For information on HyperSense's scripting language, see the SenseTalk page.

The following list highlights some of the more significant features of HyperSense:

• A rich document-based architecture, with multiple Stacks of Pages and multiple WindowFrames (window and panel definitions) within any Document.

• Multiple Layers of elements on any Page or WindowFrame. Layers can be shared by various Pages in any combination, and can be hidden, redisplayed, and reordered either manually or under script control.
  
  Layer Panel Screen Shot

• Object oriented drawing, on multiple layers. Each graphic is an independent object that can be resized, repositioned, or hidden. Graphic shapes include rectangles, ovals, lines, polygons, freehand shapes and curve lines.
  
  ToolBox Screen Shot

• User interface objects (controls) including fields, push buttons, switches, radio buttons, browsers, sliders, picture fields, and more.

• SenseTalk scripts can be assigned to any HyperSense object: Documents, WindowFrames, Stacks, Pages, Layers, and all types of Elements (both graphics and control objects).

• Drag and drop TIFF and EPS images onto a page to create scriptable image elements.

• Full-screen windows and numerous other window options allow creating tutorials or other documents which take over the entire screen, floating tool panels, etc.

• Custom Help: Users can easily add context-sensitive help to any document.

• Custom palettes of drag-and-drop elements are easily created. Palettized objects may include fully scripted functionality.
  
  Tool Palette Screen Shot

• "Point and click" creation of active hypertext links from any Element to any Page of any Document.

• Rich text fields with full support for multiple fonts, margins, rulers, spell checking, text-based services (e.g., Digital Webster), etc.

• Pictures, graphic objects, and buttons can be included within the text of fields.

• Scripts can be assigned to elements embedded within text, to assign actions which will occur when a user clicks those elements in the text.
  
  Screen Shot showing Elements Within Text

• Shared and Unique Layers allow for forms-type database functionality plus the flexibility of adding unique fields and elements on individual pages.

• Ability to search for text in all fields of a stack, or within a selected field on every page.

• Report Printing templates may be created and stored with every document, defining the layout of all needed reports. Templates are easily created with header and footer formats for odd and/or even pages, as well as tile formats for report detail or printing mailing labels, etc. When required, custom user-supplied scripts can control all stages of the report printing process.

• Object Inspector provides convenient access to all object properties. Multiple elements can be selected and modified at once.
  
  Inspector Panel Screen Shot

• HyperSense Browser gives a complete overview of all objects within a document, and permits reordering of pages, layers and elements by simply dragging them to a new position within the browser.
  
  Browser Screen Shot

• A DocumentTools palette facilitates creating and modifying documents. This panel (which is itself a HyperSense document) provides buttons for creating new documents in several formats, plus tools to make it easy to resize the pages of any stack, to change page colors, and to extend any WindowFrame with the automatic addition of navigation buttons.
  
  Document Tools Screen Shot

• Virtually unlimited Undo and Redo of changes made in a document.

• Digital audio recording, editing and playback capabilities are built in.

• Exceptionally easy-to-understand SenseTalk scripting language is very English-like, and is compatible with HyperTalk.

• Literally hundreds of built-in commands, functions, and object properties provide complete control of all aspects of the HyperSense environment, as well as a full range of capabilities for text manipulation, time and date conversion, mathematical and financial calculations, file import and export, and much more.

• Script editing windows provide automatic formatting of scripts, and quick access to help with scripting. A SenseTalk Browser panel lists all commands and features of the language in a convenient format, with brief descriptions and a fill-in-the-blanks template of each one which can be inserted directly into a script at the click of a button.

• Message Box sends command messages interactively for experimentation, queries, or experienced development work. Multi-line input capability allows for instant execution of complete "one-time" scripts.
  
  Message Box Screen Shot

• Complete serial port access is built into SenseTalk, giving control of laser disc players or any other device which can be controlled through a serial port.

• Custom commands and functions can be added to the SenseTalk language through dynamically loaded external modules (XModules).

• Custom interface objects (XElements) can be added to any document, providing application-specific functionality.

• Optional utility to convert HyperCard stacks into HyperSense documents, with full access to all objects and scripts.

• Fully indexed on-line manual, created in HyperSense.

• Many sample HyperSense documents are included with the package, such as a Bookmarks panel which allows each user to record a personal list of markers for quick navigation to any page of any document. Additional HyperSense documents are freely available at major FTP sites.

• A HyperSensePlayer application provides a mechanism for using HyperSense documents and applications without the full development environment. The Player may be freely distributed for use in single-user environments.

• A HyperSense-User e-mail list provides users with an open forum for exchanging ideas and receiving ongoing technical support. To subscribe, send mail to hypersense-user-request@thoughtful.com with the word "subscribe" in the body of the message.

Copyright 1997 Thoughtful Software