Topics

106

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Error with HHCtrl.ocx

« on: April 04, 2007, 01:21:24 pm »

Two of the latest Microsoft Security Updates (KB925902 (MS07-017) and security update KB928843 (MS07-008)) introduced a bug for Windows XP users where any application that uses HHCtrl.ocx (an ActiveX control used to display CHM help files) would not load.

Microsoft has released a HotFix to resolve the issue. The hotfix makes several references to "RealTek HD Audio". However - the fix is related to the commonly used ActiveX component: HHCtrl.ocx. Disregard that the hotfix mentions RealTek Audio. The Hotfix will work even if you do not have RealTek Audio installed on your system.
From Microsoft:

Install this update to resolve an issue where the Realtek HD Audio Control Panel may not start after you install security update KB925902 (MS07-017) and security update KB928843 (MS07-008).

Download Link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=74AD4188-3131-429C-8FCB-F7B3B0FD3D86&displaylang=en

107

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Ultra Hal Assistant 6.1 Beta

« on: March 25, 2007, 02:30:15 am »

Ultra Hal Assistant 6.1 is ready for beta testing. It can be downloaded at www.zabaware.com/download/hal61.zip  The installer should be able to upgrade your Hal 6.0 to 6.1 without losing any data, but since its a beta I recommend backing up anyway. Please test this beta and let me know of any bugs you find. I hope the bugs are minor and that a final release can be made in less than 2 weeks.

What's new in Hal 6.1 since Hal 6.0:

• New advanced learn from text/learn from clipboard wizard added to hal brain editor. Works especially well on wikipedia articles.
• Compatibiliy with Windows Vista as Hal 6.0 does not work normally in Vista, also better support for XP under limited user access
• Unlimited and automatic reactivations on the same hardware configuration in event of license corruption, should reduce many license support issues
• In addition to Hal's current skinable interface, an option was added to let Hal use a standard OS Window with whatever the standard Windows theme is.
• Added "Select All" and "Deselect All" button to plug-in selector
• Direct method to get support from inside Hal in event of license issue, streamlined on my end also, will improve my turnaround time in getting back to customers with licensing issues
• When using speech recognition, the microphone automatically mutes when Hal is speaking and unmutes when Hal is finished. Now works in all supported graphics engines (msagent, haptek, legacy hal)
• Ability to mute and unmute mic from script <MICON> or <MICOFF> or <MICTOGGLE> halcommands
• HalCommand for playing MSAgent animations and moving Agent: <MSAGENT>ANIM-NAME</MSAGENT> and <AGENTXY>X,Y</AGENTXY>
• Automatic upgrade from Hal 6.0 to 6.1. All brain and data files are kept in tact during upgrade.
• Improved logic to Readsent function in HalBrain.DLL
• Added a window listener to receive HalCommand from any windows app capable of sending messages
• Compatibility with SAPI 5 with MSAgents under Vista only
• GetHyponyms function added to HalBrain.DLL WordNet object (used by learn from text, noun & verbs only)
• Hidden changes to Hal's graphics plug-in system that will allow for future alternative graphics engines to be used.
• Auto-idle and appointment minute timer is temporarily disabled while Hal's options pane is open to fix focus bug
• Fixed several logic errors and made minor improvements in script as suggested by vrossi and cagallant2
• Fixed Hal crash if speech engine does not have pronunciation option dialog and made error message friendlier
• Unchecking "Hal uses speech synthesis" now disables Hal's speech no matter what character engine/speech engine combination is used
• Fixed bug in autolearning routine where sometimes blank responses were learned
• Fixed bug in autolearning routine where both singular and plural of a word were recorded in seperate tables instead of one

Still to do before final release:

• Update splash screens to reflect version 6.1 and year 2007
• Check for emails plug-in
• Exhaustive search of autolearning brain as plug-in option
• No character option as character plug-in
• Fix any bugs found during beta period

108

General Discussion / Zabaware server maintenance

« on: March 05, 2007, 03:24:27 pm »

The zabaware.com server will be intermittently offline over the next 2 days for hardware updates. A failing hard drive is being replaced and it will be upgraded to RAID.

109

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Zabaware server maintenance

« on: March 05, 2007, 03:24:02 pm »

The zabaware.com server will be intermittently offline over the next 2 days for hardware updates. A failing hard drive is being replaced and it will be upgraded to RAID.

110

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Ultra Hal Assistant 6.1 Work

« on: November 09, 2006, 09:16:44 pm »

I am currently working on a Hal 6.1 update. Hopefully it will come out about the same time as Windows Vista. The main changes planned for this update are:

• Compatibiliy with Windows Vista as Hal 6.0 does not work in Vista
• Unlimited and automatic reactivations on the same hardware configuration in event of license corruption, should reduce many license support issues
• Registry cleaners will no longer corrupt Hal's license, further reducing licensing support issues
• Direct method to get support from inside Hal in event of license issue, streamlined on my end also, will improve my turnaround time in getting back to customers with licensing issues
• Ability to mute and unmute mic from script
• In addition to Hal's current skinable interface, an option will be added to let Hal use a standard OS Window with whatever the standard Windows theme is.
• Hidden changes to Hal's graphics plug-in system that will allow for future alternative graphics engines to be used.

Are there any other bugs and/or small improvements I should make to Hal 6.1?

111

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Loebner Competition 2006

« on: September 12, 2006, 10:30:10 am »

Ultra Hal will be competing this year in the Loebner Prize competition for artificial intelligence. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loebner_prize and http://www.loebner.net/Prizef/loebner-prize.html for details of the competition. It is an implementation of the Turing Test. I will be in London this weekend to attend this competition.

Hal will be competing with 3 other bots. Two of them are not publicly available and I'm not familiar with their capabilities. One of the bots is Jabberwacky, created by Rollo Carpenter, which was last years winner and can be seen at http://www.jabberwacky.com/

112

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Ultra Hal Assisstant 6.0.103 update

« on: May 01, 2006, 10:57:10 am »

An update has been released for Ultra Hal Assistant 6.0. If you downloaded and installed Hal before May 1, 2006 it is recommended that you download the latest version. It is available for download from www.zabaware.com/download.asp

To upgrade while retaining learned information, follow these steps:

• Make a backup copy of your C:program files\zabawareultra hal assistant 6halbrain.db file to a different folder such as your desktop
• Uninstall Hal from the add/remove programs in your control panel. DO NOT remove Hal's folder manually after reinstalling as small files are left over that contain your license and user settings.
• Reinstall the new download from www.zabaware.com/download.asp
• Copy back your halbrain.db backup file to C:program files\zabawareultra hal assistant 6 and overwrite the file there
• It's possible (but not probable) that you may need to enter your serial number again to reactivate (starts with letters UH)

The following changes have been made since the initial release of Ultra Hal Assistant 6.0:

Updated product activation system:

• A new wizard interface guides you through activation process before and after purchase.
• The new wizard can automatically detect and enter in serial numbers and activation codes copied to the clipboard. For example, after a successful transaction the zabaware web pages displays your serial number and will reccomend you copy it to the clipboard. As soon as this happens, Hal will intercept it and automatically pop up and enter the code for you.
• The update prevents many corrupted licenses from occuring in the first place
• It repairs many corrupted licenses automatically without any user interaction
• In case of unrepairable corrupted license, a wizard guides you through the recovery process
• The deactivation process now automatically notifies the Zabaware.com server of deactivation and the zabaware server automatically frees the serial number up for reinstallation somewhere else.
• The uninstaller program gives user option of deactivating if it detects an activated copy of Hal before the  uninstallation begins

New features:

• Added Gerald Blakely's Abstract math addition to the HalMath DLL Function
• Added Vittorio Rossi's vrFreeWill plugin to Hal's standard installation, and name to credits.

Bug fixes:

• Fixed bug for plug-in selector where plug-ins began to uncheck themselves.
• Fixed bug in AIM Bot where 1 character long queries caused blank responses and erasure of Hal's short term memory
• Fixed issue with emotional reactions firing when they shouldn't
• About page shows full version number

113

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Update Ultra Hal Assistant to version 6.0.103

« on: April 29, 2006, 11:44:04 pm »

A candidate release (test version that will become final if no issues are found) of Ultra Hal Assistant 6.0.103 is available for download from: http://www.zabaware.com/download/hal60103.zip  Test and download at your own risk, but most likely this will become an official release in the next few days.

The following changes have been made since the initial release of Ultra Hal Assistant 6.0:

Updated product activation system:

• A new wizard interface guides you through activation process before and after purchase.
• The new wizard can automatically detect and enter in serial numbers and activation codes copied to the clipboard. For example, after a successful transaction the zabaware web pages displays your serial number and will reccomend you copy it to the clipboard. As soon as this happens, Hal will intercept it and automatically pop up and enter the code for you.
• The update prevents many corrupted licenses from occuring in the first place
• It repairs many corrupted licenses automatically without any user interaction
• In case of unrepairable corrupted license, a wizard guides you through the recovery process
• The deactivation process now automatically notifies the Zabaware.com server of deactivation and the zabaware server automatically frees the serial number up for reinstallation somewhere else.
• The uninstaller program gives user option of deactivating if it detects an activated copy of Hal before the  uninstallation begins

New features:

• Added Gerald Blakely's Abstract math addition to the HalMath DLL Function
• Added Vittorio Rossi's vrFreeWill plugin to Hal's standard installation, and name to credits.

Bug fixes:

• Fixed bug for plug-in selector where plug-ins began to uncheck themselves.
• Fixed bug in AIM Bot where 1 character long queries caused blank responses and erasure of Hal's short term memory
• Fixed issue with emotional reactions firing when they shouldn't
• About page shows full version number

Please let me know if everything works ok, if any new bugs have appeared, and your general thoughts on the update.

114

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Any bugs that need to be fixed that I'm missing?

« on: April 14, 2006, 11:52:57 pm »

I will be posting an update to Hal 6 sometime in the next few days probably. I have currently finished making the following changes:

Updated product activation system:

• A new wizard interface guides you through activation process before after purchase.
• The new wizard can automatically detect and enter in serial numbers and activation codes copied to the clipboard. For example, after a successful transaction the zabaware web pages displays your serial number and will reccomend you copy it to the clipboard. As soon as this happens, Hal will intercept it and automatically pop up and enter the code for you.
• The update prevents many corrupted licenses from occuring in the first place
• It repairs many corrupted licenses automatically without any user interaction
• In case of unrepairable corrupted license, a wizard guides you through the recovery process
• The deactivation process now automatically notifies the Zabaware.com server of deactivation and the zabaware server automatically frees the serial number up for reinstallation somewhere else.
• The uninstaller program gives user option of deactivating if it detects an activated copy of Hal before the  uninstallation begins

Bug fixes:

• Fixed bug for plug-in selector where plug-ins began to uncheck themselves.

Are there any bugs that I forgot about that should be fixed in this release? I don't wish to add new features at this point, just fix bugs.

I will also consider including any well-tested brain plug-ins created by users in the default installation of Hal if you give me royalty-free rights to distribute it.

115

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Ultra Hal Assistant 6.0 Release Candidate

« on: September 25, 2005, 10:24:16 pm »

A release candidate (test version) of Ultra Hal Assistant 6.0 has been posted here: http://zabaware.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2730

If you're interested, please test this version. All registered users of Hal 5.0 that have bought Hal 5.0 since May 2005 will get a free upgrade to Hal 6.0 once it is released, so if you are considering purchasing Hal 5.0, please don't let the upcoming Hal 6.0 prevent you from enjoy all that Hal 5.0 has to offer. All other Zabaware customers that have purchased any version of Hal prior to May 2005 will get a 50% discount on Hal 6.0.

116

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / New Brain Editor Documentation

« on: May 01, 2005, 12:06:09 am »

The documentation for the Ultra Hal Brain Editor is now complete. It documents all of Hal's DLL functions, tells how to use the various editors in the Brain Editor to modify Hal's databases, and goes over basic VBScript programming. It is available as a compiled windows html help file and may be downloaded from http://ultrahal.com/files/detail.asp?iFile=251&iType=18

117

Ultra Hal Assistant File Sharing Area / File Sharing Forum - Read first

« on: March 05, 2005, 01:36:16 pm »

Welcome to the new Ultra Hal File Sharing Forum. This forum was created so that sharing of customizations for Ultra Hal is easier and more organized.

• Many of the files shared here require manual installation and possibly modification of code. If you are not experienced enough to do this, please limit your plug-ins to the Zabaware reviewed and approved code at http://www.ultrahal.com/files
• All new topics on this forum must have an attachment of some sort. New topics without an attachment will be moved to a different forum. Replys are allowed without attachments to ask questions about a customization.
• Upload size limit is 10 MB, please upload files in a compressed zip.
• Hotlinking directly to files hosted on this server from a different website is forbidden and automatically blocked. Please link to the forum topic URL instead.
• If you believe your customization is ready for a larger audience, please submit it to http://www.ultrahal.com/files/submit.asp after uploading it to this forum. Files submitted to ultrahal.com/files need to include and utilize the Ultra Hal plug-in installer or equivalent automatic installer

118

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Ultra Hal Help File

« on: March 05, 2005, 10:13:12 am »

The Ultra Hal Assistant online help manual has been updated by Zabaware forum member Rich_A. It reflects the previous version of Hal (version 5.0)

It is available online at http://www.zabaware.com/assistant/help/index.htm

It can also be downloaded as a windows help file from http://www.zabaware.com/download/halhelp.zip

An updated help file for version 6.0 will be completed some time this year.

119

General Discussion / Custom Avatars

« on: January 31, 2005, 06:56:14 pm »

If you would like to use a custom avatar on this forum, please respond to this topic and upload a copy of the avatar you would like to use. It must be 48 pixels wide by 64 pixels high.

120

Ultra Hal 7.0 / New Zabaware server

« on: August 19, 2004, 10:29:32 am »

As of August 18, Zabaware is running on a new server. This new server should reduce database problems with free Ultra Hal Representative accounts and increase the overall bandwidth for the site.

The myWebHal service is still malfunctioning and a few of the Zabaware bots at www.zabaware.com/webhal are still not working correctly. I'm working as fast as I can to get everything up and running. If anyone notices any other page not working correctly please let me know.