TigaByte Logo

Frequently Asked Questions




Last update 30th November 2023

Sometime ago this website moved to its own server in order to be much more reliable. If you have not had your forum account activated during the changeover then please either register again or send us an email at info@tigabyte.com








Topic


HyperNext StudioGo

HyperNext CreatorGo

HyperNext DeveloperGo

HyperNext PlayerGo

PluginsGo

Standalone ApplicationsGo

StacksGo

HyperNext LanguageGo

RBscript LanguageGo

Serial NumbersGo

RoyaltiesGo

PlatformsGo










HyperNext Studio

Q1. What is HyperNext Studio?

A1. HyperNext Studio is an easy to use visual software development system that allows hobbyists, students, educators, in fact anyone, to quickly build there own cross-platform software for Windows XP and Vista, Macintosh OS X and OS 9.


Q2. Is HyperNext Studio still being developed?

A2. Yes, HyperNext V4 is still being improved although V5 development is going much slower. V5 pre-alpha versions already running on Windows, OS X and Linux. See here for more details: Forum Development Progress


Q3. What does HyperNext Studio come with?

A3. HyperNext Studio includes three complimentary programs that build standalone applications and stacks, extend its own functionality, and run stacks: HyperNext Creator, Developer and Player respectively. It includes versions of HyperNext Studio for Windows XP to 10, Macintosh OS X (Mactel and PPC). V3.83 has a version for Macintosh OS 9.


HyperNext Creator

Q1. What is HyperNext Creator?

A1. HyperNext Creator is the visual software development program that builds standalone applications and creates stacks which run under the freeware HyperNext Player.


Q2. How can I utilise HyperNext Creator?

A2. HyperNext Creator can be used to build standalone applications and HyperNext Player stacks. The three basic modes of HyperNext Creator, Design, Preview and Run, allow projects to be run within Creator and software to rapidly developed.


HyperNext Developer.

Q1. What is HyperNext Developer?

A1. HyperNext Developer is an easy to use visual software development system that builds plugins for HyperNext Creator.


Q2. How do I use HyperNext Developer?

A2. The HyperNext Developer interface is very similar HyperNext Creator's in that projects can be run and developed within it. However, the finished software is built as a plugin and not as a stack or standalone.


HyperNext Player.

Q1. What is HyperNext Player?

A1. HyperNext Player is a freeware standalone application that runs stacks created by HyperNext Creator. It runs on Macintosh OS 9 and OS X, and on Windows 98 and upwards including Windows XP to 10.


Q2. Are stacks cross-platform?

A2. Yes, a stack produced on Macintosh or Windows platforms will run on any platform, it just needs a HyperNext Player to run it. Some developers though might prefer to build stacks that are platform dependent.


Plugins

Q1. What are plugins?

A1. Plugins are like software libraries that can be used by HyperNext Creator projects. Plugins enable procedures and variables to be kept together as a self contained unit. They can provide complex functionality such as neural networks and yet allow them to be accessed by simple calls from the main program.


Q2. How do I use plugins?

A2. Once a plugin is placed in the Plugins folder of HyperNext Creator it can be accessed from any Creator project. Procedures and variables within the plugin can easily be accessed by simply placing the plugin name in front of the identifier and separating them by a dot.


Q3. Do I have to use plugins?

A3. No, you can simply place all your Procedures and Global Variables in the MainCode section of HyperNext Creator as there is no functional difference between code in the MainCode section or a plugin. However, for larger programs it can become difficult to keep global variable names unique and to separate out algorithms.


Q4. Which official plugins are currently available?

A4. Currently there is a Back Propagation plugin that includes validation and graphing routines. However, there are also several other example plugins available.


Q5. Can I develop and sell my own plugins?

A5. Yes you are free to do this as HyperNext Developer was designed with this aim in mind. Plugins are encrypted so making it very difficult for anyone else to reverse engineer them. It is also quite easy to use the HyperNext language to develop a registration scheme that allows only registered users to access the full plugin functionality.


Standalone Applications.

Q1. What are Standalones?

A1. Standalones are applications that do not require any connection with HyperNext Creator and can have their own particular look and feel. For instance, they can have customised splash screens, about boxes and creator codes.


Q2. Can I develop and sell my own Standalones?

A2. Yes, you are free to use HyperNext Creator to develop and sell standalone programs.


Stacks.

Q1. What are stacks?

A1. Stacks are like documents such as spread sheets and word processor documents except they contain instructions that a HyperNext Player can interpret to produce software with equivalent functionality to a standalone.


Q2. Why use stacks?

A2. Stacks are much smaller than standalone applications, perhaps only a few tens of kilobytes in size. They are easy to distribute and are cross-platform, needing just a HyperNext Player to run them.


HyperNext Language.

Q1. What is the HyperNext language?

A1. HyperNext is the main programming language in HyperNext Creator and Developer. It is a full high-level language with over 1000 keywords that allows a programmer to control user interaction, develop complex algorithms, call plugins, and create/run RBscripts. HyperNext is described both in the Language Reference and the HyperNext Creator/Developer online guides.


Q2. A dialogue box appears with an error message stating that a particular field or canvas does not exist - what is happening?

A2. HyperNext has its own error reporting system that is switched on by default. It reports whenever things go wrong, usually mistakes made by the programmer. For instance, if the program refers to a nonexistent field or file, then HyperNext reports an error. The programmer can suppress these error dialogue boxes by using the ErrorReporting command.


RBscript Language.

Q1. What is the RBscript language?

A1. RBscript is a programming language developed by REAL Software and is an object orientated modern BASIC that is very fast.


Q2. Where can I find out more about RBscript?

A2. RBscript is described more fully in both the Language Reference and HyperNext Creator/Developer online guides. There is also information on REAL Software's web site and on the internet.


Q3. Sometimes when using an RBscript or a neural network plugin an error dialogue box appears stating "RBscript Runtime internal error" and then Neural Creator/Developer quits - what is happening?

A3. RBscript has tried to access a nonexistent object. When using the neural network interface RBscript accesses variables attached to a canvas. As a programmer ensure that the RBscript or neural network plugin is passed a valid canvas number and that the specified canvas exists on the active card when the call is made.


Serial Numbers.

Q1. Does HyperNext Studio require a serial number?

A1. Both v4.0 and v3.83 are freeware but still require serial numbers to turn them into fully enabled versions. The serial numbers etc are in the respective forum download pages. Note, the serial number and web activation code has been removed from V4.01 onwards.


Royalties.

Q1. Do I owe TigaByte Software any royalties for software that I create and sell with HyperNext Studio?

A1. No, you are free to sell or distribute your software as you like.


Platforms.

Q1. Which platforms do HyperNext Creator, Developer and Player run on?

A1. V4, currently on Windows XP to 11, Macintosh OS X to Yosemite. V3.83, Windows XP to 10, Macintosh OS 9 to OS X Snow Leopard.


Q2. Why are there so many versions of HyperNext?

A2. Until about 2017 it was easy to have HyperNext working on both Windows and Mac OS X platforms but OS X started receiving huge developent changes that were not possible keep up with. OS X changes such as file systems, processors and more.


Q3. Can HyperNext Creator build applications and stacks for other platforms?

A3. Yes, to some extent but it depends upon both the development and target platform version. Versions of Mac OS X after 2017 are not catered for.


Q4. Will HyperNext Developer build plugins for other platforms?

A4. Yes, plugins are platform independent. However, some software developers might produce plugins that are platform specific.


Q5. I am using HyperNext Creator on Windows XP - how can I build the "HelloWorld" example into a Macintosh OS X standalone application?

A5. From the "Go" menu select "Build OS X". If the software build is successful it will create two files called "HelloWorld_X" and "stand.app" and place them in the "HelloWorld" folder. The complete standalone application comprises these two files plus the "data" folder. Note, the actual OS X standalone program is contained within "HelloWorld_X", a .bin file, and once on a Macintosh computer will need to be extracted using one of the many free utilities such as the Stuffit utility from "Alladin Systems". When building for Macintosh OS 9 the .bin file would be called "HelloWorld_C".


Q6. I am using HyperNext Creator on Macintosh OS X/9 - how can I build the "HelloWorld" example into a Windows XP standalone application?

A6. From the "Go" menu select "Build Win XP". If the software build is successful it will create two files called "HelloWorld_W" and "stand.app" and place them in the "HelloWorld" folder. The complete standalone application comprises these two files plus the "data" folder. Note that the Windows platform generally expects software to have its own installer but programs can still be run from their own folder. If you need an installer there are many freeware/commercial installers available.










TigaByte Software 2018



 

 
 

Information