Using HyperCard® 2.3 Player
as a Helper Application

Fourth World Technical Note #006
Richard Gaskin, October 1996

Overview

Helper Applications

Most Web browsers make use of additional applications to view media types other than those inherently supported within the browser itself. For example, Netscape comes with JPEGView pre-installed as the default helper application for viewing JPEG files.

Whenever a file is transferred from within the browser, the browser looks in its settings file for a Helper application assigned to handle that file type. If a match is found, the browser can launch the application and open the incoming file with it.

This provides a simple mechanism for integrating other applications within the Web browser, making a more fluid, integrated environment. By taking a few moments to set up your browser with the SuperCard Player, you can have this level of integration with SuperCard-based media and applets.

Instructions For the User: Three Simple Steps

1. Open your Browser's Helper Applications Preferences

Note: At this time, this section provides descriptions and illustrations for the Netscape browser only. This may differ for Internet Explorer, Mosaic and other browsers; refer to the documentation for those browser to determine if they support Helper applications and how to edit those settings.

In Netscape, you'll select "General Preferences" from the Options menu. This opens a dialog window which looks like the one below after you've click the "Helpers" button:

2. Create a New Entry

First, click "New". A smaller dialog will appear - just click "OK" when it does.

Then, fill in the dialog fields as show above.

Last, click the "Browse" button and locate your copy of the HyperCard 2.3 Player application. This will set the "File Type" popup to read "STAK", the default file type for HyperCard.


That's about it - just click "OK" to save your changes. Now anytime you download HyperCard ".hcd" files, Netscape will automatically launch that stack using the HyperCard 2.3 Player.

Instructions For the Developer: Use ".hcd" in File Names

Netscape is able to determine which helper application it uses based on the file type as shown in the trailing portion of the file name, such as ".gif" or "jpeg", for example. In order to ensure that Netscape can properly identify your HyperCard stacks as HyperCard Player documents, you will need to use the proper file name extension.

Adding this to your file name will allow any user with a properly-configured browser to have your stack run automatically once the transfer has completed.