Its sophisticated features make it better suited to professional Web designers and programmers than to first-time content creators. Hyperwire's visual authoring concept is similar to that of Java Studio. You arrange objects, called modules, in a work area and draw connections between them to create a working applet. The Module Panel lists more than 30 standard objects that can be used in applets. Output ports specify events such as the press of a button.
Input ports give instructions such as start and stop animating.
Once you get the hang of this technique, you can create basic applets with ease, though this method is certainly not as easy as using wizards. Setting and editing animation paths are not as intuitive as in Astound WebMotion or Interleaf's Jamba. All the usual forms components such as buttons, listboxes, tables, and fields are provided, so you can create robust business applets. Since Hyperwire has not yet been updated to JDK 1.1, its database connectivity is limited to simple text files. Applets can be published as CAB or ZIP files.