Epocdigest V1 # 517

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Epoc Digest Tue, 04 May 2004 Volume 01 : Number 517

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Sent to: 777 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 09 messages:

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- RE: OPXs

- Alarm+ & CronTab

- FAO Kevin Thorne!

- Calibrating accuracy

- Sketch & touchscreen weirdness

- mBook image,

- Freezing 5mx

- PalmTec Case

- help w. printing on BJC 2100, please

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Date: 4 May 2004 08:07:19 -0500

From: Martin Maxwell

Subject: RE: OPXs

Answer To Philip S. Adkins Potter

Subject: OPXs and Program(ming)

Hi Folks,

>>But some programs seem to check that the relevant OPX is *exactly* the version it wants and will fail if a later OPX is sensed as well as an earlier. That strikes me as very bad programming. OPXs are shared files and a program that apparently requires a superceded version is very badly written in my opinion..<<

Unfortunately, this is not always true. OPXs come in different kinds. Some provides more generic extensions to OPL, like Bmp and Buffer for instance. The Bmp and Buffer OPXs are the same from ER1 all the way up to ER7 (Symbian OS v7.0), and when OPL is released for ER8 they will probably not change this time either. So with regards to such OPXs, you are right.

Others, however, provide access to various Symbian OS engines and system features. Examples of engines are Contacts, Agenda, Messaging etc. Such OPXs are operating system version dependent. Because whenever a change is introduced in the engine, the OPX that was written for the older engine will not work anymore. The Messaging engine, for instance, was radically changed between ER3 and ER4. And it was changed again between ER5 and ER6.

>>As you said, newer OPXs have all the functions of previous OPXs so any test should simply be for any newer OPX than the last one without all used functions.<<

As of above, this is not always true.

Kind regards

Martin Maxwell

Kuala Lumpur

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Date: 4 May 2004 09:04:54 -0500

From: Phil Aypee

Subject: Alarm+ & CronTab

Hi Folks,

Itamar. I didn't realise until your post that Alarm+ was causing the (small in my case) problems with CronTab.

It's not at all a major issue to me but here's a thought.

I have two 5mxs, (the only other EPOC devices are a 3a and a 3c) but one has a D & G upgrade to 24MB RAM. The upgraded machine won't accept PsiLoc+. I don't mean that my registration won't work (it was sent by PsiLoc for that machine - it's a UID- specific code), I mean that PsiLoc+ won't even load.

So that machine uses EPOC Task Manager, Alarm+ and some associated Robin Hood/King Midas applications.

On my smaller machine I can't use Atomic Time without it affecting PsiLoc+, so I use Time Keeper. It's a bit less simple but it's still simple.

I'm not about to knock either PsiLoc or Robin Hood/King Midas (or even Kabestin - none have been perfect, but all have been kind to me and all have produced excellent software).

But they are usually incompatible.

CronTab seems to be incompatible with Robin Hood/King Midas software too, but not as dramatically.

Since they all seem to address parts of the EPOC OS that are probably not properly documented then I see no reason to criticise either, but it's still a real pain.

So ,although I've never woken up to find the Psion in RMRZIP, I have occasionally found some strange effects.

Having said all that, I'd rather use that combination than none!

Happy days,

Phil.

"Those who do not feel pain

seldom think that it is felt."

Try http://www.aypee2.net if you dare.

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

Date: 4 May 2004 10:42:08 -0500

From: Phil Aypee

Subject: FAO Kevin Thorne!

Hi Kevin,

I have had your zip file ready for some time. Where should I send it?

Happy days,

Phil.

Try http://www.aypee2.net if you dare.

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

Date: 4 May 2004 11:29:41 -0500

From: Richard

Subject: Calibrating accuracy

Dear Chums,

I can never get my screen to calibrate 100% accurately. (It's fine for everyday use, but if accuracy to the nearest 2mm was important, then I would be in trouble. How accurate does your touchscreen get?)

Strangely, I can't seem to get the screen calibration to compensate for an occasional 2mm drift to the left. I test it by drawing a shape in sketch, and tracing over it. If I have a steady hand, and the screen is calibrated, the new line that is drawn will fall (perfectly) on top of the old line that was drawn. Pressing down on the sticker/label underneath the screen doesn't fix my calibration.

Do screens gently lapse into mis-calibration, or is there a sudden change?

Yours inquisitively,

RiCo

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

Date: 4 May 2004 11:40:03 -0500

From: Richard

Subject: Sketch & touchscreen weirdness

Dear all,

This follows on from my previous post about calibrating your screen and is a bit of a weird one. (Not fascinating, just weird.):

Open up Sketch.

With the drawing tool selected, press and HOLD DOWN somewhere in the bottom left corner of the screen with a finger. A dot will appear under your finger. (If you can see the dot you either need to calibrate the screen (or are transparent)).

Keeping that finger (Finger A) in place, go to the top left corner of the drawing area and press (and hold down) with another finger (Finger

B). A line will be drawn to the centre of the screen. Now take Finger A (bottom left) off the screen. The line jumps to complete up to Finger B to the top right, but it probably won't be straight.

Repeat this several times, keeping Finger A in the same place. Move Finger B about. Just go wild with it!

When I do this with the large-screened (Malay) netBook, the lines have a weird halo of distortion in the bottom left corner. It reminds me of diagrams of light waves being bent by lenses. When I do the same thing on the smaller-screened 5mx, it looks like I was trying to draw straight lines whilst standing in a moving train.

Anyway, that's what I found - apologies if it was as clear as mud. I'm just starting a blog - if anyone's interested in seeing what I'm trying to describe, I'll post the 5mx and Malay netBook sketch files.

If you get the inclination, I would be interested to know what pretty patterns your touchscreen produces with the same technique....

Richy

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

Date: 4 May 2004 13:00:11 -0500

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: mBook image,

Answer to: Armin Podtschaske

Re.: mBook image - Wrong ! My mBook came with the OS pre-installed and I did not have to install it. I just go by the saying "If it ain't broke, ain't fix it".

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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

Date: 4 May 2004 19:03:20 -0500

From: Kevin Thorne

Subject: Freezing 5mx

Reply to Gordon Thompson:

Subject: Freezing 5mx

<I have a 5mx pro and use UK Online as my ISP. I used to have no problems.

Now I am only able to send e-mails. When I try to open the mail box, the program connects and then the whole machine freezes requiring a reset.

Any suggestions?>

I had exactly the same problem on my S7 but it's now been fixed by installing the TCP/IP update file. Thank you to everyone who advised me off-list on how to fix the problem (you all know who you are) and my apologies for not saying thanks earlier but I've been off-line for over a week as I couldn't stay on-line long enough to download the fix and so had to obtain it via another way! Thanks again, what a great bunch you all really are. I suggest you do what I did and get someone with another EPOC device or PC to dowload the file from www.psionteklogix.com/teknet/pdk/netbook-pdk/update.htm and transfer it to your 5mx. That should solve your problem.

Regards

Kevin Thorne

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

Date: 4 May 2004 21:24:34 -0500

From: ICrumlish

Subject: PalmTec Case

message for Andy Hayes

Have tried your e-mail a couple of times but my msg bounces back - I am interested in your Palmtec case if it is still available

Regards,

Idris

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

Date: 4 May 2004 23:17:39 -0500

From: vlad a

Subject: help w. printing on BJC 2100, please

Kindly help:

Infrared printer link (the battery is at 8,5 V) 5MXpro

In the printer panele: print using: Canon Bubblejet (BJ-Mode) or BJC 80 (colour), Pape: A4, print using: infrared

Communication is set to off

The 5MX Word doc shows the progress bar, the IPL blinks, but the BJC doesn't print.

1- How can I print?

2- I have tried several times. Have I cluttered the system with temp-print docs I should delete manually?