Reference
Validation messages
What each warning means and how to fix it.
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The Validation card in the right panel lists problems the editor finds. Each line names the scene it is about, and clicking it jumps there. This page lists every message, what it means, and how to fix it. Words in quotes in a message, such as a scene name, are filled in from your story.
There are three levels. Errors block Submit for review. Warnings and advice never do. For how to read the card, see Debugging your logic.
Errors#
An error is real breakage. Fix all of them before you submit.
Structure#
| Message | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| The story has no valid start node. | Nothing tells the reader where to begin. | Open a scene and choose Make start. |
| No ending is reachable from the start node. | Following choices from the start never reaches an ending. | Make sure at least one path finishes at an ending. |
| Choice "…" points to missing node "…". | A choice leads to a scene that was deleted. | Open the choice's destination dropdown and pick a scene. |
| Ending key "…" is used by more than one node. | Two endings share the same key, so progress would be recorded for both at once. | Give one of them a different key. |
Forks#
| Message | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Fork "…" has no valid "otherwise" destination. | The fork does not say where to go when no rule is true. | Choose a scene in Otherwise → send to. |
| Fork "…" sends to missing node "…". | One of its rules leads to a deleted scene. | Pick a new destination for that rule. |
| Fork "…" can loop through other forks forever with no scene in between. | Forks lead to each other in a circle, so the reader would never reach a scene. | Break the circle by sending one of them to a scene. |
Remembered values and checks#
| Message | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| A condition checks "…", which the story doesn't remember. | The value was deleted or never created. | Pick a value that exists, or add it back. |
| A condition checks whether "…" contains something, but it isn't a list. | You used a list check on a value that is not a list. | Use a different comparison, or change the value's type. |
| A condition checks "…" against "…", which the story doesn't remember. | The value you are comparing against is gone. | Pick another value or type a number. |
| A condition checks "…" against "…", but that isn't the kind of value "…" holds. | You compared two different kinds of value, such as a number against text. | Compare like with like. |
| A condition on "…" checks for text containing a double quote or an ampersand. | Those two characters are not allowed in text a check looks for. | Remove them from the text you are checking for. |
| A roll for "…" has its low bound above its high bound. | Roll a number from 6 to 1, for example. | Swap the two numbers. |
| The value name "…" must be letters, numbers and underscores only, starting with a letter, so it can be used in a calculation. | A value's name has a space or another symbol. | Rename it, for example has_key. |
| Two remembered values share the key "…". | Two values ended up with the same internal key. This is rare. | Delete one and add it again. |
Text fields#
| Message | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| A text field on this scene fills "…", which the story doesn't remember. | The value the field saves into was deleted. | Remove the field and add it again. |
| This scene asks the reader for text but has no choices to continue with. | A reader could type an answer and then be stuck. | Add a choice. |
| This scene has more than one text field filling "…". | Two fields would overwrite each other. | Give each field its own value. |
| A text field's answer limit on this scene must be a whole number between 1 and 500. | The Max length is out of range. | Change Max length. |
Paragraph blocks and history checks#
| Message | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| A show-if paragraph in this scene isn't opened and closed cleanly (and can't be nested). | A Shown-only-if paragraph is broken or contains another. | Remove the block and add it again. |
| A story-history check points at "…", which isn't a scene in this story. | A history check refers to a scene that was deleted. | Pick a scene that exists. |
| A story-history check looks for option "…", which doesn't exist on "…". | The choice it refers to was deleted or changed. | Pick the choice again. |
| A story-history check compares against a number below zero. | Counts cannot be negative. | Use zero or more. |
Achievements#
| Message | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Achievement "…" needs a title, description and icon. | One of the three is empty. | Fill in all three on its card. |
| Achievement "…" is awarded at "…", which isn't a node in the story. | The scene or ending it triggers on was deleted. | Choose a new place in Unlocks when the reader reaches. |
| Achievement "…" checks a choice at "…", which isn't a scene. | A requirement refers to something that is not a scene. | Choose a scene in They earlier chose. |
Rare ones#
These normally only appear in a story that was imported or edited by hand. The editor cannot produce them itself.
| Message | What it means |
|---|---|
| Node key "…" does not match its id "…". | A node's stored name and identifier disagree. |
| This node's bold/italic formatting isn't balanced. | Bold or italic markers are not paired. |
| illustrationKey "…" has no matching illustrations entry. | An illustration is referenced that does not exist. |
| Two achievements share the id "…". | Two achievements have the same identifier. |
| Achievement "…" has an invalid internal id. | An achievement's identifier is not allowed. |
Warnings#
Warnings point at things that will probably be a problem for readers. They do not block submitting.
| Message | What it means | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Scene has no choices and is not an ending. | A reader who lands here is stuck. | Add a choice, or make it an ending. |
| Node is not reachable from the start. | No path leads here, so its writing is wasted. | Point a choice at it, or delete it. |
| Only one ending is reachable, so replayability is limited. | Readers have nothing else to find. | Add more endings, or make more of them reachable. |
| Scene prose is … characters (over 1750). | The scene is long. This also applies to endings. | Split it across two scenes, or accept it if the length is earned. |
| A path is more than 25 scenes deep. | The longest route through the story is very long. | Check the story is not longer than it needs to be. |
Advice#
Advice is a nudge. Take it or leave it.
| Message | What it means |
|---|---|
| Scene has … choices (2 to 4 recommended). | Fewer than two or more than four choices. A single "keep reading" choice will trigger this, and that is fine. |
| Estimated read time … min is outside the suggested 5 to 15. | Your read time is outside the usual range. Set it to an honest estimate. |
| "…" is remembered but never checked by any choice or fork. | A value is set somewhere but nothing reads it. It may be unfinished, or unused. |
| The scene text places a text field for "…", but no such field is set up under "Ask the reader for text". | A field marker is in the text with no settings behind it. Add the field again with Ask for text…. |
Next#
Look up shortcuts and limits in Shortcuts and limits.