Authoring with a system of this type generally involves formatting text or graphics in a manner very similar to that employed when using a word processor, but in addition to the usual features of word processors navigation tools are available and links may be created to form a sophisticated network of information. Guide was originally developed at the University of Kent as an experimental hypertext system for UNIX, and this version is still under development and in use in a number of places. In Guide buttons of four types are used to create hyperlinks, and this model is largely followed by most other authoring systems of this type. Note buttons display information in a pop-up window. Reference buttons make links between nodes within a document or between different documents.
Command buttons carry out specific tasks by means of scripts.
One of the major advantages of this approach to authoring is that it requires less technical knowledge on the part of the developer than do the other types of authoring systems. The similarity of the editor to a word processor should make it very easy for a computer literate novice to rapidly learn to produce useful material. It is possible to implement other learning models such as simulations in Guide, but extensive LOGiiX programming is likely to be required and other authoring systems may well be more suitable for this.