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8.2 DSL Architecture

High-level flow of how PnPInk applies the DSL.

8.2.1 Data to SVG Pipeline

This sequence explains where each DSL family acts in the generation process.

PnPInk processes in this order:

  1. Read dataset (CSV or Google Sheets).
  2. Parse dataset marker and header row.
  3. Clone the template for each row (main template column).
  4. Resolve sources (images/icons/URLs) into SVG symbols.
  5. Apply Fit/Anchor to place each element.
  6. Apply Layout to place instances into slots and pages.
  7. Render Marks (cut marks) per placed slot.

8.2.2 Front, Back, and Page Passes

These passes are execution phases, not just syntax flags. They define when and where templates are rendered.

Header modifiers control when a template is rendered:

  • @page: page-anchored, once per page, positioned against the page frame.
  • @back: rendered in the back pass, aligned to front slots.
  • @page @back: page-anchored but rendered on back pages.

These modifiers belong to template headers, not to data cells. For detailed duplex/back-side behavior, see @back -- Back-Side Templates.

8.2.3 Where Layout and Page Apply

This distinction prevents common mistakes when debugging placement.

  • Page{} defines page size, margins, and cursor position.
  • Layout{} defines the slot grid and how instances are placed.
  • Fit{} defines how elements sit inside their anchor rects.

Page state is global. Layout state is per dataset. Fit is per element.

8.2.4 Shared Text Measurement

Text features that need rendered geometry register their element IDs in a shared measurement batch. Inline-icon spacers, Transform{inside=...} shape-inside text, and path decorations on rich-text tspan elements all use this batch. DeckMaker starts one persistent inkscape --shell helper for the lifetime of the application and reuses it across every Generate run. While cards are generated, PnPInk queues small per-card probe SVGs in that process. The final stage only collects results, converts them to document units, and returns each consumer its requested bboxes. Standalone extension runs own a temporary helper for that run. Future text-geometry consumers should join this pipeline instead of launching another Inkscape process.

8.2.5 Sources

Sources are resolved once and then treated as normal placement targets.

Source{} / @{} creates a reusable SVG symbol and then places it with Fit, so sources behave like normal SVG targets.

8.2.6 Inkscape Integration

These panels are the operational bridge between visual authoring and dataset-driven generation.

PnPInk relies on Inkscape objects and IDs: