Doesn't operate properly in Windows, answer command

[Ben Rubinstein]

on 19/1/02 11:28 AM, Richard D. Miller at wow at together.net wrote:

> What you say is true...if you use the Distribution builder. If you try
> running a stack by simply launching it first without Rev running, the Answer
> command is not available. I understand what is happening now, but it should
> either be pointed out or corrected. I like to think I can launch the stack
> first and test it that way without going through the Distribution build
> process. But maybe that's the only way with Rev.

(Caveat; I've not started using 1.1b1 on Windows yet - you may be getting
special problems with that.)  That caveat aside, Rev works fine on Windows;
I mostly work on Mac, but I distribute my work cross platform, always take
it over to either VPC or a real PC, and do final testing there - before
building a standalone.

There is a particular gotcha, which exists in a lesser form on Mac but is
worse on Windows.  On the Mac, if you double-click a stack before Rev is
launched, it launches the basic engine (which opens your stack) but doesn't
load the Revolution environment.  In consequence you are severely
restricted.  Solution is either to launch Rev first, then double-click the
stack in the Finder; or open the stack from within Rev.

On Windows, it's similar but worse.  If you double-click on the stack when
Rev isn't running, you get the engine opening the stack, without the IDE -
just like on Mac.  If you launch Rev, then double-click on the stack - you
get the same thing! (actually Windows launches a second instance of the
engine, which opens the stack without the IDE).  This is actually then very
confusing, because you still have Revolution running; and you have the stack
open; and it's not immediately obvious that they aren't connected.  On
Windows the only way to open the stack in the IDE is to open it using
Revolution's commands.

Summary: three ways to launch a stack (double-click before Rev launched,
double-clicked after Rev launched, open inside Rev): on the Mac, only the
second and third allow you to work properly in the IDE; on Windows, only the
third.

This may be nothing to do with the problems you're experiencing - but it
might be relevant.

  Ben Rubinstein               |  Email: benr_mc at cogapp.com
  Cognitive Applications Ltd   |  Phone: +44 (0)1273-821600
  http://www.cogapp.com        |  Fax  : +44 (0)1273-728866