ATF Quick Reference

Steve Tinney
Version of 2009-11-19

Introduction

A quick reference sheet for the ATF format.

Structure Conventions

&	Text/catalogue number designator
@<type>	@composite (for composite texts)
@<object>	Object = @tablet, @envelope, @prism, @object <object-type>
@<surface>	Surface = @obverse, @reverse, @surface, @edge, @left, @right, @top, @bottom, @face [a..z]
@seal <n>	for transliteration of seal impressions on objects; n=number
@column	column
<number>.	line of text
<number>.<subcases>.	line of text with subdivision into cases
$	non-text, such as breakage, blank lines, etc. Specific keywords must be included in the non-text comment. These keywords are given in the relevant section of the ATF tutorial.
#	comment line
=:	multiplexing comment line giving original order of interpreted/reordered signs in preceding line of transliteration.
<whitespace>	continues previous line (modern convenience, not ancient line break)

Inline ASCII Conventions

[A-Z][a-z][0-9]	grapheme name
<hyphen>	joiner for graphemes of single word
<space>	word separator
!	flags correction of sign
?	flags uncertainty of identification or reading
*	flags collation
#	flags damage to sign
[...]	encloses material broken away from object
[(...)]	encloses material perhaps broken away from object
value(SIGN)	explanatory name or variant form after value
value!(SIGN)	actual signs on object given after corrected version
<...>	accidental omission supplied by editor
<(...)>	intentional omission supplied by editor
MIN<(...)>	surrogate text supplied by editor
<<...>>	material removed by editor
{...}	determinative delimiters (written in normal script)
{{...}}	gloss delimiters
~	following sign is a logogram
x	unclear sign
X	clear sign not yet identified
|...|	compound grapheme delimiters
[.x%&+()]	compound grapheme operators (see QR.3 below)
=[aeiu], ^[aeiu]	long vowels in normalized Akkadian
%[sahrux]	language shift
%e,%u,%g,%n	register/writing system shift
_..._	encloses material is in alternate language

Compound Grapheme Conventions

.	juxtaposed signs, e.g., DU.DU
x	following sign(s) written over/within preceding sign, e.g., GA2xAN
%	signs are written crossed over each other (gilimmu), e.g., GI%GI
&	signs are written one above the other, e.g., DU&DU as opposed to standard DU
@	signs are written opposing, e.g., LU@LU
+	signs are ligatured, e.g., |LAGAB+LAGAB|(nigin2)
x4	signs are written in a square, e.g., LUx4
(...)	grouping of signs, e.g., GA2x(ME.EN)
@90	preceding sign is rotated 90 degrees clockwise
@180	preceding sign is rotated 180 degrees clockwise (inversum)
@270	preceding sign is rotated 270 degrees clockwise
@g	gunu, e.g., DU@g as opposed to standard DU
@t	tenu, e.g., GAN2@t
@s	sheshig, e.g., DU@s
@n	nutillu, e.g., SAG@n as opposed to the standard SAG
@k	kabatenu, e.g., ASZ@k as opposed to the standard ASZ
@z	zidatenu, e.g., ASZ@z
@c	curved, e.g., ASZ@c
@r	vertically reflected, e.g., U@r
@h	horizontally reflected, e.g., N07A@h (aka N07B) as opposed to the standard N07A
@v	variant, e.g., 4(ban2)@v as opposed to the standard 4(ban2)

Questions about this document may be directed to Steve Tinney (stinney at sas dot upenn dot edu).