Category: news

Our second NS Basic/App Studio Programming Contest starts today. We’re looking forward to cool entries which take advantage of the capabilities of devices and App Studio.

We have two categories: Web App and App Store. Web Apps are installed from a browser, while App Store apps are distributed through the Apple, Google, BlackBerry or other store. All registered NS Basic users are welcome to participate in the contest. Prizes are $100 USD in each category.

You may enter more than one program. Judging will be by NS Basic’s experts. All judging is arbitrary and final. We will be looking for quality, performance, ease of use, sophistication and overall coolness. Apps can be whatever you like: enterprise, business, commercial, education, games or even something whimsical.

All programs must be written using NS Basic/App Studio. Entries may be commercial, shareware or freeware, and for iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry or multiple platforms. Please indicate with your entry whether we can share your program or screenshots with the public.

Send your questions and entries to support@nsbasic.com.

The deadline for entries is Monday, April 23, 2012 at 12:00 midnite EST.

We happy to announce that Version 2.1 is ready!

The list of enhancements and fixes is extensive. Major new features include:

• Support for Libraries: These are easy to add libraries for your app. Libraries include AddToHomeScreen, Encryption and Sencha Touch.
• AutoComplete: Now, when you type the period after an object, a list of members of that object will display.
• The Open and Samples dialogs are now resizable.
• Lots of smaller improvements and fixes. Check out the complete history.

The URL is the same as before. If you don’t have it anymore, be patient: we are sending an email to all registered users with the information.

The team here has been working hard on this new release. Great job, guys!

We have just released NS Basic/App Studio 2.0.1. The new release has some minor new features and a number of bug fixes. The URL is the same as before.

Here is the list:

2.0.1

1. IDE: Add new default screen sizes on New Project.
2. IDE: Added landscape form factors to New Project.
3. Code Window: Highlight ‘Step’ keyword.
4. Code Window: Try and Catch no longer are flagged as syntax errors.
5. Docs: Handbook and Language Reference updated.
6. Language: TimeSerial() now carries result if values are large.
7. Runtime: jQuery Mobile updated to version 1.0.1.
8. Samples: AddToNumbers: add a reset button.
9. Samples: jQM List: Show text of selected item.
10. Samples: new jQM ListWithScrolling sample.
11. Samples: new SQLSample3.
12. Samples: New Transitions sample – work in progress.
13. Samples: Open Sample screen is resizable – more improvements coming.
14. Toolbox: Add setIndex() function to Select control.
15. Toolbox: Fix default on ‘hidden’ property.
16. ToolBox: jQM FooterBar on new form fixed.
17. Toolbox: native menu is now the default.
18. Translator: CDate(“hh:yy:ss”) fixed.
19. Translator: Replace(a, “&”, “&”) fixed.
20. Translator: Replace(a,”&”, “&”) fixed.
21. Translator: text in comments no longer affects function defs.

We happy to announce that Version 2.0 is ready. Better yet, it is a free upgrade for all registered NS Basic/App Studio users!

The list of enhancements and fixes is extensive. Major new features include:

• Support for jQuery Mobile Controls. These are more attractive and powerful than the Classic controls. Here is an actual NS Basic/App Studio App which uses them:

• Desktop Apps. See Tech Note 10 to discover how your NS Basic/App Studio apps can run on Windows and Mac systems, and how you can sell them in the Chrome App Store. See Tech Note 10 for the details.
• Improved dialogs for New Project and Open Sample Project.
• Lots of smaller improvements and fixes. Check out the complete history.

The URL is the same as before. If you don’t have it anymore, be patient: we are sending an email to all registered users with the information.

The team here has been working hard on this new release. Great job, guys!

We happy to announce that Version 1.4.2 is ready!

It features a new Ajax() function, a new collections datatype and a bunch of fixes and minor enhancements.

The URL is the same as before.

1.4.2

1. Language: Added new Ajax() function.
2. Language: Support added for Collections.
3. Samples: Added AjaxPost sample: reverse a string and save as file on server.
4. Samples: Add Collections sample.
5. Samples: New C# WebSockets sample. (Thanks to Christian Probst!)
6. Controls: Added false to Hidden property.
7. Controls: Font styling added to DateTime controls.
8. Controls: Allow width to be changed on Checkbox, RadioButton.
9. Docs: Handbook and Language Reference updated.
10. Translator: BTNew changing to BTnew fixed.
11. Translator: If a then MsgBox 0 fixed.
12. Translator: MsgBox 0 no longer shows blank.
13. Translator: Case of ‘Case’ no longer changed to ‘case’
14. Translator: MsgBox false no longer shows blank.
15. Translator: Object.Add and Object Delete added: collections!
16. Translator: UBound(object) returns items in object.
17. Translator: Comments with embedded colons fixed.

Documentation Changes for Version 1.4.2

1. The new Ajax function is a more powerful version of ReadFile(). It can directly replace ReadFile, plus do POST. POST lets you send larger files to the server – the usual limit is 8 megs, but this can be increased. Calling arguments are Ajax(URL, method, data), which URL is the name of the file or server side script, method is GET or POST, and data is a string containing the data you wish to transfer. Only the URL argument is required: if method is not supplied, it defaults to GET.

2. Collections: A collection is like an array, except the members are accessed by name instead of number.
   

We happy to announce that Version 1.4.1 is ready!

It features a much easier to use and more powerful RadioButton, ToolBox search, multiple forms at one time and better AJAX capabilities. There is also a long list of smaller enhancements and fixes.

The URL is the same as before.

Here’s the complete list of what has been changed:

1.4.1

1. Controls: Add new RadioButton control. Replaces OptionButton.
2. Language: ReadFile() can now specify method. See Language Reference.
3. Code Window: Auto Indent/Outdent improved for Select and Do Loop.
4. Controls: Form has new properties: left, top and openMode.
5. Controls: Button: fix iOS padding problem. Now matches Design Screen.
6. Controls: Button: Orange flash on Android should finally be gone.
7. Controls: Grid – cellstyle now applies to all cells.
8. Controls: TextBox: fix iOS padding problem. Now matches Design Screen.
9. Docs: Handbook and Language Reference updated.
10. IDE: Typo fixed in save message.
11. Language: NSBVersion fixed.
12. Runtime: Improve logic to hide URL bar on iOS.
13. Runtime: NSB.InputBox bombed when used with Sencha Touch.
14. Runtime: NSB.InputBox no longer bounces in Android.
15. Runtime: Multiple forms can be opened side by side.
16. Samples: Added new Ajax sample.
17. Samples: Added new RadioButton sample.
18. Samples: Added new SideBySideFormsTablet sample.
19. ToolBox: Search feature added.

Documentation Changes for Version 1.4.1

1. TextBox and Input box: These controls had a problem. On iOS devices, they were showing 10 pixels wider than in the Design Screen and on Android devices. The problem was fixed by setting padding:0px in the internal code which creates them. This change will affect the appearance of your programs on iOS devices. It should actually make most of them look better, especially short textboxes and buttons. To go back to the old appearance, you will need to add “padding:10px;” to the style property of the control.

2. RadioButton: This new control is much improved over the old OptionButton control. While OptionButton will continue to work, its use is discouraged. The new one is much prettier. You can set up all the options in one control, instead of needing a control for each one. It also has a much simpler interface. See the Language Reference for the details.

3. Forms no longer have to be full screen and you can have more than one open at a time. This allows techniques like side by side forms on tablets (see sample) and pop up dialog boxes.
   
   

Features great new ToolBox!

We’ve completely redone the toolbox. With its folders, it is able to accomodate many more controls than before. Being able to drag and drop onto the Design Screen makes it easier and more natural to use. All new icons make it look great. To top it off, we’ve added new Slider, Date and Time controls.

The URL is the same as before.

Here’s the complete list of what has been changed:

1. ToolBox: Completely replaced – vastly improved!
2. ToolBox: All new icons!
3. ToolBox: Drag and drop controls to Design Screen.
4. Controls: New Data, DateTime, Month and Time controls. (iOS5)
5. Controls: New Slider control (iOS5)
6. ToolBox: Double click adds control to Design Screen.
7. Code Window: Indentation problem fixed with ‘If’ after a blank line.
8. Code Window: Recompile of source code improved.
9. Code Window: Syntax checking is back.
10. Code Window: Very long statements are handled much better.
11. Controls: PayPal – New addField() function added.
12. Controls: PayPal – Subscribe and Unsubscribe added.
13. Controls: CommandButton is now called Button.
14. Deploy: Build status screen appearance improved.
15. Deploy: Unicode characters allowed in configxml.
16. Docs: Handbook and Language Reference updated.
17. Docs: Tutorials 1-4 overhauled.
18. Design Screen: Right click to add control do so at cursor position.
19. IDE: Added “Reset IDE Panels” to View Menu.
20. IDE: Control descriptions now appear in the Hints area.
21. IDE: Format of .nsx file improved for more readability.
22. IDE: View menu fixed.
23. Installation: Unicode characters allowed in install path.
24. Property Box: Spaces in control ID no longer allowed.
25. Runtime: NSB.InputBox input field sized properly on Safari.
26. Runtime: NSB.InputBox no longer bounces on Android
27. Samples: New Slider sample (iOS5)
28. Samples: DateTime updated to use new controls.
29. Translator: Integer Divide operator now works (“”)
30. Translator: VBCritical now parses properly.
31. Translator: Multiple statements per line using : fixed.

Documentation Changes for Version 1.4.0

1. The ToolBox has been overhauled. It looks a lot nicer, can scroll (so users with small screens can see all the controls again) and has some new features. To add controls to your project, either drag & drop them or double click.
   

NS Basic/App Studio 1.3.1 is ready to download. You can download it from the same URL as before.

Here is what is new and changed:

1.3.1

1. Deploy: config.xml file now created automatically. See below.
2. Controls: Adsense – id property added.
3. Controls: Textarea now has single finger scrolling (iOS 5)
4. Deploy: PhoneGap Build 404 errors now handled gracefully.
5. Globals: AppBuildStamp, AppLegalCopyright, AppVersion, NSBVersion added.
6. IDE: New control: range slider. Part of TextBox. (iOS 5)
7. IDE: New project property: configxml
8. IDE: New project property: Version
9. IDE: phonegap property removed. See below.
10. Runtime: Buttons no longer have orange flash on Android
11. TechNotes: New Tech Note 8: Web Apps Compared to PhoneGap Apps

Documentation Changes for Version 1.3.1

1. Config.xml is a file that PhoneGap uses for its settings: icon, program name, version, features used, etc. Until now, you had to create this file yourself. Now, it is generated automatically using the information already in your project. To customize it for your own needs, edit configxml in Project Properties. Full documentation on config.xml is here.

2. The phonegap property has been removed from Project Properties. It conflicted with PhoneGap Build and was rarely used. To accomplish the same thing, add <script src="phonegap.js"></script> to the extraheaders property.

3. Range

   
   The Range option in the TextBox control allows you to have an input slider. (iOS 5).
   

NS Basic/App Studio 1.3.0 is ready to download. You can download it from the same URL as before. We will also be sending an email with the address to registered users.

Major new features include:

– PhoneGap Build integrated into IDE
– New Adsense control: make money from ads in your app
– New NSB.MsgBox control: nicer looking, more features
– iOS 5 features: Date, DateTime, Month and Time pickers

As well as lots of other additions and bug fixes!

Here is the complete list:

1.3.0

1. PhoneGap: Can now create native apps directly in NS Basic/App Studio.
2. Controls: New AdSense control lets you add advertising to your app.
3. Language: New NSB.InputBox function
4. Language: New NSB.MsgBox function
5. Controls: ComboBox: Complete overhaul, much easier to use. See below.
6. Controls: Add new Date, DateTime, Month and Time input types for iOS5.
7. Code Window: ‘is’ and ‘in’ are now treated as a keywords.
8. Code Window: Search now handles unicode characters.
9. Code Window: Fixed bug on line continations.
10. Controls: Menus now refresh automatically when items added or deleted.
11. Controls: Menus: Scrolling fixed on MenuNumber* controls.
12. Controls: Menus: several formatting problems fixed.
13. Deploy: NETWORK: * is default in manifest. See below.
14. Docs: Handbook and Language Reference updated.
15. IDE: Amazon Fire screen size added. (see below)
16. IDE: File name at top of the screen corrected.
17. Language: New Sort() function – see sample in Folder 3.
18. Language: Values of vbYes and vbNo changed from true, false to 6,7.
19. Language: MsgBox returns new values for vbYes and vbNo.
20. Language: Add encodeURI() and decodeURI() to documentation
21. Language: Add encodeURLComponent() and decodeURIComponent() to docs.
22. Runtime: iScroll updated to 4.1.9
23. Samples: New DateTime sample.
24. Samples: New Sort sample.
25. Samples: All web samples have improved manifests.
26. Samples: FaceBookAPI and GoogleReverseGeocoding should now work.
27. Samples: Geolocation updated due to change on Google’s server.
28. Samples: New AdSense sample.
29. Samples: New nsbMsgBox sample shows MsgBox and InputPrompt.
30. Samples: LocalStorage enhanced with extreme comments. (Thanks, Alan Heverly!)

Documentation Changes for Version 1.3.0

1. iOS5: This release brings support for new features in iOS5. Unfortunately, iOS5 has a bug which affects all web apps (not just NS Basic generated ones). It is recorded as Bug 9519157 in Apple’s tracking system. The first time an app is run after it is saved to the Home screen, it will show a message that internet access is required. The message can be ignored: it will only appear once.

2. PhoneGap Build in NS Basic/App Studio: We have now added the ability to create native apps using PhoneGap directly into NS Basic/App Studio. Here is what you need to do:

   1. If you have a PhoneGap Email and Password, enter it into Deploy Options (under the Tools menu). Otherwise, a demo account will be used.
   2. From the Run menu, choose “Build Native App”.
   3. From the Run menu, check the status of your build in “Get Native Build Status”.
   4. As the builds complete, the URLs to download them will appear on this screen.
   5. Do whatever else you need to do to deploy the native app to the device.
   6. To set additional options for the build, create a config.xml file in your home directory. See https://build.phonegap.com/docs/config-xml.

   

3. ComboBox: Now much easier to use, and supports setting up the list in the IDE. Old implmentation should continue to work. See updated sample.

4. Manifest: NETWORK: * is now part of the default manifest. This means that any external reference is now allowed. This is especially helpful if you are doing complex operations with external servers. If you add your own NETWORK: section to your manifest, it will override the default setting.

5. New AdSense Control: AdSense lets you put advertising on your page. If your customer clicks on it, your AdSense account at Google will earn money. To use this, first sign up with AdSense.com, then fill the account details into the control’s properties. Note that if the customer clicks on an ad, your program will end and the customer will be taken to the ad’s website. Make sure you keep your current state saved so you can restart.

   

6. New NSB.MsgBox control: The current MsgBox statement reads “JavaScript” instead of the program name, and is missing many features found in the VBScript version. The new NSB.MsgBox remedies this – it has all the features of the VBScript statement and more: such as custom icons.

   

   There is one significant difference. All execution is not stopped until the user responds (as the current MsgBox and the VBScript one do). The screen will lock out all other input, but execution will continue. Once the user has dismissed the NSB.MsgBox, a function in the program can be called to deal with the result.

   See the new nsbMsgBox sample.

7. New NSB.InputBox control: Implemented much like NSB.MsgBox.

   

8. Amazon Fire support: While we support the screensize of the device, we have not actually gotten one to test yet. No promises until we do!

NS Basic/App Studio 1.2.6 is ready to download. You can download it from the same URL as before. We will also be sending an email with the address to registered users.

1.2.6

1. Samples: Nearly all have been revised and new comments added.
2. Controls: All scrolling controls now have a refresh() method. See below.
3. Docs: Handbook and Language Reference updated.
4. Code Window: ‘Not’, ‘True’ and ‘False’ were not colored correctly.
5. Code Window: False syntax error on Do statement fixed.
6. Controls: Form now has some events.
7. Controls: nsbbutton class improved.
8. Controls: Remove href=”#” tags – fixes refresh problem.
9. Deploy: Incorrect browser message can be changed.
10. Language: New global: Location. See Language Reference.
11. Samples: New Picturebox_ScrollAndZoom sample.
12. Samples: Reorganized folders.

Documentation Changes for Version 1.2.6

1. Scrolling controls: All now have a .refresh() method, which replaces having to do SetTimeout(control_ref.refresh(),100). Now you just need to do control.refresh() after the content of a scrolling area is rendered or updated.