Re: Hypercard Question

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <3mf485$gs9@daffy.anet.uwrf.edu>,
JOSEPH M BARBEY <jb0w@uwrf.edu> wrote:
> 
> I thought it was Hyper Studio that didn't require a card.  Did Apple change
> something so that Hypercard stacks can be run without the card?  Or
> am I wrong on this one?

Where did this idea come from that either HyperStudio or HyperCard was
anything other than software?

HyperStudio used to include a simple microphone input card, but it
wasn't required to run the program.  Both programs can make use of
stereo cards, but don't require one.

The "Card" in the name "HyperCard" refers to the "index card" metaphor
used by HyperCard.

HyperCard "programs" (not quite an appropriate term, but closer than
anything else I can think of) are "stacks" of "cards".  Each "card" is
a screen with a foreground and background layer.  The layers can have
graphics, fields and buttons on them.  Several cards can share the
same background.

All the cards together form a "stack", which is a single file on disk.
A HyperCard-based "program" can make use of one or more stacks.

Within the stack, all objects (buttons, fields, cards, backgrounds and
the stack itself) can have scripts associated with them.  The
scripting language is called "HyperTalk".  You can also attach
externally written procedures and functions (usually written in
assembly language, C or Pascal) to a stack.  They can then be called
from HyperTalk.


You don't have to be a programming expert to make use of HyperCard -
you can use existing stacks (of which there are plenty), or make simple
modifications to existing stacks and/or derive new ones by copying
objects from existing stacks.


HyperCard IIgs requires at least 1.5MB of RAM, and a hard drive.  I'd
also recommend an accelerator.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand