This small utility program converts a file of hints written in UHS
(Universal Hints System) format to an Inform include file which produces
these hints nicely in a hierarchy of menus.
Simply call Main_Menu(); from somewhere in your game (e.g. when the
player types "help").
The format of UHS as understood by Infoclues is slightly restricted
but adequate for most purposes:
[subject] Name of subject ...this line introduces a "subject",
or item to appear in the main menu,
and is followed by the submenu which
appears when it is selected...
[(not "hint")] Name of item ...this begins an item on the submenu.
...text... Any word other than "hint" in []s
causes the text which follows to
simply be printed when this
item is selected.
[hint] Name of hint
>> First hint. Each hints can spill over many lines.
>> Second hint.
...
>> Last hint.
Up to 24 subjects can hang off the main menu, and up to 24 off each sub-menu;
if need be, menus are automatically converted into a first and second page.
Quotation marks " are allowed in text (and Infoclues translates them into
Inform-style ~ characters).
Example:
[subject] Balances
[comment] What is Balances?
Balances is a small game, from which this is a sample passage of UHS.
[comment] Where can I find it?
Try the "if-archive" at ftp.gmd.de.
[subject] The Grasslands
[hint] Is the hut empty?
>> No.
>> Take a closer look at the furniture.
[hint] Does the horse want anything?
>> He seems keener on the oats than you.
>> Perhaps it would be better to say he lacks something.
>> He lacks the means to help you escape.
[hint] The box is locked.
>> One way to open it would be to find a key.
>> That's only one way, though.
>> Since when did a mage need a key for a lock so puny?
>> Not when a mage has a "rezrov" spell to hand.
[hint] What's the burin for?
>> Later use.
>> Try typing "what is a burin".
>> It's for writing names on the featureless white cubes.
