--ScriptLink Demo README--

ScriptLink Demo 1.0 release - October 1994

Thank you for evaluating ScriptLink. We hope you find ScriptLink is useful to you in implementing solutions based on the Newton. This demonstration package is
designed to give you an idea of the capabilities of ScriptLink. 

We are here to assist with your evaluation of ScriptLink. If you need to contact 
us for any reason, please do so.  See the section below for contact details.

Regards,

The development team at Momentum

--What is ScriptLink?--

ScriptLink offers Newton developers a flexible mechanism for
controlling a server Macintosh using AppleScript, Apple Computer's powerful
scripting language for the Macintosh. Combining the flexibility of
AppleScript with the mobile computing power of the Newton, ScriptLink
enables developers to quickly build customised solutions using off
the shelf software packages. ScriptLink 1.0 is compatible with industry
standard wired and wireless AppleTalk networks.

ScriptLink is based on a powerful client server architecture, with
the Macintosh based ScriptLink Server providing a secure, multi-user
environment in which AppleScript commands are executed. The Newton
based ScriptLink Client provides a high level interface for
developers of Newton applications, removing the requirement to work
directly with low level communications protocols. Using ScriptLink,
developers can eliminate the need to create customised server
software for each application, dramatically reducing overall
development time.

The ScriptLink Developer Kit offers developers an easy way to reduce
the time and complexity involved in developing powerful Newton
products. Extensive developer documentation and a range of sample
applications complete with source code are included in the Developer
Kit. With the examples provided, developers can quickly add the
appropriate AppleScript routines and call ScriptLink from within
their own Newton applications, providing a simple yet powerful way to
add communications capability to any Newton software. Additional
copies of the ScriptLink Server and Client software are available
for use in end user sites where applications are deployed.

Potential applications range from simple data transfer to vertical
market data capture and retrieval applications. Using the wide range
of AppleScript-aware applications available for the Macintosh,
developers can easily add remote communications, database access and
other facilities into any Newton application.

--Contents--

The ScriptLink Demo 1.0  disk contains the following items:

Read Me First!
ScriptLink Server Demo (Version 1.0)
ScriptLink Client Demo.pkg (Version 1.0)

Samples folder:

Sample1.pkg

Sample2.pkg
Sample2Lib
Names Database

Sample3.pkg
Sample3Lib
Parts Database

ScriptLink info folder:

ScriptLink demo license
ScriptLink Technical overview
ScriptLink press release
Momentum/ETE joint press release

-- Requirements--

To use this demo you require:

A Macintosh server (68040 recommended)
AppleScript 1.1 
System 7.1 or later

Newton MessagePad
Newton operating system 1.1 or later

The MessagePad must be able to connect to the Macintosh via an AppleTalk
connection of some type. Usually this would be achieved with the LocalTalk
facility present on the MessagePad, but any type of wired or wireless AppleTalk
network can be used.

--Limitations of the ScriptLink demo--

This demonstration version of ScriptLink has specific limitations. Many functions
of the server and client have been disabled, including authentication. The ScriptLink Server demo permits only five transactions per connection and one connection per launch.

The full ScriptLink Developers Kit includes extensive documentation and
sample code for the developer, in addition to the release version of the
ScriptLink Server and Client.

-- License and distribution --

Please read the ScriptLink license for full details. This demonstration is
for evaluation purposes only and should not be used in a production system.
In addition, this software cannot be distributed without express written 
permission from an authorized representative of Momentum.

-- Sample applications--

This demonstration version of ScriptLink is supplied with three sample packages
to give you an idea of the basic functionality of ScriptLink.

All of the samples assume the following:

ScriptLink Server running on Macintosh
ScriptLink Client installed on Newton
Appropriate sample program installed on Newton
ScriptLink folder exists at the root level of the startup disk on the server Macintosh
ScriptLink folder contains a copy of the relevant application eg. Scriptable Text Editor or FileMaker Pro.
ScriptLink folder contains other relevant files as required

Note that the applications must be named 'Scriptable Text Editor' and 'FileMaker Pro'. 
Any deviation from these names will cause the AppleScript in the samples to fail. If you are presented with a dialog box on the server asking you to locate an application,
it is an indication that the sample AppleScripts cannot find the application name
they expect in the ScriptLink folder. 

Sample1 provides a simple example of executing an AppleScript on the server.

Sample2 and Sample3 provide more sophisticated examples of the capabilities
of ScriptLink. This involves the use of Claris FileMaker Pro v2.1 or later as a 
database for moving information between the Newton and the Macintosh. These
samples also use a library of AppleScript routines resident on the Macintosh
to reduce the amount of AppleScript required in the Newton application.

The ScriptLink Developer Kit includes full documented NewtonScript and AppleScript source code for all samples.

--Getting Started--

The following steps are a quick guide to gettting ScriptLink up and running with
the Sample1 package.

1. Install the ScriptLink Server on your Macintosh. For the purposes of this
demo, create a folder called ScriptLink at the root level of the startup drive on
your Macintosh, and copy the ScriptLink Server application to this folder.

2. Connect your Newton to the AppleTalk network.

3. Install the ScriptLink demo client and Sample1 packages on your Newton using Newton Connection Kit or similar.

4. Put a copy of Scriptable Text Editor (from the AppleScript 1.1 distribution)
in the ScriptLink folder that you created in Step 1. 

5. Launch the ScriptLink Server on the Macintosh.

6. Launch the Sample1 package. Tap on Connect to display the Newton Chooser. Select the ScriptLink Server when it appears in the Chooser. Tap on Send Script to run a script which displays a message in Scriptable Text Editor.

7. After a short pause, you should see Scriptable Text Editor launch and display a message.

8. The ScriptLink Server will quit when the client disconnects or when  five transactions have been completed.

-- Sample2 --

Sample2 consists of a Newton application which sends the contents of the Newton names soup to a FileMaker Pro database on the server. This application is an example of using a AppleScript library based on the server to perform more complex operations. 

The ScriptLink folder must contain a copy of the supplied Names Database and Sample2Lib.

Launch  Sample2. Tap on 'Connect' to connect to the ScriptLink Server. Select the ScriptLink Server in the Chooser which appears.

Tap on 'Send Script' to send the AppleScript to the ScriptLink Server. Click on 'Disconnect' to close the connection.

The ScriptLink Server will quit when the client disconnects or when  five transactions have been completed.

--Sample3--

This sample consists of a Newton application which allows the user to enter a part number and then retrieves the details of that part from a FileMaker Pro database on the server.

The ScriptLink folder must contain a copy of the supplied Parts Database and Sample3Lib.

Launch Sample3. Tap on 'Prefs' to set your username and password. Since authentication is disabled in the ScriptLink Server and Client demo version,
any username will be accepted as valid without a password.

Tap on 'Login' to connect to the ScriptLink Server. Select the ScriptLink Server in the Chooser which appears. 

Once you are logged in, enter a part number and tap on 'Request'. The requested part details will be retrieved from the database. If there is no exact match, FileMaker will return the first record starting with the same character(s). If there is no record which starts with the same character(s), then a message will be displayed.

Tap on 'Logout' to disconnect from the ScriptLink Server.

Sample3 contains a poweroff handler which will beep if the Newton is powered off when Sample3 is running. This is in addition to the ScriptLink poweroff handler which will close the connection if the Newton is powered off.

The ScriptLink Server will quit when the client disconnects or when  five transactions have been completed.

--More information--

Additional information about planned enhancements to ScriptLink is contained
in the 'ScriptLink info' folder. This gives an overview of current development
efforts to add wireless non-AppleTalk connection support to ScriptLink using
the same API. Other features now under development include support
for serial and modem connections operating in a similar fashion, in addition
to improvements in client and server performance.

--Contacting Momentum--

You can fax or email Momentum as follows.

Fax : +61 9 227 5447
Internet : momentum@dialix.oz.au
AppleLink : MOMENTUM.AUS

 1994  Momentum Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. 

ScriptLink is a trademark of Momentum Pty Ltd

Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. AppleScript, AppleTalk, MessagePad and Newton are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

All other corporate, brand, product and service names are trademarks of their respective holders. Mention of third party products is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

