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From: grobbins@Apple.COM (Grobbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: Re: Confused Novice
Message-ID: <53044@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 18 May 91 06:57:16 GMT
References: <3586@spim.mips.COM> <53006@apple.Apple.COM> <424@aplcomm.JHUAPL.EDU>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Lines: 48

In article <424@aplcomm.JHUAPL.EDU> john@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu (John Hayes) writes:
>	I am a Hypertalk novice and I find myself baffled by its syntax.
>I frequently type in reasonable looking code; when it doesn't work
>I rarely understand why and must resort to experimentation to make it
>work.

There are rules, but their similarity to English is sinister rather
than helpful for scripters.

>-- this doesn't work
>put the id of card into placeHolder

"card" isn't sufficient to specify the object.  These are better:

  this card
  third card
  the third card
  card 3
  card "frump"
  card id 5713

Only objects which are truly unique, like msg and HyperCard, are used 
without a name, id number, or ordinal.

>-- this works
>get the id of card
>put it into placeHolder

HyperTalk will stretch to understand you, and this can cause confusion.  
If you end a line with "of card" or "of background" HyperCard will
assume you meant "of this card" or "of this background".  But "of card"
and "of background" are not proper identifiers, and HyperCard really
should consistently reject them.  Generally you will have to identify
cards, backgrounds, and other objects with a name, id number, or
ordinal.

>	I am an experienced programmer and know many languages, but I
>continually come up against problems like the one above.  Can anyone
>recommend a book that accurately and completely describes the syntax
>and semantics of Hypertalk?

The most sophisticated and frank published account I've seen is
"HyperTalk 2.0: The Book" by Winkler and Kamins.  The Claris manual
is a tad more complete as a reference of keywords, however.


Grobbins                     grobbins@apple.com
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