CHAPTER 9: UTILITIES

Four utilities allow you to customize your Perseus configuration and record your exploration and findings. Use Settings to configure the display of images and text and the location of Perseus files on your hard drive. Use the Notebook utility to record your notes or to annotate Perseus resources for others. Use the Paths utility to create and follow paths through Perseus. Use the Current Assignment utility to add your own HyperCard stack to Perseus.

9.1 SETTINGS

You have access to the Settings utility from the Perseus Gateway. The Settings requirements involve choosing to see digitized images, video still-frames, or both; selecting a videodisc player (if used); configuring the primary text display; identifying the location of Perseus files on your hard drive; and setting up a Home Card for easy access to Perseus.

If you are using a locked version of the Perseus Gateway (indicated by a small lock icon at the far right of the menu bar), your changes to the Settings will not be saved. If the Perseus stacks are shared among several people and the Perseus Gateway is not locked, any user may change the Settings.

Click the Settings icon on the Perseus Gateway.

The Perseus Settings Card appears (figure 9.1).

Figure 9.1 Perseus Settings Card

In figure 9.1, the Path Stack specification instructs Perseus to look for the Path stack in the Latest Stuff on the Hyperboreus drive. Change this path and the path specification for the Notebook Stack to the names of your own folders and drive.

SELECT PLAYER TYPE

Perseus offers the user two types of photographic images. One set of images is on the Perseus videodisc. These require the use of a videodisc player controlled by the Macintosh. The second set of images has been digitized from the Perseus slide archive and stored on the Perseus CD-ROM. The digitized images require an eight-bit video board in your Macintosh and 32-Bit QuickDraw in your system software. See chapter 1, "Setup," for more information on requirements for using digitized images and the videodisc.

You may use the videodisc images, the digitized images, or both sources. You must turn on the setting to use videodisc images before you can activate the pop-up menu for player type.

Hold the mouse button down on the Select Player Type pop-up menu and release it on None or on one of the player names.

If no videodisc player is connected to the Macintosh, the pop-up menu will be inactive.

Perseus 1.0 supports the following videodisc players: Hitachi 9550, Pioneer 6000A, Pioneer 6010A, Pioneer 4200, Sony 2000, Sony 1500, and Sony LDP 1200. The name of the player selected appears on the pop-up menu.

CONFIGURE PRIMARY TEXT DISPLAY

Primary texts are displayed in one of six possible formats. If no display format is specified, Perseus uses the default text display format.

Click the Primary Text Display icon on the Perseus Settings Card.

The Primary Text Display Format (figure 9.2) offers the six format choices.

Figure 9.2 Primary Text Display Format

The Primary Text Display Format is also available directly from the Primary Texts.

Select format
Six formats are offered. Two formats juxtapose the primary Greek text with its English translation, in column or row format. These two formats also provide the capability to toggle between the English translation and Notes that provide commentary on the text. One format provides only Greek text. Two formats juxtapose the English translation with Notes, in column or row format. One format provides only the English translation.

Click a Primary Text Display illustration to put that setting into effect.

In Perseus 1.0, Apollodorus is currently the only author whose works have related commentary in the Notes field. If you select a text display format that shows the English translation and Notes, the Notes field will be empty for all authors except Apollodorus.

Set text font size
Four font sizes are offered for text display: 10-point, 12-point, 14-point, and a display size. The display size is useful if you are using a projection system or if several people are using Perseus together with a Macintosh monitor.

Hold the mouse button down on the pop-up menu for text font size and release it on your choice to put that setting into effect.

The size of the font selected appears on the pop-up menu.

Restore Original Settings
Click Restore Original Settings to restore the settings that were in effect before your changes, if you change your mind.

Click the Go Back icon on the Navigator to return to the Perseus Settings Card.

PATH AND NOTEBOOK STACKS

You can customize your configuration by establishing specific locations for user paths and user notebooks. (The Notebook and Path utilities are described later in this chapter.)

Click the box inviting you to "Click here" to change the Path Stack.

A directory dialog box appears that you can use to identify the file location of the Path stack. Repeat the procedure for the Notebook stack.

The original Perseus software contains Path and Notebook stacks. The Path and Notebook stacks can be shared if the stacks are locked. Sharing these stacks may be useful if several people will be using Perseus simultaneously. For example, an instructor could create shared Path and Notebook stacks for use by students in a class. When the stacks are locked, however, users cannot make permanent changes to the stacks.

You may wish to copy and rename the Path and Notebook stacks to create custom paths and notebooks. By renaming these stacks, you can distinguish your Paths and Notebooks from those of other users. If several people are using Perseus at one time, a stack being used by more than one person cannot be changed. Being able to change and annotate the Path and Notebook stacks is very important if you use these features. Copy and rename these stacks as part of your software installation.

WINDOW CONTROL

Perseus can be set up to go either to cards in a new window or to cards in the same window. Going to cards in a new window means that when you go to a new card, your previous location in Perseus remains on the screen in a window behind the new window. If you exceed the number of open windows allowed by your system's memory, a dialog box will ask you to close some of the windows. Going to cards in the same window means that your previous location in Perseus is replaced by the card of the new location.

Either setting can be temporarily reversed by pressing the Shift key while clicking the mouse or choosing a menu item. For example, as you read a primary text you may wish to analyze a word while keeping your primary text location in a background window. If the settings are to go to cards in the same window, press the Shift key when you click Analyze, and the Morphological Analysis of the selected word will appear in a new window.

SET UP HOME CARD

An easy way to ensure that Perseus will find all its required elements is to set up a Perseus button on your Home card. Perseus will create the button and add the paths for Perseus files to the folder paths specified in your Home stack. This automatic installation directs Perseus to look for files on the Perseus 1.0 CD-ROM.

If several users are sharing Perseus in a file server configuration, each user's Home card must specify the location of centrally used Perseus files. If you eventually change the names of folders or the file hierarchy of your file server, you must also change each user's Home card, because the Home card points Perseus to its files.

9.2 NOTEBOOK

The Notebook is a HyperCard stack for taking notes while browsing through Perseus. The original Perseus software includes a Notebook stack that you should copy and rename to create as many personal Notebooks as you like. Until you change it, the Notebook in effect is the one specified under the Settings utility.

Each Notebook has a Notebook Index that lists the cards in that Notebook. Like any other Perseus card, Note cards can be added to a Path.

Choose Notebook from the Perseus Menu.

If you have not been using the Notebook when you choose this menu item, the Notebook Index appears (figure 9.3). If you have already used a Notebook, the most recent Note card in the current Notebook appears.

Figure 9.3 Notebook Index

NOTEBOOK INDEX

The Notebook Index contains a list of the names of all Note cards in your Notebook stack. You can see all your Note cards from this Index. You can also create new notes, rename notes, or delete notes. The buttons at the upper right-hand corner of the Notebook Index provide access to four utilities: Rename Note, Delete Note, Go to Note, and New Note.
Rename Note
Click once on a note to select it.

Click Rename Note.

A dialog box appears requesting you to name the note.

Type a new name for the note and click OK.

Delete Note
Click once on a note to select it.

Click Delete Note.

A dialog box appears requesting you to confirm the deletion of the note.

Click Delete if you wish to delete the note. If you have changed your mind or made a mistake, click Don't Delete.

Go to Note
Click once on a note to select it.

Click Go to Note.

You can also go directly to a note by double-clicking it on the Notebook Index.

New Note
Click New Note.

You should now be looking at a new card whose name is Note, followed by the time and date this card was created. If a Note name was selected when you clicked this button, the selection will be ignored.

The name of the Note is selected when you first see the card. You can change the name to indicate its contents simply by typing a new name.

NOTE CARD

A typical Note card is depicted below (figure 9.4). Each Note card can contain up to approximately 350 words. Three utilities are available in the upper right-hand corner: Note Index, New Note, and Delete Note.

Figure 9.4 Note card

Note Index
Click Note Index.

You will return to the Notebook Index.

New Note
Click New Note.

You should now be looking at a new card whose name is Note, followed by the time and date this card was created.

The name of the Note is selected when you first see the card. You can change the name of the card to indicate its contents simply by typing a new name.

Delete Note
Click Delete Note.

A dialog box appears requesting you to confirm the deletion of this Note.

Click Delete if you wish to delete the Note. If you have changed your mind or made a mistake, click Don't Delete.

Change the Note name
Select the name of the Note (using the text select tool) to change the Note name.

Names may not exceed twenty-four characters. Notes may also be renamed from the Notebook Index.

Add or change the Note text
Click the text field below the Note name to make the insertion point appear.

Type your notes.

You may add, delete, copy, and move text on a Note card using the text select tool.

Modify text style and font
Use the text select tool to change the text display.

Choose the font and style you desire from the Font and Style menus.

9.3 PATHS

A path is a sequence of locations in Perseus. Any Perseus card or selection on a Perseus card can be considered a location. A Path card shows all the locations in a given path, in sequential order, reading from left to right; the first location is in the upper left-hand corner of the card, the last in the lower right. Each path location is represented by an icon indicating the Perseus resource in which that location is found.

The Perseus Path stack is designed so that each user can create and save new paths as well as follow previously saved paths. (The Path stack must be on the user's hard drive, not the CD-ROM, for any changes to be recorded.) The Path stack in effect during any session of Perseus is the one specified under Settings, until you change it through the Settings utility. This section describes how to create a path and other features of paths.

HOW TO USE PATHS

Use the Path Icon on the Navigator
There are two ways to use the path features in Perseus: through the Path icon on the Navigator and through the Path items on the Perseus Menu. The active points on the Path icon are depicted below (figure 9.5). If you are currently walking a path, you can move forward and back on it using the arrows on the Path icon (the meander) on the Navigator. You can also add a location to a path by clicking the center of the meander on the Navigator.

Figure 9.5 Path icon (the meander)

When you are walking a path, click the left arrow on the Path icon to go to the previous Path location.

Click the right arrow on the Path icon to go to the next Path location.

As you walk a path, you may choose to investigate something that causes you to leave your location on the path. If you decide to add the new location to the path, follow the instructions below.

Click the center of the Path icon to add your location to the current path.

A dialog box appears asking you to name this "footprint" or path location.

Type a name and click OK.

This footprint is added to the card of the current path.

Use the Path Items from the Perseus Menu
The four Path items on the Perseus Menu provide another way to use the path features. Add a new location to a path by choosing Add to Path from the Perseus Menu. Go to your current Path card by choosing Current Path Card. Go to the Path Index by choosing Path Index, or use another path without going through the Path Index by choosing Change Path.
Add to Path
Choose Add to Path from the Perseus Menu to add this location to a path.

Any Perseus card or a selection on a Perseus card can be added to the Path.

A dialog box appears asking you to name this "footprint" or path location.

Type a name and click OK.

This footprint is added to the card of the current path .

Current Path Card
Choose Current Path Card from the Perseus Menu to see the Path card containing the current path.
Path Index
Choose Path Index from the Perseus Menu to go to the Path Index.
Change Path
Choose Change Path from the Perseus Menu to change the current path.

This menu item bypasses the Path Index. A dialog box appears that lists the Paths in your current Path stack. Click the name of the path you wish to follow.

Choose Path Index from the Perseus Menu.

The Path Index for the current path appears (figure 9.6).

Figure 9.6 Path Index

PATH INDEX

The Path Index lists the names of all the paths in your current Path stack. You can see your Paths from this Index. You can also create new paths, rename paths, or delete paths. The buttons at the upper right-hand corner of the Path Index provide four utilities: Rename Path, Delete Path, Go to Path, and New Path.
Rename Path
Click once on a path to select it.

Click Rename Path.

A dialog box appears requesting you to name the path.

Type a new name for the path and click OK.

Delete Path
Click once on a Path to select it.

Click Delete Path.

A dialog box appears requesting you to confirm the deletion of the Path.

Click Delete if you wish to delete the Path. If you have changed your mind or made a mistake, click Don't Delete.

Go to Path
Click once on a path to select it.

Click Go to Path.

You can also go directly to a path by double-clicking it on the Path Index.

New Path
Click New Path.

You should now be looking at a new card whose name is Path, followed by the time and date this card was created. If a path name was selected when you clicked this button, the selection will be ignored.

The name of the Path is selected when you first see the card. You can change the name to indicate its contents simply by typing a new name.

PATH CARD

The Path card provides access to every location in the path. On this card you may also rename, delete, annotate, and rearrange path locations.

A typical Path card is depicted below (figure 9.7). Each Path card can contain up to twenty-seven locations. The locations are shown by icons indicating the Perseus resource in which they are located--for example, Primary Texts and the Atlas.

Figure 9.7 Path card

Change the Path Name
Select the name of the path (using the text select tool) to change the path name.

Names may not exceed twenty-four characters. Paths can also be renamed from the Path Index.

Path Index
Click Path Index.

You will return to the Path Index.

Delete Path
Click Delete Path.

A dialog box appears requesting you to confirm the deletion of this path.

Click Delete if you wish to delete the path. If you have changed your mind or made a mistake, click Don't Delete.

There is a protection mechanism in Perseus that prevents you from deleting a path if it is the only remaining path left in the current stack. If you attempt to delete this path, a dialog box appears with the message "Can't delete last card of protected background."

New Path
Click New Path.

You should now be looking at a new card whose name is Path, followed by the time and date this card was created.

The name of the Path is selected when you first see the card. You can change the name to indicate its contents simply by typing a new name.

Rearrange
After you create a number of locations, you may wish to rearrange them in a different order on the Path card. You can change the order of your locations by rearranging their icons on the Path card.

Click Rearrange to put the Path card into Rearrange mode.

An X appears in the check box next to Rearrange, and the three buttons to the right--Rename, Delete, Go There--disappear. In Rearrange mode, each Location icon can be dragged around the Path card.

Drag the locations into a new arrangement just as you would drag any Macintosh icon.

You do not have to drag the icons to the exact positions where you want them to end up. Positions are relative. If you drag an icon below or to the left of the rest of the icons, it becomes the last one. When you leave Rearrange mode, the icons realign.

Click Rearrange a second time to save the locations in the new arrangement.

The check box no longer has an X in it.

You must finish rearranging by clicking Rearrange to deselect it before you can do anything else to the Path. If you decide to leave the Path card or perform other functions, the Path card will take a minute to finish the rearrangement automatically, displaying a dialog box with the message "Have to finish rearranging."

Rename
Rename allows you to change the name of a location (available when Rearrange mode is off).

Click a location icon to select it.

Click Rename.

A dialog box appears asking you to enter a new name for the location.

Type the new name for this location and click OK.

Delete
Delete allows you to delete a location (available when Rearrange mode is off).

Click a location icon to select it.

Click Delete.

A dialog box appears asking you to confirm the deletion of the location.

Click Delete if you wish to delete it. If you have changed your mind, click Don't Delete.

Go There
Go There allows you to go directly to a location (available when Rearrange mode is off).

Click a location icon to select it.

Click Go There.

You should now be at the Perseus card for the selected location.

Annotate the Path Card
About this Path
The text in the "About this Path" field in the lower left of the Path card can be annotated with comments that are relevant to the entire path.

Click the "About this Path" field to make the insertion point appear.

Type comments or instructions into the box.

Individual location annotations
A note is attached to each location in a path. The annotation box at the lower right-hand corner of the Path card allows you to annotate individual locations. When you first open a Path card, this field is titled "No Notes" and is empty.

When you click a location, the title of this field changes to "Notes for," followed by the name of the selected location. Any notes for that location appear in the field.

The annotations for a location also appear when you are walking a path. When you arrive at a location, its note appears in a floating window that can be closed or repositioned on the screen.

You may create or edit the annotation for a location by typing in the Notes field at the lower right-hand corner of the card.

Click the location you wish to annotate.

The Notes field is now labeled "Notes for" and the name of the selected location, for example, "Notes for Olympian 1." If notes for this location already exist, they appear in the field.

Type a path note or edit an existing one.

Click outside the "Notes for" field or press Enter on the keypad to save the note.

NOTE: Do not click another location icon before clicking somewhere else on the card to save the new note. The safest way to ensure that the new note is saved is to press Enter on the keypad.

9.4 CURRENT ASSIGNMENT

Current Assignment is a utility designed especially for the use of Perseus in instructional settings. This utility enables an instructor to install an assignment stack into Perseus. Students can see the assignment by choosing Current Assignment from the Perseus Menu.

A sample Current Assignment is depicted below (figure 9.8).

Figure 9.8 Sample Current Assignment

To create a Current Assignment stack, use HyperCard to create a stack, including buttons and fields, as necessary. (Consult the HyperCard documentation for more information on creating HyperCard stacks.) Name your stack "Current Assignment," and place it in the same folder as your other Perseus files. When a user chooses Current Assignment from the Perseus Menu, your stack will appear.