StackTools: The Series....

This disk is the first in a series of Six disks I've written and compiled for this project.  All disks in the series include powertips, script, stack, resource and other suggestions as well as a number of stacks.

Order disks at $6.00 each or $29.95 for the series, plus $3.00 per order shipping.  You may order any one disk to check it out.  Get the remaining five later for $24.95 and no additional shipping.

Getting Started StackTools I:  Introductory Disk
contains getting started tips and how-tos along with a variety of stacks to examine and use. 

                      

Getting Started-StackTools II: InterActive Fiction & Simulations
Interactive fiction and simulations are relatively easy on a basic level with HyperCard.  Several stacks and a variety of tips to help you get started are included.

                       

Getting Started-StackTools III: Using Art in HyperCard
HyperCard has many powerful art tools.  How-tos, clip art and HyperCard and application tools useful for art projects are included on this disk.

            

Getting Started-StackTools IV: Using Sound In HyperCard
Sound collections and tools are included on this disk as well as specifc how-tos for using them in a variety of ways with your stacks. 

           

Getting Started-StackTools V:  XCMDs and How to Use Them
External commands (XCMDs) add flexibility to HyperCard.   Over twenty useful XCMDs are on this disk with details of how to use them and suggestions for their use.                

Getting Started-StackTools VI:  Productivity
HyperCard offers a lot of possibilities for making various professional and personal jobs easier.  This disk will offer some suggestions and examples.

More Stacks To Examine......

SchoolHouse Mac has collected a large number of stacks and some of us are writing our own.   These disks can be ordered from SchoolHouse Mac for $4.00 each (or $6.00 to non-members.)  Check the next chapter for a complete listing.  Check the 10X10 chapter for some great values.

A great way to continue is to decide which kind of stack you want to use and examine several stacks with similar purposes.  Remember that you can borrow heavily from these stacks, especially if they are public domain.  Many authors let you borrow copyrighted material as long as you aren't publishing your stack. (Then they want you to pay a licensing fee.)  Whenever you borrow, remember to give credit.

Art Resources.....

We've also collected a large amount of art, sound, font,  and other resources.  Check the Art Resources and 10X10 chapters. This collection include over fifty disks of clip art, sounds and fonts. 

Stack Starters & Collections
Various HyperCard developers have created "started stacks", i.e. collections of various HyperCard resources and how-tos.  While size and method varies enormously, to begin a new stack, go to one of these, select the resources you want to use and create the new stack.  Some that we like and haveused are listed below.  These disks are $4.00 each to members and $6.00 each for non-members.  Check the "Ordering Information" chapter for shipping costs.

SD-1 Stack Starter
            A good, basic stack.
SD-2 Rush Stacks  
           This includes a number of resources and has it's own home card.
SD-3 & SD-4
           This is a larger and much more technical stack starter.
SD-12 Stack Developer 1.2R
            This stack starter is smaller than the others.  The disk also contains Windoids 1-8, the newsletter of Apple's HyperCard development team.  Lots of tips!
SD-18 Dartmouth XCMDs v4.0

      An outstanding collection of XCMDs with complete directions for their use from Dartmouth College.
SD-19 Scripts & BackFlips

    An excellent stack filled with xcmds, button and icon ideas, stacks and more.
SD-27 Make It Move

   An excellent series of stacks which illustrate the ten basic principals of HyperCard animation.  Very good.
SD-29  StackTools
     An excellent stack creation aide with other material on disk.
SD-40 Rinaldoids

    A complete collection, through the beginning of this year, of all the XCMDs by the outstanding French HyperCard programmer.

Recommended Books
As I learn HyperCard, I read a lot too.  Following are four excellent books if you don't mind buying $25 or $30 texts.  Larger public libraries have  some of them as well as some not mentioned.  Some of these books are HUGE! but well worth the effort.  

The Complete HyperCard 2.0 Handbook.  (3rd edition or later)

Danny Goodman

Bantam Books

29.95
This is a manual except that it goes well beyond the manuals (over a thousand pages) with lots of stack and script suggestions.

The Waite Group's Tricks of the HyperTalk Masters
  ed by the Waite Group
  Hayden Books
  1-800-428-Sams or nearest wholesaler or to order.
  24.95
This is a little more advanced book with lots of great stack suggestions, even more than the first book mentioned

The MacIntosh Bible  (3rd edition or later)
  ed by Arthur Naimer
  Goldstein & Blair
  $28.00
These guys even send you a quarterly update if you ask them to.  This is a general MacIntosh book and is OUTSTANDING.  I got it by mail order with their System 7.0, a trouble shooting book, and 2 disks of public domain software discussed in the Macintosh Bible for $42.00.  Look in a Mac magazine for mailorder companies if you don't have any addresses.  

Cool Mac Stacks
  by David Drucker
  Hayden
  $19.95
This book comes with nineteen stacks and has an explaination for each one.  Includes games, xcmds and other material.  The stacks are fun and great to examine and borrow from.  This is the most basic o HCd books recommended.

Cooking With HyperTalk 2.0
  by Dan Winkler and Scott Knaster
  Bantam
  $39.95
This is an outstanding scripting book.  It comes with a disk and lots of ideas, one of which was worth the $40.00 by itself. I was a little irritated to see it in a cut-rate book warehouse for $12.00 two weeks later. But keep an eye out for it.