jal@wsu-cs.uucp (Jason Leigh) (03/29/89)
Some time ago I posted a message asking about Thinker, a HyperText system for the Amiga, and I know a few of you wanted the same info so here's what I found out. This is from a pamphlet I received from Poor Person Software who is selling this program: Thinker combines Hypertext, Hierarchical text, and Word Processing into an Idea Processor for creative people. The pamphlet shows a diagram of what the system looks like. And basically the screen looks like a mini-wordprocessor with commands like Insert, Copy, Delete, Move etc... There is a built in 30000 word spell checker. The hypertext links are specified by enclosing < > symbols and sections are begun with a label delimited by ( ). Access to sections is done by double clicking on a word, and sections may expand out to be graphical in nature or may invoke some kind of tool or program. The system imports ASCII text files and writes out ASCII. They do not mention if there is any way to combine the text and graphics into a complete document; I suspect not since the pamphlet was done on a Macintosh with MacDraw and printed on a LaserWriter (there are tell-tale signs). In general the system looks pretty simple. It supports hypertext links but the pamphlet does not mention any kind of browser that goes with the system although it does mention that the depth of the hierarchy that is visible can be controlled by the Clipping level. They are extending their introductory offer of $59 till the end of April 89, and you can order one from them at: Poor Person Software 3721 Starr King Circle Palo Alto, CA 94306. (415)-493-7234 If anyone knows anything more about this product please let me know because as it is, the system doesn't look like one that is worth investing in. I have a similar system I wrote on the Sun that does pretty much the same thing except it's compatible with X, Sunview, and UW. Send replies, comments, questions, curses, etc., to me at : jal@zeus.cs.wayne.edu Jason Leigh or this newsgroup. Disclaimer: I don't have any affiliation with Poor Person Software. This was an unsolicited review and is solely based on the content presented in the pamphlet sent to me by Poor Person Software and in no way reflects the true quality or content of the actual product.
riley@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Daniel S. Riley) (03/29/89)
In article <672@wsu-cs.uucp> jal@wsu-cs.uucp (Jason Leigh) writes: >Some time ago I posted a message asking about Thinker, a HyperText >system for the Amiga, and I know a few of you wanted the same info so >here's what I found out. >This is from a pamphlet I received from Poor Person Software who is >selling this program: I found a demo version of Thinker on the Lattice bulletin board. All my comments here are based on that demo. >Thinker combines Hypertext, Hierarchical text, and Word Processing into >an Idea Processor for creative people. I think including "Word Processing" here is reaching a bit. Thinker (or at least the demo) has no support for alternate fonts, different styles, or any sort of control over page formatting. As an idea processor it seems to work fairly well, but it is not a full document preparation system or even a word processor by any stretch of the imagination. >The pamphlet shows a diagram of what the system looks like. And >basically the screen looks like a mini-wordprocessor with commands like >Insert, Copy, Delete, Move etc... The user interface has some nice features--especially the heavy use of requesters as pop-up menus. Unfortunately, it has the TextCraft disease--you select an operation first, and then select the region it acts on. This really drove me up the wall. >The hypertext links are specified by enclosing < > symbols and sections >are begun with a label delimited by ( ). Yup. There is no support for otherwise highlighting links, like different fonts, styles, gadgets, etc. And, since the link is by keyword, every instance of a keyword within a document links you to the same label. >Access to sections is done by double clicking on a word, and sections >may expand out to be graphical in nature or may invoke some kind of >tool or program. >The system imports ASCII text files and writes out ASCII. They do not >mention if there is any way to combine the text and graphics into a >complete document; I suspect not since the pamphlet was done on a >Macintosh with MacDraw and printed on a LaserWriter (there are >tell-tale signs). There is no way to combine text and graphics. Graphics always appear in a separate window or screen, and there is no support for making regions of a graphics window link to something else. >In general the system looks pretty simple. It supports hypertext links >but the pamphlet does not mention any kind of browser that goes with >the system although it does mention that the depth of the hierarchy >that is visible can be controlled by the Clipping level. The clipping level and outlining stuff are reasonably well done, and probably Thinker's strongest point. Think of it as an idea processor with HyperText, not vice versa. On the other hand, the text editing is not very strong, and linear navigation of a document is a real pain--there's no scroll bar, no next page command. If a section is longer than the current window, it's a real pain to scroll through it, since most of the movement commands are section oriented. >If anyone knows anything more about this product please let me know >because as it is, the system doesn't look like one that is worth >investing in. I have a similar system I wrote on the Sun that does >pretty much the same thing except it's compatible with X, Sunview, and >UW. At one point, I thought Thinker might be worth the $59. After playing with the demo some more, I got annoyed enough with user interface to think some more. My conclusion was that it doesn't provide any functionality that I couldn't reproduce in a reasonable amount of time. So I'm waiting for something better, or some free time to write my own. >Disclaimer: I don't have any affiliation with Poor Person Software. >This was an unsolicited review and is solely based on the content >presented in the pamphlet sent to me by Poor Person Software and in no >way reflects the true quality or content of the actual product. What he said. I haven't seen the real thing, just a demo. -Dan Riley (riley@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu, cornell!batcomputer!riley) -Wilson Lab, Cornell U.
shf@well.UUCP (Stuart H. Ferguson) (04/03/89)
I looked at the demo version and was not impressed. I'd love to have a hypertext system to store my text files, saved articles, code fragments, etc., so I picked up the Thinker demo disk. It's a very limited subset of hypertext -- just a set of text blocks arranged hierarchically. Blocks can be optionally labeled as a kind of glossary. When a label appears in another block somewhere a double click branches to the labeled block. There are a few extensions of this basic idea. A link in the text can be the name of a workbench icon (i.e. a file with a .info file) which will be launched with a double click. A link can also be an IFF picture or sound file. It does not support two-way links, quoted text, any kind of formatting or fonts, or diagrams or pictures in the text stream. Worst of all for my needs, the text is not filesystem transparent. I want a system that doesn't require me to remember filenames. To do this with Thinker, I'd have to keep all my data in a single file. Multiple files can be linked, but the document has to have the filename of where it's linking in the text stream. That kind of defeats the purpose for me. Needless to say, I didn't spend the sixty bucks for a working version. -- Stuart Ferguson (shf@well.UUCP) Action by HAVOC
carlos@io.UUCP (Carlos Smith x4433) (04/13/89)
In article <672@wsu-cs.uucp> jal@wsu-cs.uucp (Jason Leigh) writes: >This is from a pamphlet I received from Poor Person Software who is >selling this program: >Thinker combines Hypertext, Hierarchical text, and Word Processing into >an Idea Processor for creative people. >The hypertext links are specified by enclosing < > symbols and sections >are begun with a label delimited by ( ). The latest version will allow "synonyms" to be defined in a label by separating multiple labels by commas. >Access to sections is done by double clicking on a word, and sections >may expand out to be graphical in nature or may invoke some kind of >tool or program. The user may choose a new or an existing window for the section to open up in. If it is an IFF file, it may be opened in its own screen. Any application with an icon can be launched by clicking on its link. >The system imports ASCII text files and writes out ASCII. They do not >mention if there is any way to combine the text and graphics into a >complete document; No, it does not do this. It is not a desktop publishing program, its strength is not in producing flat documents, rather it is very good for outlines and multi-dimensional documents. There is no text formatting such as bold, italic and font manipulation. For this one must import the text into their favorite word processor. >If anyone knows anything more about this product please let me know >because as it is, the system doesn't look like one that is worth >investing in. I like Thinker as far as it goes. It is the only product of its type for the Amiga, and it is useful for simple Hypertext in its current form. The only products I am aware of that compete with it are "Flow" and "Outline". Flow sells for $99 and is a one-dimensional outliner. Outline costs about the same as Thinker, is also a simple outliner (too simple), and cannot even take advantage of an interlace workbench screen. Its publishers also do not support it and plan no updates. I have switched from "Outline" to Thinker for outlining, because even as an outliner it is better (allowing paragraphs under sections, for example, while outline requires each item to be limited to a single line). I am also using it to develop simple Hypertext databases, and for idea organization. As such, I find it excellent. I can refer to other sections and concepts from anywhere within a document (whether I am using a hierarchical outline form or am keeping it a collection of independant sections), and access them for reference or editing from anywhere in the document, or from outside the document for that matter. If I wish to reference an illustration, I may do so, and I can access it anytime by clicking on the link. The user interface is interesting, making the best use of double-menu-click requesters that I have seen (I assume that is what it is, since that is how it is invoked). Most common browsing and editing tools are in this pop-up menu, minimizing mouse motion. In summary, I like Thinker and look forward to using it heavily. It is as solid (or more) as many applications I have seen from much larger developers, and is well-supported (for a one-man company). I had questions and suggestions and the author returned my calls and was quite serious about responding to questions, problems and ideas for enhancements. Finally, for the money it is as good as or better than simple outliners, with much more functionality and flexibility.-- Carlos Smith uucp:...!mit-eddie!ileaf!carlos Bix: carlosmith