the edge of the keyboard [`] or [z].

2. Is it not possible to have the viewer grab the keyboard focus when it starts?

In all other respects LifeViewer is a joy to work with. I esp like the scroll edit controls, very nice piece of UI.

[rowett]

1. Can I have a shortcut key to close the viewer?

Yes, completely agree with the need for a key to close the standalone (popup) LifeViewer.

[esc] would be ideal but you've already used that for pause,
seeing as there are many other keys also assigned to pause, I'd still like to campaign for [esc] = close.

I agree [esc] feels like the natural choice for close. The reason it's used for pause is because Golly does and where possible I try to duplicate the shortcut keys. Of course Golly (and the inline LifeViewer) have no ability or need to close.

The options are:

1. [esc] closes the standalone LifeViewer but pauses playback on the inline LifeViewers
2. [esc] closes the standalone LifeViewer and does nothing on the inline LifeViewers
3. we pick a different shortcut key

Feel free to vote!

2. Is it not possible to have the viewer grab the keyboard focus when it starts?

It is possible but I found it annoying especially since the focus would include the mouse.

• If I press [space] did I want to toggle playback on the LifeViewer or have the browser page down?
• If there are multiple inline LifeViewers on a page which do I want to interact with?
• If I scroll the mouse wheel do I want to scroll the browser page or zoom the LifeViewer display?

To remove these types of ambiguities you have to explicitly "Click to control" the LifeViewer (and it automatically loses focus as the mouse moves off it).

In all other respects LifeViewer is a joy to work with. I esp like the scroll edit controls, very nice piece of UI.

Great, many thanks for the feedback.

[rowett]

Build 188 is now live on conwaylife.com

Please note: you will need to refresh your browser to use the new build

Enhancements since the last released build:

• added B0 emulation support for totalistic rules with Hex or Von Neumann neighbourhoods - test
• if the STEP size is too large to allow frequent updates then it will by dynamically reduced to keep the UI responsive

Fixes since the last released build:

• fixed a visual glitch caused by a previous optimization - test
• [[ TITLE ]] string was ignoring text after last variable substitution - test
• & symbols in script strings were being converted to html friendly versions - test
• snapshots were not working with patterns containing no live cells
• Wolfram rule number must be even - test
• when all cells died the STEP size was ignored
• partial fix for embedding <code> tags inside <viewer> tags

Comments, feedback, suggestions and bug reports welcome!