Regarding CSS
CSS is a cornerstone web technology that specifies the appearance and styling of web pages.
Inform web interpreters come with default styling contained in CSS files. These files specify colors, fonts, and other visual features. If you have played an Inform game via a web page, you have engaged with CSS.
Bisquixe is not a requirement for editing or customizing the default CSS for these games. This can be accomplished by editing a file external to the project. However, while there are limitations—Bisquixe code formatting requirements are strict—many CSS customizations can be specified within a Bisquixe project.
Why would an author want specify CSS in an Inform project instead of using a file?
Many authors will find management of a separate CSS file cumbersome. Inexperienced authors might prefer the simplified format of Bisquixe code.
Authors will probably find the ability to use Inform’s rules-based architecture the most compelling reason for using Bisquixe. With it, incorporating CSS changes into action processing is a simple matter. For instance, all three of these possibilities are valid:
when play begins:
css-set-fast ".BufferWindow; background; blue";
every turn when the player carries the blue diamond:
css-set-fast ".BufferWindow; background; blue";
carry out attacking the innocent bystander:
css-set-fast ".BufferWindow; background; red";
In fact, we can make css changes while processing activities and other rulebooks:
a rule for printing the name of the orange:
css-set-fast ".BufferWindow; background; orange";
Bisquixe changes are laid atop settings specified in the Bisquixe interpreter’s default CSS. If the author’s project does not specify a font size, for instance, the game’s web page will style font size according to the default CSS.
While reading CSS can be intimidating for beginners, it is worth knowing where to look. Bisquixe’s default css and location is \Inform\templates\Bisquixe\glkote.css (by default, \Inform also contains the author’s projects and extensions).
Persons familiar with the Quixe interpreter should be aware that default css for Bisquixe is similar, but not identical.