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Generate Scenario from XAL

If you have an existing XAL file with no associated scenario, Arianna can reconstruct one by reading the automaton structure.

When to use it

This flow is useful when:

  • you are working with a legacy XAL file that was created manually or by another tool
  • you received an XAL file and want a human-readable description of what it does
  • you want to start a consultation session on an existing automaton

Starting the flow

Open a chat session for the XAL file (right-click → Open chat or New chat). If the file has no scenario yet, the chat area shows a single call-to-action:

Generate scenario from XAL

Click it. Arianna reads the full XAL content and generates a structured scenario. The .scenario.md satellite file is created and the scenario tab opens.

The guided verification flow

Reconstructing a scenario from XAL is a reverse operation — Arianna infers intent from structure, which can introduce imprecisions, especially in complex automata with non-obvious logic.

To help you catch these issues immediately, Arianna automatically initiates a guided flow after the scenario is generated:

Step 1 — Post-generation prompt

Arianna sends a message suggesting that the first generated scenario may contain inaccuracies, with a Verify Consistency button inline in the message. You do not need to find the button in the scenario tab — it is right in the chat.

Step 2 — Consistency check

Click the inline button to run the check. The consistency report appears in the chat as usual.

Step 3 — Direction message

After the report, Arianna sends a second message establishing the working direction for the session:

"The XAL is the source of truth. Any inconsistencies should be resolved by updating the scenario — not the XAL. Ask for help refining it."

This message stays in the chat history and informs all subsequent responses: when you ask Arianna to fix a discrepancy, it will propose changes to the scenario, leaving the XAL intact.

Refining the scenario

Once the consistency check is done, refine the scenario by describing corrections in the chat. The XAL remains unchanged throughout — the goal of this flow is to produce a scenario that accurately describes what the XAL does, not to change the XAL.

When the scenario is accurate, you can switch to Consulenza mode to ask operational questions about the automaton, or commit both files to the repository.