THE HYPERCARD CENTER

HyperTalk Reference

Note: This is a work in progress and many formatting issues have been fixed. Read more about the project on the home page.

Message sending orders

For some events, HyperCard automatically sends a sequence of system messages.

For example, when you close an existing stack by opening another one, HyperCard sends the following system messages in order: closeCard, closeBackground, closeStack, openStack, openBackground, openCard.

Click an event to see the order in which HyperCard sends multiple system messages in response to it.

HyperCard startup

When HyperCard first starts up, it sends the following messages in order:

(In version 1.2.5, the order was openStack openBackground openCard startup.)

Resume

When HyperCard first resumes after being suspended, it sends the following messages in order:

(In version 1.2.5, the order was openStack openBackground openCard resume.)

New stack

When HyperCard creates a new stack, it sends the following messages in order:

(In version 1.2.5, the order was closeCard closeBackground closeStack openStack openBackground openCard newStack.)

New stack in a new window

When HyperCard creates a new stack in a new window, it sends the following messages in order:

(This event does not occur in version 1.2.5.)

New background

When HyperCard creates a new background, it sends the following messages in order:

(In version 1.2.5, the order was closeCard closeBackground openBackground openCard newBackground newCard.)

New card

When HyperCard creates a new card, it sends the following messages in order:

(In version 1.2.5, the order was openCard newCard.)

Delete stack

When HyperCard deletes a stack, it sends the following messages in order:

(In version 1.2.5, the order was deleteStack closeCard closeBackground closeStack.)

Delete background

When HyperCard deletes a background, it sends the following messages in order:

(In version 1.2.5, the order was deleteBackground deleteCard.)

Delete card

When HyperCard deletes a card, it sends the following messages in order:

The messages in braces are sent only if the deleted card was the last card of a background. (In version 1.2.5, the order was deleteCard closeCard.)

Cut card

When HyperCard cuts a card, it sends the following messages in order:

The messages in braces are sent only if the cut card was the last card of a background. (No messages were sent in version 1.2.5 for this event.)

Paste card

When HyperCard pastes a card, it sends the following messages in order:

The messages in braces are sent only if the pasted card is the first card of a new background. (In version 1.2.5, the order was openCard.)

Related Topics

• The message-passing order
• Where messages are sent initially