Run Length Encoded - Revision history

Speedydelete: fix a typo

2026-06-09T18:48:31Z

fix a typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:48, 9 June 2026
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	== Extensions ==		== Extensions ==

	=== ~~Multisitate~~ rules ===		=== Multistate rules ===
	Golly, LifeViewer and other programs use a common extension to support patterns with three or more states.		Golly, LifeViewer and other programs use a common extension to support patterns with three or more states.

Muzik: /* Extensions */

2025-09-26T10:24:09Z

Extensions

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:24, 26 September 2025
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	=== Three-dimensional patterns ===		=== Three-dimensional patterns ===
	3D.lua, packaged with Golly, saves patterns in RLE format in a way that supports 3D objects.		3D.lua, packaged with Golly, saves patterns in RLE format in a way that supports 3D objects. These are saved as the .rle3 format.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Muzik: /* # lines */

2025-09-26T10:23:47Z

# lines

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:23, 26 September 2025
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	\|-		\|-
	\| C		\| C
	\| Indicates that a line of comment follows. This is the only ~~really~~ common use of # lines.{{br}}Example: #C 'Twas brillig and the slithy toves		\| Indicates that a line of comment follows. This is the only particularly common use of # lines.{{br}}Example: #C 'Twas brillig and the slithy toves
	\|-		\|-
	\| c		\| c
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	\| Gives the [[rule]]s for the pattern in the form survival_counts/birth_counts (e.g. 23/3 for Life). This line is usually present in RLE files created by XLife, but the standard method of indicating the rule is described below.{{br}}Example: #r 23/3		\| Gives the [[rule]]s for the pattern in the form survival_counts/birth_counts (e.g. 23/3 for Life). This line is usually present in RLE files created by XLife, but the standard method of indicating the rule is described below.{{br}}Example: #r 23/3
	\|}		\|}

			[[Catagolue]] uses some custom lines for synthesis RLEs.

	=== Other features ===		=== Other features ===

Muzik: these need actually described of course

2025-09-01T11:28:30Z

these need actually described of course

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:28, 1 September 2025
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	* Use a "Download RLE: click here" link under a pattern image or "RLE: here" link under an embedded LifeViewer display		* Use a "Download RLE: click here" link under a pattern image or "RLE: here" link under an embedded LifeViewer display
	* To download the entire LifeWiki pattern collection: [https://conwaylife.com/patterns/all.zip Pattern collection zip file]		* To download the entire LifeWiki pattern collection: [https://conwaylife.com/patterns/all.zip Pattern collection zip file]

			== Extensions ==

			=== Multisitate rules ===
			Golly, LifeViewer and other programs use a common extension to support patterns with three or more states.

			=== Three-dimensional patterns ===
			3D.lua, packaged with Golly, saves patterns in RLE format in a way that supports 3D objects.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

Muzik at 17:24, 12 March 2025

2025-03-12T17:24:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 12 March 2025
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	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
	<references group="~~notes~~"/>		<references group="note"/>

	== External links ==		== External links ==

Muzik at 17:24, 12 March 2025

2025-03-12T17:24:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 12 March 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	The '''Run Length Encoded''' (or '''RLE''' for short) [[File formats\|file format]] is commonly-used for storing [[pattern]]s. It is more cryptic than some other file formats such as [[plaintext]] and [[Life 1.06]], but is still quite readable. Many features of the RLE file format are incorporated in the [[MCell (file format)\|MCell]] file format. RLE files are saved with a {{filename\|.rle}} file extension.		The '''Run Length Encoded''' (or '''RLE''' for short) [[File formats\|file format]] is commonly-used for storing [[pattern]]s. It is more cryptic than some other file formats such as [[plaintext]] and [[Life 1.06]], but is still quite readable. Many features of the RLE file format are incorporated in the [[MCell (file format)\|MCell]] file format. RLE files are saved with a {{filename\|.rle}} file extension.

	==Description of format==		== Description of format ==
	The first line is a header line, which has the form		The first line is a header line, which has the form

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	{\| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:center;"
	\|-
	! <tag>		! <tag>
	! description		! description
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	\| $		\| $
	\| end of line		\| end of line
			\|-
			\| x
			\| marked alive cell 1<ref name="niemiec" group="note">used primarily by [[Mark Niemiec]]; interpreted identically to "o" by [[Golly]] and converted to [R]Super states by [[LifeViewer]]</ref>
			\|-
			\| y
			\| marked alive cell 2<ref name="niemiec" group="note"/>
			\|-
			\| z
			\| marked alive cell 3<ref name="niemiec" group="note"/>
	\|}		\|}

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	Anything after the final ! is ignored. It used to be common to put comments here (starting on a new line), but the usual method for adding comments is now by means of #C lines (see below).		Anything after the final ! is ignored. It used to be common to put comments here (starting on a new line), but the usual method for adding comments is now by means of #C lines (see below).

	===# lines===		=== # lines ===

	The header line may be preceded by any number of lines beginning with the # character. The # character is followed by a letter indicating the type of information that line provides. These letters generally follow the conventions for [[XLife]] files, which are described in the file {{filename\|xlife.man}} in the XLife distribution. Here is a list of letters likely to be encountered in practice:		The header line may be preceded by any number of lines beginning with the # character. The # character is followed by a letter indicating the type of information that line provides. These letters generally follow the conventions for [[XLife]] files, which are described in the file {{filename\|xlife.man}} in the XLife distribution. Here is a list of letters likely to be encountered in practice:

	{\| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:left;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:left;"
	\|-
	! letter		! letter
	! description		! description
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	\|}		\|}

	===Other features===		=== Other features ===

	The rule for which the pattern is designed can be indicated in the header line, which then takes the form		The rule for which the pattern is designed can be indicated in the header line, which then takes the form

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	Letters other than b and o may be used for the <tag>s to represent extra states. Unless the cellular automaton has more than 26 states it is a good idea to stick to lowercase letters. RLE readers that cannot handle more than two states should treat all letters other than b (and perhaps B) as equivalent to o.		Letters other than b and o may be used for the <tag>s to represent extra states. Unless the cellular automaton has more than 26 states it is a good idea to stick to lowercase letters. RLE readers that cannot handle more than two states should treat all letters other than b (and perhaps B) as equivalent to o.

	==Examples==		== Examples ==
	The following is a [[glider]] in RLE format:		The following is a [[glider]] in RLE format:

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	</pre>		</pre>

	==Downloading LifeWiki patterns==		== Downloading LifeWiki patterns ==
	There are four ways to obtain pattern RLEs from LifeWiki:		There are four ways to obtain pattern RLEs from LifeWiki:
	* Click the "show" link in the "Pattern file" section of a pattern's infobox		* Click the "show" link in the "Pattern file" section of a pattern's infobox
Line 96:		Line 101:
	* To download the entire LifeWiki pattern collection: [https://conwaylife.com/patterns/all.zip Pattern collection zip file]		* To download the entire LifeWiki pattern collection: [https://conwaylife.com/patterns/all.zip Pattern collection zip file]

	==See also==		== See also ==
	* [[Macrocell]]		* [[Macrocell]]
	* [[apgcode]]		* [[apgcode]]
	* [[File formats]]		* [[File formats]]

	==External links==		== Notes ==
			<references group="notes"/>

			== External links ==
	* {{LinkGollyHelp\|formats.html#rle\|title=Extended RLE format}}		* {{LinkGollyHelp\|formats.html#rle\|title=Extended RLE format}}
	* {{LinkMirek\|ca_files_formats.html\|title=Cellular automata file formats}}		* {{LinkMirek\|ca_files_formats.html\|title=Cellular automata file formats}}

Confocal: formatting

2023-03-12T09:56:09Z

formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:56, 12 March 2023
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	The '''Run Length Encoded''' (or '''RLE''' for short) [[File formats\|file format]] is commonly-used for storing [[pattern]]s. It is more cryptic than some other file formats such as [[plaintext]] and [[Life 1.06]], but is still quite readable. Many features of the RLE file format are incorporated in the [[MCell (file format)\|MCell]] file format. RLE files are saved with a ~~<tt>~~.rle~~</tt>~~ file extension.		The '''Run Length Encoded''' (or '''RLE''' for short) [[File formats\|file format]] is commonly-used for storing [[pattern]]s. It is more cryptic than some other file formats such as [[plaintext]] and [[Life 1.06]], but is still quite readable. Many features of the RLE file format are incorporated in the [[MCell (file format)\|MCell]] file format. RLE files are saved with a {{filename\|.rle}} file extension.

	==Description of format==		==Description of format==
Line 31:		Line 31:
	===# lines===		===# lines===

	The header line may be preceded by any number of lines beginning with the # character. The # character is followed by a letter indicating the type of information that line provides. These letters generally follow the conventions for [[XLife]] files, which are described in the file ~~<tt>~~xlife.man~~</tt>~~ in the XLife distribution. Here is a list of letters likely to be encountered in practice:		The header line may be preceded by any number of lines beginning with the # character. The # character is followed by a letter indicating the type of information that line provides. These letters generally follow the conventions for [[XLife]] files, which are described in the file {{filename\|xlife.man}} in the XLife distribution. Here is a list of letters likely to be encountered in practice:

	{\| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:left;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:left;"
Line 39:		Line 39:
	\|-		\|-
	\| C		\| C
	\| Indicates that a line of comment follows. This is the only really common use of # lines.<br />Example: #C 'Twas brillig and the slithy toves		\| Indicates that a line of comment follows. This is the only really common use of # lines.{{br}}Example: #C 'Twas brillig and the slithy toves
	\|-		\|-
	\| c		\| c
Line 45:		Line 45:
	\|-		\|-
	\| N		\| N
	\| The name of the pattern.<br />Example: #N My awesome pattern		\| The name of the pattern.{{br}}Example: #N My awesome pattern
	\|-		\|-
	\| O		\| O
	\| Says when and by whom the file was created. RLE files produced by XLife usually have this line.<br />Example: #O John Smith john@gmail.com Fri Apr 30 19:38:52 1999		\| Says when and by whom the file was created. RLE files produced by XLife usually have this line.{{br}}Example: #O John Smith john@gmail.com Fri Apr 30 19:38:52 1999
	\|-		\|-
	\| P		\| P
	\| Essentially the same as R, below. This line is produced by Life32, which generates coordinates which should represent the top-left corner of the Life pattern.<br />Example: #P 90 136		\| Essentially the same as R, below. This line is produced by Life32, which generates coordinates which should represent the top-left corner of the Life pattern.{{br}}Example: #P 90 136
	\|-		\|-
	\| R		\| R
	\| Gives the coordinates of the top-left corner of the pattern. RLE files produced by XLife usually have this line, and the coordinates are usually negative, with the intention of placing the centre of the pattern at the origin.<br />Example: #R -22 -57		\| Gives the coordinates of the top-left corner of the pattern. RLE files produced by XLife usually have this line, and the coordinates are usually negative, with the intention of placing the centre of the pattern at the origin.{{br}}Example: #R -22 -57
	\|-		\|-
	\| r		\| r
	\| Gives the [[~~rules~~]] for the pattern in the form survival_counts/birth_counts (e.g. 23/3 for Life). This line is usually present in RLE files created by XLife, but the standard method of indicating the rule is described below.<br />Example: #r 23/3		\| Gives the [[rule]]s for the pattern in the form survival_counts/birth_counts (e.g. 23/3 for Life). This line is usually present in RLE files created by XLife, but the standard method of indicating the rule is described below.{{br}}Example: #r 23/3
	\|}		\|}

Line 66:		Line 66:
	x = m, y = n, rule = abc		x = m, y = n, rule = abc

	where abc is the rule's designation, such as B3/S23 for Life or B36/S23 for [[HighLife]]. This type of extended header line is usual whenever the pattern is not intended for Conway's Life. As with ordinary header lines, RLE writers should adhere to the spacing shown, but RLE readers are best not to assume it.		where abc is the rule's designation, such as B3/S23 for Life or B36/S23 for {{rl\|HighLife}}. This type of extended header line is usual whenever the pattern is not intended for Conway's Life. As with ordinary header lines, RLE writers should adhere to the spacing shown, but RLE readers are best not to assume it.

	Letters other than b and o may be used for the <tag>s to represent extra states. Unless the cellular automaton has more than 26 states it is a good idea to stick to lowercase letters. RLE readers that cannot handle more than two states should treat all letters other than b (and perhaps B) as equivalent to o.		Letters other than b and o may be used for the <tag>s to represent extra states. Unless the cellular automaton has more than 26 states it is a good idea to stick to lowercase letters. RLE readers that cannot handle more than two states should treat all letters other than b (and perhaps B) as equivalent to o.

Confocal: a typo; formatting; consistent formatting for bulleted lists

2022-06-03T07:16:25Z

a typo; formatting; consistent formatting for bulleted lists

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:16, 3 June 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	The '''Run Length Encoded''' (or '''RLE''' for short) [[File formats\|file format]] is commonly-used for storing [[pattern]]s. It is more cryptic than some other file formats such as [[plaintext]] and [[Life 1.06]], but is still quite readable. Many features of the RLE file format are incorporated in the [[MCell (file format)\|MCell]] file format. RLE files are saved with a .rle file extension.		The '''Run Length Encoded''' (or '''RLE''' for short) [[File formats\|file format]] is commonly-used for storing [[pattern]]s. It is more cryptic than some other file formats such as [[plaintext]] and [[Life 1.06]], but is still quite readable. Many features of the RLE file format are incorporated in the [[MCell (file format)\|MCell]] file format. RLE files are saved with a <tt>.rle</tt> file extension.

	==Description of format==		==Description of format==
Line 31:		Line 31:
	===# lines===		===# lines===

	The header line may be preceded by any number of lines beginning with the # character. The # character is followed by a letter indicating the type of information that line provides. These letters generally follow the conventions for [[XLife]] files, which are described in the file xlife.man in the XLife distribution. Here is a list of letters likely to be encountered in practice:		The header line may be preceded by any number of lines beginning with the # character. The # character is followed by a letter indicating the type of information that line provides. These letters generally follow the conventions for [[XLife]] files, which are described in the file <tt>xlife.man</tt> in the XLife distribution. Here is a list of letters likely to be encountered in practice:

	{\| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:left;"		{\| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;text-align:left;"
Line 90:		Line 90:

	==Downloading LifeWiki patterns==		==Downloading LifeWiki patterns==
	~~Ther~~ are four ways to obtain pattern RLEs from LifeWiki:		There are four ways to obtain pattern RLEs from LifeWiki:
	*Click the "show" link in the "Pattern file" section of a pattern's infobox		* Click the "show" link in the "Pattern file" section of a pattern's infobox
	*For a pattern that is open in the LifeViewer: advance it a tick; rewind it; click anywhere on the grid; press Ctrl-C to copy the pattern to the clipboard		* For a pattern that is open in the LifeViewer: advance it a tick; rewind it; click anywhere on the grid; press <tt>Ctrl-C</tt> to copy the pattern to the clipboard
	*Use a "Download RLE: click here" link under a pattern image or "RLE: here" link under an embedded LifeViewer display		* Use a "Download RLE: click here" link under a pattern image or "RLE: here" link under an embedded LifeViewer display
	*To download the entire LifeWiki pattern collection: [https://conwaylife.com/patterns/all.zip Pattern collection zip file]		* To download the entire LifeWiki pattern collection: [https://conwaylife.com/patterns/all.zip Pattern collection zip file]

	==See also==		==See also==
Line 102:		Line 102:

	==External links==		==External links==
	{{LinkGollyHelp\|formats.html#rle\|title=Extended RLE format}}		* {{LinkGollyHelp\|formats.html#rle\|title=Extended RLE format}}
	{{LinkMirek\|ca_files_formats.html\|title=Cellular automata file formats}}		* {{LinkMirek\|ca_files_formats.html\|title=Cellular automata file formats}}
	{{LinkLexicon\|lex_r.htm#rle}}		* {{LinkLexicon\|lex_r.htm#rle}}

	[[Category:Everything else]][[Category:File formats]]		[[Category:Everything else]]
			[[Category:File formats]]

Book: /* See also */

2022-04-29T22:44:03Z

Ian07: /* Downloading LifeWiki patterns */AutoWikiBrowser - per Nathaniel, and requested by GUYTU6J, replaced: www.conwaylife.com → conwaylife.com

2022-02-03T04:12:52Z

Downloading LifeWiki patterns: AutoWikiBrowser - per Nathaniel, and requested by GUYTU6J, replaced: www.conwaylife.com → conwaylife.com

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:12, 3 February 2022
Line 94:		Line 94:
	*For a pattern that is open in the LifeViewer: advance it a tick; rewind it; click anywhere on the grid; press Ctrl-C to copy the pattern to the clipboard		*For a pattern that is open in the LifeViewer: advance it a tick; rewind it; click anywhere on the grid; press Ctrl-C to copy the pattern to the clipboard
	*Use a "Download RLE: click here" link under a pattern image or "RLE: here" link under an embedded LifeViewer display		*Use a "Download RLE: click here" link under a pattern image or "RLE: here" link under an embedded LifeViewer display
	*To download the entire LifeWiki pattern collection: [https://~~www.~~conwaylife.com/patterns/all.zip Pattern collection zip file]		*To download the entire LifeWiki pattern collection: [https://conwaylife.com/patterns/all.zip Pattern collection zip file]

	==See also==		==See also==

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:44, 29 April 2022
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	* [[Macrocell]]		* [[Macrocell]]
	* [[apgcode]]		* [[apgcode]]
			* [[File formats]]

	==External links==		==External links==