[Cipher13]

Ok I'm developing something in C++ sorta, and for the interface and all that I want to use HyperCard to control it all, and whatever.
So heres the deal, I know a little C++, and I know HyperCard/HyperTalk. So how do I combine the two using XCMD's and XFCN's?
Like, how do I do it?
If I were to write a script in C++, and I wanted to call it in my HyperCard stack, what kind of headers and stuff do I need in the C++, and how do I compile it for it and all that?
What file do I paste into HC with ResEdit?
And how could I decompile/reverse engineer an already made XFCN/XCMD, just to check like the headers and whatnot...
I haven't had a chance to look all this up on the net, I will soon, but any help/tips etc. would be appreciated...
TIA

Cipher13

[Paul Crawford]

Hi Cipher13,

The best source of information on writing HyperCard externals is probably Apple's own official 'HyperCard Script Language Guide' (HSLG), particularly Appendix A, "External Commands and Functions" (in recent HC retail versions such as 2.3.5+, the HSLG doc is also included as a PDF file). There you'll find a thorough overview of writing & attaching HC externals, and illustration via a 'flash' example XCMD. Note that the discussion is based on the Pascal language, but it's not difficult to translate it into C/C++. [If you don't have access to a copy of HC retail (i.e., to the HSLG doc), let me know and I could probably make the doc available via my iDisk; it might even already be available online somewhere.]

In addition, Apple lists other third-party HC documentation sources, as well as links to Peter Fleck's downloadable HyperCard FAQ, on the official HyperCard - Education & Support web page.

In terms of other source code for HC externals, your C/C++ compiler or IDE might include some useful XCMD/XFCN examples. E.g., MW CodeWarrior Pro usually ships with a few XCMD sample projects (in CW Pro 5.x, they're located in the 'CodeWarrior Pro Folder:CodeWarrior Examples:MacOS Examples:Code Resource Examples:XCMDs' subfolder).

I myself don't know of any tools that are specifically geared toward disassembling binary HC externals, not at the level of generating full-fledged Pascal interfaces/sources or C/C++ headers/sources. I suppose that a general-purpose debugger/disassembler such as Jasik Designs' MacNosy or Debugger could be of some value. Other folks might also be able to help out here.

[There are also some potentially useful HC links listed in the vaguely related TCP/IP Tools for Hypercard and Applescript... thread in this Forum, which you might not have already seen.]

Regards, and happy developing,

--Paul

[This message has been edited by Paul Crawford (edited 02-10-2001).]

[Cipher13]

Thanks man
Sorry for the long reply time... lol.
I could've sworn I replied to this...
Anyway, I'm still looking into how to compile it right
Thanks again.

Cipher13

[Paul Crawford]

Hi Cipher13,

No problem... :-) I hope that you did already (or do now) have a copy of the HyperCard Script Language Guide? BTW, if you encounter a specific stubborn compilation issue, then feel free to post back here, and either I or someone else will try to help out.

Regards,

--P