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From: hmarvel@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Howard P. Marvel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: Re: Running "HyperCard" on a PC
Message-ID: <4470@nisca.ircc.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 6 Sep 90 18:26:46 GMT
References: <1609@luth.sm.luth.se> <115@atux01.UUCP> <57210@microsoft.UUCP>
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Organization: The Ohio State University (IRCC)
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According to the people at Heizer, about 80% of HyperCard is translated.
The translation is done with a simple dictionary lookup, feasible since
the Toolbook language is very similar to HyperScript.  Verrrry similar.
The conversion fails when the two languages diverge.  None of the paint
tool scripting translates (and that shoots the 80% for me).  Naturally,
sound stuff doesn't work and XCMDs and XFCNs break.

One important issue in the choice of a PC HyperCard substitute is the
PC vendor's attitude to licensing.  Plus is apparently going to be targeted
to users who roll their own and want to support two environments.
They  expect to charge a substantial sum for run-times.  Toolbook
permits distribution of a runtime if you buy their Author's Resource
Kit. The kit goes for $457.00. Combined with the 199 for ConvertIt and
the cost of Toolbook itself, that's about $1000 to convert HyperCard
stacks and deliver them in usable form to PC users.  The high cost a
decent Windows machine suggests that the commercial market is likely
to develop very slowly.  Nevertheless, the Asymetrix attitude seems
less myopic than the Plus approach.

If someone actually gets a copy of ConvertIt, could you drop me a
line?  Our local Heath-Zenith outlet hasn't heard of it, an
interesting development since Heizer apparently intends to distribute
directly and through Zenith outlets.