Twistory
Download Twistory
Version 3.0 (Universal Binary)
Version 2.2 (Classic)
About Twistory
"Twistory" is a freeware history browser and a historical dictionary. It displays the lifetimes and travels of historic figures, and the dates and locations of historic events. It is a tool for visualising when and where things happened, and their relationships to each other. It is meant to provide a way to keep track of the multitude of different peoples, dynasties, empires and developments throughout history.
The names of hundreds of historic figures are familiar to most people, but it's a challenge to remember when and where they all lived. Many of them are frequently referred to or alluded to in literature or in the media; many of them made the world what it is today. But it can be difficult to remember even what century they lived in. I wrote this programme as an aid to sorting them all out in one's mind. It can show in an instant the time and region in which they lived. It also answers questions like, "Who were their contemporaries, and what was happening in the world at that time?"
Twistory can be used to create maps, time-lines and family trees which can be saved as PDF files or printed. A resource of over 7,000 people, events and places is included. The database has an open text format, so that more historical information can be added by any user. A complete description of the file format is included.
The two main windows are the time-line window, which shows lives and events against a variable time scale, and the map window, which shows people and events in their geographic locations during an interval of time. There is also a genealogy window which shows the ancestors and descendants of a selected person, and an info window that shows additional details about a person or event. Another window lists all milestones occurring on a particular day of the year. There is also a search function.
About Version 3.0
Version 3.0 introduces some minor changes to the format of the text database, hence the new leading digit. If you use the new database with the new application, you will have some new capabilities. If you have made personal modifications to the database that came with version 2.x and you want to use it with version 3.0 of the application, or if you have to use version 2.2 to run in the Classic environment but wish to use the larger database that comes with version 3.0, you can; however in either case you will see a long list of notifications pop up in the Warnings window when you load the database. None of them prevent you from using the basic features of Twistory. The biggest difference you will notice is that all of the people and events are shown only with the default icons. So, new wineskins for new wine.
Version 3.0 stores all of the custom person and event icons in the database folder. Hence any user familiar with an application for editing small graphics files with transparent backgrounds will be able to create and add his or her own custom icons. The same is true for the flags allowed as an option in the time-line view. The outline map is also now stored in the database file, and it can be edited with the PolyTool utility that accompanies Twistory. All of these resources were stored in the application's resource bundle up to version 2.3. The other major enhancement in version 3.0 is the capability to save genealogical trees in HTML format. Instructions for using all of these new features are included in the download.
System Requirements
Twistory version 3.0 will run on any Mac with OS X version 10.3 or later. Version 2.2 is an older version of the programme which is lacking some enhancements, however it is a Classic FAT binary which works under any Mac OS from System 7 on.
Freeware Policy
Twistory is freeware. You may use and pass on Twistory free of charge. It may be reproduced and distributed on CD-ROM or other media, or placed on any web site. The following conditions apply:
- The application must be represented as freeware. (This does not preclude physical media for which a nominal fee is charged.)
- The original Stuffit or BinHex archive file [.sit or .hqx extension] must be included, i.e. all of the original history resources and these instructions must accompany the application programme.
- Additional history resources may accompany Twistory, but their author or editor must be identified by a separate read-me file.
Feedback
If you find any programming bugs or historical errors, or you have suggestions on how to improve Twistory, please e-mail at the address included in the instructions. Twistory is still growing, and it has benefited from previous feedback. If you create historical resources for use with Twistory that might be of interest to others, please see the note in the instructions on how to contribute them to the Twistory project. If you desire user support, please e-mail me with your questions, and I will do my best to help you out.
Open Source
Twistory is now open source. I may be flattering myself. But if you wish to peer into its secrets and help me enhance the programme, its Mac Carbon C sources are in these three directories:
twistory
polytool
c12
The third directory contains my framework for interfacing with the Mac Carbon API. Not every file in it is referenced by Twistory.
J. D. de Boer