The Options tab for the infinite 2-D Automata looks like,
and the Options tab for the finite 2-D Automata looks like,
We will discuss each of the options in the order they appear.
Automata: This is simply a selection between generating a finite or infinite automaton.
Draw: Simply sets the drawing mode to circles or squares.
Number of Levels: Sets the number of levels that are created past the seed levels. So if you have one seed level and the number of levels is set to 30 you will graph a total of 31 levels.
Default Element: In the Overview of 1-D and 2-D Cellular Automata you saw that whenever the update rule went "outside" the automaton it used the group identity in the update calculation. Furthermore, as you can see on the page discussing the seed options, if there is a seed entry that is left blank some element must be placed there as well. This program allows the user to select the element that is to be used "outside" the automaton and in the blank spaces of the seed entries. This is the Default element. In most cases you will use the group identity but the program does not force this choice. Simply input the element you wish to use as the default. If you want to use the group's identity simply click the Use Group Identity button and the identity element will be loaded into the text box. If you are working with a user-defined structure it is possible that there does not exist a unique identity element. In that case a message box will appear telling you so.
Grid Size: This is the size of the grid used for a finite 2-D automaton.
Update Wrap Type: If you are creating a finite automaton you can set the update rule to either wrap or not wrap in either direction and you can set it up to twist the wrap. The options here are
Seed Placement: As you will see the seed grid may not be the same size as the grid used for the finite
automaton. The placement allows you to automatically position the seed grid within the automaton grid. The options
are Upper Left, Upper Right, Lower Left, Lower Right, and Center. For example, say our grid is 10 X 10 and the seed is 2 X 2,
below