Table of Contents

Getting started

This guide will get you up and running with SocialScripter in no time!

SocialScripter is a web application that lets you write scripts that generate unique statements. You can then link your script to a Twitter or Facebook account to post these automatically generated sentences at the times you specify.

You can create new scripts by clicking the "create new script" button at the top of the web site. There is also a "browse scripts" button that lets you see what scripts you have already written. Click a script to view and edit it. From the edit page, you can modify the script code, run the script, debug the script, link the script to Twitter or Facebook, and share the script with others.

Script Basics

The best way to learn the scripting language is to simply dive in and play around!

#start Hello! Hi there! What's up?

The above script, when run, will randomly output one of the three greetings listed. "#start" is the start category that all scripts must contain. Any lines listed below a category are the possible expansions for that particular category. In this case, "#start" has three possible expansions.

#start Bob likes [color]. Jim likes [color]. #color blue red

This script will output statements like "Bob likes blue" and "Jim likes red". This example has two categories: #start and #color. Lines 2 and 3 refer to the color category by putting the category name in square brackets. When the program encounters a category reference, it'll automatically expand that category when the script is run.

#start Bob likes [color] [thing]. Jim likes [color] [thing]. Sue bought [thing] today. #thing pants bananas cookies #color blue red

This script is a little more advanced, but it still uses the same basic concepts. It will output statements like "Bob likes blue pants" and "Sue bought cookies". You are free to create as many categories as you want, and you can refer to these categories anywhere.

When a script is expanded to generate a statement, it always happens in a left-to-right order. For example, this would be the steps of a possible expansion for this script:

1. [start]
2. Bob likes [color] [thing].
3. Bob likes red [thing].
4. Bob likes red pants.

Be sure to save your script every once in a while! You do this by pressing the "save script" button.

Replacers

Replacers are a quick and easy way to add dynamic text to your scripts. You use them similar to the category references that were used in the above examples. However, replacer names always begin with an underscore.

#start Today is [_today_day_of_week]. People on Twitter are discussing [_twitter_trend].

This simple script will print something like "Today is Monday" or "People on Twitter are discussing squirrels". The actual output would depend on what day it is and what happens to be popular on Twitter at that time.

The replacer list located on the bottom of this page tells you all available replacers.

Filters

You can apply filters to your text to randomly change your output in predefined ways. For example, you may wish to add occasional spelling mistakes to the output to make it seem more human. Or, you could convert everything to piglatin for a more humorous touch.

Once all text for a category has been fully expended, filters are applied.

#start { filter : piglatin } hello world

This basic script converts the text to piglatin. In this example the output would be "ellohay orldway".

You can apply filters to any categories, and you can apply filters on top of each other. The first-listed filter is always applied first, followed by the next listed filter.

#start [screaming] [bad_typist] #screaming { filter : uppercase } [statement] #bad_typist { filter : drop_letter } { filter : repeat_letter } { filter : misspell } [statement] #statement I like dogs! I need to buy eggs! The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the force.

This script will output the text specified in the statement category. However, it will apply one set of filters to the statement depending on whether the screaming or bad_typist category was chosen. So, the resulting sentence will either be entirely capitalized or terribly misspelled.

The filter list located on the bottom of this page tells you about all available filters.

Variables

Variables add state to your scripts, which can create some very complicated and convincing scripts.

When a category has been expanded, a variable is set indicating what that category expanded to. You can then use that information in future expansions for that sentence.

#start<br/> I like [food_item]. Yeah, [*food_item] is the best! #food_item cereal milk toast

This script will output "I like cereal. Yeah, cereal is the best!". It will never mix food items and output something like "I like cereal. Yeah, toast is the best!". This is because the second food_item reference is a star variable reference. This means that it will take on the exact value of what that category was expanded to. These star variables are automatically generated whenever a category is expanded.

You can also manually create your own variables to then use later in expanding a script.

#start { filter : capitalize } [animal]s like to eat [*food]. #animal [cat] [dog] #cat {var:food=tuna} cat #dog {var:food=bones} dog

In this example, a random animal is selected. If cat is selected, the variable "food" is set to "tuna". If a dog is selected, the variable "food" is set to "bones". The script then later refers to this variable when describing the food that an animal likes to eat.

Note that you can use a category reference for a variable's value. For example, the line "{var:food=[cat_food]}" is OK, provided you then create a category called cat_food that lists foods that cats may eat.

Using the Debug feature is a quick way to get a feel for how your script is being read by SocialScripter.

Twitter

Enabling Twitter functionality is pretty straightforward. Click on the "Twitter" tab for your script to view the Twitter settings.

You first must authenticate your script. You do this by clicking the "authenticate" button. You will be temporarily taken to the Twitter website to authenticate your script. Click "Allow" and your script will be verified.

Once your script is authenticated, you can change the frequency settings. You can specify a particular time during the day when the script should post to Twitter, or you can specify more randomized ranges. For example, if you specify "1 to 2 times during waking hours", the script will post to Twitter at times when people are awake, either once or twice every day.

You can auto-follow people that are following you by clicking the appropriate checkbox.

If you select "message to a @ reply" or "message to new follower", the script output will be sent as a direct message to every person that mentions your name in a post or has begun following you.

SocialScripter will now begin to post to Twitter at the times you have specified. If you want SocialScripter to stop posting, you can either remove the authentication for this script or change the frequency to "never".

Facebook

Automatically posting to Facebook is similar to posting to Twitter. You initially must authenticate your script for Facebook usage. You can then change the frequency settings. SocialScripter will now begin posting to Facebook at the times you have specified.

Replacer List

Filter List

If you have any suggestions for other filters or replacers, please let us know!