FishCard is a program for reviewing electronic flash cards. It works by showing you the question and, when you tell it to, showing you the answer. It does not handle multiple-choice or fill-in answers, although that may be added in a future version.
To create a new FishCards file, click the “Create New Cards” button. In the following box, click “New” to tell the program you want to make a new file rather than add to an existing one. It will present you with the standard save dialog box, asking you to find where you want to store your FishCard file. You can store FishCard files on any rewritable media, including hard disks, floppies, removable disks (SyQuest, Zip, etc.), and a network disk your computer has save access to. Then, you enter a question, click “OK”, then enter an answer and click “OK”. This will continue until you click the “Cancel” button. The computer will then save your file. If you decide you do not want to keep the file, you must find and drag it to the trash can in the Finder. Although it asks for a question and an answer, you can put whatever you want to be shown first in the question prompt and whatever you want second in the answer prompt.
Once you have saved a FishCards file, you can review it at any time by clicking the “Review Cards” button. Brief instructions will be presented, click “Begin” to start. You will then presented with the standard open file dialog box to locate your FishCards file. Be sure that it is a FishCards file, because FishCard displays all TEXT files. Once you select the file, you will be shown the first question. When you click “Answer” you will be shown the answer. At any time, you can click “Stop” and the computer will stop showing the FishCards.
On the answer screen there is a button labeled “Review”. The intention of the Review button is to allow you to select certain FishCards to be reviewed later. This is especially useful if you have a 200 card list, and you only want to practice the 20 you are having trouble with. The cards you select will be saved in a file in the same folder as your original file, with the same name but with an ® added to the end. I call this file an ® file. The FishCard will be kept in the original file as well. The ® file is completely independent and does not need the original file. You can also use the Review button on files that are themselves ® files, there will just be another ® added to the end. Theoretically, you could do this forever, however you are limited by the maximum name length imposed by the Macintosh operating system. If you use the “Stop” button, any FishCards marked for review will still be saved. If you do not mark any for Review, a ® file will not be created.
The “Import” button on the FishCard screen allows you to import a return-delimited text file and save a copy as a FishCard file. I created this feature to import some files from an old (1985) program called Flash Card. The “Delete first pair?” prompt is asking you if you want to delete the first pair. Some programs, like Flash Card, use the first entry in their file as prompts. Since FishCard does not use prompts, it offers to delete them. If you choose not to and the file had prompts like this, they will appear as the first FishCard (which could be useful in reminding you what the “question” and “answer” really are).
The “Export” button has the exact opposite effect. It converts a FishCard file to a standard return-delimited text file, and offers to allow you to add prompts.
Once you have an FishCard file, you can add additional FishCards by clicking the “Create New Cards” button, then click “Existing” to tell the program you want to add to an existing file rather then create a new file. Then you will be shown the standard open file dialog box and asked to locate your FishCards file. Once you do, the computer will work for a few moments, and then will begin prompting for questions and answers.
Beyond the ability to add to an existing file, there is currently no built-in way to edit a FishCard file, but there is a way. A FishCard file is really a plain text file readable by most word processors (including SimpleText and TeachText). However, it can be difficult to edit because there are embedded codes to separate the question from the answer. This is useful if all you want to do is correct a spelling error, or something similar. The easier way is to Export it to a text file, make your changes with any program that supports text files (SimpleText, TeachText, and HyperWorks, among others), then Import it back to FishCard. In addition, I plan on adding the ability to edit FishCards in HyperWorks’ Data Base module in HyperWorks 4.0. If you are a software author and would like to know the codes so that you could implement FishCard translation, contact me and I would be happy to assist you. Also, if you are writing your own flash card program and want to use the FishCard format, please contact me.
Is this the only version of FishCard you’ll ever make?
Absolutely not. I plan to update and add features to FishCard, as well as fix any bugs or incompatibilities that might come up. In addition, an MS-DOS version of FishCard is nearing completion. If you have both a Mac and an MS-DOS machine, and have a program that allows you to use an MS-DOS floppy on a Mac or a Mac floppy with Windows, you will be able to use the same FishCard files on both systems.
So what features are you planning for future versions of FishCard?
Currently, I have three ideas. First, I plan to add a built-in FishCard editor. Second, I plan to add the ability to merge multiple FishCard files into a single file. And third, I plan to add the ability to automatically review marked FishCards.
Will updates cost anything extra?
No. All updates to future versions are free, even if the price goes up. Keep in mind that I cannot send out disks with each new version, but if you supply your email address, I’ll send you a message when the new version comes out.
Where exactly did you get the name FishCard?
“Fish” and “Flash” are similar words, and I thought it sounded neat. And it was better than <insert euphemism here> Test Review Program.
What is special about FishCard to you?
FishCard is the first program I really wrote with the intent of filling a purpose, not just trying to make a little money. The similar program I use (the aforementioned Flash Card from 1985) seemed lacking a mode that is virtually identical to the way people study with flash cards. The multiple choice was sometimes too easy, and the fill-in too specific.
Do you want money for FishCard?
Yes. But because I want to help people, I’m only asking $7 for the program. Even if you can’t afford it, I would still love to hear from you. College and high school students (groups I think will get the most use out of FishCard) typically are a bit tight on cash, so even if you can only send an e-mail that would be wonderful.
How can I get in touch with you?
Via email and via postal mail. My email address is: dsmueller@besler.org
My postal mail address is:
David S. Mueller
6915 E. Seaside Walk
Long Beach, CA 90803-4559
USA
How can I learn about your other programs?
The easiest way is to visit my web site at http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/1342/. If you don’t have web access, you may send me an e-mail message and I would be happy to send you some information.
What do I need to do to register?
It’s very simple. Just print and fill out the registration form, which is in the file “Registration Form”, put it along with payment in an envelope, and mail it to me. I accept check and money order, payable to David S. Mueller. I also accept cash, but the United States Postal Service recommends against mailing it.
I thought I saw an MS-DOS program named FishCard. Is there any connection?
Yes. The MS-DOS program FishCard is the MS-DOS version of this program. Files are cross platform. Any file made with this version will work on the MS-DOS version, and vice-versa. The only limitation is MS-DOS's 8.3 character filename limit.
FishCard for Macintosh Version History
1.0 - July, 1996 - Initial release.
1.01 - December, 1996 - FishCard will now work properly if the name is changed from "FishCard 1.0".
