JACL Reference Card

Function Syntax

{name	Associated function (on the preceding object or location).
{+name	Global function.
{*name	Explicitly named function (no auto-suffix).
{a : b : c	Multiple names for the same function.
}	Closes a function.
execute fn<arg0<arg1…	Run a function with arguments. Available inside as `arg[n]` (integer) and `string_arg[n]` (string).
call fn	Like execute, but does not error if the function is missing.
return [value]	Exit the function. Default return is true.
@fn	Call-count of fn. Bare `@` is the running function's own count.

Data Definitions

object Label : Name1 Name2…
  plural PluralName1…
  has Attribute1 Attribute2…
  short Article Description
  definite DefiniteArticle
  long Description | function
  parent ItemLabel
  mass N | heavy | scenery
  capacity N
  player
  static

location Label : Name1 Name2…
  <direction> DestLabel
  short Article Description
  has Attribute1…

integer Label [Value]
string Label ["Value"]
constant Label Value
attribute Label1 [Label2…]
grammar Syntax >CoreFunction
synonym OldWord NewWord
filter Word
parameter Name Target [min max]

Grammar scope tokens: *held *here *present *inside *anywhere (single noun); **held … **anywhere (multi-noun). $integer / $string / $location capture literal player input.

Function Dispatch

grammar verb >fn

+before_fn — if it returns true, jump to step 7.
fn_here — associated with the current location.
Otherwise +fn — the global function.
If +fn hits override, look for fn_override_here.
Otherwise +default_fn.
Otherwise the rest of +fn after the override runs.
+after_fn.

grammar verb *Obj1 >fn

+before_fn (as above).
fn_Obj1.
Otherwise +fn.
On override: fn_override_Obj1.
Otherwise +default_fn.
Otherwise continue +fn.
+after_fn.

grammar verb *Obj1 prep *Obj2 >fn

+before_fn.
fn_Obj2_Obj1.
Otherwise +fn.
On override: fn_Obj2_override_Obj1.
Otherwise +default_fn.
Otherwise continue +fn.
+after_fn.

Text Macros

Applied as noun{macro}. Capitalise the macro name (e.g. {The}) for sentence-initial form.

{list} {plain} {long} {the} {label} {names} {sub} {obj} {that} {it} {is} {isnt} {does} {doesnt} {s}

Object Elements

0	parent	8	index
1	capacity / quantity	9	status
2	mass	10	timer
3	bearing	11	counter
4	velocity	12	points
5	next	13	class
6	previous	14	x
7	child	15	y

Object Attributes

1	CLOSED	17	BURNING
2	LOCKED	18	LOCATION
3	DEAD	19	ON
4	IGNITABLE	20	DAMAGED
5	WORN	21	FEMALE
6	CONCEALING	22	POSSESSIVE
7	LUMINOUS	23	OUT_OF_REACH
8	WEARABLE	24	TOUCHED
9	CLOSABLE	25	SCORED
10	LOCKABLE	26	SITTING
11	ANIMATE	27	NPC
12	LIQUID	28	DONE
13	CONTAINER	29	GAS
14	SURFACE	30	NO_TAB
15	PLURAL	31	NOT_IMPORTANT
16	FLAMMABLE

Location Attributes

1	VISITED	9	POLLUTED
2	DARK	10	SOLVED
3	ON_WATER	11	MID_WATER
4	UNDER_WATER	12	DARKNESS
5	WITHOUT_AIR	13	MAPPED
6	OUTDOORS	14	KNOWN
7	MID_AIR	18	LOCATION
8	TIGHT_ROPE

Pointers

player	The object that is the player.
here	The player's current location.
noun1, noun2	First and second objects in the player's command.
noun3	Default loop iterator.
noun4	Free pointer.
self	Object the running function is associated with.
destination	Where the player is moving to (set before +movement).

Flow Control

if e1 [: e2…]	True if any expression is true.
ifall e1 [: e2…]	True if all are true.
ifstring e1 [: e2…]	String version of if.
ifexecute fn	True if fn exists and returns true.
else / endif	Branch / close.
endall	Close every open if/ifall at once.
loop [var] … endloop	Iterate every defined object.
select obj … endselect	Iterate the children of an object.
repeat … until e	Loop while e is false.
while e … endwhile	Loop while e is true.
iterate csv … enditerate	Walk a CSV file row by row.
update csv … endupdate	Walk a CSV file with write-back.
break	Exit the innermost loop.
return [v]	Exit the function.

Operators

= == != <>	Integer equality / inequality.
> < >= <=	Numeric comparison.
has / hasnt	Attribute is / isn't set on an object.
is / isnt	Object is / isn't in a scope (`held`, `here`, etc.).
grandof / !grandof	Tests deep parent relationships.
locationof / !locationof	Left is the enclosing location of right.
childof / !childof	Left is a direct child of right.

Common Verb Functions

Define {verb_label for an object-specific response, or {+default_verb for a global override. See Appendix B of the Author's Guide for the full list of 216 verb functions.

examinetakedrop opencloselock unlockwearremove insert_ininsert_onlook_in look_underlook_behindlook_through talk_toask_aboutask_for tell_aboutgive_toshow_to pullpushmove readeatdrink_from turn_onturn_offuse throw_atbreakcut listen_tosmelltaste climbenterjump lightextinguishburn tieuntieattack

Command Summary

Output / state

setensuremovewrite printprint:stylecursor clearmoreflushupdatestatus setstringaddstringescapestringpadstring lengthsplitpointsterminate undomove

Flow

ififallelseendif endallifstringifexecuteloop endloopselectendselectrepeat untiluntilallwhileendwhile iterateenditerateupdateendupdate breakreturnexecutecall

Special / I-O

proxyoverridepositionbearing distancedir_tonpc_torandom asknumbergetnumbergetstringgetyesorno savegamerestoregametimersound imagevolumestopgetenv

Web (cgijacl / fcgijacl)

hyperlinkhiddenpromptbutton optionappendappend_fcappend_nt append_lcinsert

Library Hooks

+intro	Runs once at game start (and re-runs while web-side pending questions are unresolved).
+eachturn	After every turn-consuming command.
eachturn	On a location, fires when the player is there.
+timer	Periodic, scheduled by the timer opcode.
+movement	Global pre-movement hook; return true to block.
movement	On a location, fires when the player tries to leave.
+title	Optional header printed before each look.
+before_look / +after_look	Wrap every look with custom content.
+no_light	Replaces output when the location has DARKNESS.
+update_status_window	Draw the status window (Glk grid & web).
+rpc	Web only: catches arbitrary `?rpc=…` calls.
+game_intro	webinterface scaffold (calls +game_dedication and +game_scene).

JACL 4.7 Reference Card — Stuart Allen, 2026. Built from the same source tree as the Author's Guide. See guide/JACLReferenceCard.html.