I have a number of HyperCard stacks in which text is stored. Parts of the
text have footnotes. In HyperCard I put each of the footnotes in a hidden
card field. When I click on a group in the main field, it shows the card
field that contains the applicable footnote. Sometimes I have a few
footnotes on a card. Sometimes I have hundreds of footnotes, with hundreds
of hidden card fields.

In Revolution 1.1 an efficient way to do this would be to have one field
for the footnotes. The content of each footnote would be the linkText of
the relevant chunk of the field. It would be put into the footnote field by
handling the linkClicked message.

This system makes me nervous. I won't be able to see the linkText until I
click each link. At least with other custom properties, I can see what is
in them by opening the Properties Palette.

Also, in the separate field system I know that the content of each footnote
is preserved because it is in the hidden card field. Even if the link were
lost, the content is still there. I can get a list of the fields and
reconstruct them.

Could the linkText be lost by:

1. Accidentally erasing the chunk of which it is a property.

2. Changing the chunk of which it is a property.

 3. Accidentally changing the textStyle of the chunk so it is no longer
"link". What if  you immediately change it back.

Am I unduly nervous. Is there really any greater risk of loss of data
through the linkText technique.

All this leads me to think that instead of putting the linkText into the
footnote field, I should use the linkText or the words of the link itself
as a pointer to another hidden field where all the footnotes are stored.
The handler would then find the relevant material and move it to the
display field. In theory this would take longer, but I imagine it won't be
noticeable to the user.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bruce
-- 
Bruce Lewis
Lewis & Collyer
160 John Street, Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario
Canada  M5V 2E5
(416) 598-4357
FAX (416) 598-1067
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