From: "Ernest Perez" <demoep@psilink.com>
Subject: Re: Hypertext For Unix
Organization: Access Information Assoc., Inc.
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 22:08:09 GMT
X-Mailer: PSILink (3.2)

>FROM:   Mike Stringham <mstringh@ent1.ent.ncsu.edu>
>I need information on a simple hypertexting program for use with
>text-based UNIX platforms.  We have no GUI capabilities on the systems
>that hypertexted material would be distributed to.  I have some
>experience with hypertext, but would prefer software that does not
>have a steep learning curve.  In other words the hypertext documents
>need to be easy to assemble and easy to use.

Take a look at MaxThink, the lean, mean, Zen approach to hypertext.  
Some folks call it crude and simplistic; others call it elegant.  
Depends on your family values, I guess. MaxThink has several MS-DOS 
versions for foreground and TSR operation.  Also a new Unix version 
($89 cheap), it's based on the HYTELNET port of MaxThink to the VAX.  
As mentioned recently, HYTELNET is Peter Scott's MaxThink format TSR 
hypertext reference on accessing online library catalogs via Telnet.  He 
and a colleague at Univ. of Sasketchewan also ported it to the VAX for 
their campus info system.  This version is available via anon ftp.

MaxThink uses lowest common denominator for ease of use, system and 
information transportability.  The hypertext nodes are straight ASCII 
files, use any ol' ASCII-compatible editor you wish.  WordPerfect, vi, 
even EDLIN.  The links don't use control-codes or extended ASCII.  They 
are simply filename reference enclosed within angle brackets.  

You can make a simple jump to another file <filename>;
to a specific screen within that file      <filename 3>;
to highlight a specific screen linenumber  <filename 3 16>;
or, highlight first occurrence of a string <filename -term>.

That's No-Brainer syntax. Simple and efficient.  Super-productive.  
If you use MaxThink's utilities and hypertext ASCII editor, you can 
build *big* hypertext systems in amazingly short times.  E.g., I converted 
my Ph.D. dissertation to a MaxThink hypertext in three afternoons (and 
some of that time was for converting wordprocessor files to clean 
ASCII).  Admittedly, it was a pretty flat hypertext (I wanted to keep 
the thesis appearance).  But that system includes hierarchical structure, 
embedded links, online keyword index, and a simple text-search engine.  
It's a heck of an easy read, compared to the 200-page hard copy.

For info on the U. Sasketchewan stuff, you can contact Peter Scott at 
scott@sklib.usask.ca address.  You may also want to browse his 
hypertext and library stuff anon ftp archive at...
   hydra.uwo.ca   in directory libsoft
Items include:
HYTELNET, the online library catalog TSR hypertext reference;
Info about ftp-ing his VAX HYTELNET version;
HYPERDISS, my dissertation on hypertext IN MaxThink HyPlus hypertext; 
HYGLOS, MaxThink's newest MS-DOS TSR hypertext;
  and lotsa other good stuff....

For MaxThink information...

Neil Larson
Maxthink, Inc.
2425B Channing Way, #592
Berkeley CA 94704
510-540-5508

Larson's utilities include: the sophisticated MaxThink outliner, which 
can be used to build hypertext hierarchies; HOUDINI, a matrix or network 
outliner, which lets you connect any node in the network to any other 
node; utilities to convert MaxThink or Houdini outlines to ASCII or 
binary hypertext; TransText hypertext ASCII editory; HyGlos, TSR MS-DOS 
hypertext; HyPlus, MS-DOS foreground hypertext, HyperLAN, for LANs, 
etc., etc. All at aforementioned $89/module.  Mix & match.