Parser

[Jeanne A. E. DeVoto]

At 9:54 AM -0600 11/14/2006, Ken Ray wrote:
>>  (and that "the" is anal-required)
>
>For properties, yes, but most functions have a () alternative.


All functions, actually. (A few built-in functions won't take the 
"the" form; all of them have a "()" form. And of course custom 
functions require "()".)

As for properties: correct syntax for all xTalk variants I know of is 
to precede the property name with "the". An expression such as "get 
hilite of me" is not correct HyperTalk. It's true that HyperTalk is 
looser about this particular mistake (and others) than Transcript - 
I'm not sure about SuperTalk - but that doesn't mean it was "right" 
in HyperCard. HyperCard is forgiving about a number of syntax 
mistakes, which is good (because the script can be executed anyway) 
yet bad (because it promotes the development of bad habits).

You could develop an xTalk that drops "the" before properties, but 
then you have a serious name-collision problem shaping up, so I'm not 
sure that's such a hot idea. It's only four characters, and it makes 
the reference unambiguous.
-- 
jeanne a. e. devoto ~ revolution at jaedworks.com
http://www.jaedworks.com