Epocdigest V1 # 528

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Epoc Digest Thu, 27 May 2004 Volume 01 : Number 528

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Sent to: 783 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 12 messages:

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- FONTS

- Re: PSILOC registration

- for Andy Hayes - Backups and Macros

- Backups and Macros,

- Re.: Backups

- Re: PsiLoc+ Query

- WEP

- Palmtop

- Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 527 (10)

- Stiil freezing on e mail!

- Netbook won't work with wireless card

- PDF+

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Date: 24 May 2004 12:15:33 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: FONTS

Hi All,

Some time ago i downloaded the Fontloader program and use now besides the standard fonts also ArialNarrow, Bungalo and Comic Sans. Has anyone got other fonts file you can send me or websites where you can download fonts from ?

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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Date: 24 May 2004 15:48:40 +0100

From: Marcus von Cube

Subject: Re: PSILOC registration

Hi Steve,

Psiloc+ is tied to th emachine but the authors will provide a new registration code if you mail them. I had to that once with plBeam (by the same people) and they respondedquickly. Just send them the old registration code, your old UID and the UID of the machine you want to migrate to.

Marcus

http://www.mvcsys.de

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Date: 24 May 2004 16:18:06 +0100

From: Wolfgang Golder

Subject: for Andy Hayes - Backups and Macros

Andy,

On 20 May 2004 Andy Hayes wrote:

> think that Wolfgang's macro is going to provide the solution that > I need. The only drawback that I can see is that if Powerbase,

> one of my commonly open apps, does not close the time logging

> file that I have open nicely, I will be left with a file that

> does not contain the latest updates that I have made to it as

> Powerbase only seems to really save when the file is closed. If

Should be no problem to close Powerbase with saving your open document. As this needs some input from you contact me off list.

Regards

Wolfgang

http://www.golder.de

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Date: 24 May 2004 17:56:56 +0100

From: Itamar Engelsman

Subject: Backups and Macros,

Answer to: Andy Hayes

Re.: Backups and Macros - Maybe you can try and use the little program JBStopGo to first close all your programs, than effect the back-up in the middle of the night and than start up your programs again with this program instead of Startup ? Another advantage is that instead of a fixed number of programs JBStopGo will close the programs open at that time and re-open the same programs again when re-activated.

Best regards,

Itamar Engelsman

London, UK

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Date: 24 May 2004 21:46:56 +0100

From: Jack

Subject: Re.: Backups

To: Andy Hayes

>>>> Left to their own devices things fail to happen properly ...

Backups are supposed to add security to your data, but I am obviously doing them so badly that something needed to be done.....

Removing the complications for the backup apps of open files will, I am sure, add some degree of safety and value to the backup regime.<<<<

Did you try Backup from

http://www.psionwelt.de/ralphsprenger/

It closes open apps and will reopen them.

When registered, Its integrated timer will (at different time), save different disks or a prefixed repertory

I use it every day and like its simplicity

Jack

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

Date: 24 May 2004 21:47:36 +0100

From: Kevin Collins

Subject: Re: PsiLoc+ Query

Hi folks...

To Steve Hodgson (>):

>Can anyone remind me, is the registration code for >PsiLoc+ or PlBeam tied in to the machine UID.

Steve, in the case of plBeam, it's definitely UID tied in: I had occasion recently to transfer it from a Mako to a Revo Plus (the former having had occasional battery problems, although it served me well for years and I haven't given up yet <g>), and I had to mail psiloc.com (I received the new code within 48 hours). It's therefore fairly likely that the same applies to Psiloc+.

Regards,

Kevin [Cork, Ireland]

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

Date: 25 May 2004 08:38:26 +0100

From: Antony

Subject: WEP

To: Joop Gerritse

WEP actually stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, not protocol, but this is a useless term that does not actually inform anyone what it actually does. Wireless Encryption Protocol pretty much sums up what it is and does and is often used instead of the original definition because it is more appropriate. It is a protocol to encrypt wireless transmissions.

It is encrypted (upto 128 bit), but is very weak for the reasons I described in my earlier posts.

Antony Booth

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

Date: 25 May 2004 09:06:35 +0100

From: Phil Aypee

Subject: Palmtop

Hi Folks,

I have Palmtop magazine Nos 1 to (and including) 24 and I would like the rest!

As I'm slightly disabled it might take a week or so to organise any payment (no signature so no cc and I can't sign cheques) but I would like to get them.

I'm in Surrey, UK.

Happy days,

Phil.

"Beware of altruism.

It is based on self-deception, the root of all evil."

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

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

Date: 25 May 2004 22:05:28 +0100

From: Mr NO Spam

Subject: Re: Epoc Digest V1 # 527 (10)

Chris. Thanks for the macro and the advice on FB.

Originally, CronTab ran three jobs. FB - a backup of files within a directory on D: to E:\Backup, then EB1 - a backup of a small file in one of the apps folders on C: to E:\Backup, then EB2 - a backup of a 1.2mb file on D: to E:\Backup. These all ran between 6 and 6:30 am and should have easily finished by the time that I start up the Psion at 8am or later. When I switched the Psion on I was greeted with a white screen which would remain that way for about 10 seconds. The you would see things happening on the screen that related to both of the EPOCBackup backups. Then the system screen would appear and the apps would start launching themselves. It was such a slow start to the day that it was like waiting for a Win PC to boot!

I decided that I ought to just add the 1.2mb file to FB as it backs up much quicker than EB. This meant that there were then only two jobs that CronTab would have to run, but in the morning EB hadn't run and often apps that had been open the night before were not opening in the morning.

Now, my theory was, having sat there and watched the process one night, was that CronTab was shutting down the Psion before the full procedure had happened. It went like this: -

Crontab wakes machine to do FB job

All apps are closed down (without problem)

FB runs its job

Before all of the apps open CronTab shuts the machine down

Later

Crontab wakes the machine up to do the FB job

It finds that some (one??) app is trying to open so it tries to close that down and any others that are open

It starts to run the backup, but the machine is switched off before it finishes

Later

I am awoken by my butler, Jeeves, who hands me the Psion, whilst placing my breakfast tea on that dreadful mahogany thing that Binky Carruthers brought back from Africa.

Switching on the Psion I get the white screen and (Windows) wait as above.

This is why I got onto the idea that a macro that would close down all apps would at least remove some of the confusion from the scenario.

The problem/benefit with EB is that it compresses its backup into one file. Even set to no compression, no logs, it is still too slow to beat CronTab to the off switch. There is no chance of support from the author as he no longer owns a Psion, but to be absolutely fair, he probably never envisaged someone doing this with his app, so I can hardly blame him. My registration fee was accepted, but not easily it has to be said and I ended up with the rest of his software range for free, so I have no complaint.

I can't help thinking that it would be nice to have a backup app where I can just select files from any disk to backup to any location. Having the ability to run unattended would be absolutely brilliant. I always leave it plugged into the mains in case there is a problem with the backup by the way.

I think that FB is an excellent app, and I am in awe of anyone able to write a decent app. Those that offer worthwhile apps as freeware deserve the respect and gratitude of us all. I have absolutely no doubt that the problem doesn't lie with FB, its just too damned quick. I still wish I had the expertise to write my own application though!

Macs. I have been chuntering on for some time about buying a Mac and today I finally placed the order, but what led up to it might be of interest to the list. I moved from IT support to IT training when I moved up to Shetland, after a period of unemployment when I thought that my only chances up here of employment were going to be in a fish factory. A friend, who had also moved from England went that route. His job was to scrape the scales off the fish. Every time his team got to 5,000 fish, they got a break. I have had some awful jobs before, which I must tell you about some time, just so you can appreciate how lucky you are, but scraping fish didn't hold much interest for me! Anyway, I digress. In a rare moment of brilliance I wondered whether there was anything in the way of discount available for schools on the Mac site. Sure enough, discount for teachers and students. Well, it never hurts to chance your arm a bit so I explained my situation: teaching MS applications to adult students in our staff development centre. I explained that it is a Mac-free company with no infrastructure to support Macs, but as I didn't want to have a Win laptop foisted on me there was little choice but to make a personal purchase for work and private use. I explained that I had been a Win PC user for 12 years and had supported Win PCs, servers and networks for the last 6 and was well aware of the limitations of Windows OS'. My situation must have struck some chords as the discounts were allowed, once my boss has corroborated my position in the company. This reduced the cost of the Mac PowerBook by 8% and the Office software from £350 to £99. There is a quoted build time of 3-5 working days with a shipping time of 7 days. I must admit to have been tempted to get an iPod as a portable backup device, but this has bent the credit card somewhat.

Peli cases. I am one of those people who find it hard having one of anything. If it is really worth having then it is worth having a backup. I always liked the Palm-Tec cases for their ruggedness, but I have found something even better so I have bought 4 in different sizes. Peli cases look as though they will be considerably more robust than even Palm-Tec (Proporta) cases. They are submersible and even have a pressure relief valve built in. I bought mine from www.internetcamerasdirect.co.uk They are on offer at the moment, although I don't guarantee that they wont be cheaper elsewhere. This company seem very good at delivering the goods and their prices on cameras at least are very good. CFs are expensive though. I don't have a small Psion anymore, but I would imagine that the Peli 1040 case might well fit a 5mx with its internal measurements of 167mm x 100mm x 44mm at £9. Make sure that you measure it before you go and buy one. The Peli 1050 has the same dimensions except that it has a depth of 70mm at £11. Its probably perfect for thick sandwiches! It is probably a case that Palm-Tec cases are for men, whilst Peli cases are for REAL men!

netPad response. After my second attempt on the Teklogix site I had a response from an engineer to whom I have sent my netPad for a quote. I was actually using it as a door stop, as readers of my very thin blog will know. I cant imagine how much it will be to get it fixed or whether it is actually worth it. Sometimes you have to admit that the £525 that you have invested so far would have been better going to charity.

Garmin Etrex (Camo). A question for you Garmin Etrex owners. My Garmin has a number of main screens, those at the highest level of the tree. They include: -

Satellite page - a graphical representation of the satellites in the sky as well as a bar graph indicating signal strengths

Position page - including electronic compass strip, track, speed, trip, position, altitude and time

Map page - waypoints shown graphically and a breadcrumb trail

Navigation page - including electronic compass (or graphic of a road), bearing, distance, track and speed

Menu page - access to menus to the sub-pages in the tree

Do the Etrex models have this many pages? I am particularly interested in the camo model, but would like to hear from other Etrex owners too. I have looked at the Garmin site but the coverage of this model doesn't seem to be brilliant, or perhaps it is brilliant and the model has a low spec'.

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

Date: 26 May 2004 12:35:07 +0100

From: napier

Subject: Stiil freezing on e mail!

Can anyone help? I have tried installing the TCP/IP update file, but I get the message " install coms component TCP/IP & try again. I have version 158 on a netbook. What does this mean and what do I have to do?

Tony

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

Date: 26 May 2004 16:31:45 +0100

From: Philip Crookes

Subject: Netbook won't work with wireless card

I have the Netbook with the latest OS, I have the Cisco wireless card, I have done everything I think I should do - and it resolutely refuses to find our wifi network.

Our VAIO laptop happily finds the wireless network without a problem - the most the Psion will do is flash the green LED Cisco card for a couple of minutes and then report that it could not connect.

I've tried entering the SSID exactly as it appears on my access point - and also as ANY, which works for various other computers we've had here.

What next can I do?

Philip

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Date: 26 May 2004 20:18:40 +0100

From: Moshe Nahir

Subject: PDF+

Hi All,

A while ago I asked about pdf+ but, probably because everybody was rushing to the beach to get their sun-fix, I had no respone. So here goes again, perhaps I'll have better luck:

I have a (registered) pdf+ on my 5mx, yet I can't open pdf files. Am I not doing something I should? Thanks much for any ideas.