"Offline Files" w/Palm?

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

I'm a computer network consultant. I have a folder structure on my file
server, that I use to keep notes, etc. (mostly Notepad-style plain text),
about various clients and systems. My notebook PC uses Windows "Offline
Files" to automatically synchronize that folder structure with its local
hard disk so it's available when I'm using it at client sites.

I'd like to do the same with my Palm, but I'm running into issues. For
starters, it doesn't seem to have either files or folders -- just
applications that seem to manage their own set of "documents" or something.
No filesystem directory browser.

And although I've found indications that I can synchronize individual files
to my Palm, I see no way to synchronise a whole folder, let alone a folder
structure with subfolders.

I do NOT use my Palm -- or Outlook -- for email, and have no intention of
importing all those files into Outlook. I suppose it might be possible to
import each of those text documents as a Palm "memo", but how would that
synchronize to the original documents? And whither folders?

Am I using the wrong approach? Is there a better way to do this?

/kenw
Ken Wallewein
K&M Systems Integration
Phone (403)274-7848
Fax (403)275-4535
kenw@kmsi.net
www.kmsi.net

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

kenw@kmsi.net wrote:
> I'm a computer network consultant. I have a folder structure on my
> file server, that I use to keep notes, etc.
>
> I'd like to do the same with my Palm, but I'm running into issues.
> For starters, it doesn't seem to have either files or folders --
> just applications that seem to manage their own set of "documents"
> or something. No filesystem directory browser.

That's true for internal RAM - there is just a flat filesystem - as if
all files are in the same folder.

However, on an external SD-card you can have your directory structure
as you like. It's also no problem to transfer files or whole directory
trees from your PC to the card and vice versa. There is a tool called
PFD <http://www.pmrogan.de/site/PalmSoft.htm> that does just that.
There is no hotsync needed, you just start a small application on the
Palm and a very small file manager application on the PC. Note that
this doesn't sync at all, it just copies files. So, if you plan to
edit files on both PC and Palm, you will run into problems.

There are also free file managers on the Palm like FileZ
<http://nosleepsoftware.sourceforge.net/download.html> that you can
use to browse your folders on the Palm. However, you're probably
better off with a alternative Launcher like ZLauncher which integrates
program starter and file manager.

> I do NOT use my Palm -- or Outlook -- for email, and have no
> intention of importing all those files into Outlook. I suppose it
> might be possible to import each of those text documents as a Palm
> "memo", but how would that synchronize to the original documents?
> And whither folders?

If you plan to completely convert to a different approach you could
use some hierarchical structured information database like ShadowPlan
or Natara Bonsai, but both have the limitation that notes must be kept
small (max. size 2k or 4k, I'm not sure about the exact number). Both
have a desktop application for the PC, currently Bonsai desktop is
better while Shadow provides more functionality on the Palm.

If your data is only edited on the PC but not on Palm, you could also
convert it to a Plucker or iSilo file.

Regards,

Guido

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Hi Ken,

I am a computer consultant also. What I have done is create a database using SmartList-to-Go called KnowledgeBase, I sync it to
my Desktop and import it into Microsoft Access if I need to manipulate the data. I tried it your way and it was a real hassle.
Using SmartList-to-Go gives me fast access to information. I just recently upgrade to a Tungsten|T3 (from Tungsten|T) and am
very happy with this setup. The only thing left that would make my setup perfect is if there was a way for me to set font size
on records when they are sent to my SiPix printer.

Ciao . . . C.Joseph

That which a man buys to cheaply . . .
He esteems to lightly

kenw@kmsi.net wrote:
> I'm a computer network consultant. I have a folder structure on my file
> server, that I use to keep notes, etc. (mostly Notepad-style plain text),
> about various clients and systems. My notebook PC uses Windows "Offline
> Files" to automatically synchronize that folder structure with its local
> hard disk so it's available when I'm using it at client sites.
>
> I'd like to do the same with my Palm, but I'm running into issues. For
> starters, it doesn't seem to have either files or folders -- just
> applications that seem to manage their own set of "documents" or something.
> No filesystem directory browser.
>
> And although I've found indications that I can synchronize individual files
> to my Palm, I see no way to synchronise a whole folder, let alone a folder
> structure with subfolders.
>
> I do NOT use my Palm -- or Outlook -- for email, and have no intention of
> importing all those files into Outlook. I suppose it might be possible to
> import each of those text documents as a Palm "memo", but how would that
> synchronize to the original documents? And whither folders?
>
> Am I using the wrong approach? Is there a better way to do this?
>
> /kenw
> Ken Wallewein
> K&M Systems Integration
> Phone (403)274-7848
> Fax (403)275-4535
> kenw@kmsi.net
> www.kmsi.net

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 21:31:11 -0000, Guido Ostkamp had this to say...


> That's true for internal RAM - there is just a flat filesystem - as if
> all files are in the same folder.
>
>

It is a pseudo-file system. It is actually one big database file with
each 'file' a record in the database. That is why you can't load .txt
..gif or any file you want, they have to fit in the defined fields.

--
Hope this helps.
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To email me just pull my_finger

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

kenw@kmsi.net wrote:

>I'm a computer network consultant. I have a folder structure on my file
>server, that I use to keep notes, etc. (mostly Notepad-style plain text),
>about various clients and systems. My notebook PC uses Windows "Offline
>Files" to automatically synchronize that folder structure with its local
>hard disk so it's available when I'm using it at client sites.
>...
>Am I using the wrong approach? Is there a better way to do this?

Excellent responses! Thanks, everyone!

/kenw
Ken Wallewein
K&M Systems Integration
Phone (403)274-7848
Fax (403)275-4535
kenw@kmsi.net
www.kmsi.net

Archived from groups: comp.sys.palmtops.pilot (More info?)

Guys, guys. You're way out of date! You don't need a card reader any
more. There is software called Card Export which let's you treat your SD
card as a USB drive. You just plug your Palm into the USB and it looks
like another hard drive. Then you can use whichever file synchronisation
software you like (I use Backer from www.cordes-dev.com.) The files will
be in native PC format so you'll only be able to access them on the Palm
if you have the relevant software installed. I just use the Palm to
transfer files between the home and work PC, keeping them synchronised.

For example, to edit text files there is a program called sied. The main
download site seems to be down, but I found a copy here:

http://www.smartphonetoday.com/sof [...] lm-pc.html

You can get Card Export from www.softick.com.

Hope this helps. Card Export is great, and no I don't work for them.

- Dave