Author: George Henne

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OpenWeatherMap’s new API Key

A number of our tutorials use weather data from OpenWeatherMap’s website. It provides information about current conditions for anywhere in the world, with an easy to use API. Best of all, it’s free, so long as you do not make more than 60 calls a minute or 50,000 per day.

Recently, they added a requirement for an API Key to access their service. An API Key is a string you supply with your request containing your unique identifier. They’re free: you can get them at http://openweathermap.org/appid.
Continue reading “OpenWeatherMap’s new API Key”

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AppStudio 5.1.3 Released!

We’re pleased to announce AppStudio 5.1.3 is ready. New and improved stuff includes:

  1. Code Windows: “new Object” no longer flagged as syntax error.
  2. Controls: Label align can be set in styleheaders
  3. Controls: HeaderBar is now responsive.
  4. Controls: HeaderBar can handle both ChangeForm properties and onclick code. (Thanks, Buck!)
  5. Controls: Panel improvements. (Thanks, Buck!)
  6. Controls: Google Maps modified to handle being offline gracefully.
  7. IDE: No longer crashes when styleheaders window is open. (Mac OS)
  8. Project Properties: New “enableBrowserArrows” property.
  9. Runtime: Browser back (and forward) buttons work with ChangeForm.
  10. Runtime: Form.onshow() runs without delay if no visual effect.
  11. Runtime: Page is sized properly if jQuery Mobile not used.
  12. Samples: New ReadAsText sample shows FileReader object.

Download the latest version from ‘Check for Updates’ under then AppStudio Help menu. It is a free upgrade for AppStudio 5 users.

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Using System Fonts

Since the iPhone came out, Helvetica has pretty much been the standard font for all devices. It’s clean, simple and readable. However, both Apple and Google are tinkering with the default font to make it look even better on small screens. Here are the contenders:

helvetica

San Francisco

roboto

Starting with AppStudio 5.1.2, you have more control over these fonts, giving your apps a more native look.

Here’s how it works:
Continue reading “Using System Fonts”

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AppStudio 5.1.2 released!

We’re pleased to announce AppStudio 5.1.2 is ready. New and improved stuff includes:

  1. Code Window: fix a false negative syntax message
  2. Controls: FlipToggle fixed on Windows 7 + IE11.
  3. Controls: Fix problem with Panels overlapping. (Thanks, Buck!)
  4. Design Screen: Add some retry/delays to deal with IE refresh issues.
  5. Design Screen: Fix problem with RTL languages.
  6. Libraries: revert jQuery-modal. Newer version has issues.
  7. PhoneGap: Add new SplashScreen commands to configxml.
  8. Runtime: ChangeForm now calls onShow after transition completes.
  9. Runtime: Updates to speech support
  10. Runtime: Use system fonts where possible.
  11. Samples: New Breakout game sample using CodeHS library.

    Download the latest version from ‘Check for Updates’ under then AppStudio Help menu. It is a free upgrade for AppStudio 5 users.

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Using calculations in bounds properties

Ever try to center a button on a form? Dead center, from top to bottom, from right to left, no matter how the size of the form changes?

You can’t put a number like 100 into the left or top property. It won’t respond to different screen sizes.

You can’t put a percentage (like 50%): it will align the top or left of the button at 50%, not the center of the button.

There’s a handy calc() function you can use instead.
Continue reading “Using calculations in bounds properties”

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PhoneGap: Change to configxml for SplashScreens

(This blog posted was updated with additional information on Oct 23, 2015, Thanks, Vagner!)

The recent updates to PhoneGap have resulted in another change being needed to your configxml.

In Project Properties, add these lines anywhere in the middle of PhoneGap configxml:

<gap:plugin name="cordova-plugin-splashscreen" source="npm" />
<preference name="AutoHideSplashScreen" value="true" />

Without this, your splashscreens will not appear.

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AppStudio 5.1.1 released!

We’re pleased to announce AppStudio 5.1.1 is ready. New stuff includes:

  • Language: new Speak(text, voice) function.
  • MacOS: IDE language defaults to the local language.
  • Education: New Kesbath Computer Games course.
  • Controls: HTMLView – contentEditable fixed.
  • IDE: Fix some spelling errors.
  • Libraries: jQuery-modal bumped to 0.5.9
  • MakeEXE: Python version bumped to 2.7.10
  • Open Sample: Search results now much easier to see.
  • Runtime: Python version bumped to 2.7.10
  • Samples: New Speak sample.
  • Samples: new SpeechSynthesis samples.
  • Translations: Many of the translations are now caught up to Version 5.
  • Projects: backgroundImages for Projects and Forms cleaned up.
  • Forms: backgroundImage added to manifest automatically.
  • MakeEXE: problem with window style attributes fixed.
  • Forms, Projects: Gradient images work consistently in backgroundImage.
  • Forms: If designHeight and designWidth are 0, they default to Form’s height and width.

Download the latest version from ‘Check for Updates’ under then AppStudio Help menu. It is a free upgrade for AppStudio 5 users.