Epocdigest V1 # 541

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Epoc Digest Tue, 15 Jun 2004 Volume 01 : Number 541

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Sent to: 769 subscribers

In today's Epoc Digest 14 messages:

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- macs, pdf+

- Java, javascript, jscript, ECMAscript

- No email address, archive email

- Opera

- Re: Fonts

- Java Psion Link

- Re: Opera, Email

- Re: Opera

- Logit Time Recording Software

- RE: Tom on Tom's Questions

- Mac - JPL - CF card formatting

- Auto soft reset on Nbook

- Misbehaving Revo

- Tom's Q's (2)

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Date: 13 Jun 2004 10:45:54 +0000

From: Eric Lindsay

Subject: macs, pdf+

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

> From: Mr NO Spam

> Macs. I have been chuntering on for some time about buying a Mac

Me too. Apart from not as yet having any real connectivity from my Psion to the Mac, I've been very happy with the Mac (running OS X 10.3.3). With the "instant on" feature of the Powerbook, I've been able to treat it very much like I do my Psion. Just close the lid and put it away. Of course, battery life is more like 3.5 hours, rather than real long like a Psion. However the life when in suspend mode seems at least reasonable (several days at least - haven't tested for longer periods).

I've been able to transfer files from the Psion to the Mac via CF, since I deliberately got a model with a PCCard slot. The Mac does put a few spurious files on the CF, but they don't appear to cause problems. Luckily I am mostly writing HTML, so everything is just text written with the Symbian Editor. I know there are some Java based file transfer programs, and I'll try downloading some of them next time I have some decent internet access. At the moment I am in the middle of the Australian Outback (Mataranka), and haven't had phone access for the past week. Owen might be more remote from the internet, but most Digest readers are probably not.

> From: Moshe Nahir

> Subject: PDF+

> 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.

First check that pdf+ is working correctly. Open pdf+, and then use

its File > Open menu to manually open a PDF file. pdf+ doubtless

relies upon a recogniser file to help it identify which files it should attempt to open. In the Windows world, PDF files have the file

extension .pdf If the PDF file for some reason does not have this extension, pdf+ will not recognise it. If your "PDF" file doesn't

have a pdf+ icon showing, then I would suspect the recogniser has

gotten lost. Easiest way out of that is just to reinstall pdf+ I'm not sure how you would manually extract the recogniser files (which end up in System/Recog I think) from Sander's .sis file, but I am sure they are included.

pdf+ can handle standard PDF files up to version 1.3, I think. If someone created a file with Adobe Acrobat 6, and used all the bells and whistles (rather than made it Acrobat 4 or 5 back compatible), then

pdf+ would probably not be able to handle it. You do need to convince people not to produce PDFs with all the bells and whistles, because

only people with Acrobat Reader 6 can read them (so much for a "portable" format!)

Sander sometime reads this digest, so you may get well get a reply from him. I've always found him very helpful, and he can probably suggest something that isn't as ad hoc as my suggestion.

Eric Lindsay lists at ericlindsay dot com

http://www.ericlindsay.com

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

Date: 13 Jun 2004 11:11:48 +0000

From: Eric Lindsay

Subject: Java, javascript, jscript, ECMAscript

> Epoc Digest Mon, 31 May 2004 Volume 01 : Number 531

> From: Philip Crookes

> Subject: NetBook and WiFi

> 1. Opera on my NetBook identifies itself as Opera 5.1. it's slow, and > seems to lack a proper Java implementation. Any suggerstions for this? > If it gets to a page that requires Java, it just sits there and

> doesn't seem to do anything.

In my experience not very many web pages actually require Java. Are you sure the problem pages required Java? Or did they instead require Javascript? Java is a programming language from SUN. Javascript (which is much more common in web pages) is a proprietary scripting language from Netscape, whose main connection with Java is a similarity of name.

Just to make it even more complicated, most web pages that claim to use Javascript are actually using Jscript, which is a proprietary scripting language from Microsoft, included with their various web page

generating programs like Front Page. Jscript is highly similar to Javascript.

Opera of course uses neither (because they are both proprietary products). Opera (when it has scripting available) uses ECMAScript,

the European Computer Manufacturer Association scripting language.

This is highly similar to javascript and Jscript, however it is not identical. You do sometimes run into pages that absolutely require either the Netscape browser or Internet Explorer for their scripting to work. It doesn't help any that many "Javascript" based pages are also syntactically incorrect, and therefore can't be guaranteed to work in anything.

No, I don't actually have a solution to non-working web pages, except to try them with Web rather than Opera (and then try with a Windows

PC). You can get Java for a Psion, but it is an older version.

Nothing to do with Opera.

Eric Lindsay lists at ericlindsay dot com

http://www.ericlindsay.com

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

Date: 13 Jun 2004 11:51:55 +0000

From: Eric Lindsay

Subject: No email address, archive email

> Epoc Digest Tue, 01 Jun 2004 Volume 01 : Number 532

> From: Digest administrator

> Subject: No name

> one of our venerable subscribers is prefering to send his > distributions under the pseudonym Mr NO Spam, with a dummy email > address and without signature !?

Alas, with the number of Windows worms that now search any vulnerable computer's entire hard drive for ANY email address, and then either spam that address or claim to be sent by that address, I can really understand digest readers not wanting their "real" address to get onto any other PC at all. I've had spurious "bounce" messages on an email address used ONLY for ONE Usenet posting (luckily that was a throw away address good only for one month). Now I fake and invalidate even the one month throw away email addresses.

Thank goodness most Digest readers are either immune (via using a Psion) or are not as vulnerable (by luck or good management while using a Windows PC). I'd hate to have to discard this address.

> From: Steve Hodgson

> Subject: Mail Archiving

> I have been looking at possible ways to archive EPOC mail so that it > will be accessible on other operating systems (or PDAs) as an archive. > Ideally I would like to import all my sent mail into an email client

> such as The Bat but I reckon this would be over-ambitious.

Why bother trying it using the facilities on the Psion, unless you can only rarely get at your email from a computer with mass storage space.

When receiving email on your Psion, do NOT MOVE your email to the Psion, just COPY relevant items to the Psion, so the original is still on the mail server ready to be collected when you are next online using The Bat.

When sending email from the Psion, email yourself a carbon copy. True, it will waste some access time, and it will show up in your received mail headers. Then when you next use The Bat, you have a copy of all your Sent email ready to download for archiving. Also, it gives you complete off-site backup until you get to your PC again. No

conversions of any sort are required doing it this way. Should work with any computer system also, whether you are using Windows, Linux or Macintosh.

Note, this system does not work well if you are away from your desktop computer for long (weeks or months) periods. I am assuming this is not usually the case (although, alas, it sometimes is for me).

Eric Lindsay lists at ericlindsay dot com

http://www.ericlindsay.com

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

Date: 14 Jun 2004 06:07:00 +0000

From: Peter Rand

Subject: Opera

> Andy Hayes

>Opera…

>… has possibly been one of the most painful surfing experiances that I have ever had. It just isn't the tool for the job. You can stop reading here if you like because I have nothing good to say about it at all …

This has been my experience with Opera as well: for general web-browsing, Web is far better, for secure web-browsing, a notebook or desktop system is necessary.

Peter

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

Date: 14 Jun 2004 16:37:54 +0000

From: Astrid Stappenbeck

Subject: Re: Fonts

Hi Itamar,

> I downloaded the Fontmachine onto my mBook and it said the program was expired and I could not add any fonts. <

It seems you have the old beta-version which is slightly misbehaving but ok to use provided it's installed on D. You can get it to work if you change the time on your Psion (two years back or so). The full program is better (and unlikely to cause havoc) but has no demo - so you'll have to pay. Since I don't use psiwin I find it not worth the money but if you print out lots of stylish documents via PC you might consider a purchase.

BTW my first exerience with the beta messed up things as well and having it installed on C being unable to uninstall fonts made me hard reset my psion. Now I just put my extra .gdr fonts in D\System\Fonts\ and soft-reset the machine for installation and can uninstall them by removing D and soft-resetting again. Not very elegant but safe and effective.

Astrid

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

Date: 14 Jun 2004 19:55:10 +0000

From: Phil Aypee

Subject: Java Psion Link

Hi Folks,

Andy (Hayes), I have only used JPL to back-up over a serial link with OS 8.6 but it works. As it's a Java program I expect the only difference between versions is the shell. With an appropriate shell it should work on many machines, not just Macs.

But if you have a CF card reader (I haven't) then I expect using it will be much quicker and easier.

Happy days,

Phil.

"Fate protects fools,

little children,

and ships named Enterprise."

http://www.aypee2.net

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

Date: 14 Jun 2004 22:10:12 +0000

From: Martin Maxwell

Subject: Re: Opera, Email

Answer to: Andy, Itamar

Subject: Opera, Email

I agree that browsing on the netBook is kinda limited.

However, in all its simplicity, I still find the Psion Email client one of the best around and like Itamar I use it a lot when I travel. Because of all crashes and virus problems, I have dumped Outlook for good. Instead I use the freeware Foxmail whenever I use a PC, much more stable, compact and virus proof (though I doubt that anything can be completely virus proof on Windows). With Foxmail I can bring the complete Email box + the application with me on a 256 Mbyte CF disc.

cheers

Martin Maxwell

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia

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

Date: 14 Jun 2004 23:05:35 +0000

From: Alan Morris

Subject: Re: Opera

Andy Hayes wrote:-

> Afters year of being really impressed with Psions it is

> probably Opera that has done more to make me realise that

> they are now very limited if you want to interface with the

> rest of the world.

I started with Web and found that impossible to use apart from the occasional urgent need. Trying Opera on a 5mx and then a netBook, I've also got the impression that while Psions are great for most things, web browsing, and displaying photographs, is a no go area.

> Talking of Macs .... After initially being told delivery

> would be 5-7 days and then having that changed to 5-7 working

> days, Apple / TNT / Streamline have still failed to get the

> goods to me on the 10th working day. I have paid my credit

> card bill for the Powerbook before I have even seen the

> offending item!

Much like Windows then. Working in the PC trade, I lost count of the cost to me of broken delivery promises.

Alan R Morris, G4ENS.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK.

Using a Psion netBook & Nokia 6210e.

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

Date: 15 Jun 2004 00:08:41 +0000

From: nobby tucker

Subject: Logit Time Recording Software

Hi all,

I used to use Timebase time recording software on my old Psion 3a/3c. On changing to a Psion 5 and 5mx I contacted Timebase for an upgrade - they dont do one!

I downloaded Logit from Purple Software from somewhere and its supposed to be a 30 day trial - but my demo keeps coming up as 'expired' even thoughI haven't used it. As they are defunct and there doesn't seem to be any support, I wanted to know if it was any good before I paid £10-15 for it?

Does anyone have a demo that works I could try - or give some advice if I have I done something wrong with the download or install - what do you think please??

regards

Nobby

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

Date: 15 Jun 2004 03:02:22 +0000

From: Bob

Subject: RE: Tom on Tom's Questions

Reference different media in Netbook drives. I have a Micro drive and it automatically comes up as "D" and my 256MB CFD automatically comes up as "E" drive and it all works great.

Oh, and Chris,

I still haven't much success with my WiFi and my Buffalo card. I am sure its an "operator" malfunction. :o) You were a wonderful help. I tried all your suggestions including trying it with the Wep turned off. I still wonder if I have messed up the configuration on my Netbook somewhere. Maybe someone with a Buffalo card will contact me and I can make sure it matches. You are a great asset to this group.

Thanks,

Bob

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

Date: 15 Jun 2004 03:49:54 +0000

From: Bruce A.Knox

Subject: Mac - JPL - CF card formatting

TO Andy Hayes

Congratulations on your PowerBook! I wish I had one (or an iBook). I hope my mBook will arrive sometime, but Sitashop seems to have disappeared!

JPL works well for me, for transfers between an eMac (G4/OS 10.3.4) and my S7/5mx/MC218. The OS X driver (Jpl2Alpha4.jar) is available from John Montgomery's website. I use a Keyspan serial adaptor, USA-19QW,

You have a NetBook I think? If so, your Java is on board (I

understand); otherwise, the EPOC Runtime for Java is required.

A card reader (SanDisk ImageMate in my case) connected to the Mac seems to handle CF cards smoothly. Formatting a CF card on my eMac, however, is another matter, and it might be the same for the PowerBook. I know nothing about formatting in Terminal (I didn't know it could be done;

in fact, I can't understand Terminal at all). The Disk Utility in Applications-Utilities is, I think, the program to use. It will check your CF card and, if the card isn't too far gone, repair it. But I've formatted CF cards (DOS format) with Disk Utility, only to find that

the Psion cannot see the card. I'm sure this should not be so, but there it is.

Good luck ----------- Bruce Knox

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

Date: 15 Jun 2004 07:41:35 +0000

From: Philip Carlisle

Subject: Auto soft reset on Nbook

Dear All

Quite recently there was some mention, possibly by Itamar, of his Mbook? resetting itself. Just for the record, my Nbook gave itself a soft reset yesterday, but it resulted in a blank screen and an unresponsive machine.

I had been loading some software. To the best of my recall, I installed Moonclock, but then cancelled, as it indicated that I would need to do a hard reset, and I did not think that to be worthwhile (funny, given what was to follow). I started to install the latest Macro 5 version, but this failed (either because I had not removed the earlier version or because I was installing to D, which is my habit, not to C, which seems to be required. So, I uninstalled the partial Macro 5 and then installed it successfully on D. I then backed up C and left the machine connected to the PC and PsiWin. When I came to use it again, it went into reset mode as soon as I touched a key.

As indicated before, this was not successful, so I did a soft reset. All seemed to be well, but I then found that a number of my applications, possibly (but not certain) installed to D drive, closed immediately on opening with the Kernel 3 message. Another soft reset failed to solve the problem, and another one left me with the NetBook splash screen and no response from any input.

A hard reset seems, for now, to have solved matters.

I do have one question for the group.

On restoring my C drive with PsiWin, I had the option of formatting the drive before restoration. Could I have done that without losing the OS, which had just been installed on boot up to, I imagine, the C drive? I guess it is a matter of whether it is partitioned off from the rest of the drive. Or, does a hard reset format the C drive anyway?

Regards

Philip Carlisle

PS Apologies to all for leaving the boring privacy message at the foot of my last posting, and to the team for sending it in rtf!

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

Date: 15 Jun 2004 09:23:00 +0000

From: Dunsterville, Han

Subject: Misbehaving Revo

Morning! (or evening)

Just to delurk & introduce myself! I have a Revo and before that a 3mx, I upgraded recently to a 5mx but found it way too big for my gurl's handbag ;o) so I ended up going back to the Revo.

The Revo's internal battery conked out, so I sent it off for repair (at no small cost - but it's the same as buying a 5mx so...). It also had this annoying problem of not switching on properly - and the thing's doing it again, not 4 months after I got it back. Sometimes it'll switch on, and only when I open an app/doc does it switch itself off again, other times it just won't switch on at all, either by tapping the screen or Fn+On, sometimes if you keep Fn+On for a few goes it flips on briefly but turns off, then eventually stays on. Two or three minutes later it may be fine - or sometimes 2/3 hours. This morning, it wouldn't turn on until I'd plugged in the power source (I'd just put it in its cradle) and found out it had 95% battery. ?? It's a pita!

Is there anything I'm doing wrong? I have it charging on my desk all day when I'm at work. Usually this is enough to last me all weekend, but I have a charger there too for top-ups. Am I 'overcharging' it? Before I had it refurbed, I did occasionally let it drain completely then charge it from scratch, which seemed to solve it for a little while...

Anyway, any suggestions gratefully received... I'm not too techie so words of one syllable and/or pictures preferred ;o) Thanks very much!

HAN

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

Date: 15 Jun 2004 09:24:05 +0000

From: robertsont

Subject: Tom's Q's (2)

Hi,

'Don't be silly, this digest is meant for people to ask questions. Don't stop, just fire away.'

- Thank you Itamar. Well, here is another inundation!

= Is there a maximum number of folders you can view on a psion 5? I use a 256mb cf on a netbook however when I come to view the root on my P5 i get a folder error?? If so, what is the maximum number of folders that can be viewed in any one folder on a psion 5?

= like many, I seldom use web browsing on my netbook, however when I do I often want to use it to complete forms online. I use Opera as my browser. When I try to enter the bookings page of Ryanair.com, opera crashes and an error window pops up: reason code kern-exec, reason no 3. I have tried changing the security settings enabling SSL and TSL. Interestingly the easyjet site seems to be OK!

= shot in the dark - does anyone have a left module (the one below the screen on a netbook) cover going spare? mine no longer seems to clip into place.

Richard:

- I have since discovered that the Arcos 220 I am interested in will run RockBox. Thanks for the tip.

- yes, one of the plastic bits under the left side of the spacebar is broken. this seems to be attatched to the larger under key base so I guess glue is my only option.