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What's New?

Below are some of the many new features and enhancements we've added to NeoBook 5 and 5.5. (Download the latest NeoBook 5 Version History for a  detailed list of enhancments, fixes, etc.)

• Enhanced program interface including floating tool palettes that can be positioned anywhere on-screen or docked onto the main application window; outline style object list; object position/size palette, redesigned actions wizards; MouseCam™/screen magnifier; and more.

• Completely new Action Editor with improved syntax highlighting, search/replace, formatted printing, line numbering, undo/redo, increased capacity and more.
• Improved preview/test mode that runs publications in a separate window that more closely mimics how the compiled publication will work. No more discrepancies between test mode and compiled mode.
• New Container object which is primarily intended to be used as a surface for other objects. Works sort of like a group, but objects placed on a container can be easily moved and edited. Containers can also be set to "snap" to the edge or center of the pub window, which will allow the creation of publications that automatically resize themselves. To add objects to a Container, simply draw them directly onto the container, or cut and paste them with the Container selected.
• New Flash object for playing SWF files. SWF files can be compiled and do not need to be extracted for playback. Flash object can also be used to play SWF files over the Internet. You can even embed NeoBook actions in your SWF files using Flash’s FSCommand.
• New Polygon / Hotspot object can be used to create basic shapes, but also has the ability to display images. The polygon even has the ability to shape itself using the transparent portions of the image.
• New Linked Article object allows text files to be easily distributed (flowed) across multiple pages.
• Both the Polygon and Simple Text objects can be configured to support "drag and drop" operations. Drag and drop modes include None, Manual and Automatic. Manual allows the object to be dragged anywhere on the page. Automatic allows you to specify other objects to serve as drop targets. When using automatic mode, NeoBook will only allow the dragged object to be dropped on objects that appear in the drop target list. You can modify the behavior of both of these modes programatically using the "Drag Drop" action.
• 256 and 16 million color icons.
• Support for custom product version info.
• Page turn transition effect.
• Option to generate autorun.inf files when compiling CD-based publications.
• The new Variable List displays a list of all global and local variables used within a publication. The list can be accessed from the Book menu or via an icon found next to fields that permit variables.
• The Embedded Files option allows you to create a list of additional files to be compiled inside your pub exe. This option can be accessed from the Book menu or from the new advanced file options dialog. Embedded files can be specified in code by replacing the file’s original path with special embedded file variable. For example: [Embedded]Sample.jpg
• The Function Library and the Call action now support functions with parameters.
• The ability to execute and control external applications has been greatly improved with the addition of several improved and new action commands: Run, RunEmbedded, CloseApp, IsAppRunning, SendKeys, SendMenuCommand, DropFile, SetWindowsPos, GetWindowPos, BringAppToFront, SendAppToBack, DisableApp and EnableApp. RunEmbedded is particularly interesting because it allows you to run an application inside a rectangle.
• The compiler now supports HTML files! Simply place an HTML file inside a Web Browser object, and the compiler will parse the file and include any linked images, other HTML files, etc. automatically. HTML content does not need to be extracted for viewing.
• The PrintPage action now supports both draft and high resolution printing. The high resolution mode vastly improves printing of most elements, especially lines, circles and text. PrintPage also now supports the printing of multiple pages with a single command.
• The new SetObjectFill, SetObjectLine and SetObjectFont actions allow an object’s appearance to be modified programmatically.
• Appropriate objects now include a Snap Position property that can be combined with the new Container object to create publications that can be resized. Objects located on the page surface will snap to work area. Objects attached to a Container will snap to the bounds of the Container.
• The Menu Designer (Book Properties > Menu) allows you to add a custom menu bar to the top of your publication's window. Each menu item can have its own action. Submenus can also be created.
• Custom menus are also available for publications compiled as system tray application.
• Improved Debugger and error handling. Controls are included to adjust script execution speed. You can even edit live variables from the debugger while your publication is running.
• Typed variables are now supported. Using the new DefineVar action, you can specify variables that are only compatible with specific types of data (string, integer, boolean, etc.). You can also define local variables that only exist within the current script.
• The Track Bar object now allows you to define your own images for the thumb and the track.
• The Line object now includes an option to add arrow heads to one or both endpoints.
• The Picture object now offers three different options for tiling images.
• The PushButton, CheckBox and RadioButton objects now include an option to draw them using the current Windows XP theme. (On older versions of Windows, these objects will be drawn normally.)
• The Timer object now includes a "stop after one execution" option and a variable to keep track of elapsed time (in milliseconds).
• The Plug-In SDK includes the following new options: custom plug-in about box, printing of rectangle-based components, enhanced transition effect plug-in interface and access to NeoBook's file stream.
• New Global Variables: [MyDocuments], [ProgramFiles].
• New Action Commands:
  
  Applications
  RunInRectangle, CloseApp, IsAppRunning, SendKeys, SendMenuCommand, DropFile, SetWindowsPos, GetWindowPos, BringAppToFront, SendAppToBack, DisableApp, EnableApp.
  
  Objects > All
  MoveObjectAlongPath, StopMovingObject, SetObjectFill, SetObjectLine, SetObjectFont, SetObjectCaption, SetObjectFileName
  
  Objects > Flash
  FlashPlay, FlashStop, FlashRewind, FlashGoto, FlashForward, FlashBack, FlashGetVar, FlashSetVar, FlashPause
  
  Objects > WebBrowser
  BrowserFind, BrowserLoadFromStr, BrowserGetElement, BrowserSetElement, BrowserExecScript
  
  Menus
  ShowMenuItem, HideMenuItem, EnableMenuItem, DisableMenuItem
  
  Files > File Managment
  FileList, FolderExists, ChangeFileExt
  
  Files > File I/O
  FileToVar, FileSize
  
  Internet
  CheckInternetConnection, ConnectToInternet, DisconnectFromInternet, DownloadFile, InternetFileExists, InternetFileSize, InternetPost, InternetGet
  
  Control > Conditional
  IfEx, WhileEx, ExitWhile, ExitLoop
  
  Control > Misc.
  ShowErrors, DebugBreakPoint
  
  Control > Mathematical
  DateToNum, NumToDate
  
  Control > Miscellaneous
  LoadIcon
  
  Variables
  DefineVar, GetArrayInfo
  
  Printing
  SetPrinterOrientation
  
  Navigation
  GotoPageNum
  
  Navigation > Slideshow
  StartSlideShow, PauseSlideShow, StopSlideShow

• And more….