I just put on my site the Linux version of my first shareware on dietetics. The Macintosh and Win32 versions are already available. >From time to time, there are questions on the list about the potential problems of realisation of a stack to be distributed on different platforms. Hereafter are some advice (derived mainly from errors I made !) I gathered from this experience. I tried to minimize the problem by switching daily the development system I used. The same stack, one day on Mac (be prepare to resedit �MSTK�,�MCRD�), the other day on Windows, the third on Linux. I tested also as often as possible on other configurations (it was not enough - I discovered the �pattern problem� very late in the development). * the main problem stems from the different appearance of fonts on the various platforms. I choosed the font �Times� (perhaps not the best choice) and sticked to it. Don�t ajust too precisely the text on your screen : it is a loss of time. Use larger fields. Setting the Textheight to the same size of the font itself is a good choice in my experience. Don�t try to position text around buttons or images in a single text field. Create as many little fields as necessary (possibly in a group). * Don�t use the nice transparency effects (ink) available on Mac (there are quite impossible to simulate on other platforms). * If your stack crashes on Macintosh (often while using the icon stack) and not in other platforms, it is probably a memory problem : increase the memory given to Metacard from 3500 to 4000 or 4500 ko. * Don�t use the Macintosh Pict image format. This format is not known on other platforms. * Don�t use images larger than 8x8 for patterns properties (backgroundpattern, shadowpattern, etc...). It�s ok on Mac, WindowsNT and Linux, but can crash your stack on Windows95/98 systems (videodrivers and/or Metacard bugs). * Use Iso format for texts stored in custom properties or on disk (and translate it on Mac with the IsoToMAc() function). * Use always exactly the same Metacard version on the 3 platforms. I wish to thank all the contributors to this list who make it such an invaluable source of tips, help and ideas. You can have a look at my work at http://www.diondine.com (sorry, it is French only : site, interface, data, documentation). Sorry also for my approximate English. Herve Proudhon
