======Directives======

A Directive is a core language setting, which can be changed by using the ''Use'' command. Once a Directive has been set, the behaviour of PTPScript will change accordingly, until another Directive in the same group is set.

For example:

<code ptpscript>
{ use NaturalComparison }
</code>

In the example above, the behaviour of the [[PTPScript:Operators:Comparison|String Comparison Operators]] is being modified to use [[http://sourcefrog.net/projects/natsort/|natural ordering]].

<note tip>
Directives are case-insensitive.
</note>

====Available Directives====

The number of Directives available in standard versions of PTPScript will be kept to a minimum. Directives are not intended for prolific use, but rather, to allow a way to change certain areas of behaviour to suit different tastes. There will generally be an alternative way to achieve the same ends without using Directives.

//The available groups of Directives can be seen in the menu on the right.//

====Directive Scope====

Directives have an effect in the current scope only, from the time they are set, until the time they are changed (or the script ends). This means that if a Directive is changed from the default in the main body of a template, and then a macro is run, the macro will not see the changes - and vice versa; if a macro changes a Directive then it will not affect the main template or any other macros.