Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!apple.com!jkc
From: jkc@apple.com (John Kevin Calhoun)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hypercard
Subject: Properties for windows in HyperCard 2.1
Message-ID: <53131@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 21 May 91 00:02:10 GMT
Sender: jkc@Apple.COM
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 36


In HyperCard 2.1, all windows have the following properties:
 
  loc      (or "location")
  visible
  name     (new for windows in 2.1)
  number   (new for windows in 2.1; given in front-to-back order)
  id       (new for windows in 2.1)
  owner    (new in 2.1)

Numbers and IDs for windows were added to make it possible for scripters
to distinguish between two windows with the same name.  Now that they've
been added, there are four ways to specify built-in windows.  For example:
 
   show the card window
   show window <the name of the card window>
   show window <the number of the card window>
   show window id <the id of the card window>
 
And there are three ways to specify all other windows -- by name, by number,
and by id.  All of the different ways of referring to windows are
interchangeable.  You can use them with the commands get, set, send, close,
hide, and show, with the number function, and in property expressions.
 
In order to make the ID of a newly created Picture window available for use by
scripters, we've added a second parameter to the "openPicture" message -- the
window ID.  We've done the same thing for the Palette XCMD, which sends an
"openPalette" message when it creates a new window.
 
The owner property will be useful for people managing large numbers of windows.
It's "HyperCard" for any of HyperCard's built-in windows, "System" for windows
owned by desk accessories or drivers, the name of of the external that created
the window for external windows, and "Unknown" for everything else.
 
Kevin Calhoun
jkc@apple.com