Block Plugin (2.0)

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This article or section documents an outdated version of Scratch (version 2.0). For this article in the current version (version 3.0), see Block Plugin (3.0).

The Block Plugin, also known as scratchblocks, was a plugin for the Scratch Wiki and Discussion Forums created by blob8108 that allows script images to be constructed through text that is parsed and rendered. The plugin can be played around with here. There was also a discontinued forum topic here.

It is a complete rewrite of the old plugin by JSO that was used on the old Scratch forums. On the Scratch Wiki, it was replaced by a new version also by blob8108 after the release of Scratch 3.0, but the Discussion Forums still use the 2.0 version.

Example:

define dance (speed)
set [dist v] to ((speed) * (distance to [mouse-pointer v]))
repeat until <(timer) > [10]>
  move (dist) steps
  next costume
  play note (pick random (40) to (100)) for (0.5) beats
  say [Wow! Scratch 2.0 scripts on the Wiki!]
end

Basic Syntax

Main article: Block Plugin/Syntax

On the Scratch Wiki, code must be inserted between the <scratchblocks>...</scratchblocks> tags, while on the forums, they are inserted between [scratchblocks]...[/scratchblocks] tags. On the Scratch Wiki, uniquely, a single block can also be inserted inline between <sb>...</sb> tags to avoid breaking lines.

The block plugin tries to match the code you write as closely as possible, and does not check you've used the correct syntax. The block text is only used to find the correct color.

The basic syntax of for the Block Plugin is as follows:

Code	Use	Example	Result
block name	a block	stamp	stamp
end	stops a C block (only necessary if more blocks come after the C block)	repeat (5) move (10) steps end say [Done!]	repeat (5) move (10) steps end say [Done!]
[text]	a text input	say [Hello World!]	say [Hello World!]
(var)	a variable or reporter block	(x position)	(x position)
(12.34)	a number input	wait (0.5) secs	wait (0.5) secs
[item v]	a dropdown input	broadcast [You Win v]	broadcast [You Win v]
<bool>	a boolean block	<mouse down?>	<mouse down?>
[#ABCDEF]	a color input	<touching color [#0000FF]?>	<touching color [#0000FF]?>
define	a custom block hat	define jump (height)	define jump (height)
// comment	a comment	show // now you see me	show // now you see me
...	a placeholder block denoting an arbitrary script	if <(var) = [this]> then ... end	if <(var) = [this]> then ... end

Advanced Syntax

The following is some more in-depth syntax of scratchblocks2.

Code	Use	Example	Result
block { more blocks } optional text	Custom C blocks	do { ... } in [Sprite2 v]::control	do { ... } in [Sprite2 v]::control
(stack block as reporter::stack)	Cause a block to have a stack block as an input.	decorate (show::looks stack)	decorate (show::looks stack)
:: [category or #color] [shape]	Force a block to look a certain way. Possible category options include: motion looks sound pen variables list events control sensing operators custom custom-arg extension grey undefined #colors can be any hexadecimal RGB color, for example #ff0000 which produces a pure red. Possible shapes include: hat stack cap	a cool block:: #ff00ff cap	a cool block:: #ff00ff cap
::ring	Replicate Snap's "ringify" feature. This can be used in conjunction with the above colon syntax as well.	Look,({It's in a ring!}@addInput::ring	Look,({It's in a ring!}@addInput::ring

Helper Tools

Here are some tools that will convert real blocks in Scratch projects into scratchblocks code.

Scratch 1.4

• The Scratcher LS97 developed a plugin for the Scratch program itself that converts a script into scratchblocks (the original) code. The forum thread for the plugin can be viewed here.

Scratch 2.0

• blob8108 developed a converter written in JavaScript that converts an entire project's scripts into scratchblocks. See it in action here.
• jvvg developed a converter written in PHP that converts scripts in the backpack. The forum thread for this converter can be viewed here.

See Also

• The style guide for using the Block Plugin.