Any native HyperTalk speakers?

[heebiejeebies]

Does anyone know enough about HyperTalk to help me solve a fairly basic problem that's giving me grief?

I need to make a countdown timer in a field, which is accurate to the second and doesn't lock up the system when it's running. In other words, no "wait" command. Any way to do this? I was thinking of something along the lines of utilising the idle handler in the stack script and basing it off the long time. My attempts at using this approach have caused problems with the accuracy though. Any geniuses with a clever solution, or shall I have to learn Realbasic? (groan)

 

[heebiejeebies]

Who'd have thought on this forum you can find out how to transport a canoe by bike but not how to code in HyperTalk, haha. ;D

 

[TheNixer]

I love Hypercard but have never tackled the HyperTalk end of it. Sorry!

 

[heebiejeebies]

Not to worry, I think I'm asking it to do the impossible anyway. I'd be better off making this programme in Realbasic. I hope it's not too hard for a stupid person to learn.

 

[Scott Baret]

I don't know if it would help you with the specific application you're working on, but if you look for any HyperCard reference I'd look for a Danny Goodman book. Check your local libraries, you may be able to find one either to check out or at a book sale (I got one at a library sale for a quarter two years ago). Goodman's style is easy to follow and his knowledge of the subject is incredible.

 

[heebiejeebies]

Thanks Although I think if I'm going to go to the trouble of learning something properly, it might as well be the more powerful programme. Those books are hard to find here anyway, though I did find a book for a dollar from '95 called "Macworld secrets of the Mac" or something. ;D

Gee wiz, and I thought it'd be the easiest thing in the world to write this programme in HyperCard ! :

 

[Scott Baret]

Was that Macworld Mac Secrets by David Pogue and Joseph Schorr? If so, it's one of the best out there. I also met David Pogue two years ago and he's a great guy--signed two books for me and stopped to chat with me about vintage Macs!

 

[heebiejeebies]

Yeah, that's the one ! ;D

 

[register]

Be sure to check Jeanne DeVoto's page. She might answer some questions, as well.

 

[Charlieman]

In other words, no "wait" command. Any way to do this?

I appreciate your pain because I wrote loads of AppleScript in the 1990s. Look for XCMDs on the internet, download and archive them. They will serve you well, but learn AppleScript too. AppleScript can extend anything that you can do in HyperTalk.

 

[heebiejeebies]

Heheh, I used to go through other peoples' stacks and steal the xcmds with ResEdit. ;D

 

[equant]

Not that I can help, but you might have been better served to ask this in the software forum. You might have gotten more eyeballs on it. Not sure.

The vintage-macs mailing list on lowendmacs is another good place to ask questions.

 

[Christopher]

Was that Macworld Mac Secrets by David Pogue and Joseph Schorr? If so, it's one of the best out there. I also met David Pogue two years ago and he's a great guy--signed two books for me and stopped to chat with me about vintage Macs!

You mean he isn't gay?

 

[Patrickool93]

huh?

 

[Christopher]

What, I'm the only one who thinks he sounds gay?

 

[heebiejeebies]

Not all homosexuals conform to the stereotype, you know. Take Julian Clary for example:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51E217EDJTL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Now there's a man you can imagine skulling pints of Foster's and swearing at football umpires.

 

[equant]

What, I'm the only one who thinks he sounds gay?

Hopefully.

 

[iMac600]

Heebiejeebies, you're a legend mate. :lol: