STX, the open Structured Text Format

STX is a lightweight Markup Language. It is simple, yet powerful and open to be used by Everyone.

This Section describes the Markup Structure, which is equivalent to XML, but more concise and readable. Just like XML it can be used to represent any Number of Styles or Semantics, because it is a 'generalized' Markup Language. That means you can choose the Set of actual Tag Names. 

STX also contains other Markup Elements with a different Syntax:

• Tables: using '|' and Tab Characters for Alignment
  
• Headings and Paragraphs: using Line Breaks and Indentations
  
• an extensible Set of Key Words e.g. Check-Boxes [x] or Emoticons ;-)
  

STX Tags: {name(arguments) content}

STX Tags mark their content semantically and can also apply some Formatting to it. Some Examples:

• within any Text {b marks the content bold} {i or italic} to emphasize it
• {g(Image.png) alternative Image Description} embeds an Image at the Tag Position.

As You can see from the Examples, STX Tags have a common Form, like XML. This makes it easier to learn and remember:

• { they start with an opening Brace '{' -
• name can be chosen from a List that pops up after typing the {, so You don't need to memorizing them.
• (arg1, arg2, ...)  Some Tags accept positional Arguments that can be put into parentheses
• the Text Content following the Arguments can also contain Markup, so You can nest and format Information arbitrarily deep.
• } closes the Tag. Unlike XML the Name is not repeated to make it more readable

Because the Set of Tags can be extended by just using new ones, most Markup will be applied using Tags. This consistency sets STX apart from other lightweight Markup Languages that use a Hodgepodge of ad hoc Rules.

But certain Constructs like Tables or Check-Boxes [x] have a mnemonic Text Representation that is even easier to read and write than Tags and are therefore included to form a mixed Markup Language.