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Re: Mousetext toolbox
On Jan 6, 2:04 am, Tony Kavadias <tonza...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
Ugh... replying to my own posts again... what a bain!
OK, you can get the documentation from the following locations (both
HTTP I'm afraid):
http://grapevine.com.au/~tonza/pub/MouseText_DG/MouseText_Desktop_Guidelines_1.0.pdf
and, if you want to read it from within AppleWorks, I have other
copies from my space in MobileMe:
https://public.me.com/tonza
and follow your way through the directories:
Documents/MouseText DG
since Apple decided not to allow people to plonk their way into an
arbitrary URL within an iDisk!
The AWP directory contains the AppleWorks 5 versions of the
documentation--the BINSCII directory contains BINSCII'd encoded
versions of the AWP files. If you use a Mac, you can grab the Pages 4
versions, or you can view the PDFs.
If you have trouble reading these files, I can point you in the right
direction.
Cheers!
--tonza