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All rights reserved.  \nNo part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Apple Computer, Inc. Printed in the United States of America.  \nThe Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Use of the“keyboard” Apple logo (OptionShift-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. No licenses, express or implied, are granted with respect to any of the technology described in this book. Apple retains all intellectual property rights associated with the technology described in this book. This book is intended to assist application developers to develop applications only for Apple Macintosh computers.  \nApple Computer, Inc. 20525 Mariani Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 408-996-1010  \nApple, the Apple logo, APDA, AppleCD SC, AppleLink, AppleTalk, ImageWriter, HyperCard, HyperTalk, LaserWriter, Macintosh, MPW, MultiFinder, PowerBook, SANE, and Stackware are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the United States and other countries.  \nAppleScript, Chicago, Finder, Geneva, Macintosh Quadra, Monaco, New York, QuickDraw, QuickTime, ResEdit, System 7, and WorldScript are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.  \nAdobe Illustrator and PostScript are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated, which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. FileMaker, MacPaint, and MacWrite are trademarks of Claris Corporation.  \nFrameMaker is a registered trademark of Frame Technology Corporation.  \nHelvetica and Palatino are registered trademarks of Linotype Company.  \nITC Zapf Dingbats is a registered trademark of International Typeface Corporation.  \nMicrosoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Simultaneously published in the United States and Canada.  \nLIMITED WARRANTY ON MEDIA AND REPLACEMENT  \nALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES ON THIS MANUAL, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO NINETY (90) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL RETAIL PURCHASE OF THIS PRODUCT.  \nEven though Apple has reviewed this manual, APPLE MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS MANUAL, ITS QUALITY, ACCURACY, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. AS A RESULT, THIS MANUAL IS SOLD “AS IS,” AND YOU, THE PURCHASER, ARE ASSUMING THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO ITS QUALITY AND  \nACCURACY.  \nIN NO EVENT WILL APPLE BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECT ORINACCURACY IN THIS MANUAL, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.  \nTHE WARRANTY AND REMEDIES SET FORTH ABOVE ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL OTHERS, ORAL OR WRITTEN, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. No Apple dealer, agent, or employee is authorized to make any modiﬁcation, extension, or addition to this warranty.  \nSome states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty gives you speciﬁc legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.  \nContents  \nFigures and Tables xiii  \nPreface About This Guide xix   \nWhat’s in This Book? xix  \nNotation Conventions xxi  \nChanges Since the First Edition of This Guide xxii  \nApple Developer Programs xxiii  \nChapter 1 What’s New Since 2.0? 1   \nHyperCard System Requirements 1  \nHyperCard Enhancements 2  \nWorldScript Compatibility 3  \nHyperCard and Other Scripting Systems 3  \nOpen Scripting Architecture 4  \nAppleScript 5  \nScript Attachability 6  \nScript Editor Enhancements 7  \nButton Dialog Modiﬁcations 7  \nNew Button Features 8  \n","cbCaijnrmQ9WaaJO","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijnrmQ9WaaJO","pdf",2785069,680,"English","# Figures and Tables\n# Preface\n## About This Guide\n## What’s in This Book?\n## Notation Conventions\n## Changes Since the First Edition of This Guide\n## Apple Developer Programs\n# Chapter 1 What’s New Since 2.0?\n## HyperCard System Requirements\n## HyperCard Enhancements\n## WorldScript Compatibility\n## HyperCard and Other Scripting Systems\n## Open Scripting Architecture\n## AppleScript\n## Script Attachability\n## Script Editor Enhancements\n## Button Dialog Modifications\n## New Button Features\n## Field Dialog Modifications\n## New Field Features\n## Integrated Stand-Alone Application Builder\n## Enhanced HyperTalk\n# Chapter 2 HyperTalk Basics\n## What Is HyperTalk?\n## Objects\n## Buttons and Fields\n## Cards, Backgrounds, and Stacks\n## Messages\n## Scripts\n## Message Handlers\n## Function Handlers\n## Windows\n## Card Windows\n## HyperCard’s Built-in External Windows\n## Menus\n# Chapter 3 The Scripting Environment\n## Getting to the Script\n## The Script Editor\n## Manipulating Text\n## Searching for Text\n## Replacing Text\n## Entering Comments\n## Formatting Scripts\n## Line Length and Script Size\n## Script Editor Command Summary\n## The Debugger Environment\n## Setting Checkpoints\n## HyperTalk Debugger Windows\n## Message Watcher\n## Variable Watcher\n## Custom Message Watcher and Variable Watcher XCMDs\n## Debugger Command Summary\n# Chapter 4 Handling Messages\n## The HyperCard Environment\n## Sending Messages\n## System Messages\n## Statements as Messages\n## Message Box Messages\n## Messages Resulting From Commands\n## Receiving Messages\n## Message-Passing Hierarchy\n## Where Messages Go\n## Messages to Buttons and Fields\n## The Current Hierarchy\n## The Target\n## The User-Deﬁned Hierarchy\n## The Dynamic Path\n## The Go Command and the Dynamic Path\n## The Send Keyword and the Dynamic Path\n## Handlers Calling Handlers\n## Subroutine Calls\n## Recursion\n## Using the Hierarchy\n## Sharing Handlers\n## Intercepting Messages\n## Parameter Passing\n# Chapter 5 Referring to Objects, Menus, and Windows\n## Names, Numbers, and IDs\n## Object Names\n## Object Numbers\n## Part Numbers\n## Button Families\n## Special Ordinals\n## Object Numbers and Tab Order\n## Object ID Numbers\n## Special Object Descriptors\n## Identifying a Stack\n## Naming a Stack\n## Combining Object Descriptors\n## Referring to Menus and Menu It","[{\"question\":\"What does the guide cover about the HyperTalk language in HyperCard?\",\"answer\":\"It explains HyperTalk basics, including core concepts like objects, scripts, messages, handlers, and the relationships among cards, buttons, fields, and stacks.\"},{\"question\":\"How is the scripting environment organized for HyperTalk development?\",\"answer\":\"The guide describes using the script editor and debugger environment, including debugger windows, checkpoints, message watching, variable watching, and related command summaries.\"},{\"question\":\"How does message handling work in HyperTalk according to the guide?\",\"answer\":\"It covers sending and receiving messages, the message-passing hierarchy and where messages go, plus targeting strategies such as current hierarchy, user-defined hierarchy, and dynamic paths.\"}]","HyperCard - Script Language Guide - The HyperTalk Language | PDF",238]