Reference sheet prepared by Jolene M. Morris, District Technology Director, Grand Co. School District
While lots of exciting computer software packages already exist, HyperCard allows you to create your own computer-based materials without having to know how to program. For presenting, writing, organizing information, calculating, and multimedia, HyperCard is for you! HyperCard is a flexible and easy-to-use tool for creating all kinds of materials from presentations and interactive stories to surveys and multimedia events.
HyperCard Terminology
The foundation of HyperCard is in five of its basic elements -- stacks, cards, backgrounds, buttons, and fields. You should be able to understand and distringuish among these five elements as soon as possible.
A HyperCard document is called a stack. A stack is a collection of cards. A single stack may contain as few as one card or many, many cards.
The card is the basic unit in HyperCard. Everything you see on the computer screen is part of a card.
Each card contains a background. The information in the background will show on every card associated with it. A background can be thought of as a "standard form" for a card.
Buttons may be the most exciting feature of HyperCard. A button is an object that responds to user input. For example, a button can be created which plays music, shows words and graphics, or directs movement between cards.
The final element of HyperCard is the field. Fields are areas for entering, storing, and displaying words. A variety of fonts and type styles can be used to enhance the text in your fields.
HyperCard also has its own programming language. The language used to control the action in HyperCard is called HyperTalk. According to Bill Atkinson, the developer of HyperCard, the HyperTalk language is good for beginners who want to control their computer without learning a complex programming language.
Ready to get started?
If you would like to take a class to learn how to make your own HyperCard stacks, contact the District Technology Director. The remainder of this reference sheet explains some of the steps used when creating HyperCard stacks -- you'll learn more about these steps when you take a HyperCard class.
Creating a New Stack
1. Double-click on the HyperCard program icon.
2. Choose FILE and select NEW STACK.
3. Type in the name for the stack.
4. Click NEW.
5. Make sure the menu bar is showing. Press CLOVERLEAF SPACEBAR to display the menu bar.
6. Access the message box by pressing CLOVERLEAF + M.
7. Type in: set UserLevel to 5 and press the return-key.
Making Fields
1. Choose the FIELD tool (upper right of the toolbox).
2. Choose OBJECTS menu and select NEW FIELD.
3. Double-click on the field that appears.
4. Set the style and other attributes.
5. Click the FONT... button for size, style, etc.
6. Click OK.
7. Use arrow (cursor) to position and size field.
8. Choose BROWSE tool (hand icon) and click to enter text.
Making Buttons
1. Select the BUTTON tool (top center of the toolbox).
2. Choose the OBJECTS menu and select NEW BUTTON.
3. Double-click on the new button that appears.
4. Set the style and other attributes.
5. Click on the LINKTO... button.
6. Go to the destination card and click THIS CARD.
7. Use arrow (cursor) to position and size the button.
Helpful Hints and Keystrokes
Cloverleaf + Space = show/hide menu bar
Cloverleaf + Option = show buttons
Cloverleaf + H = go to Home card
Cloverleaf + Q = Quit HyperCard
Cloverleaf + R = see small pictures of
recent cards
Cloverleaf + M = show/hide message box
Cloverleaf + B = show/hide background
card
Cloverleaf + F = find text
