0. Contents
This control panel provides an environment for comparing the different state symmetrical rules. It constructs a number of different initial patterns in a torus universe with tools probing different properties. The control panel is not limited to state symmetrical rules but by using the abbreviated notation either just the B part of the usual B/S notation or using the H form a state symmetrical rule is guaranteed.
The most studied state symmetrical CA is Day & Night which is defined as: B3678/S34678. The state symmetry is seen in that the list for survive is the opposite of the list for not survive (not Survive count = 8 - survive count) thus a state symmetrical CA can be defined just by the rules for being born. Following the practice of Wolfram the counts on which cells are born can be treated as bits in a binary number bit 0 set 1 for born on count zero thus B3678 is the binary number 1 1100 1000, however hexadecimal notation combines brevity with ease recovery of the bit positions giving H1C8 for this rule. The two's complement of 1 1100 1000 is 0 0011 0111 or in hexadecimal H037 which is referred to as the complementary rule to H1C8 both of these show the same pattern from the same initial conditions except that one changes state when the other does not. The control panel has the ability to swap between a rule and it's complement allowing reverse strobing to be investigated. With an empty universe the odd numbered rule strobes, changing state every generation some rules fill the universe with patterns that strobe in the odd rule a property referred to as reverse strobing. Golly does not support this rule simply running the even rule instead. The control panel has defined a set of three state rules which implement the odd numbered rules. This has two consequences firstly Golly has to be told where the rules are and secondly golly's population count is no longer meaningful.
A universe can be initialised with a random pattern, diagonal band, orthogonal band, checkerboard or an random filled island. A seed defined as a list of numbers 0-3 or as run length encoding of 'o', 'a', 'b' and 'c' ("00123" == "o2abc") is used to provide repeatable variations. The seed initialises the random sequence used for random patterns and imposes a pattern along one boundary of the bands and checkerboard patterns.
Features:| Load Script from File | For loading a script from a file |
| Paste Script | For loading a script from the paste buffer |
| Run Script | For running a loaded script |
| Set Rule Folder | Change the folder containing the definition of the odd rules |
| Exit | To exit the control panel |
| Undo | Undo previus command |
| Redo | Redo previously undone command |
| Clear | Clear the universe |
| Copy Pattern | Copy the universe pattern in rle format to the paste buffer |
| Paste Pattern | Paste a pattern in rle format from the paste buffer |
| Rotate Right | Rotate the universe right pattern by the Rotate Step |
| Rotate Left | Rotate the universe left pattern by the Rotate Step |
| Rotate Up | Rotate the universe up pattern by the Rotate Step |
| Rotate Down | Rotate the universe down pattern by the Rotate Step |
| Rotate Step | Number of cells to rotate byk |
Commands that change the universe.
| Step | Run one Generation |
| Run | Run until Stopped |
| Run to Generation | Run to this Generation |
| Run n Generations | Run a number of Generations |
| Swap:Comp | Swap this Rule for the Complementry Rule |
| Rebuild | Rebuild generation 0 |
| Change Rule | New Rule |
| Change Width | New Width |
| Change Hight | New Hight |
| Change Seed | New Seed |
| Change Geometry | New Geometry |
| Change Island Size | Specify Island size for Island Geometries |
There are two list that can be entired. One for Rules and one for Seeds. This enables a number of rules to be compared with each other with a range of seeds.
| Rule List Build item | Build the universe with the next Rule on the Rule List |
| Change Rule List | Enter a new list of Rules |
| Change next Rule item | Change the position in the list of rule the next rule will come from |
| Seed List Build item | Build the universe with the next Seed on the Seed List |
| Change Seed List | Enter a new list of Seeds |
| Change next Seed item | Change the position in the list of Seed the next Seed will come from |
| Fit | Fit the Universe to the screen |
| Change Rule Format | Rules can be displayed in either B/S format or the abriviated Hexadecimal format |
| Rule Description | Show the description of the rule in a separate dialogue |
| List Script | List the loaded script |
| Stack Layers | Golly Stack Layers, useful with Tools menu Island Analysis |
| Tile Layers | Golly Tile Layers |
| "Change Layer | Golly select layer |
| Delete Extra Layers | Delete layers added by tools or Scripts |
| Find End | Runs until the Type of Find End determines that a conclusion has been reached |
| Change Find End Type | How the end of the run is determined: OSC Oscillation found Break A Band has broken when boundaries meet |
| Change Find End Initial Step | The size of the initial step starting the search for the End result |
| Change Find End Max Generation | The generation to abandon the search. The algorithm does no stick on this limit exactly but it does represent a limit |
| Change Find End Min Period | The Find End procedure may be speeded up by increasing this a little bit when large numbers are expected |
| Change Find End Max Period | The maximum period that can be detected by the Find End procedure. Smaller numbers are faster. |
| Island Analysis | Identifies orthogonally connected islands. The larges Islands of each state are shown in separate layers and colours |
| Island Analysis Results | Repeats the results of the last Island Analysis |
Lists the actions of the menu items and gives some backgound information.
| Keyboard | Shortcuts |
| r | run |
| s | step |
| b | back |
| f | forward |
Scripts are extensions intended for long searches through rules to collect information for statistical analysis. The script file has a standard format to pass information to external lua modules. These modules can use functions in the control panel modules to utilize Gollys features. A very simple example is Stain-Script.txt:
SymCA scripting
SCRIPT script2-Stain
GENS = 84
ONECHANGE = TRUE
SCRIPTEND
The module must define interface tables:
m.colonList = {}
m.equalList = {['GENS'] = {'d',""}, ['ONECHANGE'] = {'l',"R"}}
Where m is the table returned by the module. colonList defines the lists , not required in this exsmple but normaly a list of rules or a list of seeds is required looking like:RULE: B3678, H1C9 in the script file. The 'l' and 'd' indicate logical and decimal the other option is 't' for text. The "R" indicates that the command is required.
The module script2.lua contains the code for scripting and requires that extension modules define the following interface functions:
m.init(logfile, commonprocs)
m.buildParmLst(cmd, parms, segNo)
m.buildParmVal(cmd, value, segNo)
m.validateScript()
m.run(segmentNo)
init passes the module a logfile and a table with some common procedures, buildParmLst passes the module lists of values for colonList commands from the script file, buildParmVal passes the module values of equalList commands from the script, validateScript gives the module a chance to return a false value if the data in the script file is invalid and the run function is called to do the work.