Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!cunyvm!byuvm!byuvax!taylorj
From: taylorj@yvax.byu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: Re: XCMD Wanted
Message-ID: <1854taylorj@yvax.byu.edu>
Date: 1 Dec 90 01:37:51 GMT
Lines: 58

To control a videodisc player in HyperCard you have 3 options:

1) Get Apple's HyperCard Videodisc Toolkit.  This provides a complete set of
XCMDs that makes it very easy to control almost any videodisc player with a
serial interface.  For example, to play from frame 300 to 400, you simply
type "playVideo 300,400."  There are also stacks that let you choose what to
play on the videodisc and then automatically create a button to do it.

2) Get Voyager's VideoStack.  This is a set of XCMDs and stacks similar to
Apple's.  (Slightly better, in my opinion.)  An added advantage is that
Voyager's XCMDs work with "The Box," a device that can control cheaper
consumer-level videodisc players.

3) Roll your own.  (Not for the faint of heart.)  Write a set of serial
communications XCMDs (or get them from Apple, the Dartmouth Stack,
Developer's stack, etc.).  Then use these XCMDs to talk directly to the
videodisc player.  You can usually get a list of commands from the
manufacturer.


Apple's toolkit controls the following players:
  Pioneer 4200, 6000A, 8000
  Sony 1500, 2000
  Hitachi 9550.
Voyager's VideoStack controls the following players:
  Pioneer 4100 (PAL) 4200, 6000, 6000A, 6010A, 8000
  Sony 1000A, 1200, 1500, 1500P (PAL), 1550, 2000
  Hitachi 9550, 9600
  Philips VP 406 and other Philips RS-232 equipped PAL players
  Non-RS-232-equipped players (requires "The Box"):
    Pioneer 909, 1010, 1030, 2000, 3030, 4000, LDS 1, LDW 1


APDA (Apple Programmers & Developers Association)
Apple Computer, Inc.
20525 Mariani Avenue, MS:33G
Cupertino, CA  95014
(408) 562-3910, (800) 282-2732, (800) 637-0029 Canada
HyperCard Videodisc Toolkit, $40
HyperCard Serial Communications Toolkit v. 2.5, $20
Free for non-commercial use.  Commercial use requires $50/year license fee.

The Voyager Company
1551 Pacific Coast Highway
Santa Monica, CA  90401
(213) 451-1383, (800) 446-2001
Voyager VideoStack, $99
Free for non-commercial use.  Commercial use requires $500 license fee.


----
This is my prepackaged answer to this question.  Any suggestions or
additional information is gladly welcomed.

----
Jim Taylor
Microcomputer Support for Curriculum  |
Brigham Young University              |  Bitnet: taylorj@byuvax.bitnet
101 HRCB, Provo, UT  84602            |  Internet: taylorj@yvax.byu.edu