Re: Mousetext toolbox

[Tony Kavadias <tonzaggl@gmail.com>]

On Jan 4, 6:35 am, "ict@ccess" <gids...@sasktel.net> wrote:
> For those of you who still enjoy applesoft programming, here it is.  I
> finally gone and done did it.  I have for the most part completed an
> applesoft toolbox that adds virtually unlimited power to applesoft.
> That is, up to the size of the hard drive and not so limited by RAM.
>
> With this toolbox you can:
>
>         1) create sophisticated mouse text screens in minutes
>         2) full mouse support
>         3) create and click on up to 55 buttons per screen
>         4) create and select drop down menus (max: 8)
>         5) over 40 enhanced applesoft ampersand commands at your disposal
>         6) quick load of most files - no more chr$(4) commands
>         7) the toolbox has a very small footprint size compared to same thing
> done in applesoft
>         main toolbox is only 4096 bytes;   menus, buttons, window definitions
> and a capture buffer take up another 4096 bytes
>         8) applesoft programs are a fraction of the size due to help
> instructions, screen
>          creation and REMarks are no longer needed within the program
>         9) ML commands are much faster than interpreted applesoft commands,
> so
>         overall, programs are much faster
>
> minimum requirements: enhanced IIe with mousetext characters, 80 col
> card and mouse
>
> Once I have created the &SAVE file command, then basic.system can be
> totally eliminated, thus making almost 10kb available to your
> programs.
>
> Included in the demo is a multitude of mousetext screens I have
> created.  I am releasing this toolbox in the hopes that it will
> stimulate programming for the Apple II again.  Especially for
> beginners. I am releasing this software as TradeWare.  Meaning, if you
> use this toolbox then I would like a copy of the program that you
> created with this toolbox or any other programs you may have created.
>
> Imagine quick and easy navigation between programs and games, quick
> view of files (applesoft, text, binary listings, graphics), more
> visually pleasing programs and games, Image all those Eamon text
> adventures with a compass for easy direction clicking and automatic
> map creation to show the rooms you have visited.
>
> I'm sure you get the picture
>
> You can download the toolbox demo here:
>
> disk image:    www.pv3.ca/Apple/Mousetext.demo.2mg.zip
> extended command set:  www.pv3.ca/Apple/Extended%20commands.txt
>
> enjoy!
>
> Rob

Technically looks impressive, but unfortunately, aesthetically, looks
and behaves a little weird!
Any plans to release a version that adheres more closely to the Apple
Human Interface Guidelines?

I do admit that MouseText is really unrealistically limited as a
resource for making Apple II desktop programs in text mode... but I
have been spending lots of time working on some guidelines and
techniques for making a look and feel specification that I think would
make Macintosh and Lisa users drool!

The user interface specifications I wrote thus far haven't been
published, because I think it is far from complete.  However, if you
or others are interested in taking a look, I'll be more than happy to
FTP it someplace for people to fetch from.  The document is in
AppleWorks 5 format, since it's the only program I have that can
actually use that lets me write with MouseText in a word processing
environment!

I have no code... and frankly, don't intend to write any.  However, I
think I have enough in the specifications document to show how I think
things could be constructed when it comes to "painting the text onto
the screen to come up with a satisfying user interface".  The only
gotchya I have, I suppose, is that the window title bar has the Lisa
desktop's appearance rather than a Macintosh's, because it is not
practical to use the MouseText 'G' when it doesn't offer any useful
borders! You'll see what I mean when you take a view of the document.

Another thing I wanted to concentrate on was character boundaries,
both for the window frames and for window contents.  I think this is
where most Apple II MouseText-based desktop implementations fall way
too short: I thought that being strict here would make for a cleaner
appearance with much more practical use of screen real-estate in
either a 40-column or 80-column mode text display.

Please let me know at !com!gmail!tonzaggl (hint: convert UUCP-ish
addresses to SMTP) if you want me to send the document to you... or
you can wait until I publish a URL of the document.  I'll try to get
it available over the weekend.

Cheers!

--tonza