Instructions for running BlocklyProp OFFLINE (thread obsolete 10/2019 - use solo.parallax.com)
Ken Gracey
Posts: 7,392
Readers: as of October 2019, this thread and information included in it is obsolete. Rather, use solo.parallax.com
Thanks, Ken Gracey
====================
Hello,
Since a number of people are asking how to run BlocklyProp offline, I'll make a post and explain the setup. Please note that forum threads become dated (today's date is April 5, 2018). At some point we will supersede this post with more current information, like a single installer that does these little things for you. But I'll try to keep this thread current while this solution is still the only alternative.
INSTRUCTIONS TO SETUP BLOCKLYPROP TO RUN OFFLINE
Windows only, for now (Mac to follow) - unsupported!
You shouldn't install it unless you know how to remove it, because a future installer of the real thing isn't going to be smart enough to detect any of these files. Since this thread will be here, I don't think it's too complex of a process to undo these steps.
(a) Install SimpleIDE https://learn.parallax.com/tutorials/language/propeller-c/propeller-c-set-simpleide
(b) Download the following .zip:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SmWqw68fJb2EdEuC6qbreMjOmLq86W_9/view?usp=sharing
(b.1.) The zip has three folders. The Learn folder replaces your SimpleIDE Learn folder.
(b.2.) Place the NWJS folder in the root of the c:\ drive (i.e. C:\nwjs)
(b.3.) Place the BP-offline folder in the root of the c:\ drive (i.e. C:\BP-offline)
(c) Open the c:\nwjs folder, right click and copy the nw.exe application, navigate to the desktop, and paste shortcut (not a copy of the app itself). Right-click and open the Properties for the shortcut you created. Set the target of the shortcut to C:\nwjs\nw.exe c:\BP-offline\ Then, click advanced, and check "Run as administrator"
(d) Rename the shortcut to something like "BlocklyProp Offline"
(e) Open C:\Users\ and look for the name or path of your user folder (Nikos, Whit, etc.)
(f) Look for the following file and open it for editing with a text editor: C:\BP-offline\cdn\localCompile.js. Search for "Parallax" in the file, and replace it with the name of your user folder.
You are now running BlocklyProp Alpha offline. We obviously have some work to do with an installer, a user interface, etc. But you can save your files locally.
Post all feedback on this thread.
Thanks,
Ken Gracey
Thanks, Ken Gracey
====================
Hello,
Since a number of people are asking how to run BlocklyProp offline, I'll make a post and explain the setup. Please note that forum threads become dated (today's date is April 5, 2018). At some point we will supersede this post with more current information, like a single installer that does these little things for you. But I'll try to keep this thread current while this solution is still the only alternative.
INSTRUCTIONS TO SETUP BLOCKLYPROP TO RUN OFFLINE
Windows only, for now (Mac to follow) - unsupported!
You shouldn't install it unless you know how to remove it, because a future installer of the real thing isn't going to be smart enough to detect any of these files. Since this thread will be here, I don't think it's too complex of a process to undo these steps.
(a) Install SimpleIDE https://learn.parallax.com/tutorials/language/propeller-c/propeller-c-set-simpleide
(b) Download the following .zip:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SmWqw68fJb2EdEuC6qbreMjOmLq86W_9/view?usp=sharing
(b.1.) The zip has three folders. The Learn folder replaces your SimpleIDE Learn folder.
(b.2.) Place the NWJS folder in the root of the c:\ drive (i.e. C:\nwjs)
(b.3.) Place the BP-offline folder in the root of the c:\ drive (i.e. C:\BP-offline)
(c) Open the c:\nwjs folder, right click and copy the nw.exe application, navigate to the desktop, and paste shortcut (not a copy of the app itself). Right-click and open the Properties for the shortcut you created. Set the target of the shortcut to C:\nwjs\nw.exe c:\BP-offline\ Then, click advanced, and check "Run as administrator"
(d) Rename the shortcut to something like "BlocklyProp Offline"
(e) Open C:\Users\ and look for the name or path of your user folder (Nikos, Whit, etc.)
(f) Look for the following file and open it for editing with a text editor: C:\BP-offline\cdn\localCompile.js. Search for "Parallax" in the file, and replace it with the name of your user folder.
You are now running BlocklyProp Alpha offline. We obviously have some work to do with an installer, a user interface, etc. But you can save your files locally.
Post all feedback on this thread.
Thanks,
Ken Gracey
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Delete SimpleIDE.
Fresh install of SimpleIde.
Install and edit file per instructions.
Tried to run the shortcut and I get:
Tried three times.
.. or try right-clicking the shortcut, then run-as admin ?
Do you have a feeling this is a permissions thing, or something else ?
Any other machine you could try on ?
Just tried on WIN 10. Fresh install. Same error message.
Something to do with "manifest.json" ?
Try using WordPad instead.
When I open code files from a mac they are not formatted in Notepad but they are perfect in WordPad.
That file may have special characters that Notepad butchers.
I'll give that a shot tomorrow. Thanks!
By default windows 7 hides the file extension for known files. The .xyz bit.
After editing, maybe the file got saved as localCompile.js.txt my mistake, but you can't see it as the dir listing hides .txt.
Checks...
In explorer folder settings, uncheck the option for "hide file extensions for known file types". After that you will be able to rename the file from localCompile.js.txt to. localCompile.js. in explorer.
You could also edit with something like notepad++ and save-as the file extension to .js
In fact you could probably do that with notepad too, if you set the filetype to 'all' in the save windows, instead of 'txt'
Got by the editing of the .js file with Wordpad. Now it can't find the compiler when trying to load a program to RAM. Will have to look at my SimpleIDE installation paths.
I usually use Notepad but WordPad comes in handy, especially on non-text files.
It sounds like the compiler doesn't know where your user files are.
Did you set the path to them in Step F?
Ken,
Also ask if the compiler looks in any of the sub-folders of the user file folder.
Now if the Offline shortcut would start the client automatically.
Yep, that'll be part of our installer - making it a one-click process.
SimpleIDE sees it? Help
The error "BlocklyProp-Client not found". is this the online client??
if this make sense
When you see the BlocklyProp client message, you should be able to click it to download the client?
This one is an update. It's a little trickier to install, but the tradeoff is that I'll be doing a series of videos on how you can create your own blocks and develop with this one. In addition, both Mac and Windows instructions are included in the README.
Here it is: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IXzFvKu8CQrqAS2kRV5ZOxmZMt2SopJy
Additionally, when set up properly with git (which I hope to explain in an upcoming video), you'll be able to keep current with the BlocklyProp system as well.
Ray
You can try this http://solo.parallax.com/ which runs from within a Chrome browser window and saves files locally.
No login or password is required.
Ken Gracey
Ray
Ken Gracey
Here's an older news article about the change- maybe by now it's happened?!
https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/23/18278465/microsoft-edge-chromium-browser-screenshots-features-hands-on
Ray, just try it and report back so others would know.
Instead, just use http://solo.parallax.com
Ken Gracey
Ken, are you doing away with the server/client version? That's where all the cool programs live.