Introduction
In several jobs now, I've realised the importance of numbering sections in test scripts and specifications and stuff to clear up misunderstandings.
But it sure is a pain having to alter text files when someone adds an extra step or section or item...

So I made this. It took about 30 mins to write and test and it reminded me of all the fun you can have with formats.

Usage
Write a text file like this:

• The firstline is the title of the whole thing.
• a line starting S: is a section header
• a line starting T: is a sub-heading
• plain lines are items with a tick box

Of course it's simple, I am ;)

Example use for script
S:Easy to write
T:takes little time
I tied a file suffix in vim
Add a few macros
It's a doddle
T:I hate using word
I hate Microsoft
It sucks, for one
Okay this isn't great but
Did I ever say it was?

S:Easy to deploy
T:Just wanted to show
Several sections in action
Yeah it won't stretch over several lines yet :(

And cat it through the script like this:

cat example | ./checklist > output.txt

Feel free to hack it, ransack or ignore it ;)

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;

$==shift || 60;# Set lines per page
$^='H';# Set header format
%_=map{$_,0}('S'..'U'); # Make a list formats
my $title=<>; # Set title to first line of input doc

# Header format
format H=
                                                                      
+                Page:  @>>>>
                                                                      
+                          $%      
@>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
+>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
                                                                      
+                      `date`  

@|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
+|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
                                             $title  
@|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
+|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
                          '=' x (length($title)-1) # that or chomp $ti
+tle

.

# Section format
format S=



SECTION @# : @<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
        $_{S},  $_ 
======================================================================
+============================
                                                                      
+   Use box indicate outcome.
.

# Test section format
format T=


@>>>>>>>>>>>>> @#.@# : @<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
        'TEST',$_{S},$_{T},  $_

.

# Item section format
format U=
@>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> @#.@#.@# : @<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<[ ]
               'STEP',$_{S},$_{T},$_{U},  $_
.


for(<>){             # until EOF
   chomp;               # strip newline
   ($_,$~)=/:/?($',$`):($_,'U');    # choose format and output line.
   /\w/ or next;           # if it's empty, move on.
   $_{$~=~/S/?'T':'U'}=0 if $~!~/U/;   # Reset the next section counte
+r in order
   $_{$~}++;            # increment section counter
   write;               # output template
}
[download]

--

Brother Frankus.

¤