JCE Software, 1C1: The Periodic Table Stack

The Periodic Table Stack

Michael Farris
Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666

Note:
This program is out of print. See Periodic Table Live!, SP 17.

The Periodic Table Stack is a HyperCard stack that operates on a data base of information about the properties and reactions of the chemical elements. It is designed to provide users of the Macintosh computer easy access to the data found in KC? Discoverer (1). Users of the program can access the data in a variety of ways simply by clicking a mouse button while the cursor is within one of the twelve icons shown in the figure. The function of an icon is closely related to its name. The Start/Stop icon allows one to set program and videodisc options, restart, or quit. The Periodic Table icon provides access to the elements by clicking on their spaces in the table. The Element Card icon provides a link to three screens of data for each element: micro properties, macro properties, and a graphic showing structure. One can preset the particular screen to be shown and, using buttons positioned in the upper right corner of the screen, toggle among the three screens for each selected element. The Videodisc Directory icon provides a link to views of the elements, reaction sequences, and uses of the elements from The Periodic Table Videodisc (2). Clicking on the name of a specific element in this directory sends one to a subdirectory that contains the frame number(s) for a frame or range of frames for the selected element. The Glossary icon provides access to a dictionary of terms that may be encountered in using the database. The Search and Sort icons perform searches and sorts of elements fulfilling selected criteria. As its name implies, the Help icon provides help. Using the Record Events and Edit/Play icons, one can store sequences of events and play them back later for presentation in a classroom. These events might be images from the videodisc, the results of a search, or some combination of the two. For those persons who wish to access specific frames on The Periodic Table Videodisc, a Videodisc Controller icon displays one of two user-selectable control panels. (This feature, as well as all others that involve a videodisc, is available only when the computer is attached to a suitably equipped videodisc player.) The Go Back icon allows one to go back to the most recently used screen and toggle between it and the current one.

Screen from The Periodic Table Stack.
Hardware and Software Requirements
The stack is supplied on 800-KB disks and requires a Macintosh with at least 1 MB of RAM. A hard disk is strongly suggested, but the stack can be used with two floppy drives if necessary; searches and sorts are much faster with a hard disk. A printer is optional. Version 1.2.1 or later of HyperCard, together with an appropriate system and finder, is required. If one wishes to use this stack to control The Periodic Table Videodisc (2), three additional pieces of hardware are needed: a videodisc player with an RS-232 port, a color monitor to display output from the videodisc player, and a cable to connect the videodisc player to the Macintosh's modem port. Pioneer and Sony videodisc players are supported. For those who wish to use the software for class presentations, a large monitor for the videodisc player and a projection panel for the Macintosh are needed. Several such monitors and panels are available (3).
The Periodic Table Stack provides an extremely large quantity of information in a format that is very easy to use. Both teachers and students will find its features fascinating to work with.
Literature Cited

Feng, A. W., Moore, J. W., Harwood, W., Gayhart, R. J. Chem. Educ.: Soft. 1988, 1B(1).
Banks, A. J. J. Chem. Educ.: Soft. 1988, Special Issue 1.
Susskind, T. Y. J. Chem. Educ.: Soft. 1988, 1A(1), 16-24.

First Published: December 1989
Citation: Farris, M. . The Periodic Table Stack J. Chem. Educ. Software 1C1
Keywords: Lecture Aid; Computer Room; Instructor; High School; General; Inorganic; Periodic table; Periodic trends; Structural chemistry of elements

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JCE Online | Journal | Software | Internet | Happenings | About JCE | Contact JCE

Last Updated: April 26, 2001
Created: December 3, 1996 Created by: J. L. Holmes
Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.



The Periodic Table Stack
Michael Farris Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666

Note:	This program is out of print. See Periodic Table Live!, SP 17.

The Periodic Table Stack is a HyperCard stack that operates on a data base of information about the properties and reactions of the chemical elements. It is designed to provide users of the Macintosh computer easy access to the data found in KC? Discoverer (1). Users of the program can access the data in a variety of ways simply by clicking a mouse button while the cursor is within one of the twelve icons shown in the figure. The function of an icon is closely related to its name. The Start/Stop icon allows one to set program and videodisc options, restart, or quit. The Periodic Table icon provides access to the elements by clicking on their spaces in the table. The Element Card icon provides a link to three screens of data for each element: micro properties, macro properties, and a graphic showing structure. One can preset the particular screen to be shown and, using buttons positioned in the upper right corner of the screen, toggle among the three screens for each selected element. The Videodisc Directory icon provides a link to views of the elements, reaction sequences, and uses of the elements from The Periodic Table Videodisc (2). Clicking on the name of a specific element in this directory sends one to a subdirectory that contains the frame number(s) for a frame or range of frames for the selected element. The Glossary icon provides access to a dictionary of terms that may be encountered in using the database. The Search and Sort icons perform searches and sorts of elements fulfilling selected criteria. As its name implies, the Help icon provides help. Using the Record Events and Edit/Play icons, one can store sequences of events and play them back later for presentation in a classroom. These events might be images from the videodisc, the results of a search, or some combination of the two. For those persons who wish to access specific frames on The Periodic Table Videodisc, a Videodisc Controller icon displays one of two user-selectable control panels. (This feature, as well as all others that involve a videodisc, is available only when the computer is attached to a suitably equipped videodisc player.) The Go Back icon allows one to go back to the most recently used screen and toggle between it and the current one. Screen from The Periodic Table Stack. Hardware and Software Requirements The stack is supplied on 800-KB disks and requires a Macintosh with at least 1 MB of RAM. A hard disk is strongly suggested, but the stack can be used with two floppy drives if necessary; searches and sorts are much faster with a hard disk. A printer is optional. Version 1.2.1 or later of HyperCard, together with an appropriate system and finder, is required. If one wishes to use this stack to control The Periodic Table Videodisc (2), three additional pieces of hardware are needed: a videodisc player with an RS-232 port, a color monitor to display output from the videodisc player, and a cable to connect the videodisc player to the Macintosh's modem port. Pioneer and Sony videodisc players are supported. For those who wish to use the software for class presentations, a large monitor for the videodisc player and a projection panel for the Macintosh are needed. Several such monitors and panels are available (3). The Periodic Table Stack provides an extremely large quantity of information in a format that is very easy to use. Both teachers and students will find its features fascinating to work with. Literature Cited Feng, A. W., Moore, J. W., Harwood, W., Gayhart, R. J. Chem. Educ.: Soft. 1988, 1B(1). Banks, A. J. J. Chem. Educ.: Soft. 1988, Special Issue 1. Susskind, T. Y. J. Chem. Educ.: Soft. 1988, 1A(1), 16-24.


News \| Issues \| CD-ROM / Video \| Find It! \| Technical Support \| For Authors
JCE Online \| Journal \| Software \| Internet \| Happenings \| About JCE \| Contact JCE

Last Updated: April 26, 2001 Created: December 3, 1996	Created by: J. L. Holmes Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.