The Hypercard software, recently introduced for the Apple Macintosh computers, has attracted a lot of attention. The literature portrays it as a sophisticated information management system. Most applications written using this software are business oriented. This paper examines its potential as a tool for developing sophisticated engineering design applications. Basic concepts of Hypercard and its associated programming language, called HYPERTALK, are presented. Details are given for the development of a stack for design of axially loaded steel columns. Based on this experience, it is concluded that Hypercard offers an ideal environment for developing highly interactive design modules requiring relatively less “number crunching.” The overall development time is reduced dramatica
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