HyperLook (aka HyperNeWS (aka GoodNeWS))
This is a collection of stuff about HyperLook, maintained by
Don Hopkins.
What is HyperLook? It's a user interface environment for
NeWS,
that was designed by
Arthur van Hoff,
at the
Turing Institute
in Glasgow.
HyperLook was previously known as HyperNeWS, and GoodNeWS before that.
Index of Stuff
Open windows with HyperLook
HyperLook is an interactive application design system, that lets you develop
advanced multimedia systems, via simple direct manipulation, property sheets,
and object oriented programming. It releases the full power of OpenWindows
to the whole spectrum of users, ranging from casual users who want a configurable
desktop and handy presentation tools, to professional programmers who want
to push the limits in interactive mulltimedia.
You design interfaces by taking fully functional components from an
object warehouse.
You lay them out in your own window, configure them with
menus and property sheets, define their appearance in colorful PostScript
fonts and graphics, and write scripts to customize their behavior.
You can
write applications in C
or other languages, that communicate with HyperLook by sending
high level messages
across the network. They need not worry about details
like layout, look and feel, or fonts and colors. You can
edit HyperLook applications while they're running,
or deliver them in an uneditable runtime form.
HyperLook is totally extensible and open ended. It comes with a
toolkit of user interface classes,
property sheets, and
warehouses
of
pre-configured components
with
useful behavior.
Earlier versions have been in use at more than 300 sites worldwide, to build
presentations,
prototype user interfaces,
create gis systems,
control robots,
model satellites,
monitor sensors, control processes,
implement games
and serve as a front end for databases,
machine learning
and expert systems.
FREE HYPERLOOK RUNTIME
The HyperLook runtime system lets you run uneditable HyperLook applications.
It includes many interesting demos, presentations and useful stacks, including
a fully functional
drawing tool.
Requirements
- SunOS 4.1.1 or higher
- OpenWindows version 2.0 with TNT version 2.0 or OpenWindows version 3.0
- Color screen
Included with the free HyperLook Runtime
- Graphics editing.
PostScript graphics
are fully integrated with the system. It's possible to import almost any
PostScript graphic into the editor, then edit and print it. Most importantly,
the graphics editor is a totally integrated HyperLook component.
- Integrated on-line help.
Help for any interface
or application can be created on-line, without programming. Graphics can
be incorporated using the integrated editor.
- Stacks and desktop tools.
System stack,
drawing tool,
color pallet,
clipboard,
notepad,
stack manager,
resource manager,
class documentation browser,
file selection dialogs, printer queue monitor, and
user interface component examples.
Availablility
The HyperLook runtime system is availiable for free via anonymous ftp, from
the following systems:
HYPERLOOK PRODUCT
The HyperLook product allows you to develop HyperLook applications, and
create interactive presentations, that you can deliver in an uneditable
form with the free HyperLook runtime system.
Included with the HyperLook Product
- HyperLook runtime system
- Direct manipulation stack editing
- Property sheets to edit all user interface objects
- C client interface and development utilities
Features
- Stack editing.
You can create stacks,
incorporate text and graphics, design interfaces, etc.
- Scripting in PostScript. By scripting it is possible to add behaviour
to objects, and to create new classes of object with enhanced functionality.
- Programming from C clients.
Header files and client library are provided, enabling HyperLook to be used as
the front end for sophisticated applications.
- Manuals. A full manual is provided, with over 300 illustrations, covering
all aspects of HyperLook.
Tools and Stacks
- The system stack.
Provides instant access
to the facilities of the HyperLook desktop. Like all other aspects of HyperLook,
the user can configure and edit this stack to provide a customized set of
utilities.
- Property stacks. Each object class in the system has an associated
property stack, with which most of an object's display properties can be
edited. These stacks can also serve as the basis for property sheets for
new objects.
- HyperDraw drawing tool.
A full featured
PostScript drawing editor, which can import and export files in EPSF format.
- Clipboard.
A 16 page clipboard for storing
text and graphics.
- Color pallet.
Select thte color of your
choice. The pallet is user configurable.
- Stack manager.
Shows which stacks you
have loaded and their current status.
- Resource manager. Specifies where in your system resources are stored.
Allows you to configure HyperLook without worring about the Unix file system.
- Error handler. Comprehensive error reporting and debugging of user
scripts.
- SystemStatus. A handy way of seeing what HyperLook is doing at any
time.
- Object Warehouse.
A customizable stack
containing prototype objects you can include in your applications. The objects
in the warehouse can be installed on the menu that places new objects on
stacks.
- Class browser.
Interactively browse the
HyperLook class hierarchy including user-defined classes. Find the documentation
for all methods on-line!
- Utility stacks such as file dialogs.
Demos
- Clocks.
A bunch of different clocks, scripted
in HyperLook.
- Notepad.
A scratch pad for ideas, on your
desktop.
- ButtonIdeas.
A whole range of interesting
buttons, many with embedded functionality.
- ClientExamples.
Examples of applications
with a client program.
- Printer Queue. A line printer queue viewer. Shows how simple it is
to create graphical desktop applications with HyperLook.
Promotional stacks
The promotional stacks demonstrate how colorful effective presentations
can be created, without programming, using HyperLook.
- Introduction.
The startup stack.
- HyperLook information. Information about HyperLook, and what you can
do with it as a casual user. Pick any card:
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
13.
- Turing information. Information about the Turing Institute and the
work it does. Some interactive graphics and sound to show more of the presentational
abilities of HyperLook. Pick any card:
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8.
