======================================================================= HYPERLINK CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS ------------------------------- Edited by Ron Kovacs ======================================================================= <[Vince-Cubed] VINCE.A> George and Dave are here from JMG Software tonite to talk about their new product(s). <[George&David] JMGSOFT> Okey, here's an attempt to upload our opening statement.... Welcome to the HyperLINK Conference... Thanks for coming. The company is JMG Software, and on this side of the phone line it's George Geczy (the programmer & bottle washer) and David Thompson (Marketing, administration, other junk like the (gosh!) manual). The product is of course HyperLINK, a multi-media object based application generator (wow!), (sort of like Hypercard on the Mac for those of you who didn't understand that description). We are here tonight to talk about HyperLINK and answer any questions you may have on it. We think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Well, so so on the upload. ask away anyways... I have a question about the TT use for Hyperlink. What graphic format can we use? <[George&David] JMGSOFT> At the moment HyperLINK supports only IMG format directly. on the TT Please give a sample of a Hyperlink application. I have a TT. <[George&David] JMGSOFT> Well, sample HyperLINK apps can vary widely... unfortunately, we were not able to get the demo on line here before this conference, but to give an example of what we have cooking. In the demo we have two sample apps... one is a baseball card application, where we have the data on a player (ie in a dbase database), linked to a scanned image of the card, and also linked to a text file giving more details on the player. As a second example, we have a Europe-map demo. The main screen is a map of Europe, and you can click on a country to get a database screen about that country, and then you can click on icons to either 1) show a picture of their flag, 2) play their anthem, or 3) show a text file. <[Ken] SFRT-ASST> First off, you mention DBase III. Does that mean that any book on DBase will help with programming the database part of HyperLINK? Second, do you have DeskJet 500 support? And third, I would like to compare two files (GEnie Addresses) and place the names that are different into a third file. Will HyperLINK allow me to do that? And last, how easy is it to input data into a HyperLINK application? <[George&David] JMGSOFT> First, No. Second, No. Third, No. to explain in more detail... First, HyperLINK uses dbase data files, not command programs. The scripting language in HyperLINK (which is actually not in the first release in a "real" way, but will be very shortly) has some dbase commands as part of it, but it is based on a much different type of language ( psst... Hypertalk... but don't tell apple!) So, only dbase data files are directly transferrable. Second point, HyperLINK will only support graphics printers through GDOS. (don't all boo at once!). This support (ie graphics printing) will be showing up in a month or so, as soon as I play with FSMGDOS. Third, I don't know.. let me think about it. Last point... It is VERY easy to input data into a hyperlink application (hap, we call 'em) Bascially, just create the layout of the database (in the "builder"provided) on the screen, save it, and presto! start inputting data. You stated that Hyperlink is an object oriented system. This implies that the "objects" are in some way intellegent, that is they "know" what they can do. Is that intelligence based in the data or in drivers for each media? <[George&David] JMGSOFT> Well, we're working that way. It would be another year before HyperLINK would be release if that got fully implemented first time around. But, the capability is built into HyperLINK. For now, most of the onus of object "capabilities" (ie "code", etc) is defined by a combination of two things: 1)user settings on the app building, and 2) defaults assumed by HyperLINK. The user settings can be quite powerful, but confusing. That is, is the "code" that controls the way the data is handled/displayed part of the data file or is there a separate driver that handles it? Also, will you be releasing info on "handles" that allow new "objects" to be integrated into the Hyperlink system as they are invented or will you be keeping that info as part of your additional "value-added" to the basic system. <[George&David] JMGSOFT> At present, new objects are defined by their controlling "modules" (ie sub-programs) that the user can load in. For instance, basic HyperLINK comes with modules for database, text, graphics, sound, animation (page-flipping), and maybe a hokey speech module soon. In the future, we'll release MIDI, CD-ROM, and others. As well, we'll be releasing the info on how to program (ie in C) your own modules for HyperLINK to support your own objects. These will integrate seamlessly into the whole object system. PS - we may also release some "specialty" modules,for which we'll charge a bit (not much!). <[Z-Net] T.SCHREIBER1> I have two questions - first is the database able to be constructed so it can be in read only format? That is that data can be accessed but not changed? <[George&David] JMGSOFT> It's possible to make the files "Read Only" but there will be better support for this in the future. <[Z-Net] T.SCHREIBER1> Secondly - will communications support be built in or supported for access by modem? <[George&David] JMGSOFT> That might be one of the future modules we develop or that a third party may develop. For now there wasn't much reason for it. HOWEVER... Network support! That's another story! Does hyperlink have a runtime module which will allow us to distribute our applications? <[George&David] JMGSOFT>> Ah, the infamous "run time module" question! Well, yes, there will be a "Run-only" version, but unfortunately there will not be a "run-time" generator. The reason for this is due to the mish-mash of modules etc required to run most apps; it's just very difficult to make a "compiler" type thing. I have a question about random event generation for modeling is that support by the Language in HyperLINK? Also, what are the system requirements, and availability of the Hyperlink package? <[George&David] JMGSOFT> When the full scripting language is released next month, it will contain commands related to random number generation, etc, that could be used that way. <[Vince-Cubed] VINCE.A> Also, what is the price of the package? <[George&David] JMGSOFT> HyperLINK is currently available only directly, at a special intro price of $99 US. When the price goes up to $149 middle of next month, three things will change: 1) Dealers will carry it (distributors too, of course. 2) "missing" pieces like scripting, report generator, etc will be there 3) the manual will be better. All intro purchasers will receive free upgrades for at least 90 days, including manual updates. <[Vince-Cubed] VINCE.A> Any closing comments? <[George&David] JMGSOFT> Just to say keep an eye open for the demos/info we'll be uploading soon, and don't forget to take a look if you're visiting the Vancouver show, and the intro special expires right after vancouver... Any questions or requests for info can be directed to our GE mail address, JMGSOFT. we will be preparing some mail-out brochures as well. (C) 1991 by Atari Corporation, GEnie, and the Atari Roundtables. May be reprinted only with this notice intact. The Atari Roundtables on GEnie are *official* information services of Atari Corporation. To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH (RETURN after that). Wait for the U#= prompt. Type XJM11877,GEnie and hit RETURN. The system will prompt you for your information. <<<<*>>>><<<<*>>>><<<<*>>>>