Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!frerking
From: frerking@lll-lcc.UUCP (Chistopher Frerking)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: hypertext on amiga?
Summary: Comments on UltraCard
Keywords: UltraCard, HyperText
Message-ID: <2538@lll-lcc.UUCP>
Date: 14 Jul 89 17:06:10 GMT
References: <3128@csd4.milw.wisc.edu> <58058@linus.UUCP> <11605@super.ORG>
Reply-To: frerking@lll-lcc.llnl.gov.UUCP (Chistopher Frerking)
Distribution: na
Organization: Lawrence Livermore Labs, Comp Center, Livermore CA
Lines: 60


In article <11605@super.ORG> rminnich@super.UUCP (Ronald G Minnich) writes:
>In article <58058@linus.UUCP> sdl@linus.UUCP (Steven D. Litvintchouk) writes:
>>In article <3128@csd4.milw.wisc.edu> dave@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (David A Rasmussen) writes:
>>> i am rather new to the arena of hypertext stuff. I was wondering if
>>> there were any amiga products, or would one be able to run a mac
>>> emulator on the amiga and run their hypercard software or???
>>1.  "Thinker" (Poor Person Software) is advertised as a hypertext
>but the good news is, 
>according to amazing computing, a system called UltraCard. this
>is as close to the real thing as anything
>has come so far. I guess if they start to sell it 
>maybe apple won't sue them ... that could be why the screens
>and such look so different from HyperCard*- in the version 
>in AC the screens are more colorful but not quite as clean
>looking as hypercard. ANybody had a chance to try UltraCard out?
>ron
>* HyperCard is a trademark of Apple. There, i said it, please, no, 
>no lawyers, ahhhh, no no no lawyers, get back !!!!!

I have had UltraCard now for a few days, and used it enough to make a few
quick comments.

1. UltraCard is a very nice package - it does just about everything
H_perCard does, and more... It handles color nicely, and allows detection
of regions according to color. It allows asynchronous envocation of
external programs. Acording to the documentation (I haven't tried this
yet),  it includes an ARexx port, and can send ARexx commands, or have
events signalled by by ARexx.

2. UltraCard allows you to choose an external editor and paint program in
which to edit scripts, and paint card backgrounds, etc. In fact, since
painting can't be done in UltraCard, you will need to specify an external
paint program.

3. The scripting language is nice - very similar to H_perTalk, but with Amiga
enhancements.

4. A good selection of built-in functions is included, and with the "Developers
Package" due out this month, it will be possible to add any functions you
like to the scripting language. (I believe the developer tools are supposed
to cost $25)

5. Unfortunately, like many new products, UltraCard is not very stable - It
currently contains many small annoying bugs, and has an annoying tendency
to call up the guru on occasion (esp. when exiting a stack). It also doesn't
seem to like some commonly run software - most notably FastFonts, which
seems to cause its built in editor to do strange things. I expect that these
problems to be fixed in the near future.

In short, UltraCard is a nice product, with a lot of promise, but it is
currently a bit too buggy for regular use.

If anyone wants more info, email me at "frerking@lll-lcc.llnl.gov".

DISCLAIMER - I have no affiliation with Intuitive Technologies except as
a customer.

-Chris (frerking@lll-lcc.llnl.gov)