Roger Wagner Publishing's HyperStudio Plug-in for the Internet
Version 4.0b6
Jan 13, 1999
Read-me for Macintosh Users
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RWP's HyperStudio Plug-in lets you view and interact with HyperStudio stacks directly in your browser window. This read-me describes what you will need and how to use the Macintosh version of HyperStudio Plug-in for the Internet.
This document covers:
• Installation Instructions
• New Features
• Known Problems
• Frequent Questions
• Sources of additional information
Installing the HyperStudio Plug-in
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To take full advantage of the HyperStudio Plug-in, you will need to install QuickTime 3.0, the HyperStudio Plug-in, and configure your browser to use the plug-in. Here are the details of what you will need and how to configure it.
What you need
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• Macintosh or Power Macintosh running System 7.5 or later.
• A browser that supports plug-ins: Netscape 4.x, Internet Explorer 4.x.
• QuickTime 3.0 for Macintosh.
• Sufficient free memory. RAM requirements are dependent upon which browser you use. We recommend your Macintosh have an additional 6 MB of free RAM (8 MB's preferred) beyond that required by the browser you are running.
Install the HyperStudio Plug-in
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The HyperStudio Plugin is downloaded as a self-extracting archive. After you have downloaded the HyperStudio Plugin Installer, double-click on the HyperStudio Plugin Installer file and follow the instructions on screen to complete the installation process.
Install QuickTime
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Please make sure you have QuickTime 3.0, which is available on the WWW at the QuickTime software page (http://www.apple.com).
If the file does not expand, you may need StuffIt Expander 4.5 from Aladdin Systems. You can download this software from Aladdin's Web site at http://www.aladdinsys.com.
Configure Your Browser
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The HyperStudio Plug-in does not need any additional configuration beyond installing it in the Plug-ins folder. After restarting the browser it would be a good idea to go to the "About Plug-ins..." page under the Apple menu to verify that the plug-in has been registered by the browser. If it is not there, you probably have insufficient memory allocated to the browser. See the Known Problems section below for more information.
New Features & Fixes in Version 3.1.7.b1
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• Detailed instructions on how to install the plug-in have been included here.
• "Cached" stacks - stacks you have recently viewed can be cached just like other documents so they don't need to re-load when you return to them.
• External file loading - When your stack references other files such as WAV and AIFF audio files, or QuickTime movies, the plug-in now has the capability of looking to the server for these files, which are also loaded and cached. This means your stacks can be smaller for shorter download times, and better response for your audience.
• Custom Cursors - When you use custom cursors in the design of your HyperStudio stacks these are now recognized by the HyperStudio plug-in.
New Features & Fixes in Version 3.1.7b2
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• Text entry now works.
New Features & Fixes in Version 3.1.7b3
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• Automatic stack updating when stacks are changed on the server is much improved. The cache log is a lot smarter; once each session for each file in the cache the version on the server is checked against the version in the cache and a new file is downloaded if necessary. After that the plug-in goes to the cache, so it won't have to hit the network at all.
New Features & Fixes in Version 3.1.8
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•
Known Problems
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• The MIME type supported by HyperStudio plug-in is officially "application/hyperstudio", not "application/hstu". If you receive a broken plug-in error and "application/hstu" is mentioned, please contact your server administrator and tell her to correct the MIME configuration for HyperStudio.
• Sometimes the plug-in fails to load, then referring to an embedded stack will cause the broken plug-in icon to appear in the page. This is usually the result of insufficient memory being allocated to the browser. Increase the browser memory and restart.
• The "Please wait while your stack loads" message only flashes briefly when downloading a stack using Netscape Navigator 4. This is because this version of Navigator erases the embedded rectangle area while downloading.
• In IE 4 there is a new feature, a set of file folder tabs along the left side of the browser window. If the tabs are clicked on, the tabs move to the left, taking up half the window, and the stack frame disappears. If clicked on again, the stack appears on the left side of the window, then slides to the left as the tabs return to the left edge of the window. The content area is then blank. Doing any update action (resizing window, WindowShade), will make the stack reappear. When opening new browser window, beachball cursor is not cleared until cursor moves off content frame, and onto some other area of the window (scrollbars, buttons).
• There is no concept of "server push". If a file on the server is updated, the user will not know it until a new session is begun, the modification dates are checked and the new version is downloaded. Hitting "Reload" will also update the embedded stack, but not stacks referred to by the embedded stack.
• It is possible for the cache log to get out of sync with the actual files in the cache folder, it the user manually renames, deletes or moves files. Don't do that. It is ok to copy a stack to some other location if you want to save it.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q Why don't my automatic buttons that load an external file from over the network work right the first time, ie, when a network transaction must take place?
There is a latency period between the time an external resource is requested and the time it is actually delivered in usable form to the requestor, and this is a function of the bandwidth of the path used to deliver the requested resource. If the resource is on a local SCSI drive, it's likely that the resource will be delivered in time to give some illusion of syncronization with other actions, say a sound effect coupled with a transition to another card. The timing of a sequence of actions, when resources are read from a slower medium, like a floppy drive, will be different than the same sequence delivered using some other medium, so it is possible that the sound will not be delivered in time to be executed before the transition to the next card takes place. Over the Internet the situation is even worse because download times are variable depending upon the network and server load and speed negotiated by modems when establishing a particular communications session. Someday soon this will not be a problem, when we all have a cheap 10mbps connection.
But until then, if timing is really important to you, embed all the critical resources in the same stack (longer wait for the user, but hopefully a more gratifying artistic experience), or use a QuickTime movie and embed that in the stack as an external object.
Q Can I delete everything in the HyperStudio Cache Folder to force the download of files?
A Yes, but don't do that when the plug-in is running.
Q Why should I install QuickTime?
A You need Apple's QuickTime to experience QuickTime content directly in the stack. You can also view QuickTime VR (Virtual Reality) Panoramas and Objects. QuickTime supports other file formats as well - you no longer need half-a-dozen plug-ins to support each different type of audio or video file that you may encounter in a stack since QuickTime 2.5 and the HyperStudio plug-in can play them back for you.
Q How much memory (RAM) do I need to use the plug-in, and are there any ways to reduce RAM requirements?
A We recommend your Macintosh have an additional 4 MB of free RAM beyond that required by the browser you are running. For instance, if you are using the Navigator 3.0 version, which in recent releases came configured to use 9 MB of RAM, you will need 13 MB free to run Navigator and the plug-in. Check the RAM requirements for your browser by clicking on the browser's icon in the Finder and choosing "Get Info" from the File menu.
Your RAM mileage may vary so you may not require as much as stated above. Different browsers may require different amounts of memory. Turning off unneeded extensions and quitting other running applications may help reduce memory requirements.
For best performance, we recommend turning Virtual Memory off if possible.
Q Is there any special configuration or set-up I need to do depending on which browser I am using?
A No.
Q I am using a Web browser other than Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer and I am experiencing problems with the plug-in.
A In this release the HyperStudio plug-in only supports Netscape Navigator 3.x, 4.x or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x or 4.x.
Q How do I save a stack from a Web page to my hard-drive?
A Look in the HyperStudio Cache Folder in your Preferences Folder.
Q I design web pages and would like to know more about HyperStudio. Where should I look for documentation?
A Please check the HyperStudio site on the web at http://www.hyperstudio.com to learn about all of the capabilities of the HyperStudio.
Q When I try to view a stack, I get a blank window.
A You may not have enough free memory. Try quitting open applications or disabling unneeded extensions to increase your free memory.
Q The animations or QuickTime movies I'm viewing don't always play smoothly. What's wrong?
A Check to see if you have Virtual Memory turned on. Virtual memory can interfere with the plug-in's ability to play back QuickTime movies. If possible, turn virtual memory off for best performance.
For More Information
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For general HyperStudio Plug-in support for both Mac and Windows, go to http://www.hyperstudio.com.
HyperStudio Plug-in Sample Stacks
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Visit Roger's Lab at http://www.hyperstudio.com/ and see how developers are using embedded stacks to enhance web sites. Before your visit, make sure you've already installed the plug-in and related QuickTime software as described above.
Here is a list of some of the stacks available on the the network that were used for testing:
