HyperStudio

The good news is that you can put your HyperStudio stacks online and link to them from your homepage.  The bad news is that it doesn't always work as you intended it . Success depends on the complex interplay of operating system version, browser version, HyperStudio plug-in version, HyperStudio version creating the stack, and complexity of the stack itself (specifically the use of special NBA's).  Does this mean that you shouldn't try to post HyperStudio stacks? No, you should just be aware that not everyone will be able to access your stack(s).

Increase the odds of success by following these tips:

• When you post a link to your stack, make sure that the name ends in .stk so the server will send it properly.
  
  
• If you use the function within HyperStudio to create a webpage for your stack, then provide two links on your page to each stack. One should lead directly to the stack and the other should lead to the webpage file that automatically loads the stack.  The reason to do this is the direct link will allow your visitor an option to download the stack if it won't automatically load from the HyperStudio created webpage.  This is more fullyexplained here.
  
  
• Either include instructions on your page about accessing the HyperStudio stack you are posting or include a link to http://www.west.asu.edu/achristie/546/hsweb.htm which explains two different methods for accessing HyperStudio stacks and includes links to HyperStudio to download plug-ins and/or HyperStudio Player.
  
  
• Follow good "netiquette" by noting the file size of your stack next to your link(s) to it.  This is a common courtesy that is much appreciated by everyone with slow connections to the Internet.

Sound Files

Using WAV, AU, AIFF, or MID sound files on a web page is possible but not recommended for beginners.  The trouble is Netscape and Internet Explorer use different instructions to play sound files.  To create pages that will play sounds regardless of the browser requires some advanced techniques that test for which browser is being used and then execute the appropriate instructions. Writing pages specific to one type of browser is possible but only encouraged by monopoly-minded companies with federal anti-trust problems.

Links to Real Audio or MP3 files are also possible, in theory, but these files can be rather large so it would be best to specifically check with Alice BEFORE even attempting to use them.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint presentations can be made available on the web in a couple different ways.  First, PowerPoint versions 97 and newer (and 95 with the proper update) have options for saving presentations as HTML pages.  Each slide is turned into a graphic and pages are automatically built to display each page and organize the slideshow.  These pages, while simple to create, can use up a fair amount of file space.  A number of variables will greatly effect file space requirements such as screen size, image quality, and number of slides.  Try keeping space requirements under 2MB.

Using the same technique as with HyperStudio, you may post your .ppt file and then link to it.  When people click on the link they will be given the option to save the file to their computers or open it directly.  Either way this presumes they have PowerPoint or PowerPoint Viewer installed.  The .ppt files will take up less server space but anyone downloading your file can not only view it but modify it or change it as they wish.  Making the file Read-Only does not prevent anyone from copying and pasting individual pages and graphics or the whole presentation by simply doing a Save As and giving the file a new name.