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The message-passing order

What happens if an object that receives a message doesn’t handle it?

In this case, HyperCard passes the message to other objects and searches their scripts for a message handler that matches the current message. The order in which HyperCard passes a message to objects is called the message-passing order or the message-passing path.

Initially, HyperCard sends messages to a specific button or field or to the current card. If a button or field doesn’t handle the message, it goes on to the current card. From the current card, the message goes to the following objects, in order:

  • the current background
  • the current stack
  • the stack script of the Home stack
  • HyperCard itself

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Related Topics

« Handling messages | HyperTalk Reference | Writing message handlers »

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