HYPERSTUDIO REVISITED review
By Wayne Short
Copyright (c) 1992 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
A Hypermedia System for the Apple IIGS
Hypermedia is a creative environment where even non-programmers can bring graphics, sound and text together, in an interactive and connected way. It is used to look for and store information - words, charts, pictures, digitized photographs, videos - about any subject desired by the author.
The most well known Hypermedia authoring program is Apple's own "Hypercard" which was developed for the Macintosh several years ago and is now available for both Macintosh and Apple IIGS computers.
HYPERSTUDIO, from Roger Wagner Publishing (RWP) was the first Hypermedia product available on the Apple IIGS and steady refinements and enhancements have taken place since the original 1989 release resulting in the release of Version 3.0 in early 1992.
(Note: A review of HyperStudio 2.1 appeared in the November 1990 issue of 'Applecations'.)
New Feature - Editable Buttons
In the past you had to delete and re-create a button that wasn't doing exactly what you wanted it to do. Now you can double-click on a button with the pointer tool and edit the button via the dialog box that pops up. This may include the type of button, the button name, the foreground and background colour, all actions that the buttons controls, etc.
Version 3.0 now boasts eight different button styles. Three of these styles are not used by HyperCard and are interesting in effect:
* the Expanding Lasso - can turn any odd shaped object into a button. If you have a map of Australia and want to make the State of New South Wales a button, just choose the "expanding lasso" and click in the middle of the NSW. Voila! The button expands to fit the outline of the state. If you click anywhere within the state the button is activated!
* the Freehand Button - trace around the outline of the object with a pencil cursor and the mouse. When the outline is completed, the entire contents becomes a button.
* the Lasso Area Button - this is the opposite of the expanding area button: simply use the lasso and draw around the object that will define the button shape. If the object is on a solid background, you don't need to drag neatly; the lasso will shrink down and find the edges of the object.
New Feature - New Button Actions
HyperStudio 2.1 used external commands (XCMD) to increase its functionality. An XCMD is invoked by clicking a button. Its function depended on what its creator wanted it to do. However, they were not easy to use within HyperStudio.
New Button Actions (NBA) are not just XCMDs with a new name. They are simpler to use. New Button Actions are selected during the creation of a new button from a scrolling list. It is possible to load NBAs from a library file off disk. (This creates an opportunity for third party developers!!) HyperStudio comes with a number of very useful NBAs such as automatically scrolling text fields, sorting cards, an SHR image slide show, and more.
New Feature - Improved Animation
Animator is a New Button Action which makes it easy enough for young children to use. Just select the image from the screen or a file on disk, move the image around with the mouse, and have it play pack the image exactly as you recorded it!!
New Feature - Screen Transitions and Visual Effects
These are what you see when you go from one card to another. They include things like fast wipe and a venetian blind effect. In Version 2.1 you were limited to 12 effects only. Version 3.0 provides 29 different effects and several speeds. These types are comparable to HyperCard but with HyperStudio the number of effects is really unlimited as it is possible to load transitions from library files or even other stacks.
New Feature - Group Objects
You may now specify group cards and group objects. This makes creating identical screens much easier! (It also conserves memory). Any changes made to one card will take effect on all others in the group.
Since you can choose to make any specific object a group item, you can create objects that are duplicated on a card, yet retain the ability to have unique objects on each card.
New Feature - A Scripting Language
HyperStudio has been revised to accept scripting languages to control progression through cards and manipulation of text and objects on each card. A language, 'Simplescript' has been developed to accomplish this. Although similar in functionality to Hypertalk the syntax of it could be more closely likened to Applesoft basic. The development environment is modular in that further languages by third parties could be written and easily integrated to run from HyperStudio e.g. a C compiler.
Whereas Hypercard scripts can be attached to cards, buttons or the stack itself, HyperStudio scripts are accessible from buttons only. One useful thing about a Hypertalk card script it that it is executed the first time a card was entered. It is possible to simulate the actions of a card script via an auto-activate button in Hyperstudio - an invisible button can be created with an attached script. (Auto-activate buttons execute after a preset time with in a card).
The editor boasts not only the usual cut & paste facilities, but via clever use of drop-down menus and pop-ups, the syntax for 'SimpleScript' is accessible. This is particularly useful for novice users as it possible to construct scripts without continuously referring to the manual and with little or no typing. Also, a debugger is selectable which allows step & trace facilities through scripts you create. I found it particularly useful as you can also interrogate the values of variables to each step 'on the fly' also.
Inside the Box
The package now comes with six 3.5-inch diskettes and two manuals. There is a large 200 page reference manual designed to give you a detailed guide on all commands and features. However, if you just wish to 'plunge in' then a step-by-step tutorial is provided in the smaller 80 page 'Getting Started with HyperStudio".
Installation on a hard drive is recommended as the complete system (which includes a large number of demonstration stacks) occupies around 2.5 Megabytes of storage. It is possible to run Hyperstudio using 3.5 inch drives but two would be required. Several scripts are provided with an installer program if you wish only to install certain parts of Hyperstudio.
As HYPERSTUDIO is both a hardware and software product, the following hardware items complete the package:
- amplified speaker
- sound digitizing hardware card
- microphone
While HyperStudio version 3.0 is now in a similar league as Apple's Hypercard, it has features which make it superior in the areas of Animation and Video & LaserDisc Support.
For authors writing their own stacks, a run-time version of Hyperstudio is available for distribution after suitable licensing arrangements have been made with RWP.
HyperStudio version 3.1 has recently become available. This includes several bug fixes from version 3.0 and incorporates some of the new features of System Software 6.0.
Our thanks to ASHTON SCHOLASTIC for the review copy.
Product at a Glance :
HYPERSTUDIO Version 3.01
by Roger Wagner Publishing
1050 Pioneer Way, Suite P
El Cajon, CA 92020, USA
Australian Distributor:
ASHTON SCHOLASTIC.
P.O. Box 579,
Gosford, N.S.W. 2250
Phone: (043) 28-3555
Price: $250

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