Development Tools from NTS
  NTS offers proprietary tools for those VARs and others developing their own programs to run on PSION® computers.

 
 


Migration of ORganiser Functionality (MORF) is a developer's utility that converts Organiser II OPL source code into WorkAbout OPL/g source code. In addition it will produce batch files that will automatically call the appropriate translator and support files. MORF also produces a batch file to download all the necessary files to your Psion platform utilizing the RCOM communications program.

MORF not only will provide a quick means of porting your Organiser application to an EPOC machine, but it also serves as an invaluable educational tool.

If you prefer, rather than purchase MORF, it may be more efficient to have NTS morf your application to the Workabout for you as a service. This has been the choice of most clients. NTS can perform the "heavy lifting", then turn over the converted source code to you for maintenance. Of course, NTS will always be available to maintain your program if you wish.

Please use the convenient Inquiry button to send us an email if you're interested, or just give us a call.

 
 




The NTS Binary Search is a developer’s utility that implements one of the fastest file searches known. It will be delivered to you as an OPO module, ready to LOADM and call from your application. It requires a sorted ASCII file with fixed field records. Via parameters you'll pass to our procedure, you can specify the filename, the string to find, the starting field position within the record, and the length of the string.

NTS Binary Search returns the matching record, or a null for no match.

It's fully tested, and comes with extensive error handling. We've used it ourselves in several applications.

The bigger the file to be searched, the bigger the benefit of NTS Binary Search. If your file is relatively small, say 100 records or less, a binary search is probably overkill.
 
 


NTS president, Jeff Siegel derived a formula to calculate the worst case number of records a binary search would examine to find the target record. He came up with "Log N/Log 2", where N is the number of records in the file. (If anyone knows if this is correct, please send him a note.) The end result is that a file of 100 records requires worst case of 6-7 inspections, a 1,000 record file requires 9-10 inspections, 10,000 records requires 13-14, and a 100,000 record file would require a worst case of 16-17 inspections.
 
 



PSION Netpad


NTS Export is positively the simplest way to convert between an OPL or OPL32 database and an ASCII delimited file. It is another utility for developers that will save you hours of time and aggravation. Just load the appropriate procedure from our "OPO" module, into your OPL or OPL32 program, and call it. "Black boxes" never looked so good. NTS Export runs right on the PSION, thereby allowing the PC to only "see" ASCII files. Our testing shows that PsiWin 2.x doesn't support conversion to or from OPL32 databases. Be sure to specify whether you need the OPL or OPL32 version. Both cost just $195 USD.

It currently runs on the PSION Workabout and Netpad, and will run on any new platform that supports OPL32.
 
 








Ever wish you had an automatic event history log when you get those difficult support calls? How about while you're debugging your application during development? Sounds like a good idea, to capture user keystrokes and other events, but you don't have time to code it?

National Technology Services, Inc. announces the release of NTSLOG. This is an OPL module that works with your application, to easily capture events in your program, such as user keystrokes, errors, data used from downloaded files, etc., with minimal additional programming. These events are stored in a delimited ASCII file. This event history log file can be copied up to a PC or transmitted over a modem, and can be used for debugging, support, and training.

NTSLOG allows you, the programmer, to create a history file of whatever your program is doing, using very little code of your own. The event history log file it creates is a delimited ASCII file, so you can use it directly, with no conversion necessary. The default field delimiter is a comma, but you can specify another delimiter if you wish. The default log file name is m:\ntslog.txt, or you can specify the filename and path yourself.

The NTSLOG module can automatically capture data returned by the GET, KEY, and ALERT statements. It also provides a simple means for you to log any event in your program.

The NTSLOG module allows you to control which events are captured in the log file with the NTSLOG_ENABLE and NTSLOG_DISABLE statements.

The NTSLOG module checks if there is sufficient battery power before creating or writing the log file.

You can receive this powerful tool, user documentation, and a sample OPL program source and executable utilizing its capabilities, all for $95.00 USD.
 
 


NTSCOM is a Windows based program that utilizes the PSION Link Protocol to allow the PSION Workabout to move files between itself and a PC.

NTSCOM is the Windows analogy of the DOS CL.EXE program. CL was a utility from PSION that allowed the PSION Organiser handheld computer to move files between itself and a PC.

Without NTSCOM, your choices to utilize the PSION Link Protocol are to use PsiWin or write some Visual Basic code. PsiWin is a fine program, but it requires the operator to drag and drop the correct files from/to the correct folders. And writing a VB program is fun, but not for everyone. Especially not those in a hurry.

With NTSCOM, you can program the Workabout to send/receive the correct files. And you can use NTSCOM as a stand-alone program, or call it from your PC application.

NTSCOM requires minimal user intervention. The operator can just select a menu option on the Workabout, and click one button on the PC.

You can receive this powerful tool, user documentation, and a sample OPL program source and executable utilizing its capabilities, all for $195.00 (US Dollars).
 
 




Close up of ADAPT interface
Close up images of ADAPT user interface


ADAPT is a program for Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000 platforms designed to work with the PSION Workabout hand held computer. ADAPT allows you to create a hand held data collection system in just a few minutes. The data you collect can then be downloaded to your PC providing a link between the PC and the portability and convenience of a hand held computer.

The PSION Workabout is a hand held computer complete with a full keyboard, industry standard 16-bit processor and a unique multi-tasking operating environment. It has a high resolution gray scale screen which can display a graphical windows interface for complete simplicity of operation. With two Megabytes of RAM on board and two drives for Solid State Disks (SSDs) providing up to an additional 16 megabytes. All models are lightweight and splash proof. They can be used in a wide range of temperatures and are rugged enough to withstand being dropped form a height of one meter onto concrete.

In creating your data collection system with ADAPT you will define the structure and content on one data record with up to 15 fields. For each field you define the name, size, input device (keyboard, or Bacode, date or time) and the prompt that you want to appear on the PSION Workabout screen.

When you have finished describing the record to be collected, ADAPT will generate a custom OPL program that will perform the data collection functions using the parameters you selected. ADAPT will then assist you in transferring your new application to your desired destination on the PSION Workabout.

After your data has been collected you will simply follow the instructions on the PSION Workabout to transfer the data back to your PC. Your data will be sent in ASCII Comma Delimited format depending on the choices you made when you created your application.

Computer programming experience is not required to use ADAPT. The manual will illustrate the ADAPT process in simple, easy to follow steps.

ADAPT is available for $400 USD.
 
 




NTS has the unique ability to copy protect your application using our proprietary algorithms, without the need for your source code. This means NTS can copy protect your application without ever receiving your source code.

Our copy protection methodology does require us to burn-in your executable application onto a Flash SSD. So you would send us your executable, then we will copy protect it, and burn-in the copy protected version onto SSDs and ship them back to you.

We will write a special verification program that will verify the application on the SSD is a valid copy. As the programmer, you put one or more calls in your application to call our verification program. You can make just one call at the beginning of your program, or you can call the verification program whenever you want, such as at the beginning of each function or communication. We will send you complete instructions and sample code that will show you exactly how to call our verification program.

If someone copies your application, the copy will not run. It doesn't matter whether your program is written in OPL, OVAL, or C.

Copy protecting your application will not only ensure you receive all of the software revenue you deserve, but will also ensure your clients buy all of the handheld hardware from you as well. If a client wants to order just your software on an SSD, then you know to question what they will do with it without a handheld to run it on.

You can benefit from this powerful service by investing $290 USD for NTS to create the verification program, and then $29.00 per burn-in, plus the cost of the SSD.
 

Ready to order an NTS development tool?
Contact us at 856-809-1900

NTS accepts all major credit cards
NTS accepts all major credit cards

     

 
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