Palm

This web pages is for general information about Palms. For specific information about Palms, see

General strategy

Datebook/Meeting Maker

I use the Palm as my calendar database and meeting reminder. I sync new meeting data from Meeting Maker into the Palm. Some kinds of Meeting Maker entries don't get sync'd into the Palm because the Palm can't handle some kinds of recurring meetings as they are defined by Meeting Maker. This means that I have to periodically compare the Palm and Meeting Maker data visually. So syncing the Palm to Meeting Maker is imperfect. Like all things things Meeting Maker, it sucks but it's better than nothing.

I do NOT sync meeting data from the Palm to Meeting Maker, because in the past this has corrupted the Meeting Maker database by creating multiple copies of some meetings. If I enter a new meeting manually into the Palm, it won't be in Meeting Maker unless I manually put it there. I tend to have personal meetings and reminders in the Palm only.

So, I have to compare the Palm datebook to the Meeting Maker datebook on a regular basis. Sigh.

Address databases

I want the NETS Contacts database in the Palm.

Possible Strategies:

  1. Write a Perl script that converts the Contacts page into a .csv file. Users "Import" the file into their Palm Desktop (Windows) and then Sync.
    Pros: easy to write, populates Palm Desktop Address book, perhaps merges with existing Addresses
    Cons: doesn't work for Linux users, doesn't delete old NETS entries

  2. Write a Perl script that converts the Contacts page into a .pdb file. Users can then "Install" the file into the Palm from Jpilot (Linux) or Palm Desktop (Windows).
    Pros: Works for Linux and Windows users
    Cons: blindly overwrites existing Address records

  3. Write a Perl script that replaces only the Contacts page data into an existing .pdb file. Users pilot-xfer their AddressDB file from their Palms into a Linux box, run the program, and pilot-xfer the file back into their Palm.
    Pros:
    Cons: doesn't work for Windows users
Possible resources:

Set the Palm owner fields

Click Prefs-> General-> Owner and fill in the screen.

Keys

Craig Ruff wrote it. Greg Woods gave him the C code that implements the actual algorithm. A copy is in the same directory as this web page. To get/install it:
cd ~/tmp
scp niwot:~cruff/src/keys.prc .
pilot-xfer --install keys.prc

Before it can be used, you have to install a "shared secret" into the keys program. Greg Woods supplies the shared secret, a sequence of 8 space-separated 3-digit numbers. To enter them into the Keys program on the Palm, start Keys, click on the bar at the top of the screen, then select "Set Secret" from the menu. After you've set the shared secret, define a PIN by selecting "Set PIN" from the menu.

Secret!

For storing secrets like passwords. See my Secret! webpage.

Games

Jeff Custard beamed Frogger, Chess and Galaga onto my Palm. Click on the Home icon, then pull-down All->Unfiled.

Customizing the Palm

Display text instead of large icons

To make the Palm display small text-style icons instead of large graphic-style icons, touch the Menu button in the lower left of the screen, then Options in the top center, then Preferences, then change View By from Icons to List.

Set the link speed
On the Palm, click Home, then System, then Prefs, then Connection, then Cradle/Cable, then Edit, then Details. Change the Speed to 9600 bps and the Flow Ctl to Automatic.


Address comments or questions about this Web page to the Network Engineering & Technology Section at nets-www@ncar.ucar.edu. The NETS is part of the Scientific Computing Division of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which is part of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
Last modified: Wed Nov 16 16:15:56 MST 2005