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In order to keep the Scratch Wiki looking neat, please follow the following style guide when writing <scratchblocks> on the wiki.

Feel free to fix any articles that do not conform to this guide.

This guide is intended for wiki editors, and includes guidelines on style as well as a little extra syntax. It thus serves a different purpose to Block Plugin/Syntax, which is intended for forum users and wiki editors alike.

Style Guide

Whitespace

  • Always put a line break before and after the opening and closing <scratchblocks> tags.
No: 
I like this script: <scratchblocks>when gf clicked
say [Hello!]</scratchblocks> Pretty, isn't it?
Yes: 
I like this script:

<scratchblocks>
when gf clicked
say [Hello!]
</scratchblocks>
Pretty, isn't it?
  • However, if you're writing a script with a single block, only use one line:
Yes:
<scratchblocks>when gf clicked</scratchblocks>
  • Use indentation. Always indent by 4 spaces. (This is for consistency as much as for any other reason.)
No: 
repeat (10)
if <touching [mouse-pointer v]?>
move (10) steps
end
stamp
end
Yes: 
repeat (10)
    if <touching [mouse-pointer v]?>
        move (10) steps
    end
    stamp
end
  • Always put whitespace around inserts and embedded blocks. This is easier to read.
No Yes 
<scratchblocks>if<mouse down?> then</scratchblocks>

<scratchblocks>if <mouse down?> then</scratchblocks>

<scratchblocks><(variable)=[3]></scratchblocks>

<scratchblocks><(variable) = [3]></scratchblocks>

<scratchblocks>(join((5)+(1))((2)/(3)))</scratchblocks>

<scratchblocks>(join ((5) + (1)) ((2) / (3)))</scratchblocks>


  • However, do not include a whitespace between inputs and a % sign. This will cause an extra whitespace to appear when rendering the block.
No: 
set size to (100) %

set size to (100) %
Yes: 
set size to (100)%

set size to (100)%
  • Always put spaces around the comment symbol "//".
No: 
stamp//Draws a picture!
Yes: 
stamp // Draws a picture!

Be Explicit

The block plugin will close brackets and c-blocks for you, in case you forget. Do not rely on this; always include properly formatted scripts in wiki articles. If Javascript is disabled then the source code will be displayed directly to the user, so the scratchblocks code in articles needs to be readable.


  • Always include "end" after a C block.
No: 
repeat (10)
    move (10) steps
    stamp
Yes: 
repeat (10)
    move (10) steps
    stamp
end
  • Always close brackets.
No: 
if <<(x position) < [3]> and <(var) = [4
Yes: 
if <<(x position) < [3]> and <(var) = [4]>>

Deprecated Blocks

  • Specify the block category for deprecated blocks, as they may be removed from scratchblocks in the future.
No: 
play note () for () seconds
Yes: 
play note () for () seconds:: wedo

Scratch 3.0 Blocks

  • Make sure you use the 3.0 versions of blocks (unless it's an article specifically about a version before Scratch 3.0). This includes:
No Yes (on 1.4 articles) Yes (on 2.0 articles) Yes (on 3.0 articles) 
(background #)
 
(background #:: looks)
 
(backdrop #)
 
(backdrop [number v])
if <>
 
if <>:: control
 
if <> then
 
if <> then
stop script
 
stop script:: control
 
stop [this script v]
 
stop [this script v]
when greenFlag clicked:: hat
 
when gf clicked:: control
 
when gf clicked
 
when gf clicked
  • Articles or sections based on the following should use the 2.0 version of the block:
  • This also applies to High Contrast versions of blocks:
Yes (on general articles) Yes (on articles about high contrast blocks) 
move (10) steps
 
move (10) steps

Ellipsis

  • The gray . . . ellipsis block represents a gap in a script. This should be used when the gap needs to be filled in with other blocks or scripts.
Do not write the word "script(s)", any other obsolete block, or a comment saying "script goes here":
No: 
forever
    if <> then
        script
    end
end
No: 
forever
    if <> then // script goes in here
         
    end
end
Yes: 
forever
    if <> then
        . . .
    end
end
This also applies to reporter and boolean gaps:
No: 
forever
    if <> then // block goes here
        move () steps // other block goes here
    end
end
Yes: 
forever
    if <. . .:: grey> then
        move (. . .::grey) steps
    end
end
Note Note: When creating reporter and boolean gaps, make sure to add :: grey at the end of the block to make it render properly.
  • Always put spaces between the dots: . . .. This makes the block easier to read.
No: 
<scratchblocks>
forever
    if <...:: grey> then
    end
end
</scratchblocks>
forever
    if <...:: grey> then
    end
end
Yes: 
<scratchblocks>
forever
    if <. . .:: grey> then
    end
end
</scratchblocks>
forever
    if <. . .:: grey> then
    end
end

Wiki-only features

There are some extra "hidden" features intended for use on the wiki only.

Inline Scratchblocks

You can place scratchblocks inside a sentence using the <sb> tag, like this: 

I'm rather fond of the <sb>stamp</sb> block in Scratch 3.0.

Producing:

I'm rather fond of the stamp block in Scratch 3.0.

Notes:

  • You can only use a single block in the inline tag, not a whole script.
  • Use inline scratchblocks to represent variable names, e.g. (score):
No: 
Use the "score" variable to keep track of...
Yes: 
Use the <sb>(score)</sb> variable to keep track of...
  • For block links, use inline scratchblocks instead of images:
Yes: 
[[Stamp (block)|<sb>stamp</sb>]]
stamp
  • Do not use inline scratchblocks in headings.
No: 
== The <sb>username</sb> block ==
Yes: 
== The username block ==

Coloring blocks

You can override the color of a block by typing :: followed by a category:

No: 
<scratchblocks>create clone</scratchblocks>
create clone
Yes: 
<scratchblocks>create clone:: control</scratchblocks>
create clone:: control
  • For coloring blocks, do not use the deprecated comment syntax, which has been removed. Use the more flexible double-colon syntax instead, which also supports reporters:
No: 
create clone // category=control
Yes: 
create clone:: control
say (ultrasonic sensor:: extension)

External Links

Retrieved from "https://en.scratch-wiki.info/w/index.php?title=Scratch_Wiki:Block_Plugin_Style_Guide&oldid=338507"
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More information (in German)