DVGlasgow
Sat, 23 Sep 2000 09:24:48 -0700
In a message dated 22/9/00 8:40:35 am, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: <<I've just downloaded the MetaCard starter kit, and had a bit of a look at the demo, and quite frankly it impressed the hell out of me. What I'd like now is a few ideas on how I might put this thing to good use. If anyone has any great ideas or tips on how make the most of MetaCard, please respond (on or off list as you prefer).>> This is an easy question, that doesn't need great scripting skills, so i'm gonna jump in so no one can accuse me of never contributing to the list. The limitations, such as they are, are likely to be mostly in you, not Metacard. I am very much a part time scripter, who was taught Algol 26 years ago at school. Since then i have just tinkered about, never working in IT, but never able to leave it alone. I discovered MC with absolute delight.....I hack it about like a third rate Hypercard scripter (which is what I am).. Its fast fun forgiving and flexible....and baffles other RAD users...I don't mean in terms of scripting, i mean in terms of producing something so professional looking so quickly. . So, if your starting point is like mine, just do the same, and have fun. However, a huge chunk of the MC consituency come from neighbouring worlds where things are different. They do really clever stuff and write on the list about the Windows Registry, sockets and cmds. I guess some even make a living out of it. I read this stuff in the vague hope that by some kind of osmosis, it will pass into my mind and start to make sense. (Other threads are just a delight, despite being alien to your own interests. My all time favourite was the discussion about displaying Japanese in fields.) The fact that you were impressed means that you had the vision to perceive at least part of the potential of the tool. I guarantee that it is even better than you now think......but you'll have to discover those little treasures for yourself.....they are different for different folks. (although the greatest AHA! for many, including myself is when you work out how groups in MC are so much more powerful than backgrounds in Hypercard) I wasted a lot of time to start with trying to convert the many Hypercard stacks i had accumulated over the years. In many ways the Hypercard/Supercard legacy is a hindrance as much as a help. True you get a boost with the metaphor and a fair bit of scripting, and old books on scripting can still come in handy, but there are lots of old habits and perceptions that get in the way too.......not least in the prejudice that exists out there against anything that is even a distant relative of Hypercard. My advice would be to think of a project and have a go at making it work.....even if you already have something that does the job in Visual basic or Hypercard.. Chances are you can do it easier and better in MC....and just think of the buzz when it works cross platform! (Probably more fun for Mac users, I guess.) Happy scripting. David Glasgow Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/metacard%40lists.best.com/ Info: http://www.xworlds.com/metacard/mailinglist.htm Please send bug reports to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, not this list.