chuq@plaid.Sun.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) (02/27/88)
Hyper-Hackers Digest Vol 1 #16
February 26, 1988
Subjects
More on closefield
Simultaneous scrolling
Hypercard Card Digest Contribution
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <BELSLEY%BCVMS.BITNET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> (DAVID A. BELSLEY)
Subject: More on closefield
Jakob Nielson of the Tech University of Denmark, in a recent hyperhack
comment, properly decries the fact that a closeField message is not sent
when the user clicks on a button. This does effectively remove the value
of this message for doing field checking, and there is no good substitute.
He goes on to ask that the message always be given as long as the field has
not been changed. That would be nice, but still not as good as it could
be. Indeed, some sort of closeField message must be sent whenever a field
closes, whether the contents have been changed or not, or otherwise
checking is still not possible. This happens because of the following means\
of escape. The user enters information and leaves the field, the closeField
is trapped and the contents checked. They are discovered in error and
the user is notified and the field reopenned in script. Now, if at this
point the user ignores the message to change and moves on to another field,
no new closeField is sent because the field (already in error) has not
be changed.
The only way around this problem is to blank the field in script so
that the user is forced to enter new information. But this is very unMac-
like. The proper Mac-like way is to leave the current contents highlighted
so that the user can see what is there and what is wrong. Thus, it would
be better if the closeField were sent whenever a field is closed, whether
the contents are changed or not. This will make setting a "dirty" flag
somewhat more difficult, but the entire process will then be controllable
by the hypercard composer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <BELSLEY%BCVMS.BITNET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> (DAVID A. BELSLEY)
Subject: Simultaneous scrolling
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 88 16:01 EST
It should be mentioned that the message posted in this digest several weeks
ago regarding simultaneous field scrolling rather misses the point. The
statement that was made (I forget the name of the author) was that fields
could be made to scroll together merely by a script that says "set the
scroll of field A to the scroll of field B", presumably running in a
handler for "idle."
This solution solves only the simplest and crudest needs of simultaneous
scrolling. First, the fields do not really scroll together; they scroll
in sequence. The first field moves, then, only after a mouseup, will the
second field catch up. If the second field is an index field, this staggered
behavior prevents one from knowing how far he has scrolled until it is too
late.
Second, this solution does not allow for selecting in the field beyond
the portion of the field showing in the window. If one attempts to select
beyond the scroll, the moment the mouse is let up, the second window
"catches us," and, in so doing, removes the selection from the first window.
Third, the same phenomenon besets the positioning of the insertion point
since the insertion point will be "removed" from the first window after
contol is given to the second window for its scroll to catch up.
In short, new control must be introduced into hypercard in order
properly to produce simultaneous scrolling of any sophistication; and I
will add, that many important uses of hypercard will be precluded by a lack
of such a facility. I can only hope that the creative powers that be in
the Atkinson fold will take this issue seriously.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Atul Butte <ST602397%BROWNVM.BITNET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Subject: Hypercard Card Digest Contribution
Date: Wed, 24 Feb 88 14:55:59 EST
Is there anyway to do a HideCursor within Hypercard? I am using tools like
the lasso to do simple on screen animation, and the mouse keeps flipping to
the different tools as I CHOOSE them. Has anyone written an XCMD to hide the
cursor? Or is there another way to prevent this cursor flipping?
***********************************
End of HYPER-HACKERS Digest
Chuq Von Rospach chuq@sun.COM Delphi: CHUQ
There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.
Ken Olson, President, Digital Equiptment, 1977