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- USER GUIDE -- How to browse PC-Hypertext networks
- =================================================
-
- The networks in PC-Hypertext appear to users as hierarchies consisting
- only of topics and subtopics. The current topic appears on the left side
- of the screen and the subtopics on the right.
-
- When pressed, the arrow keys give the impression that you are moving
- through a hierarchy of subtopics. However, the underlying links are a
- full network. I've just suppressed some of the links to keep the format
- simple.
-
- Here's how it works:
-
- As users move down the network, PC-Hypertext shows the possible paths
- (output links) to subtopics of each topic. But the display shows
- only one of the many possible ways to reach that topic (because I
- suppressed all the other input links).
-
- As users move up the network (Left arrow), PC-Hypertext backsteps to
- topics previously selected on the downward path (limit of 100 backsteps)
-
- On a downward path through the network, PC-Hypertext can loop back to
- topics previously selected. If the loop contains only one repeated topic,
- the Left arrow backsteps through the full loop. However, if the loop
- contains a sequence of two or more repeated topics, PC-Hypertext
- automatically avoids the loop in the backstep process.
-
- Philosophy -- PC-Hypertext networks provide many paths to the same
- information in order to serve the understandings and capabilities of a
- variety of users. However, the networks are displayed in hierarchical
- formats which better serve the browsing needs of each user. Users want
- to quickly find a path leading to their desired information instead of
- seeing all possible ways to the information (as displayed in HOUDINI).
-
- Footnote ===============================================
- Networks, Description of screen <Guide1>
- Networks, Hierarchical appearance of <File33>
- Networks, How to build <Guide4>
-
- Neil Larson 1/10/87 File0b
- Copyright MaxThink 1988 -- Call (415)-428-0104 for permission to reprint
-
-