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Epoc Digest Sat, 04 Jan 2003 Volume 01 : Number 139

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Sent to: 709 subscribers

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Message

Dear Subscriber,

since 07/12/02 the Epocdigest server 10 times received a return message from your server adminstrator with the problem report "4.2.2 Over quota".

As such returned messages repeat the whole digest, the Epocdigest server received in the last time daily about 20 kB real mails and 500 kB returned useless mails !

We would ask you to empty regularily your mailbox.

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Rolf Vonau

The Epoc Digest Team

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In today's Epoc Digest 15 messages:

==============================

- Re: GPS

- Re: Radio HAM Software and PC Emulator

- Re: System Files

- Useful Apps

- Re: Psion Series 5 Serial Numbers

- Re: Where to look for new applications

- Re: Viking Cards

- Re: Magellan Meridian and Psion 5MX?

- Re : system drive; Re : unsavemails

- Re: system files

- Re: Psion Serial Number

- Re: Printing hlp or data files

- Re: Warning re Maplin Electronics and Pocket Reader

- New software, Dacom modem, Query - Agenda to Data/Sheet Link, SonyClie

- Printing hlp, Psion Serial Number, strangenesses,

*++++++++++&

Date: 3 Jan 2003 20:22:00 +0100

From: ALYG

(Andrew Longdon)

Subject: Re: GPS

There has been a fair amount of discussion in this group regarding navigation-type software and GPS. I've been thinking of getting a GPS unit for a while, mainly to see what they do! I don't have a need for one, but, being a "gadget freak" I like to try these things out first hand...

So, given that I've got a Psion 5mx, and I also run MS Autoroute on my PC, would anybody know whether the Garmin Etrax (ie. the cheapest Garmin on

the market) can be used on both platforms? I presume in both cases it would require a serial cable? (I have the Psion serial cable and a null-modem adapter...Oh, and what software would you recommend for the Psion/Garmin setup?

Thanks in advance.

,\ndy

*++++++++++&

Date: 3 Jan 2003 20:22:00 +0100

From: ALYG

(Andrew Longdon)

Subject: Re: Radio HAM Software and PC Emulator

I'd like to thank every one who responded to my requests for info on the above two subjects.

For those who were wondering what ACARS is; it is Aircraft Communications And Reporting System. A short burst of data is transmitted between aircraft and ground stations containing such information as registration, flight number, type, position, air speed and a general text portion. These are used by plane spotters to identify a/c by tying up flight numbers to registrations, etc. My interest lies in the fact that I like to dabble! ie I like to try out different software/hardware (I have a short wave receiver and a VHF scanner). I find one particular piece of software for the PC interesting. Called Wacars, it's a pain to setup, but once achieved it will plot a/c on a map whenever it decodes an ACARS message containing positional info. It's your very own ATC screen!

I'd also like to thank those who gave me info regarding a PC Emulator of EPOC, it's a bit too big to download so I think I'll send off for a CD!

,\ndy

*++++++++++&

Date: 3 Jan 2003 22:31:13 +0100

From: "Steve Hodgson"

Subject: Re: System Files

> I like a "clean folder structure" on my Psion and also find it would

> be possible to reclaim some valuable memory space if I had answers > to

some of the above questions. Or am I just bothering myself quite

unnecessarily with this?

Jan,

One utility worth using to check out the OPX files is Ralph Sprengers

excellent OPXScan (http://www.psionwelt.de/ralphsprenger/RSProgs.htm).

This will scan all drives and report whether any opx files are no

longer in use and may be deleted. The other option is to list all

programs and the associated OPX files.

Hope this helps.

Steve Hodgson

*++++++++++&

Date: 3 Jan 2003 22:32:58 +0100

From: "Hoffman, Susan"

Subject: Useful Apps

I use Agenda and Contacts more than anything, but not in any sophisticated way (although I now synch with both Blackberry and my office network's Outlook). I have customized a Sheet program for my bank statement. I have tried some of the shareware, but have always come back to my own Sheet. It has a limited number of columns, and I bold the entry description for anything that will have to show up on our tax return at the end of the year. On December 31 or thereabouts, I close out the current year's Sheet, and copy the first few lines onto a new sheet (Checkbook02 then becomes Checkbook03) -- entering the closing balance as the opening balance for the new year, and then going on from there. Things just became a bit more complicated because I now have a companion savings account with a higher interest rate, and can transfer back and forth from there to the checking account, which means I have a new column. Is there a way to identify the last row in a column that has an entry, and subtract or add the current line to that number? I can probably do it by nesting an "if" function, but it would seem to have to be a bit long, and I haven't had the patience to try to work it out. Otherwise, the program is quite simple. The first column is the check number (blank if it's an ATM withdrawal or a deposit). When the statement comes in, I go to the check number and do Ctr-X, x, Ctr-v, Down arrow, which puts an "x" in front of a check that has been cleared and shows up on the statement. Non-check items just get an "x". That makes reconciling the statement extremely easy, because I can instantly spot the entries that have not cleared and add or subtract them from the statement balance. I do this in the cell to the right of the last balance entry after the statement date. The second column is the date of the item. The third column is the description (payee of a check, or ATM or deposit). The fourth is the amount of a check or ATM withdrawal. The fifth is the amount of a deposit. The sixth is the running balance -- the prior balance plus current deposit minus current withdrawal or check. This formula is copied into all cells of the sixth column below the first (which is where the prior year's ending balance is entered). Each year's sheet is saved on my CF card and on my office network (in Excel) and of course, printed out so my husband can do the taxes. I also backup the current Checkbook file on the CF card every time I make a significant entry.

The other customized use I have for my 5mx is that I have set up Data files for the two restaurant discount programs that we have joined. The Data file shows the name of the restaurant, the neighborhood, the phone number, the type of cuisine, and any restrictions on use. So if we find ourselves in a neighborhood looking for someplace to eat, I pull out my trusty 5mx and search the neighborhood for likely restaurants. Since the identity of the restaurants in each program doesn't change much from year to year, all that is required when the new books come out is to spend about 20 minutes with the new book and the old version of the Data listing, to delete restaurants that are no longer there and to add new ones. I also have room to enter our impressions of the restaurant, such as dishes that are particularly good or particularly bad.

Finally, I have a standard Sheet template for travel expenses, which I fill out while traveling and then can simply print out when I get back and hand to my secretary.

Susan Katz Hoffman

Pepper Hamilton LLP--------------

3000 Two Logan Square

18th & Arch Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Tel: 215-981-4990

Fax: 215-981-4750

e-mail: hoffmans

web address: www.pepperlaw.com

*++++++++++&

Date: 3 Jan 2003 22:52:36 +0100

From: "Steve Hodgson"

Subject: Re: Psion Series 5 Serial Numbers

> How do I find the serial number?

Douglas,

If I remember correctly from when I sent my Series 5 back to repair the

Serial number was on a sticker inside the Copact Flash Card door.

Cheers,

Steve Hodgson

*++++++++++&

Date: 3 Jan 2003 22:53:49 +0100

From: "Steve Hodgson"

Subject: Re: Where to look for new applications

> A little while before Christmas I agreed to take over the day-to-day

> running of Epoczone ...

> I am also hoping to resurrect the news section of the site to cover

> non-software developments

> and hopefully Epoczone will become a valuable site for all of you

> guys.

Simon,

Perhaps you could also post again to the digest when these updates are

up and running. I have certainly missed having a single site to check

for software updates - I know, I know there are none anyway but one

lives in hope.

These days I just bookmark all my core applications and check them

periodically for updates. It would be good to have a site that will

highlight any new developments but I am also sure that Digest readers

will be able to spread the word as effectively as any other method when

we stumble across an under-promoted gem of an application.

As a topical aside, there has been a couple of threads running in the

Digest regarding encryption software and essential software. For me

the one essential application that I *must* have on a Psion is

EncryptIt. Although I suspect that many of the other encryption

applications may all work very similarly, the ability to store data

such as credit cards details, passwords, sensitive material of any type

on a mobile (and therefore vulnerable) machine is an absolute

essential.

Cheers,

Steve Hodgson

It took my full two weeks holiday but I finally got FreeBSD running X-

Windows. Now I need to find something worthwhile to do with it!

*++++++++++&

Date: 3 Jan 2003 22:53:52 +0100

From: "Steve Hodgson"

Subject: Re: Viking Cards

> Anyone using Viking CF Cards? Do they work with Psions? Any comments.

Andy,

I've recently moved to a 128MB Viking card in my netBook and so far

I've had no problems. I went for this brand after reading some Digital

Camera reviews that highlighted operation with this brand being faster.

Don't tell my wife though - I originally bought the card for her

DigiCam but ended up passing on my old 96MB SanDisk! I'm a man, size

matters ;o)

Cheers,

Steve Hodgson

*++++++++++&

Date: 4 Jan 2003 00:43:39 +0100

From: Andy Hardy

Subject: Re: Magellan Meridian and Psion 5MX?

Thanks for the pointers towards the GPS SIS file.

After loading and setting the Magellan to NMEA 2.1 all went well!

Many thanks!

Andy Hardy. PGP ID: 0xA62A4849

*++++++++++&

Date: 4 Jan 2003 01:28:15 +0100

From: J.

Subject: Re : system drive; Re : unsavemails

***

Subject Re : system drive

To Jan G, who wondered : >

> C & D drives have among others LIB and OPX folders with dll and OPX files,

>some of them with the same name but different creation dates. Is this because I sometimes install apps to C, sometimes to D?

>.....Is it safe to remove all but the latest

I learned that it non only safe but recommendable (to prevent unwanted reset) to avoid any doubloon or earlier version of system files. After installing new app. I move: any Opx, Opm, Install or whatsoever from D: to C:

***

To all

Subject Re : unsavemails

Simon's wife experimented : >

>...... emptying her netbook's email using SaveMail, but she ~highlighted~ all the messages before setting Savemail off, having instructed it to delete after saving...

>it saved the first message and deleted all the rest in one fell

swoop!...

Yee! That clash I encountered too.

Any solution Sergio?

****

Subject Re : VNC

To Andy Hayes who

>....finally got EPOCVNC working on my networked

netBook.

>The culprit was the vnchosts.txt file. Once deleted and replaced I...<

Hi Andy,

How on earth did you find out to replace this very one???

Best to all... who backup

Jack

*++++++++++&

Date: 4 Jan 2003 10:38:45 +0100

From: "Marcus von Cube"

Subject: Re: system files

Jan,

>I have noticed that I on both C & D drives have among others LIB and OPX folders with dll and OPX files, some of them with the same name but different creation dates. Is this because I sometimes install apps to C, sometimes to D?

That's the reason. An not all programs follow the Symbian rules how SIS files should be constructed which depend on other components (the correct way is not to put the components

but their SIS files into the application SIS!). Then, the installer can determine whether an older, the same or a newer version of a component (e. g. OPX) is present and replace it if neccessary.

>Does Epoc always use the latest version or does it use the version found on the drive to witch

the app using it was installed?

Neither is correct, EPOC has a search order which starts with drive D (or E if present) and then goes to C and Z (the ROM).

>Is it safe to remove all but the latest version of for example sysram1.opx or estlib.dll?

>If it's enough with one (the latest?) version of such a file, where's the best place to keep it, C or D?

You better check Add/Remove in Control Panel first. If you once start removing files manually,

the system install database gets out of sync. There is software (OPXSCAN) that allows you to

find out which app uses which OPX. The best way is to *reinstall* all applications. (If you

uninstall and then install, you loose your settings!) Normally I put all the system stuff on C (OPX, Standard C lib, ...) and all applications on D.

>Does this hold for all types of system files?

I'm not sure. INI files should always reside on C but its up to the application to follow that rule or not.

Marcus

http://www.mvcsys.de

*++++++++++&

Date: 4 Jan 2003 11:47:00 +0100

From: David Steer

Subject: Re: Psion Serial Number

Douglas,

The serial number should be on a little sticker on the inside of the battery compartment on the back of the Psion.

David (Beakynet)

*++++++++++&

Date: 4 Jan 2003 11:47:02 +0100

From: David Steer

Subject: Re: Printing hlp or data files

Woody,

Help files are really only Psion Data files with the extension .hlp. If you have PsiWin, you can print the entire help file through Print via PC. If this is not working for you then you might be able to take a copy of the help file from the System\ABP directory and rename it to .dat (copy to c:\ is advisable so you don't make a mistake) PsiWin might be able to convert this file, also printing is possible from the Data applcation. Data also has the option to export the file as a text file.

David (Beakynet)

*++++++++++&

Date: 4 Jan 2003 12:28:00 +0100

From: ALYG

(Andrew Longdon)

Subject: Re: Warning re Maplin Electronics and Pocket Reader

I'm sorry to hear Chris had such a bad experience with Maplin, their shop staff always used to be so helpful - particularly at the shop in the middle of Manchester's university campus - then again, with all us E&EE students, they had to be!

I noticed a few years ago that they seemed to dumb-down their catalogue; ie, they removed a lot of useful technical information, I don't know if this is a coincidence, but their staff seemed to become less knowledgeable/enthusiastic around the same time...

This seemed to be around the time when their only high street rival (Tandy/Realistic) disappeared...

They also seem incapable of making the index fit the catalogue!

Anyway, I've looked through the current catalogue and cannot find the Pocket Reader. However, Aleck, if you wish to try one of the Maplin shops in Scotland, here are their details:-

Aberdeen 01224 789567

Edinburgh 0131 313 5551

Glasgow 0141 353 3323

Glasgow 0141 248 7298

I would also expect PC World to sell it - you could try their website www.pcworld.co.uk

,\ndy

"Seek Peace" (M2002)

*++++++++++&

Date: 4 Jan 2003 19:02:34 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: New software, Dacom modem, Query - Agenda to Data/Sheet Link, SonyClie

Answer to : Jack

Re. New software - Well, with still over 700 people following this digest I suppose there is still a market for new software ... . Don't we all want something new from time to time to keep it interesting ?

Answer to: D.D.White

Re. Dacom modem - Guaranteed for life ... or at least for as long as they exist ?

Answer : Steve Hodgson

Re. Query - Agenda to Data/Sheet Link - I lost track who the original question came from, but I found something. For each pupil you can attach a WORD object to a diary entry. In this object you can create another object which can be a sheet. So he could do the following :

- open an entry for a pupil, give it a day and time

- open an attachment WORD file to make notes given homework, etc.

- open within the attachment a SHEET file to make the necessary calculations on times and charges.

Answer : James John

Re. Sony Clie - I know it is not pockatble, but did you think of the S7 or netBook ? It is keyboard, colour and very rigid as well.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

*++++++++++&

Date: 4 Jan 2003 19:02:36 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Printing hlp, Psion Serial Number, strangenesses,

Answer to : Woody

Re. Printing hlp - the help files are nothing more than DATA files. Change the name by taking away the .hlp extension and you can use them as normal DATA files. You will get the "More" option with export to text file.

Answer : Douglas Brown

Re. Psion Serial Number - Probably many people will answer, but just in case everybody thinks the same, in the system screen do Menu -> Information -> Machine -> Unique ID is the serial number

Answer : Simon

Re. strangenesses - Sorry hear about your problems. I just wonder why your back up did not download the email settings for you. Was this a problem of _your_ back-up or a general problem when backing up ? Can anyone inform us how we can check and make sure our back-ups will include these settings ? With many ailbox in use (personal, business and the digest) it would be a real pain to have to re-install them all by hand.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

*++++++++++&

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