HyperWise (looong append)

[mpriestley -at- VNET -dot- IBM -dot- COM]

If you're interested in OS/2 or Windows help authoring, read on - otherwise
curse me under your breath and hit the delete key.

I got a fair number of requests for additional info, which is why I'm posting
this to the list.  I've got the package now, but I won't have time to try it
out until late next week, so in the meantime I'm going to append pertinent
blather from the official IBM announcement.
Don't hold me responsible for its grammar or spelling.  BTW: the announcement
refers to HyperWise users as "developers" throughout.  This is an IBM quirk:
instead of saying "technical writer", or just "writer", they say
"information developer", or just "developer".

But first some warnings: HyperWise does _not_ generate RTF help (Windows-style
help).  It generates IPF help, and includes a viewer that enables you to use
the help on Windows (I'm now unclear as to whether you can compile on Windows -
they sure don't seem to be encouraging it).  OS/2 help provides all the
functionality of Windows help (at least I'm pretty sure it does), but with
some added bonuses.  From the announcement letter, I'm unsure as to how
much of the multimedia and extensibility bonus will be portable to Windows.
Once I play around with it a bit, I'll know more.  IBM's goal was 100%
compatibility, but if you include OS/2-specific system calls, I assume it's
up to you to provide a Windows equivalent (one of the nice things about
IPF is that it allows you to blur the line between help and rest-of-system,
by making calls to external blocks of code, and displaying the results
within an IPF-controlled window).  If you stick to _basic_ IPF functionality
(ie just text, graphics, and various forms of links), you should be able to
use the same file to provide help for both systems without tweaking, and
without recompiling.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT STUFF:

ABSTRACT
Hyperwise  Version  1.0  is  a  productivity  tool  for  application and title
developers.     Hyperwise   enables   What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get   (WYSIWYG)
authoring  of  hypertext  on-line information and application help for OS/2(R)
and Microsoft** Windows(1).
With Hyperwise, developers can use simple  drag-and-drop  techniques  to  link
text, audio, video and graphics.  Developers can link to audio (.WAV and .MID)
and  video  (.AVI)  extension  files  supported  in OS/2 2.1.   Hyperwise also
enables developers to link to and start other applications.  Because Hyperwise
uses viewports and gives ownership of those viewports to  other  applications,
the  use  of  new  technologies  and  media  to  which  developers can migrate
information is almost unlimited.
The Information Presentation Facility (IPF) for Microsoft Windows is  packaged
with  Hyperwise,  so the same information compiled for OS/2 IPF is viewable on
Windows.  This single sourcing increases productivity and  enables  developers
to  use  OS/2  for  their  development platform, regardless of the platform on
which their applications run.
Another benefit of Hyperwise is the limited disk space it  requires  to  store
output.    When  Hyperwise  exports  a readable format, it compresses text and
graphics up to 80%.
Planned Availability Date: May 31, 1994
Part            Program
Number          Name
83G7829         Hyperwise Version 1.0
83G8175         AL Hyperwise Version 1.0
(R) Registered trade-mark of International Business Machines  Corporation  and
is used under license by IBM Canada Ltd.
(1) Trade-mark of Microsoft Corporation

HIGHLIGHTS
Hyperwise Version 1.0:
o   Easy-to-use WYSIWYG editing
o   Improved productivity of 25% to 50%
o   Drag-and-drop techniques to link text, audio, video and graphics
o   Multiple platform read capability
o   IPF for Micorsoft Windows, for single sourcing
o   Compression of text and graphics up to  80%,  when  exporting  a  readable
    format

DESCRIPTION
Hyperwise  is a productivity tool for programmers and title developers.  It is
a WYSIWYG editor for authoring hypertext on-line information  and  application
help  for  OS/2  and Microsoft Windows.  It improves productivity over current
methods by 25 to 50%.
PRODUCTIVITY - WYSIWYG authoring of on-line information
What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get authoring is easier to learn and use than current
methods.  Simple drag-and-drop techniques are used for linking text, graphics,
audio and video.
GROWTH to OTHER MEDIA - Supports OS/2 2.1 video and audio formats
Linking to audio (.WAV and .MID) and video (.AVI) files that are supported  in
OS/2  2.1  are  available  in  Hyperwise.    Because of its use of application
viewports, there is no limit to the use of  new  technologies  and  media  the
author can migrate their information to.
CROSS-PLATFORM READ - Author the file once and read in OS/2 and MS Windows
Support  for  reading the same file authored in Hyperwise is available in this
package for reading on MS Windows.
50 to 80% COMPRESSION - limited disk space is required to store output
With Hyperwise, exporting to the readable form, compresses text  and  graphics
up to 80%.

Product Positioning
Hyperwise  is  a  competitive  product.   It incorporates linking, editing and
compiling in one product, while competitors require customers to  purchase  an
editor,  a  linker  and a compiler.  The capability for Hyperwise to grow with
technology and media, also makes it more attractive.
Customer reuse of information is a key feature of Hyperwise.   IPF on  Windows
engine  is  packaged with Hyperwise, making Hyperwise a product that satisfies
the cross-platform application and information development that is  so  common
today.    Application and title developers are encouraged to use OS/2 as their
authoring and development platform.

Orders may be placed by calling IBM Direct - toll free at 1-800-465-7999.
(note: I assume that's N. America only)



Michael Priestley
mpriestley -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com
Disclaimer: IBM's announcement letter, not mine.  Outside of the announcement:
my opinions, not IBM's.