From the future: To get the latest version of zStart, click on the link in my signature.

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I've been needing to make this topic for about a year, I just never did because it was started before I joined omni.

Features:
zStart is a really cool app made by me that enables all kinds of things within the calculator. These include:
-setting degrees/radians
-enabling diagnostics
-MathPrint/Classic
-Kill the 2.5x popup
-Enable/disable stat wizards
-Enabling an 8 level grayscale picture on startup (which can and should be in the archive)
-Enabling the CtlgHelp app
-Enabling Omnicalc
-Setting contrast
-Calibrating the screen driver (ALCDFIX)
-Setting custom fonts (which can and should be in the archive)
-Creating and editing custom fonts
-A molar mass calculator for the homescreen
-A hex/binary converter for the homescreen

And some silly stuff:
-An unfinished Solver++ (I wanted to have one side equal the other side, but I got bored with it)
-The ability to use long tokens (sin( = sine(, tan-1( = arcTangent(, ln( = naturalLogarithm( )

But most importantly, it runs on ram clears. This means, once you set an option in zStart, it is essentially permanent. I haven't had to deal with MathPrint in probably 6 months. Also, since its name is zStart, it will probably be the last app in the app menu for quick access.


Using the Homescreen tools
Most of the options are pretty easy to find as they are actually options. The only two you might have trouble finding are the molar mass calculator and the hex/binary converter. To enable these, while turning on the calculator, hold + for the hex calculator and - for the molar mass calculator.

To use the molar mass calculator, put a ?, then your equation, then another ?. The ? act like parenthesis, so you don't actually need the last one. For instance, ?Ca(NO3)2 will return 164.1.

To use the hex/binary convert, just follow a number with either a h or a b. So FFFFh returns 65,535 and 10101010b returns 170.

These tools don't really like basic programs and both can be disabled by running something that enables a parser hook (zStart if you selected Omnicalc, or DCS)


Running on Ram Clears:
   Here's the cool part. I currently have support for OS's 2.43, 2.53, and 2.55. Just enable the Run on Ram Clears option and you're good to go. If for some reason something should go wrong and you enter a boot loop, (with about 100 people running this for about a year I've only heard of 2, and I caused one of them) hold [VARS] while restarting the calculator. zStart will not run and you can figure out what you screwed up.


For best results, I say use MirageOS because I have designed it mostly for that. The only reason I say this is because DCS and zStart both use OFFSCRPT and the parser hook, so whichever one you run last will have it's stuff enabled.


Technical Stuff:
    To make the calculator run on ram clears, it first found the call that displayed "RAM cleared." Then I routed this to the end of that page and added my own code to set a getCSC hook that points to $4083 in zStart. ($4083 so it will never move) Then when zStart gets control, it closes the edit buffer and does it's thing. It then returns control back to the OS with all the settings now in place.

During the whole 2.71 thing, I disassembled the entire boot sequence and found a much better place to install all the features, the only problem is that I don't really want to have to make an unpatcher for all the previously patched calcs.

Solver++ was my attempt at a true TI app. It uses a lot of semidocumented bcalls to make the edit buffer happen. I got the top part completely done, but the bottom part will probably crash.

zStart never actually disables hooks, it only enables them. This is to prevent it from disabling hooks other programs set. The only downside is that if you disable a feature, the hook is still there so it's still going to work.


Included:
For this first post, the file is the whole thing I tried to upload to ticalc.org. (It wouldn't accept it) It includes:
-the app
-the source (~8500 lines)
-the versions of the apps its compatible with (Omnicalc + CtlgHelp)
-the font I currently use on my calculator (smaller basically, all caps are same height and lowers are too)
-some sample pictures along with the converter
-outdated readme  (it's not too old, it has good instructions on how to make pictures)

So try it out, it might be the most useful app on your calculator

Sounds awesome.

Lol, the strong silent type xD

But awesome penguin, I should probably download this sometime soon, sounds actually quite useful

This looks amazing...definite dl

Will there be compatibility with CalcUtil eventually?  If so, this is going to be on my calc with the same permanence as Axe
Another idea: run program on startup

Sounds really awesome, does it work for OS 1.19?

@DJ Yes, it uses archived fonts.

It's too bad the start up picture interferes with one of the DCS Hooks.
But the grayscale is still awesome

I will download ASAP. This looks awesome!

I just noticed a typo:
"refrest"

Hmm, the font set didn't work on Wabbit it seems to be shifted left a pixel.... I will try it again to see if I screwed up anything
EDIT: Uploaded screenie...

Oh my god, is that how it works? I mean, the font editor, it's so pure perfect!

Eitherway, I noticed the error, hope thepenguin can fix it, but that font editor is sweeeeeeeeet.