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
$ <qualification> <extent> <scope> <state>	non-text, such as breakage, blank lines, etc. qualification = at least, at most, about number = NUMBER, RANGE, n, several, some, start of, beginning of, middle of, end of, rest of scope = OBJECT, SURFACE, case(s), column(s), line(s), surface state = blank, broken, damaged, effaced, illegible, missing, traces
$ <multiple> ruling	horizontal ruling(s) in the text multiple = single, double, triple
$ (image N = <text>)	location of inline image, such as a seal impression or a diagram
#	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)

[A-ZṢŠṬ][a-zṣšṭ][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)
[āēīū], [âêîû]	long vowels in normalized Akkadian
%[sahrux]	language shift
%e,%u,%g,%n	register/writing system shift
_..._	encloses material in alternate language

See the Grapheme Tutorial [LINK!] for full documentation of these conventions.

.	juxtaposed signs, e.g., DU.DU
×	following sign(s) written over/within preceding sign, e.g., GA₂×AN
&	signs are written one above the other, e.g., DU&DU as opposed to standard DU
+	signs are ligatured, e.g., \|LAGAB+LAGAB\|(nigin₂)
(...)	grouping of signs, e.g., GA₂×(ME.EN)
@g	gunu, e.g., DU@g as opposed to standard DU
@t	tenu, e.g., GAN₂@t
@v	variant, e.g., 4(ban₂)@v as opposed to the standard 4(ban₂)