Wow! Great post! And to think I was *just* getting ready of saying
he never contributes...
;o)
Phil
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> 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
>
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--
Phil Davis
-----------------------------------
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