Authoring
16 messages in this thread
I have an authoring project and I'm seeking advice on which package to use.
I've used none of the available packages previously. This is a "monomedia"
project – no audio or video. Some math needs to be done on numeric input.
I also want to use sliders as screen elements with the displayed quantities
the sliders are changing some calculated values updating "live." Tables
need to be printed out and displayed on screen.
Thanks for your opinions.
P.S. Can anyone comment on how "Foundation" is likely to look? — Art
Well, it would appear that either 'The Director Version 2.0' or 'CanDo'
would be best suited. But neither would seem to give you all you want.
Math considerations: Both support only integer math, but you can always
hold a fixed point yourself, and format the output accordingly. Director
provides good array commands; CanDo does not (you can use an internal
document to hold arrays, however). Director has more math operators avail
(but all in integer, remember)
Interface: neither have facilities for creating slider input gadgets, much
less updating values 'live'. I've never done sliders in either, but my
thought is that you could do it yourself, by reading mouse; updating, etc.
Pretty cumbersome. I would think that Director would be easiest to
implement.
Tables: CanDo has nice document windows with sliders, etc. Pretty easy to
use. Director pretty much forces you to do it yourself.
So both have specific strengths/weaknesses….. BTW, CanDo is supposed to
have an upgrade (1.5) RSN, which might fix some of its weaknesses. Will
see…. I haven't mentioned AmigaVision cause I just cannot see it doing
this very elegantly. [maybe Lou Wallace will see this and set me strait?
🙂 ] I haven't mentioned 'Foundation' cause it don't exist yet, does it?
If you'd post other specific requirements of your project, I'd bet everyone
here can give you ideas on how to do it 🙂 ttfn –jp–seattle–
Well, I think you should not dismiss AmigaVision so quickly! 😉
– AmigaVision supports floating point operations. – AmigaVision has a very
complete mathematical library – AmigaVision has strong string handling
capabilities – Tables can be created using the database (I admit kludgy) –
No slider gadgets either 🙁
However, the rest of this project is extremely do-able in AmigaVision. I
have written an entire point of sale system (cash register) in AmigaVision
in a basic experiment of what could be done with this program. I do know
the limits of it.. but this is not it. 🙂
AmigaVision is really a neat program!
-mark= "Mr. AmigaVision"
Good points. I just haven't used AmigaVision enough yet to really comment.
I'm glad you pointed out its usefullness for this project. Aside from my
lack of familiarity (my problem), the main objection I have to AmigaVision
right now is that there is no 'distributable' version like Director or
CanDo. Admittedly, when you are developing for yourself that is no problem,
and in the looong run most all Amiga users will likely have, but not right
now.
(a legal question about AmigaVision distribution: The license for
AmigaVision says I have permission to use on a single computer only. That
means if I develop a kiosk system and lease 100 of them, I have to purchase
100 copies, right? Even tho I develop on only one or two machines? I
realize that is not the 'major' cost in such an endeavor, but I would think
Commodore might allow AmigaVision developers to use copies for their
distributed products? Thoughts?) ttfn –jp–seattle–
I think there are things being worked on in this regard. Tis all I can
say! 😉
-mark=
Thanks much for the input. Too bad about slider gadgets. If I'm going to
have to set up an IDCMP port and react to mouse events myself I'd rather
program in M2 which I already know. What's the point of authoring software
if I have to be the author? 🙂
My project involves beer recipe formulation. The idea is similar to a
traditional food recipe but there are quantitative formulations involved.
For example, as I vary the time a certain amount of hops spends "in the
boil" the "bittering units" (BUs) go up. In my interface I'd like the
brewmaster to slide a gadget up and down to see the BUs change on the fly
rather than: type number –>see result–>repeat…ad nauseum. Now you might
ask why not type in the desired BUs and get the boil time as an answer?
Well, I want that option too but since there are multiple variables, time,
quantity and others, analog adjustment devices (i.e. a slider) are much
friendlier. — Art
It is a shame about slider gadgets not being in any authoring program.
Automatic support is not avail, but frankly I can see writing a
'pseudo-slider-gadget' in any of the three programs, with real-time
feedback. It's simply a matter of reading mouse position, and if its in a
certain block (the slider block) then drawing/erasing the control block,
figuring where it should be next, updating a numeric display/bar graph on
the screen, etc. If you used offsets to the coordinates it could even
probably be rather portable. Not trivial, but not the most complicated
routine either…. the time you spent in developing it would likely be more
than saved by using the remainder of the authoring program rather than
developing in M2? –jp–seattle–
Johns right. Implementing a slider gadget would be a fairly easy thing to
do…. -Lou
I had no idea you were into fermentation! This fall, I bought a beautiful,
hand-made copper still at a farm auction. I talked with the guy who's
grandfather made it during Prohibition. He, his father and the guy who made
it were all fire chiefs of Brooklyn, WI. 🙂 It holds five gallons and is
still clean as a whistle. Oh, yeah, I got it for $60.
Yeah, brewing beer and the Amiga are my two passions (oops. Wife, too).
Another project on the burner is to use the Amiga a data aquisition and
temperature controller for a mashing system.
Do you brew, too? — Art
I have just uploaded "real intuition" gadget routines for GFA basic (V3.5).
If you have that basic, you could get GADGET UP/DOWN messages. GFA get's
it's info from an IDCMPort that is opened secified by the flags you set in
the OPENW statement. GFA3.5 does not work in Amiga DOS 2.0. This may or
may not be of any use to you.
JohnB
– via Whap!
Thanks, John. BASIC ain't my style, though. I know how to program gadgets,
I just don't want to! — Art
Instead of slider gadgets, put an up and down arrow next to the value
of BU…you can even do this in a FORM icon, so he can change the current
value via the arrows, or he can select the field and type the value in
directly.
BTW, since the arrows will have responses, you can put the
calculations as children of the form icon and the values dependent on BU
will change as well. Hope this helps.
John Kominetz
Thanks, John I've settled on CanDo for my project but the arrows are a good
idea. I'll use 'em. — Art
CanDo is weak in numeric-input, so AmigaVision may be more appropriate (and
it will take less time to learn).