HCGS Article 6

[gareth@vcn.bc.ca (Gareth Jones)]

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. 
     
     ?1;0c