Introduction

Hyperstudio is a wonderful tool for the production of multimedia.  You need to understand a few concepts to fully use the program.

CARDS: the metaphor for the program is a STACK of index cards  (files are called stacks). All the cards in a stack are saved in a single file that usually gets big.   Each card is a single screen.  Every card in a stack has a number.  Card number 1 pops up on the screen when you open the stack.

OBJECTS: Each card can have objects placed on it.  Objects can be DRAWING objects, TEXT objects (text boxes), GRAPHIC objects (pictures and art from other files), or BUTTONS (electronic hot spots that have actions associated with them). Objects float on top of the card.

ACTIONS: something that happens. This could be a movie playing or switching to a different screen.

DRAWING OBJECTS: things that are drawn into the cards itself

TIPS!!!!!!!

Make the first card first.... it is easier if the title or opening screen is the first card you create (it is hard to switch the cards around to make a different one the first card).

Work off the hard drive if possible....the stacks can get big. Sometimes this results in disk problems when you are saving the stack so work off a hard drive.

There is a free player that comes with the program.  Open the Hyperstudio program then do FILE and OPEN to open your stack; otherwise you might not be able to save your work.

Hyperstudio is non-linear....from the starting point, there can be multiple paths to get you to the end point of the stack.

STACKS should be named xxxxx.stk  Windows does this automatically, Mac's don't.   You can switch from one platform to another but the .stk must be in the name to make it work right.

Have fun and be creative!

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copyright 1998 by Christopher I. Cobitz Ph.D.