nClock 1.0.12 by Levak and Xavier Andréani (since 01/2016 and version 1.0.7) http://tiplanet.org http://levak.free.fr /!\ Important : You need Ndless 3.1 >= r611 (~ April 2012) or Ndless 3.6+ /!\ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.unsads.com/projects/nsptools/downloader/download/release/1 I) About nClock --------------- nClock is a hook that lets you display in real time what time it is, everywhere in the OS. nClock uses the built-in RTC interrupts in order to keep its accuracy by giving the exact time. The value of the RTC is frequently backuped in order to prevent the loss of the time on each reboot. It can be configured, as it uses a config file loaded on each launch of nClock and saved on each exit. You can change many things in nClock such as the display format and the position of the mini-clock ! II How to use - first time -------------------------- The first time you discover nClock, it cames with an TI-Nspire file named "nclock.tns". This is (obviously) the only file you have to send to your TI-Nspire using either TI-Nspire Computer [Link/Student] Softaware or TiLp. Once you've done that, launch it a first time, it will pop up a welcome message. Please read it. Then, it will ask you for a basic configuration, but keep in mind that you will find these options (along with others !) later. Then, it will ask you "Is this date valid ?". At this point, the config file has been created but it is hidden from the document browser in order to keep it clear that you must not delete it by accident. The popup "is this date valid" indicates you that nClock is trying to install the hook and asks you if it has to change the current RTC value. Since the hook is a permanent change of the OS except when it reboots, you will see this popup only on install and after a reboot. If the date is valid, just click "Keep", if not, use the "Change" button (you may use the "Change" button only on install, notice that the RTC value is safe, even after a reboot. Only few cases make it reset to zero). At this point, you should see the mini-clock appear in the upper-right corner of the screen. This is the hook. Every second, it will display an update of the current time. So, depending on the screen refresh, you will see it almost instantly everywhere (except during Ndless program excecution). To configure nClock, just launch it again, it will now bring you a new shell, showing multiples choices, and a bigger clock. III How to use nClock --------------------- You have successfully installed nClock and launching it again shows a title, a big clock, the current date in the format "Weekday day month year", and 3 buttons. nClock is not only a regular "clock" : it also brings features like a countdown. It can be used during exams, to keep track of the remaining time you have, and, what is cool, is that it updates also the mini-clock ! You can leave nClock and do your exam stuff, and without leaving your working document, see the time left. Talking about the options now : you can configure nClock so that it looks more like what you want without touching the source code or anything. The configuration is saved in a file called "config.nclock". Because of its extension in ".nclock" you won't see it in the document browser, but you'll be able to delete it from TI-Nspire Computer [Link/Student] Software or TiLP. This file is loaded when you open nClock and saved when you exit. To configure nClock, just launch it and use the "Options" choice where it shows the list of options : - Change time - Change date - Choose hour format (12/24hrs) - Display seconds - Change the mini-clock position - Hide the mini-clock - automatically launch nClock on startup - ask to check the time when you launch nClock after a reboot Basically, every option is self-explanatory. So no need to explain them all. But, two of them need some clarifications : * Hiding the mini-clock doesn't uninstall the hook, see IV How to uninstall. It only skips the date computation and paint part in order to let the screen as it should be without nClock, and you'll be able to use nClock only whenever you want. * Ask to check the time when you launch nClock after reboot is only a security that avoids you to launch nClock manually and reconfigure the RTC if its value had changed after a reboot. If you have never seen the RTC value changing, even after many reboots (like me), just disable that option and it will be fine. Futhermore, nClock comes with a really intersting feature : the Countdown. It is a simple backward clock and its goal value (the time the countdown expires) is stored in the config file, so even after a reboot, the value will be saved. Using a Countdown is very very useful in many ways : * During an exam, in order to show in real time the remaining time * Create a now-to-date computation * Predict the end of the world (exam day I mean) * Cook your food while doing maths To setup a countdown, from the menu, use the "Countdown" button and it will bring another option menu where you can select either "...delay" or "... from date". Depending on the choice, it will prompt some native popups and everything should be clear. You can stop the current countdown by using "Stop current countdown" (obvious, isn't it ?). One cool feature is the "Reboot Nspire on countdown". What it does is, when the countdown reaches 0, and after the popup "Time's up !", the calculator will reboot. The idea of such a useless feature comes during the mini-clock countdown integration : I called a popup from the RTC interrupts and Ndless is not yet prepared to work with interruptions, so basicly a few ASM calls after, the calculator was in a non-sens state and rebooted. I thought it was a good thing to keep it, so now, using zlock and hide manager, you'll be able to share your calc ... but for a restricted amount of time :D Indeed when the calc reboots, zLock loads and ask a password. In order to prevent the user to change the countdown, use Hide Manager to keep secret and password protected the folder that contains nClock GENIUS, but useless, I agree :D IV How to uninstall nClock -------------------------- Okay, you had a great time using nClock and you even cooked your pastas using its countdown, but know it is time to give the TI-Nspire back to your friend and you want to let it as it was before he gave it to you. To uninstall properly nClock, rename it to "uninstall.tns" and launch it. Basicly what it does, is nClock checks its name and if it is "uninstall.tns", it knows you want to say him goodbye. It will delete the config file and, in order to remove the hook, will ask you to reboot the calculator (you can say "No"). V Known bugs ------------ Q: When I launch a countdown it corrupts all the settings and nothing seems to be normal A: It happened me sometimes during development phases only, when I was about to change the config file format, so if it happens to you it means your config file is corrupted, Just uninstall nclock (see IV How to uninstall nClock) and reinstall it, should be fine. Q: My calc ran in idle mode after the popup "Time's up", it crashed, and know is stuck on the grey screen on boot. A: This weird bug happened a lot during development time and has normally disappeared. If it happens to you, Hold [Esc] [Menu] [-] (not [(-)]) and press the reset button (keep hold) then, it shows the "Diags Menu", press Esc, it loads a progress bar, then it's ok. Reset the calc VI Changelog ------------ * v1.0.12: 24/09/17 Added compatibility for Ndless 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 Added compatibility for CX non-CAS 3.9.1 Added compatibility for CX HW-W+ screen * v1.0.11: 18/02/16 Added compatibility for Ndless 4.2 * v1.0.10: 24/01/16 Fixed contrast bug with color screens. * v1.0.9: 08/01/16 Fixed both date to datestamp and datestamp to date conversions, whose results were wrong. As a result, the date set could be up to 1 day later or sooner that the user input. Datestamp is now a POSIX compliant "unsigned long", which fixes the 2038 bug. Next bug should be in 2106. Fixed leap year test function bug. * v1.0.8: 07/01/16 Fixed date to day of week convertion, whose results were wrong for a majority of dates between 1970 and 2039. * v1.0.7: 03/01/16 Added compatibility for Ndless 4.0.3 Added partial compatibility for Ndless 3.9 : ClickPad/TouchPad non-CAS + CX CAS * v1.0.6: 29/03/14 Fixed countdown "from date" and countdown display > 1 day * v1.0.5: 11/03/14 Added compatibility for Ndless 3.6 * v1.0.4: 21/05/13 Minor fixes on fadeouts * v1.0.3: 12/02/13 Initial release Hope you'll enjoy it !