New Tutorial: Programming - Try
In this tutorial, I explain how to use the "Try" block to catch errors that occur in your programs and prevent them from stopping your program. It is a very useful thing to know when creating programs that will be used by other people, so make sure that you watch it if you distribute your programs!
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Update for File Archive: Amazon S3
Recently, I have started using Amazon S3 for storing the images and files for the File Archive. Amazon S3 is an online backup service, and it is hosted by Amazon's servers, so the File Archive should load faster than when the images were coming off the hosting server. However, this could also mean that a few downloads don't work, so if you see a file whose download link doesn't work, please email me by using the "Contact" button at the top of each page.
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New Tutorial: Geometry Constructions
In this latest tutorial, I explain how to use the Constructions menu in the Graphs/Geometry application. It can be a bit tricky to use if you don't know how to use the various tools, so I clearly explain how to use each one so that you can start using them in your own project.
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Sorry for the Outage!
As many of you have noticed, NspireHQ has been down for about a week now. This was due to some severe troubles with the server. However, they have been resolved now, and hopefully they will stay resolved, so I will start posting more news and tutorials this week. Sorry for any inconvenience that this has caused you!
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Lack of New Tutorials
Unfortunately, I've been busy lately, and my finals start next week, so I won't be able to make any new tutorials until 2 weeks from now. If I find some extra time, then I will record another tutorial, but for now, I don't have the time. Sorry!
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New Tutorial: Programming - Manipulating Strings
In this tutorial, I explain how to manipulate strings in programs to do things like changing user input into something that is usable. It does cover more content than usual, so it is suggested that you are comfortable with programming before you watch it.
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New Tutorial: The (not so) local user group meeting
Click Here To Watch. Recently, there was a web conference for the "(not so) local user group meeting". During that conference, Nelson Sousa did a presentation on Technical Authoring on the TI-Nspire. He provides many very useful techniques that will make you think about authoring on the TI-Nspire in many new ways. While you can't get to it from the Tutorials section of the website just yet, you can still watch it by clicking the link at the start of this post. Enjoy!
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New Tutorial: Programming - For and While Loops
Continuing in the programming series, this tutorial discusses how to loop through a series of commands multiple times using the For and While commands. It uses information from the Input and Output tutorial, so it is suggested that you watch that tutorial before watching this one.
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New Tutorial: Programming - If Statement
Continuing in the programming series, in this tutorial, I explain how you can use the If statement to choose how your program will run. As always, in order to fully understand the content of the tutorial, it is advised that you watch the previous tutorials in the series.
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New Tutorial: Programming - Input and Output
Continuing NspireHQ's new programming series, in this tutorial, I discuss how you can display information on the screen and how to get input from users when they run the program. This builds upon concepts from the Programming Basics tutorial, so if you haven't already, watch that tutorial first.
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New Tutorial: Slider Basics
This tutorial explains how to use Sliders to make your documents interactive. It clearly explains how to set each setting for sliders, how to use them, and why they are helpful. I would also like to remind people that they can suggest tutorials for the site by emailing me at admin@nspirehq.com, because this tutorial was suggested to me by a site viewer.
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New Tutorial: Programming Basics
I've finally finished the next tutorial, which discusses the basics that you need to know in order to program on the TI-Nspire. It covers the difference between programs and functions and between LibPub and LibPriv, as well as how to actually make a useful program or function that you can simplify math problems.
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Welcome to NspireHQ!
Welcome to NspireHQ! We strive to bring you the latest TI-Nspire news, files, and tutorials, making it easier for you to use and learn the TI-Nspire calculator. Previously, this website was called Lafacroft, but the name NspireHQ is more suited to the type of content available on this site. Feel free to tell me what you think of the new design by emailing me at admin@nspirehq.com. You can also discuss many topics relating to the TI-Nspire at the TI-Nspire Google Group, which can be accessed through the navigation menu.
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TI-Nspire Files Section Back Online
All of the previously reported bugs have now been fixed. If you find files in the "TI-Nspire Files" section that give you an error when you try to download them, please email me at admin@lafacroft.com
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Video Tutorial: Drawing the Inverse of a Function
In this week's tutorial, I show you how to draw the inverse of a function on the Graphs Application by using the Locus tool.
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Some New Files Added
I've put some more files into the archive today. However, the little table on the side about the updated files is currently out-of-order. Don't worry though. We'll have it back up and running soon.
There's still some files in the archive without pictures, but that should be all taken care of soon. Ross and I have also been finding a few bad download links here and there, so if you find any too, please e-mail us and make out job easier.
Anyway, don't forget to take a trip over to our archive and check out the new files. There're some good ones!
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Search Feature
The search feature is finally working! You can search from the home page or on the TI-Nspire Files page, so it should be much easier to find the file that you are looking for. It has the ability to search through the Title, Author, Category, and Description of the file, so you should be able to find exactly what you are looking for.
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Video Tutorial: Dynamic Function Switcher
I am finally getting to a lot of tutorial ideas that I've had built up for a while, so video tutorials are going to be coming out more often than once a week for a while. Today's tutorial is how you can great a graph that allows you to change between the graphs of the 6 trig ratios by using a slider. It uses indirection in a brand new way, so make sure you've seen my indirection tutorial first to understand what is going on. Please email your feedback to admin@lafacroft.com, as I would like to know if I am doing the video tutorials clearly, or if there is something that I could do to make them clearer and better.
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Video Tutorial: Indirection
The second video tutorial is now available in the tutorial section of the website. It walks you through how to use indirection to enhance programs and features of the TI-Nspire. I am planning on making Quick Tips and Video Tutorials much more often than in the past, so expect to see Quick Tips every few days (or sooner) and Video Tutorials every week. Hopefully, this will make Lafacroft a more valuable learning tool for TI-Nspire users.
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Video Tutorial: Programming the Graphs and Geometry Application
My first video tutorial is now complete. You can access it in the Tutorials section of the website. It is on how to program the Graphs and Geometry Application, and should help you get started on making complex documents such as the "Monty Hall Problem", which I created and posted into the TI-Nspire Files section of the website. Enjoy!
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Quick Tip: Reviewing the Reference Guide (by Eric Findlay)
Over at the TI-Nspire Google Group, Eric Findlay has gone through the reference guide for OS 2.0 and has found some interesting features. He writes:
Hi. I just skimmed through the updated Reference Guide and typed up
some notes about new functions and stuff. (if it's not really new,
please forgive me. I might have had an old version before this).
getLanginfo - this could be helpful for Nelson so he doesn't need 2
different versions of his programs.
getLockInfo - a way to check if a variable is locked. This will be
helpful in try-else blocks
Request - Tip! Remember to check the type of the variable after using
request.
Tip! You can also request and store a function from the user. See
example in the Reference Guide.
Tip! Request can accept a string if it's enclosed in quotation marks.
Otherwise, it's treated as an expression (and then converted to num,
list, etc)
Tip! With Request and RequestStr, you can turn off displaying the
request in the calc history by passing a 0 as the optional third argument.
Tip! Assign a value to the variable used for storage to give the
Request box a default value. DelVar the storage variable before reusing
for more input (or set to "" or {} for string/list respectively).
Also, Request can only be used in a Program (ie: not a function)
Rotate - did you know that in addition to rotating binary number, you
can also rotate strings and lists? I didn't. While I can't think of
any great use for this right now, it's kind of neat. Also applies to Shift.
Stat functions and variables - the Reference Guide now shows tables of
what variables each function and stat variable contains. I believe this
used to only be in the full manual.
Text - the description says there are "OK" and "Cancel" buttons, but the
example only shows the "OK" button. Is there some undocumented way to
choose which buttons you have? If not, I think there should be. Either
like Java Swing, with preset options you can choose from, or fully
customizable button labels.
© - Makes a comment. What many people don't know is that you can use
the first line of a program/function to create a description comment
that will show up in the catalogue. Supposedly you can use the carriage
return arrow button to create multi-line comments, but I tried in the
software and it doesn't seem to work.
Equation Operating System (EOS) hierarchy - Here's a new section
basically explaining the Nspire order of operations, with a few notes
and clarifications on their choices.
Quick Tip: Random New Features of OS 2.0
Welcome to the first quick tip post. This is a new series/feature that I am adding to Lafacroft, and it will be quick bits of information that should prove to be helpful when using the TI-Nspire.
Today, I will be highlighting some lesser known new features of OS 2.0.
- When using Request or RequestStr, if the variable that you are using already contains a value, it will be displayed as a "default" value in the dialog box (thanks for Eric Findlay for this tip)
- You can now have multiple levels of folders for your documents, so it will be much easier to manage your documents
- The new Text command offers a second way of displaying information. It uses a dialog box similar to the one used by Request and RequestStr
- Documents can now be made to be "Read Only", as well as store copyright information, making distributing files much easier, especially in a classroom setting (again, thanks to Eric Findlay for this tip)
- The computer software can be used to edit documents directly on the handheld, making it easy to edit files without the need to transfer documents
Hopefully you found this post useful, and if you have any suggestions for future quick tips, email them to me at admin@lafacroft.com.
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TI-Nspire Redesigned
Today, Texas Instruments changed the appearance and keyboard layout of their TI-Nspire line. The tan and blue shells have been replaced with black, and the keyboard layout is different, most noticeably having a separate section for alpha keys and a touch-sensitive cursor pad instead of the round pad, or the "Clickpad", as TI calls it now. It is unknown as of now whether or not the new keypads are compatible with legacy TI-Nspire models, but once we find out, we'll let you all know. Take a look at the redesigned TI-Nspires here.
Now, those nice, shiny models wouldn't be any good without a new OS. The TI-Nspire OS 2.0 is compatible with all retail versions of the TI-Nspire. The most noticeable differences with OS 2.0 are a different Home screen, subfolders, some I/O commands, separate buttons for Graphs and Geometry on the Home screen (although they're still one application), some new special characters, a Calculus menu in the Calculator application, and a new "Scratch-Pad", where you can quickly calculate things and draw graphical representations without being in a document. As this is one of the biggest updates we've seen for the TI-nspire, it's definitely worth a download.
Edit-New keyboards in a matching light blue color will be available for TI-Nspires for upgrading, costing $10 each.
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The TI-Nspire has been hacked!
Today marks a very important day in the history in TI graphing calculators. Ndless, a project developed by Geoffrey Anneheim and Olivier Armand has enabled third-party development for the TI-Nspire in C and assembly.
Here on Lafacroft.com, Ross and I will soon adapt the archive to include third-party software for the TI-Nspire.
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More Updates on the Way
I am finally able to get some more updates done, so expect to finally see more updates within the next few days. I am sorry about not updating for a long time, but I didn't have enough free time until now. I already have updated the HTML and CSS to be cleaner and more efficient, as well as finally implementing the Tutorials Page. I have yet to implement the Contact Us page as well as the Search feature, but those will be done shortly. In addition, I plan to implement more javascript features that should make using Lafacroft much easier. For example, on the search page, I plan on adding AJAX functionality so that instead of having to go to another page to get search results, you will get results as you type. It will make finding files much faster. I also hope to get the latest files from the Google Group added to the archives, so look forward to a bunch of updates soon!
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Recent Lack of Updates
Recently, I haven't had much time to spend updating Lafacroft. I should be able to finish some updates soon, so you can expect to see more updates shortly. Until then, I suggest visiting the TI-Nspire Google Group, where you can find some great TI-Nspire resources and help. The link is available in the "More TI-Nspire Resources" page.
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Welcome To Lafacroft V3.0
Welcome to Lafacroft V3.0. This is the 3rd major revision of Lafacroft. Unlike V2.0, it doesn't use Drupal or any other CMS, so it allows for a lot more flexibility in what can be implemented. Not everything is working yet due to the fact that I had to put the new version up ASAP due to a new host. If you notice any bugs (besides the lack of a Contact Us or Tutorials page), email me at admin@lafacroft.com
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