A Simple Program: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Example.jpg]]== Purpose ==
== Purpose ==


The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate how a simple program is created using NS Basic/App Studio. You should have NS Basic/App Studio installed before beginning this tutorial.
The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate how a simple program is created using AppStudio. You should have AppStudio installed before beginning this tutorial.
 
You can view a similar video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzyXuOJjp-E


=== Description of the Program ===
=== Description of the Program ===
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=== Startup ===
=== Startup ===


1. Start NS Basic/App Studio from the Start menu. Here is what you will see:
1. Start AppStudio from the Start menu. Here is what you will see:


[[File:TT01.01.JPG]]<br>
[[File:TT01.01.png]]<br>
# ToolBar: A list of common functions, made quickly accessible. If you are not sure what one is, hover over it with your cursor and its description will appear.
# Deploy Bar: Starts your app. The picker lets you choose where you want it run.
# ToolBox: A list of objects you can put on a form.
# Tab Bar: Use this to switch between your open designs and code.
# Editor Bar: Choose Design Screen or Code Window, also Find and go to a function.
# ToolBox: A list of controls you can put on a form.
# Design Screen: Here is where you layout the objects on the form.
# Design Screen: Here is where you layout the objects on the form.
# Project Explorer: See the structure of your code. Use this to select objects and to bring up the Properties for them.
# Project Explorer: See the structure of your code. Use this to select objects and to bring up the Properties for them.
Line 22: Line 26:
# Hints: Some tips on the current object.
# Hints: Some tips on the current object.
# (not shown yet) Code Window: An editor for your program code.
# (not shown yet) Code Window: An editor for your program code.
<br><br>


2. Create a new project. Select menu item File...New. Choose Classic for your framework, the default iPhone/Nexus size and use HelloWorld as your new File name. (If you use jQuery Mobile as a frame, this tutorial will work fine, though the app's appearance will be slightly different.)
2. Create a new project. Select menu item File...New. Choose BASIC as your programming language, the default iPhone/Nexus size and use HelloWorld as your new File name.  


[[File:TT01.02.png]]<br>
<br><br>


It's best to create your project in a new folder.
It's best to create your project in a new folder.


[[File:TT01.03.JPG]]<br>
<br><br>


3. Add a Button. Select the button in the ToolBox and drag & drop it where you like.
3. Add a Button. Select the button in the ToolBox and drag & drop it where you like.


[[File:TT01.04.JPG]]<br>
<br><br>


4. Edit the Value of the button to say "Click Me!"
4. Edit the Value of the button to say "Click Me!"


[[File:TT01.05.JPG]]<br>
<br><br>


5. We can actually run the program now. Choose Run...Start in Desktop Browser. It runs in your default browser: we recommend using Chrome or Safari, as these support the WebKit extensions which mobile devices use. We could even run this on a device, but let's do a bit more first...
5. We can actually run the program now. Choose Run...Start in Desktop Browser. It runs in your default browser: we recommend using Chrome or Safari, as these support the WebKit extensions which mobile devices use. We could even run this on a device, but let's do a bit more first...


[[File:TT01.06.JPG]]<br>
<br><br>


6. In the Properties Editor, choose onclick. It will show a popup with 'Button1_onclick()'. Select that, and you will go into the Code Window:
6. In the Properties Editor, choose Events. It will show a popup with with the events for buttons. Near the top, you will see 'onclick'. Select that, and you will go into the Code Window:


[[File:TT01.07.JPG]]<br>


<br><br>
7. Add the following code into the function:
7. Add the following code into the function:
   Msgbox "Hello World!"
   Msgbox "Hello World!"


[[File:TT01.08.JPG]]<br>
<br><br>
8. Now, run it again and click on "Click Me!"


8. Now, run it again and click on "Click Me!" (To get a prettier MsgBox, use NSB.MsgBox instead.)
[[File:TT01.09.JPG]]<br>


<br><br>


=== Run on an iPhone ===
=== Run on an iPhone ===


1. Good work! Now let's run it on a phone. From the Run menu, choose Deploy. The IDE will upload your complete app to a webserver called nsbapp.com. We have set this one up for NS Basic users for testing. (We're using an iPhone here. We'll do it for Android next.)
1. Good work! Now let's run it on a phone. From the Deploy picker, choose "Deploy to Volt". Volt is a test server we have set up for AppStudio users. (We're using an iPhone here. We'll do it for Android next.)
 
Choose "I'd like to continue using the demo account for now". You can set up a permanent account later, and click Deploy.


[[File:TT01.10.JPG]]<br>
<br><br>


2. Now, get your iPhone and go into Safari. Enter in the URL from the last step.
2. You'll see this. Enter the link into Safari or use a QR Code scan utility to start app.


[[File:TT01.11.JPG]]<br>
<br><br>


3. Hit Go. The page will appear. You can tap on "Click Me!", and you'll see: a working app in NS Basic/App Studio.
3. Hit Go. The page will appear. You can tap on "Click Me!", and you'll see: a working app in AppStudio.


[[File:TT01.12.png|border]]<br>
<br><br>


4. But this isn't a real app: it's just a web page that looks like one. Let's turn it into a real app on the Home Screen. First, we'll tap on the arrow icon at the bottom of the screen.
4. But this isn't a real app: it's just a web page that looks like one. Let's turn it into a real app on the Home Screen. First, we'll tap on the box with an arrow icon at the bottom of the screen.


[[File:TT01.13.png]]<br>
<br><br>


5. Choose "Add To Home Screen", then click on Add.
5. Choose "Add To Home Screen", then click on Add.


 
[[File:TT01.14.png]]<br>
6. We're done. Let's have a look. Here is the Home Screen:
6. We're done. Let's have a look. Here is the Home Screen:


[[File:TT01.15.png]]<br>
7. Click on the HelloWorld icon. Now the app itself is showing. Notice the top Safari bar is not there? This app now looks and runs like a normal phone app. It will even run if the device is offline.


7. Click on the HelloWorld icon, and this splash screen shows up:
[[File:TT01.17.png]]<br>
 
 
8. Now the app itself is showing. Notice the top Safari bar is not there? This app now looks and runs like a normal phone app. It will even run if the device is offline.
 


=== Run on an Android device ===
=== Run on an Android device ===
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1. Here is how our app looks.
1. Here is how our app looks.


[[File:TT01.18.png|border]]<br>
<br><br>


2. Tap on the menu button to bring up your choices. Click on Bookmarks.
2. Tap on the menu button to bring up your choices. Click on Add to homescreen.
 
 
3. Click on Add to add it to your bookmarks.
 
 
4. Change the name if you need to, then tap on OK.
 
 
5. Hit the Home key to get back to the Home Screen


[[File:TT01.19.png]]<br>
<br><br>


6. Hold your finger down on the Home Screen until this pops up. Select Shortcuts.


3. Click on Add to add it to your Home Screen.


7. Select Bookmark.
[[File:TT01.20.png]]<br>
<br><br>


4. Here is how it looks on the homescreen.


8. Select HelloWorld.
[[File:TT01.21.png]]<br>
<br><br>


5. Here is how it looks running on the homescreen.


9. And here is our new Home Screen. The new app on the home screen will run whether the device is connected to the net or not.
[[File:TT01.22.png|240px|320px]]<br>

Revision as of 14:20, 10 May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this tutorial is to demonstrate how a simple program is created using AppStudio. You should have AppStudio installed before beginning this tutorial.

You can view a similar video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzyXuOJjp-E

Description of the Program

The program to be developed will display a form with a button on it. When the user taps the button, the program responds with the message "Hello World!"

Program Development

Startup

1. Start AppStudio from the Start menu. Here is what you will see:


  1. Deploy Bar: Starts your app. The picker lets you choose where you want it run.
  2. Tab Bar: Use this to switch between your open designs and code.
  3. Editor Bar: Choose Design Screen or Code Window, also Find and go to a function.
  4. ToolBox: A list of controls you can put on a form.
  5. Design Screen: Here is where you layout the objects on the form.
  6. Project Explorer: See the structure of your code. Use this to select objects and to bring up the Properties for them.
  7. Properties Grid: A list of the properties of the item selected in the Project Explorer.
  8. Status Bar: Messages from the IDE to you.
  9. Hints: Some tips on the current object.
  10. (not shown yet) Code Window: An editor for your program code.



2. Create a new project. Select menu item File...New. Choose BASIC as your programming language, the default iPhone/Nexus size and use HelloWorld as your new File name.




It's best to create your project in a new folder.




3. Add a Button. Select the button in the ToolBox and drag & drop it where you like.




4. Edit the Value of the button to say "Click Me!"




5. We can actually run the program now. Choose Run...Start in Desktop Browser. It runs in your default browser: we recommend using Chrome or Safari, as these support the WebKit extensions which mobile devices use. We could even run this on a device, but let's do a bit more first...




6. In the Properties Editor, choose Events. It will show a popup with with the events for buttons. Near the top, you will see 'onclick'. Select that, and you will go into the Code Window:




7. Add the following code into the function:

 Msgbox "Hello World!"




8. Now, run it again and click on "Click Me!"




Run on an iPhone

1. Good work! Now let's run it on a phone. From the Deploy picker, choose "Deploy to Volt". Volt is a test server we have set up for AppStudio users. (We're using an iPhone here. We'll do it for Android next.)

Choose "I'd like to continue using the demo account for now". You can set up a permanent account later, and click Deploy.




2. You'll see this. Enter the link into Safari or use a QR Code scan utility to start app.




3. Hit Go. The page will appear. You can tap on "Click Me!", and you'll see: a working app in AppStudio.




4. But this isn't a real app: it's just a web page that looks like one. Let's turn it into a real app on the Home Screen. First, we'll tap on the box with an arrow icon at the bottom of the screen.




5. Choose "Add To Home Screen", then click on Add.


6. We're done. Let's have a look. Here is the Home Screen:


7. Click on the HelloWorld icon. Now the app itself is showing. Notice the top Safari bar is not there? This app now looks and runs like a normal phone app. It will even run if the device is offline.


Run on an Android device

On Android the procedure is even simpler.

1. Here is how our app looks.




2. Tap on the menu button to bring up your choices. Click on Add to homescreen.





3. Click on Add to add it to your Home Screen.




4. Here is how it looks on the homescreen.




5. Here is how it looks running on the homescreen.