Explanations for Perpetual Menu Button routine.

The calculations...

In Authorware the ":=" (colon/equals) is the "assignment operator." Authorware will take whatever value that is to the RIGHT of the operator and place it into the Variable that is to the LEFT of the operator. Thus menu:=0 will cause AW to load the value 0 into the variable that is named menu.

In contrast the "=" by itself is a "comparison operator." The statement menu=0 causes AW to check and see if the value that is loaded into menu is zero or not. If the value is zero, then the comparison is true, and whatever action or characteristic that is dependent on this operator will be enacted.

"QuitRestart(0)" is the Internal Function that tells Authorware to close the current program and return the computer control to wherever it was before the program opened .

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Variables

If you have had no traditional programming experience, this will be, perhaps, a new concept. Consider a variable to be much like a cubbyhole in a desk -- a cubbyhole that has a name. Whenever we "assign" a value to a variable, it is much like putting something in that cubbyhole. The value that we assign stays in that variable just as a piece of paper would stay in the cubbyhole, until we cause it to be replaced by another value. Authorware can keep track of any number of such variables, and you as the author can cause those values to make "thing happen" in your AW piece.

 

 

 

 

A Hint on Naming Several Icons in a Row

If you have several icons to name,in a row on a flowline or attached to an Interaction Icon, highlight the first one and type in the name that you want. Then press the "Tab" key and the highlight will move to the second one, all ready to type in a new name. Continue this process until all are named.

 

 

 

About Authorware Functions

The documentation for the QuitRestart(0) function and many others may be found by pressing the "Function Button" from the Toolbar within Authorware ( ). This action will open the "Functions Window" as shown below. In this window, you'll find a complete listing of all of Authorware's Internal Functions and some slight descriptions of how they are used. Just select a "Category," select a function, and the "Description" window will show how the function is used.