Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!jdevoto From: jdevoto@Apple.COM (Jeanne A. E. DeVoto) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard Subject: Re: Hypertalk syntax? Message-ID: <40703@apple.Apple.COM> Date: 3 May 90 09:12:48 GMT References: Distribution: comp Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA Lines: 38 In article kautz@allegra.att.com writes: >Is there a formal, complete, correct syntax for Hypertalk anywhere out >there? BNF or something similiar? There's no BNF; I don't think it's possible to write a BNF for HyperTalk. The most complete and correct language reference I know of is the Addison-Wesley text that a couple of others have mentioned. > [...] For example, consider the commands "Go to" and >"Edit script". The argument of each is a "target". So why are > Go to first card of stack "Foobar" > Edit script of stack "Foobar" > Edit script of first card >perfectly acceptable, while > Edit script of first card of stack "Foobar" >is not? The reason is that object within a stack other than the current one aren't directly accessible. You can't make direct references to cards, backgrounds, buttons or fields in stacks other than the one you're in without going to that stack. In other words, stacks that are not currently open are "black boxes" as far as HyperTalk is concerned. You can refer to *stack* properties from other stacks, but not to properties of objects within the stack. (Exception: you can say "go card foo of stack bar".) >(Or is the horrible truth that Hypertalk doesn't really have a syntax, >and the compiler is really just a random mess of spaghetti code???) (MOO-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!!) -- ========= jeanne a. e. devoto ======================================== jdevoto@apple.com | You may not distribute this article under a jdevoto@well.sf.ca.us | compilation copyright without my permission. ______________________________________________________________________ Apple Computer and I are not authorized | CI$: 72411,165 to speak for each other. | AppleLink: SQA.TEST