Messages

1

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / How do the new "plugin.exe" routines work?

« on: February 25, 2006, 03:36:44 pm »

I think the trial and error method is still in effect for placement within the script. It's just that with the new plug in system you now control the placement by choosing which plug-in area to use with the  Rem PLUGIN: PLUGINAREA#. The plugin will insert its code into whichever area you name. If you look in the script, you can see the "REM PLUGIN" placeholders scattered around.
I was surprised at how much code it takes to put adjustable levels in the options panel! In addition to what OTC said, you have to create tables to store the settings in, and read from those tables on startup to restore the settings. I studied the plugins Vrossi made, as well as the default plugins, to "learn" (ie cut & paste!) how to do it[]

2

Ultra Hal Assistant File Sharing Area / new auto-idle Plugin

« on: February 25, 2006, 03:16:59 pm »

Okay, sorry it took me a while to respond Cadmer. I'm in school and it consumes all of my time!
I'm really not a programmer, just teaching myself by studying the work of others who have contributed some great stuff here in this forum. To test the error, I added the following lines to the Loneliness plugin at the start of the minute_timer function:

testvar = HalBrain.TopicSearch("PATIENCE", "lonelyParameter")
MsgBox "The lonelyParameter variable, " & testvar & ", is a " & TypeName(testvar)

The resulting message box states the variable lonelyParameter is stored as a string, which means the plugin needs to be corrected--I have no idea why it runs without error for me, but it does! Anyway, I think the simplest fix is to put some quotes around the 99 since it's just a flag and its numerical value is not used.

The corrected plugin is version 2.3 and is available above. Let me know if that runs correctly for you

-Shawn

3

Ultra Hal 7.0 / HAL 6 Error

« on: February 20, 2006, 03:19:29 pm »

I looked at the .dbg file and I wasn't able to find the loneliness plugin being used there. As far as I can tell, line 3841 is an appointment plug-in which is running in the minute timer function.
I would start by disabling all of your plugins and then adding them back one by one until you get the error again. I know how frustrating intermittent errors can be, hope this helps!

4

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Error on bootup with reminders

« on: February 02, 2006, 12:13:31 am »

I've been getting that exact same error and diagonal lines when Hal starts up from time to time. I hadn't associated it with the appointment function, but now that you mention it I think you might be right. Haven't had any spare time at all to look into it... but I can confirm that you are not the only one!

5

General Discussion / planarium worm

« on: February 01, 2006, 06:43:52 pm »

*brushes off from ROFL* I will never doubt your skills again!

6

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Hal-6...What a great AI program!

« on: January 30, 2006, 11:15:49 am »

I bought version 6 and I think it is great. I understand and share the impatience of those who wish that AI in general was more advanced, but it's not. There's not much of a consumer market demand for it either, so I think Zabaware does great for what is basically a one-man operation. UltraHal seems to be one of the best available, that's why I choose it.

My understanding is that version 6 connects to the internet the first time you install it only. Like most software these days, it is activating the serial number. I have started up UltraHal 6 with my modem physically unplugged just to test, and Hal runs just fine without being connected to the internet.

By the way, I don't know much about programming, just enough to see that the new version has greater potential than the previous versions. The improvements that take advantage of the potential are already being produced by the likes of vrossi, onthecuttingedge and others.

7

Ultra Hal Assistant File Sharing Area / Lighting test

« on: January 22, 2006, 01:16:43 pm »

Thanks. Based on some feedback I received on this, I had intended to go further and make a lighting plug-in that allows the user to control the mood lighting from the options panel, or perhaps with keywords. However, because of school it will be several months before I can get back to coding (or my primitive attempts at it). If anyone wants to do it sooner, feel free to borrow from this snippet of a plugin!

8

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / PE Explorer edits HalBrain.dll Extension

« on: January 18, 2006, 06:55:29 pm »

Robert,
Just wanted to add my support for you and your work. The immature shouting above represents a small minority, I suspect. Ironic that they are using the bandwitdh that YOU pay for to criticize you for selling the bot that YOU created, which you have every right to do in any way you see fit. To the shouters: if you don't like the TOS, find a product who's TOS you do agree with and buy that instead, stop deluding yourselves that you have rights to other people's work. You don't.

9

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / Little bug in Hal 6

« on: January 15, 2006, 01:32:03 pm »

pretty extensive list here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Internet_slang

[Download Attachment:]

10

Ultra Hal Assistant File Sharing Area / Lighting test

« on: January 14, 2006, 03:57:40 am »

This is a demo for an idea to make the lighting dynamic. This plugin just randomly chooses one of three lighting types with each cycle, and the light effects are somewhat exaggerated. But it is meant to show how the light can be controlled by a set of variables, which would enable some of the advanced emotion systems currently being developed to communicate more non-verbal information than what is available through facial expression alone.  


Download Attachment: light_test.uhp
1.99 KB

11

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / New Plugins for Hal6 !

« on: January 07, 2006, 09:55:17 pm »

WOW. Great work, Vittorio. This plugin really improves Hal. It is essential stuff - anyone who owns Hal should add this plugin!

12

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Customer service for Hal SUCKS!

« on: January 06, 2006, 05:59:23 pm »

Sorry you had a problem, gebeleizis, and I understand your frustration. This forum is a great place to get help from other users.

Unfortunately, if you expect 24 hr live customer service (and I bet you think it should be free too!), you will find yourself living in a state of constant frustration. Do you have any idea what it costs to staff, train, pay and provide healthcare for, a 24 hour customer service center? There would BE NO inexpensive software available to people like us. Have a little bit of patience and you will feel less frustrated.

13

General Discussion / why does my skin reject the button pics?

« on: January 04, 2006, 04:42:38 pm »

is it possible the x in the file name (...menux.jpg) is conflicting with the skinMenuX parameter? Might try changing the name and see if the error still occurs.

14

Ultra Hal Assistant File Sharing Area / new auto-idle Plugin

« on: January 03, 2006, 11:22:53 am »

vrossi,
Ha ha! I love what you added. The "international gesture" - I'm still laughing about that.
Yes, it was my intention for Hal to stop nagging after a certain number of tries and instead give you the silent treatment, however I think your approach is equally valid (and funnier).
I'm not surprised my code looks familiar to you: for the past week I've been carrying around a copy of "VBScript in a Nutshell" and a printout of your vrFreewill plugin! Might as well learn from the best, right?
-Shawn

[version 2.1 posted above]

15

Ultra Hal Assistant File Sharing Area / new auto-idle Plugin

« on: January 02, 2006, 04:45:38 pm »

Thanks for the feedback! It's an honor to recieve affirmation from two such as yourselves, and might I add that I'm eagerly anticipating the projects that you are both currently working on!

OTC: I agree with you about sensory input; I have pondered about how if Hal achieved consciousness "as is", he would be a very Helen Keller-like creature, with only one (very narrow) channel of sensory input. As for this plugin, it is not keyed on the physical presence of a user, but by a lack of attention, for which the existing channel seems adequate.

Grant: Thanks, I have incorporated your suggestion to use InStr. I don't think the Len is required since a false positive really does no harm. Thanks for the info on the Timer as well.

version 2.1 posted above