.tns files reverse engineering (tibasic)

→ **MyCalcs** profile · de **compsystems** » 07 Mar 2016, 23:00

hello I'm learning JAVA (my learning log) http://www.todopic.com.ar/foros/index.php?topic=45715.0 , my desire is to make a program editor for tinspire series. but it needs an essential part tns de/coder files (Unicode <-> tns), there are people with extraordinary knowledge in this forum and my request it is to join together to reverse engineer the tns files, similar to what was done with the ti68k http://home.arcor.de/p-engels/tokens89/index.htm Tokens89 by Kevin Kofler reviewed and maintained by Peter Engels

Thanks

→ **MyCalcs** profile · de **Adriweb** » 07 Mar 2016, 23:05

The .tns file format/encryption/compression uses some XML data processing that is protected by a patent by TI.
You don't want to mess with patent infringing.

However, Luna is the way to go to create .tns files from your content (mostly .lua scripts, but you can also give it XML problems as the Nspire creates).
It skillfully avoids patent violation by doing the creation process in a way that doesn't require to implement the things explained in the patent - that's why it's also limited : no tns decryption, no more than one problem in the generated .tns, etc.

→ **MyCalcs** profile · de **compsystems** » 07 Mar 2016, 23:13

why Texas Instruments encrypts ticalcs files?, what is the fear? or what is the purpose?, hp-prime competition is encoded in text plain Unicode

→ **MyCalcs** profile · de **Adriweb** » 07 Mar 2016, 23:19

I don't know if there is a good answer to that...
Maybe whoever decided it was a good idea was fearing theft/copy of documents (maybe competitors trying to duplicate activities content in bulk... it seems a little bit paranoid)

The HP Prime is barely a competition for TI, btw

→ **MyCalcs** profile · de **compsystems** » 07 Mar 2016, 23:27

at least should provide an official program editor for PC, code on the small screen of the calculator is very difficult, and very few students buy a license of computer software, a program editor can grow the application development, the power instructions are lost because there is no SDK, calculators really underused, I only watch games, and almost nothing true applications of mathematics.

→ **MyCalcs** profile · de **Adriweb** » 07 Mar 2016, 23:30

THe TI-Nspire (CX) Computer Software has Handheld and Computer view for creation and edition.
It's free when you buy a handheld, and has been that way for years now.

It isn't much of a problem, unless you're on Linux.
But then again, TI doesn't provide much/anything for linux customers, as they are an extreme minority.

→ **MyCalcs** profile · de **compsystems** » 07 Mar 2016, 23:36

I have a TInspire ClickPad and computer software was not included =(

→ **MyCalcs** profile · de **Adriweb** » 07 Mar 2016, 23:38

You can try to contact TI-Cares and nicely request a computer software license, maybe they'll give you one. You may need to prove that you've bought a device somehow... ?