C H A P T E R 2
Getting Started
Choosing an Application Structure
2-3
automatically manage many routine programming tasks. For example, some of the
tasks the protos support include filing, finding, routing, scrolling, displaying an
overview, and soup management.
tasks the protos support include filing, finding, routing, scrolling, displaying an
overview, and soup management.
The disadvantage of NewtApp is that it is structured to support a particular kind of
application--one that allows the creation, editing, and display of soup data. And
particularly, it supports applications structured so that there is one data element
(card, note, and so on) per soup entry. If your application doesn't lend itself to that
structure or doesn't need much of the support that NewtApp provides, then it
would be better to use a different approach to application design.
application--one that allows the creation, editing, and display of soup data. And
particularly, it supports applications structured so that there is one data element
(card, note, and so on) per soup entry. If your application doesn't lend itself to that
structure or doesn't need much of the support that NewtApp provides, then it
would be better to use a different approach to application design.
For details on using the NewtApp framework to construct an application, see
Chapter 4, "NewtApp Applications."
Chapter 4, "NewtApp Applications."
Digital Books
2
If you want to develop an application that displays a large amount of text, handles
multiple pages, or needs to precisely layout text, you may want to consider making
a digital book instead of a traditional application. In fact, if you are dealing with a
really large amount of text, like more than a few dozen screens full, then you could
make your job much easier by using the digital book development tools.
multiple pages, or needs to precisely layout text, you may want to consider making
a digital book instead of a traditional application. In fact, if you are dealing with a
really large amount of text, like more than a few dozen screens full, then you could
make your job much easier by using the digital book development tools.
Digital books are designed to display and manipulate large amounts of text and
graphics. Digital books can include all the functionality of an application--they
can include views, protos, and methods that are executed as a result of user actions.
In fact, you can do almost everything in a digital book that you can do in a more
traditional application, except a traditional application doesn't include the text
layout abilities.
graphics. Digital books can include all the functionality of an application--they
can include views, protos, and methods that are executed as a result of user actions.
In fact, you can do almost everything in a digital book that you can do in a more
traditional application, except a traditional application doesn't include the text
layout abilities.
The advantage of using a digital book structure is that you gain the automatic text
layout and display abilities of Book Reader, the built-in digital book reading appli-
cation. Additionally, the book-making tools are easy to use and allow you to quickly
turn large amounts of text and graphics into Newton books with minimal effort.
layout and display abilities of Book Reader, the built-in digital book reading appli-
cation. Additionally, the book-making tools are easy to use and allow you to quickly
turn large amounts of text and graphics into Newton books with minimal effort.
The disadvantage of using a digital book is that it is designed to support a
particular kind of application--one that is like a book. If your application doesn't
lend itself to that structure or doesn't need much of the text-handling support that
Book Reader provides, then it would be better to use a different approach to
application design.
particular kind of application--one that is like a book. If your application doesn't
lend itself to that structure or doesn't need much of the text-handling support that
Book Reader provides, then it would be better to use a different approach to
application design.
For information on creating digital books using the Book Maker command
language and/or incorporating NewtonScript code and objects into digital books,
see Newton Book Maker User's Guide. For information on creating simpler digital
books see Newton Press User's Guide.
language and/or incorporating NewtonScript code and objects into digital books,
see Newton Book Maker User's Guide. For information on creating simpler digital
books see Newton Press User's Guide.