HWGUIDE Version 0.9 HWGUIDE is my hypertext version of Dana Noonan's very informative _A GUIDE TO INTERNET/BITNET_ (January, 1992). I have converted Dana's guide into hypertext, using NTERGAID's HyperWriter 3.0 authoring software. HyperWriter is an excellent hypertext authoring environment, capable of much more sophistication than this very basic system I produced. That's why I called it "Version 0.9"; it was really my self-study project for learning how to use HyperWriter. HyperReader is the runtime hypertext engine for the hyperdocument. TO UNCOMPRESS HWGUIDE.ZIP: -------------------------- Make a new directory on your hard disk (e.g., mkdir \hwguide). Copy HWGUIDE.DOC and HWGUIDE.ZIP into the new directory. Make sure you are in that directory, then use PKUNZIP to decompress the hypertext runtime files. It's a No-Brainer, as long as PKUNZIP is on your path or in the same directory: pkunzip hwguide (otherwise, add path in front of program name, e.g., "\util\pkunzip hwguide") CAVEAT ABOUT UNZIPPING: ----------------------- Unzipping...I use PKZIP a lot for handy compression tasks, but again, I ain't no expert. I know that the HWGUIDE.ZIP file at hydra.uwo.ca is a good one; Gordon Nickerson has unzipped it at his location there, and reports that it works fine. If you have problems, I would guess it has to do with corruptions somewhere in the ftp-ing and downloading to PC process. All's I can say, check with your friendly local Mr. GoodByte. TO RUN HWGUIDE: -------------- Use of a mouse is advised; it's much clunkier using simple keyboard operation. Make sure your mouse driver is on the path, or else load it prior to starting the program. * Enter START (return). This is an MS-DOS batch file which loads the mouse driver, and issues the HyperReader runtime command. If you want to do it manually, it's: hr guide * With a mouse, it's simple point & click from here on. The hypertext links are identified with little colored triangles. Put the mouse pointer between these, and click the LEFT button to execute a hypertext jump. When you get to whatever, a RIGHT button click will backtrack. * With the keyboard, yuk.... Use CTRL-T to point the cursor and highlight consecutive links on the screen; the SHIFT-TAB to back up the highlight. F1 will make the link jump; ESC will backtrack from the jump. * There is a HELP link on the first screen, it basically repeats what I've just written. * I included a short sample "printed" index, with links and cross-references. (An aside, should a hypertext index use cross-references, or just go ahead and link to the intended target? Or, do we go ahead and use xrs, to gently guide the end user to preferred terminology? Hmmm...) * I implemented the full text search index feature. You can activate this by clicking on the correct link in the CONTENTS screen. There is also a short "searching instructions" screen, reachable by clicking on that nearby link. I am generally experimenting with hypertext authoring, and would appreciate any feedback or comments on the general reactions to my early hypertexts. I view hypertext as an effective information delivery engine, essentially a "super-efficient paper." Right now, hypermedia is still at the experimental stage. Only a few sophisticated hyperproducts are just starting to appear. We're really at the early stages of the effective use of this medium, sort of playing with electronic incunabula. I believe that hypertext can deliver an equivalent or emulation of practically all the traditional print-based access methods, as well as a natural gateway to the newer computerized retrieval approaches. This richness of accessibility, along with the relative effortlessness of use, holds much promise. Cheers, Ernest Perez eperez@utdallas.bitnet Access Information Associates Dallas TX