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From: gareth@vcn.bc.ca (Gareth Jones)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: HCGS Article 6
Date: 2 Jul 1996 17:28:30 GMT
Organization: Vancouver CommunityNet
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HyperCard for the Unconvinced
by Gareth Jones
(Revised 2 July 1996)
News Flash: Apple Computer reclassifies its program "HyperCard IIgs"
as "system software." What does this mean to a GS user who doesn't own
HyperCard?
On the simplest level, it means that the system software has doubled
from six to twelve 3.5" disks. You should be able to get a copy of
HyperCard (without manuals, but with on-line help) from the same source
as your other system software. Try an Apple Authorized dealer or your
local users' group. As a last resort, try sending an order to Joe Kohn
c/o ShareWare Solutions II, 166 Alpine Street, San Rafael, CA 94901. The
cost is $15 (U.S.).
On a more significant level, HyperCard may cost you. The hardware
requirements for running it include 2 MB of memory and a hard drive. In
addition, any HyperCard user who wants to get started with the program
should also order a copy of its three manuals from The Byte Works ( phone
505-898-8183 or connect to http://www.hypermall.com/byteworks/ via the
World Wide Web). You can advance in your use of the program by stealing
scripts and script ideas from Macintosh HyperCard books and by using
HyperCard's built-in Help.
HyperCard has always been a hard program to define. As a result,
many people have not realized what it has to offer. Among other things,
HyperCard IIgs is:
- A paint program for 640 mode pictures It has some very nice
features, including a "regular polygon tool" for making triangles,
squares, pentagons, and other geometric shapes. For many people,
HyperCard may be as much of a paint program as they will ever need.
- A clip-art collection featuring castles, maps, full-screen
backgrounds and (of course) a set of functional and fanciful icons.
- A collection of clip-sounds that can be used by the Sound Control
Panel.
- A visual aids or presentation graphics program that lets you go
from picture to picture in the order that you select. You can add
cinematic special effects to each transition from picture to picture,
such as "iris out" or "wipe left" or "dissolve slowly." Videotape the
presentation, if you want. You could also use this ability to make
automated flash cards, Science Fair displays, "Music Videos" and so on.
- A database program that allows graphics, calculated fields, text
fields with up to 30,000 characters in them, import and export of data,
keyword searching, and password-protection of sensitive databases.
- An icon editing program. To be precise, the package includes a
"stack" (a program created in HyperCard) to create or edit icons for use
by other stacks. There are ways to move Finder icons into HyperCard and
HyperCard icons into the Finder, but those methods will be the topic for
another article.
- Quite nice address list and datebook stacks. The latter has a
perpetual calendar.
- A programming language (called "HyperTalk") that can automate any
of HyperCard's painting, database, calculation, or presentation
capabilities.
You may have noticed that I didn't use the word "hypermedia" to
describe HyperCard. I suspect that some people haven't given HyperCard a
chance because of that word. They want to solve specific problems: create
a graphic, manage their finances, perform a calculation. "Will hypermedia
help me do that?" they'll wonder, they'll come to the decision that it
won't, and they'll go back to solving the problem in a paint program, a
finance program, or BASIC.
It might help experienced Apple II users to think of HyperCard as
BASIC for the GS. That is, it is available free as part of the system
software, it gives control over the computer to the user, and anything
you ever saw done in BASIC can be done better and easier in HyperTalk.
That includes writing startup programs, creating, displaying, and editing
text files, creating graphics under control of a program, animation,
searching databases, and playing music.
The main difference between BASIC and HyperCard is that the hardest
part of making a polished BASIC program, creating an attractive and
error-trapped user interface, is the easiest part of making a HyperCard
stack. Other differences include HyperTalk's access to the System
Clipboard, GS fonts, SHR graphics, and control over new-fangled
peripherals such as CD-ROMs and videodisks.
If you haven't used BASIC much, here's another way to think of
HyperCard, direct from its creator: Bill Atkinson described it as a
"software erector set." In it, you can create objects (text fields,
buttons, art) and move them around the screen until you're satisfied with
their look and functionality. This, incidentally, is how the Newton
computer was designed: the engineers used HyperCard to try out various
designs and functions. When they were satisfied, they built it.
The down side to HyperCard is, paradoxically, how much it offers
you. Learning to control every aspect of this huge program requires real
dedication, lots of reference material, and help from experienced hands.
The reward for this effort is control over almost everything that your
computer can do. In a time when commercial development of programs for
the IIgs is slowing down, this reward is more valuable than ever.
I'll end this with the thought that GS system software has almost
become a complete software suite. It includes music editing and playback
(synthLAB), a simple word processor (Teach), a program launcher (Finder),
backup software (Archiver), an arcade game (AppleBowl) and now it has the
painting, programming, database, and icon editing capabilities of
HyperCard as well. All we're missing are page layout and a spreadsheet.
(Just kidding, Apple). The reincarnation of HyperCard IIgs as System
Software is a great deal for GS users.
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