Help — Paragraph Editor

1. What this editor is

This is a single-file web app for creating gamebooks. All work happens in your browser — no internet, no installation, no registration.

The result is a single HTML file. You can open it in any browser, send it by email, put it on a disk or in the cloud.

The author creates the game here; the reader plays the resulting file.

2. First launch

1. Save the editor file as editor.html (or any name with the .html extension).
2. Double-click it in Firefox, Chrome or Edge.
3. You will see a toolbar with buttons and a gray area below it.
4. Click Load HTML or markdown.txt and choose your game file (or create a new paragraph).

3. Main screen buttons

3.1. Working with files

Load HTML or markdown.txt
Opens a file picker. Supports:

• HTML — a full game file with dice and character sheet;
• markdown.txt — a text file with markup (see section 11).

Save HTML
Saves the game in its current state. Dice, character sheet, bookmarks — everything stays in the file. The file's title is taken from the game title.

Save as
Opens a window with a format choice:

• TXT with Markdown markup — for reading and moving to other systems;
• DOC — for Word;
• RTF — universal format;
• PDF — will open the print dialog.

3.2. Working with paragraphs

Create new paragraph
Adds a new empty paragraph at the end of the list and immediately opens it for editing.

Shuffle paragraphs
Shuffles the paragraphs randomly and automatically renumbers all links so that they still point to the same paragraphs.

3.3. Tools

Add dice
Enables a dice script in the game. A "Show dice" button will appear in the game. If the script has already been added, the button is called Remove dice.

Character sheet
Opens the character parameter editor: you can create sections with fields, add "Inventory", "Secret words" and "Notebook" sections. All data is stored in the reader's browser. See section 7 for details.

Output data
Game title, author, description and various sections (prologue, rules). Appears before the first paragraph. See section 8 for details.

Transition table
Opens a table of all paragraphs in a new window. Each row has four columns: the paragraph number, its short summary, where it leads, and where incoming links come from. The table helps you quickly find "dead ends" (paragraphs with no outgoing links) and "orphans" (paragraphs nobody leads to). See section 5 for details.

Bookmarks and notes
Opens a list of marked paragraphs. See section 6 for details.

3.4. Preview and settings

▶ Preview the game
Generates a clean HTML game file (without any editor traces) and opens it in a new browser window. Links there work just like in normal HTML. This is the reading mode — to check how a reader will see the game.

At the top of the preview window there is a Reload updates button. If you changed the game in the editor and saved, click it to see the updated version without closing the window. This is handy when you keep the game open for a player and update it periodically.

Settings
Opens a window with a theme choice (light or dark) and interface language. The Help button is here too.

4. Editing a paragraph

To start editing, click the edit paragraph N button next to the heading of the paragraph you want.

A form will open:

4.1. "Paragraph number" field

This changes the number. If that number is already taken, the program will ask whether to replace it.

4.2. Paragraphs

Each field is a separate paragraph of text. The Add paragraph button creates a new one. The Delete button next to a paragraph removes it.

4.3. Actions

Each action is a row with three parts:

• Action text — what the reader sees, e.g. "go north";
• Target number — which paragraph this action leads to;
• Note — a service mark for you (the reader will not see it).

The Add action button creates a new row.

If you leave the "number" field empty, the program will automatically assign a new number and create the paragraph.

4.4. Buttons at the bottom of the form

📌 Save and keep number
Saves the paragraph and pins its number. Such a paragraph will not change its number when you "Shuffle paragraphs". Useful for secret paragraphs that are referenced from the text.

Save paragraph
Normal save. The number may change when shuffling.

Cancel
Closes the form without saving.

Delete paragraph
Completely removes this paragraph. Links to it in other paragraphs will remain but will lead nowhere.

4.5. Back-links

Below every paragraph in the editor there is an italic line like "go back to paragraph 23, go back to paragraph 56". These are back-links — a list of paragraphs that lead to the current one.

Why you need this:

• you are editing paragraph 87 and don't remember what led to it in the game;
• you click "go back to paragraph 34" — and land in paragraph 34;
• there, too, there is its own line of back-links — so you can go deeper and deeper, right back to the beginning of the game.

4.6. Link navigation inside the editor

In view mode of the editor (that is, when a paragraph is not opened for editing) you can click on the actions directly inside the paragraph. For example, you see "go north - 15" — click it, and the editor will scroll you to paragraph 15. This way you can walk through the game without leaving the editor — it's faster than opening a separate preview window.

5. Transition table

The transition table is a tool for analyzing the structure of your game. It shows all paragraphs and the connections between them. It opens from the main screen with the Transition table button.

5.1. What the table shows

Each row is one paragraph. The columns:

• Number — the paragraph number. If the paragraph is pinned, a 📌 icon appears next to it.
• Summary — the first sentence of the paragraph's text. If the paragraph has your note, it is appended after a dash.
• Where to — all paragraphs this one leads to. If there are no outgoing links, a red "no transitions" is shown.
• Where from — all paragraphs that lead here. If there are none, also a red "no transitions".

5.2. Sorting

At the top of the window there are several buttons. Click any of them — and the table rebuilds immediately.

• Paragraphs in order — the normal view: rows go by number from smallest to largest.
• Sort by column "Where to" (empty on top) — rows with "no transitions" in the "Where to" column rise to the top. This is a quick way to find "dead ends".
• Sort by column "Where from" (empty on top) — rows that nobody leads to rise to the top. These are "orphan" paragraphs that the reader cannot reach.
• Sort by column "Summary" (empty on top) — rows with an empty summary rise to the top. This helps you find paragraphs you created but forgot to fill with text.
• Refresh table — re-reads data from the editor. If you changed something in the editor while the table is already open, click this button and the table updates without closing the window.

5.3. Example of use

You have written a new branch. Open the table, click "Sort by column 'Where from'". At the top will be paragraphs that nobody leads to yet. If some of them are your new ones — that means you forgot to add a link to them from previous paragraphs. This is faster than checking manually.

6. Bookmarks and notes

Used to mark unfinished branches and return to them later.

6.1. How to add a bookmark or note

1. Open a paragraph for editing.
2. Click 📑 Add bookmark — the paragraph will appear in the list.
3. Click 📝 Add note — a field for short text will open.
4. Write what needs to be done, e.g. "finish the troll".
5. Click Save note, then Save paragraph.

6.2. How to find bookmarks

The Bookmarks and notes button on the main screen opens the list. Each row shows:

• the paragraph number;
• the beginning of its text;
• your note.

Clicking a row jumps to the paragraph. The Delete button removes the bookmark and note.

7. Character sheet

This is a block of fields that the reader fills in during the game. For example: health, gold, inventory.

7.1. Creating the sheet

1. Click Character sheet.
2. Click Create a section with parameters.
3. Enter the section name (e.g. "Player parameters").
4. Add parameters: a name and a default value.
5. Tick the "Inventory", "Secret words" or "Notebook" checkboxes if needed.
6. Click Save.

7.2. What the reader sees

A Character sheet button will appear in the game. It opens a form with fields. All the reader's data is stored in their browser — even if they close the game.

8. Output data

This is information shown before the first paragraph:

• game title (written into the file's title);
• author;
• game description (a short blurb);
• additional information (anything);
• various sections: prologue, rules, thanks — whatever you like.

8.1. How to fill it in

1. Click Output data.
2. Fill in the fields. Use the Add new section button for sections.
3. Click Save.

To remove everything — Delete all output data.

9. Dice

The Add dice button enables a script in the game with two dice: rolling one, and rolling two at once.

A Show dice button will appear in the game. It opens a separate window where you can roll dice.

To remove — click Remove dice.

10. Saving and export

10.1. Main save

Save HTML — this is the main format. It saves everything: paragraphs, dice, character sheet, links.

The file name is taken from the game title (spaces replaced with underscores).

10.2. Export to other formats

Save as — for TXT, DOC, RTF, PDF. These formats are intended for reading or printing, not for playing.

11. Game file format

The game is saved as HTML. But for those who want to edit it in a text editor, there is the markdown.txt format.

11.1. Format rules

• # Game title — level-one heading;
• ## Author — author;
• ## N — start of the paragraph numbered N (exactly two hashes!);
• - [text - N](#pN) — an action leading to paragraph N.

11.2. Example

# A Walk

## Author

A short game about a journey.

## 1

You step out of the house. The weather is fine. A walk would be nice.

- [Go to the gate - 5](#p5)

## 5

The gate creaks. You look around, wondering where to go next.

- [Go back inside - 1](#p1)

12. Tips

12.1. Check the game before publishing

1. Click Transition table — check for paragraphs with no outgoing or no incoming links. Use the sorting buttons to bring such paragraphs to the top.
2. Click ▶ Preview the game — play it as a reader.
3. Check every branch to the end.

12.2. Pin secret paragraphs

If the text says "go to paragraph 265", that paragraph must be pinned. Otherwise, after "Shuffle paragraphs", link 265 will point to the wrong place.

12.3. Keep actions short

Action text should be short: "go north", "open the chest", "talk to the guard". Long phrases are hard to read in a list.

12.4. Keep backups

Before big changes (like shuffling), save a separate copy of the file. If something goes wrong, you have somewhere to return to.

12.5. Bookmarks are your friend

Bookmark unfinished branches. That way you always see what still needs writing.

12.6. Keep the transition table open

If you're actively working on the game structure, it's convenient to keep the transition table in a separate window. After each serious change, click "Refresh table" — and you'll always have a fresh picture of the transitions in front of you.