{
        "title": "9 Mens Morris",
        "dots": [
            ".5,.5",".5,4.5",".5,8.5",
            "1.5,1.5","1.5,4.5","1.5,7.5",
            "2.5,2.5","2.5,4.5","2.5,6.5",
            "4.5,.5","4.5,1.5","4.5,2.5","4.5,6.5","4.5,7.5","4.5,8.5",
            "6.5,2.5","6.5,4.5","6.5,6.5",
            "7.5,1.5","7.5,4.5","7.5,7.5",
            "8.5,.5","8.5,4.5","8.5,8.5"
        ],
        "lines": [
            "4.5,.5,4.5,2.5",
            "6.5,4.5,8.5,4.5",
            "4.5,6.5,4.5,8.5",
            ".5,4.5,2.5,4.5"
        ],
        "squares": [
            ".5,.5,8,8",
            "1.5,1.5,6,6",
            "2.5,2.5,4,4"
        ]
    }

    import svgwrite
    import json

    # adjust as needed, it is a "S"VG after all
    # 82 with min margins my Brother HL-L5200DW fit full page
    # 67 with zero margins is designed for the wooden boards and CNC
    scale   = 82 # 82 for printing, 67 for CNC
    dotsize = .15 # between .12 and .2 probably
    stroke  = 5  # should probably be an odd number so it's centered, probably 5 or 7

    # didn't work, should be scale * 8 (paper) or 9.5 (CNC)
    #dbwide = 570
    #dbhigh = 570

    # where will this be written?
    # And create the dwg object
    #dwg = svgwrite.Drawing('9menspython.svg', profile='tiny')
    '''fixme:
        couldn't get size/viewBox to work properly
        this would be useful for printing easier without
        messing with print dialogues, or to standardize
        CNC conversions.  These options work but do not
        actually limit the size/viewBox.

        particularly, I couldn't use a variable in the setttings
    '''
    dwg = svgwrite.Drawing(
        '9menspython.svg',
        #size=(637,637),
        #viewBox=(0,0,637,637)
        )

    # open json file
    with open("9men.json", "r") as read_file:
        # put it into a dictionary called "data"
        data = json.load(read_file)

    '''
    makedots:
    takes xy coords, radius and fill color
    makes a dot at that location
    '''
    def makedots(x,y,r,color):
        x = x * scale
        y = y * scale
        r = dotsize * scale
        dwg.add(
            dwg.circle(
                center=(x,y),
                r=r,
                stroke=svgwrite.rgb(10, 10, 10),
                fill=color
            )
        )

    '''
    makelines:
    takes xy start and stopcoords
    makes a line from xy1 to xy2
    '''
    def makelines(x1,y1,x2,y2):
        x1 = x1 * scale
        y1 = y1 * scale
        x2 = x2 * scale
        y2 = y2 * scale
        dwg.add(
            dwg.line(
                start=(x1,y1),
                end=(x2,y2),
                stroke=svgwrite.rgb(10, 10, 20),
                stroke_width=stroke
            )
        )

    '''
    makesquares:
    takes xy near and far corners
    draws rectangle using those points
    '''
    def makesquares(x1,y1,x2,y2):
        # draw a nofill box
        x1 = x1 * scale
        y1 = y1 * scale
        x2 = x2 * scale
        y2 = y2 * scale
        dwg.add(
            dwg.rect(
                (x1, y1), (x2, y2),
                stroke=svgwrite.rgb(10, 10, 20),
                stroke_width=stroke,
                fill='none'
            )
        )

    def rules(x,y,size,text):
        x = x * scale
        y = y * scale
        dwg.add(
            dwg.text(
                text,
                insert=(x,y),
                stroke='none',
                fill=svgwrite.rgb(15,15,15),
                font_size=size,
                font_weight="bold",
                style="font-family:Arial"
            )
        )

    # functions are defined above, so...
    # do whatever the json says now

    # Rules/Text:
    rules(3.65,2.90,'18px',data['title'])

    rules(2.74,3.15,'11px',"Each player starts with 9 stones. (Black vs White)")

    rules(2.74,3.50,'11px',"Stage 1 (Placement): Take turns placing stones.")
    rules(2.74,3.75,'11px',"Get 3 in a row, on a connected line, remove 1 of your")
    rules(2.74,4.00,'11px',"opponent\'s pieces (break strings as last choice.)")

    rules(2.74,4.40,'11px',"Stage 2 (Movement): Take turns moving your pieces.")
    rules(2.74,4.60,'11px',"1 at a time, attempting to get 3 in a row, again.")
    rules(2.74,4.80,'11px',"If you get 3 in a row, take 1 of your opponent\'s")
    rules(2.74,5.00,'11px',"pices (break strings as a last choice)")

    rules(2.74,5.40,'11px',"Stage 3 (Underdog): When anyone gets down to only")
    rules(2.74,5.60,'11px',"3 pieces, they are not bound by lines and can jump")
    rules(2.74,5.80,'11px',"to any unoccupied spot on board.")

    rules(2.74,6.20,'11px',"To Win: Capture opponent down to 2 pieces")

    # DOTS:
    # loop over the len number of items in this list
    # assign the numbers to "i", 0,1,2,3 etc
    for i in range(len(data['dots'])):
        # create a string from this data
        chunk = data['dots'][i]
        # spolit string into another list, on every comma
        xy = chunk.split(',')

        # make the data back to a float from string
        xx = float(xy[0])
        yy = float(xy[1])

        # call the function
        makedots(xx,yy,10,'black')

    # LINES:
    for i in range(len(data['lines'])):
        chunk = data['lines'][i]
        xy = chunk.split(',')
        x1 = float(xy[0])
        y1 = float(xy[1])
        x2 = float(xy[2])
        y2 = float(xy[3])
        makelines(x1,y1,x2,y2)

    # SQUARES:
    for i in range(len(data['squares'])):
        chunk = data['squares'][i]
        xy = chunk.split(',')
        x1 = float(xy[0])
        y1 = float(xy[1])
        x2 = float(xy[2])
        y2 = float(xy[3])
        makesquares(x1,y1,x2,y2)

    #we did read it, but I want to see
    # how python sees it.
    with open('9mendict.json', 'w') as outfile:
        json.dump(data, outfile,indent=4)

    # output our svg image as raw xml
    #print(dwg.tostring())

    # write svg file to disk
    dwg.save()