Exporting from SignPuddle

[Steve Slevinski]

Hi Jonathan,

Import / Export needs revamped.  I am working on SPML (SignPuddle Markup 
Language) which will cover all of the information available in 
SignPuddle.  Perhaps you can review and comment when I have it ready.

SignMail...  Needs an update.  I may add it to SWIS.

BSW will be the standard for SignWriting data.  SPML will use BSW hex 
data rather than BSWML or the build string. 

Implementing BSW shouldn't be too hard.  SWIS contains 2 separate 
working implementations; one in PHP and another in JavaScript.  As long 
as you can understand regular expressions, it should be relatively easy.

Keep up the good work on the Studio.  Sorry to force updates with the 
standards.  The ISWA 2010 is really worth it and it will be stable for a 
long time to come.  BSW is really superior to the other formats and it 
is UTF-8 compatible.

Here's a truncated BSW primer...

Each character of BSW can be represented by a single ASCII token:
# B = SignBox Marker
# L = Left Lane SignBox Marker
# R = Right Lane SignBox Marker
# h = Hand Symbol
# m = Movement Symbol
# d = Dynamic Symbol
# 1 = Head Symbol
# 2 = Trunk Symbol
# 3 = Limb Symbol
# n = Number Character
# Q = Sequence Marker
# s = Sequence Symbol
# P = Punctuation Symbol

An entire sign text can be validated with a single regular expression:
([LBR]([hmd123]nn)*(Q[hmd123s]+)?|P)+

We can even evaluate a SignSpelling Sequence to determine if it is 
regular. 
Q[h*(md)*]+[123s]*

A regular SignSpelling Sequence is espoused by Val as described in the 
SignSpelling Guidelines PDF.  A regular SignSpelling Sequence places all 
of the location markers after the hands and movement.  Charles advocates 
an irregular spelling where location is mixed with the hand shapes.  
Time will tell which is better, but we have a simple check to determine 
if it is regular or irregular.

Regards,
-Steve