1src Forums - PalmPDF v1.1!

STBXXL

02-19-2006, 06:40 PM

Just noticed that MetaView has released PalmPDF v1.1 (http://www.metaviewsoft.de/de/Software/PalmOS/Freeware/PalmPDF/index.html). The list of enhancements is again very impressive:

Version:

1.1 (02/19/06 "1st update")
- bugfix: Content extraction
- bugfix: security patch from xpdf 3.01pl2 added
- bugfix: MobiPocket is called with the created PalmDOC
- bugfix: Copy/Paste support in the search field
- memory check around Content-extraction, does prevent out-of-memory crahes with large files
- changed Scrollvalues
- changed progressbar a bit, extended "WAIT" to cover also the extraction of content
- added file handling support with RescoExplorer, ZLauncher, MobiSystems OfficeSuite etc.
- direct mode for the apps above, means no stop in the file browser and direct exit after the renderer is closed
- support for keyboards
- swapped quit and rotation button on all devices except Zodiac to have quit on home button on TX
- when moving behind the right or left border using the keys, the display is wrapped around for better readability in large zooms
- Skin support, selectable
- Possibility to rename PDF files in the file browser
- when called by another app or received file (using exchange manager) PalmPDF goes back to the called app when the PDF file is closed

Thanks a lot for creating this really great program.

Cheers.

I love my mom

02-20-2006, 07:12 AM

YEA!!! Thanks Henk!!!! I love it!!!!

BTW Henk, you kind of need to update the PalmPDF link on the main page. It still says 1.0, and that is what I have been looking at!!! It really hurts, because I checked your site for updates before I came here, and it still said 1.0, so you almost just lost a customer!!!! :D

MetaView

02-20-2006, 08:09 AM

ups, sorry. Thanks for pointing me :-)

I love my mom

02-20-2006, 09:19 AM

He he he, no problem. :-) Its been about a month since I updated my site, so you are doing good!

wellsjs

02-20-2006, 09:40 AM

And with PalmPDF 1.1, you can now launch it and a PDF file from Resco Explorer! That's cool! :cool:

Nitron

02-20-2006, 10:06 AM

I was JUST thinking "What's going on with PalmPDF? It's been awhile since an update."

Very nice, Henk (and that project you were helping me on is ALMOST working)

bh77a

02-20-2006, 10:53 AM

Has anyone tried using 1.1 with MobiSystems OfficeSuite? Downloaded both palmPDF 1.1 and OfficeSuite Classic 7.30 and can't figure out how to get PDF files to be listed in the file browser.

SoS

02-20-2006, 11:46 AM

what's the deal with the skin support?? Are there any skins available??
:confused:

MetaView

02-20-2006, 01:42 PM

MobiSystems OfficeSuite does not yet show the PDF files, but one of the next updates will do. PalmPDF has already the support for being launched by MSOS.

There isn't any available skin yet, but there is one in preparation. I haven't released the skin SDK yet, as I want to see first how it works out, if I need to change something or not. Also it seems I have to rework the buttons a bit, to enable the switch between stylus move and text marking. I didn't want to remove or disable the skin code for the 1.1 release. I know without available skins it's a bit pointless :-)

Regards
Henk

jjesusfreak01

02-20-2006, 04:35 PM

So does that mean that a future version of ZLauncher will have support to chose a PDF launcher?

SoS

02-20-2006, 05:03 PM

MetaView

02-20-2006, 05:06 PM

Don't know, it might. At least PalmPDF is prepared to be called in the same way as it is from Resco Explorer. I'm not going to install ZLauncher on my device :-)

MetaView

02-20-2006, 05:08 PM

10-4 good buddy!

? Ehm, what does it mean? I'm damned stupid and get no sense in it... :confused:

Cygnet

02-20-2006, 05:26 PM

? Ehm, what does it mean? I'm damned stupid and get no sense in it... :confused:

That's made me chuckle, I remember doing cb radio when I was a kid in the late 70s early 80s

Go On SOS, explain all to the very talented Metaview.....

bald1

02-20-2006, 05:27 PM

? Ehm, what does it mean? I'm damned stupid and get no sense in it... :confused:

Henk,

He's paraphrasing some old Citizens Band Radio slang that truckers used. It means he understood (10-4 = message received). The equivilent would be "I understand my friend!"

bh77a

02-20-2006, 07:42 PM

Thanks for the info regarding MobiSystems OfficeSuite. I would imagine that the update is coming, as their pages for OfficeSuite now tout having the functionality.

Explorer's ability to do so works great on my TX.

dmccunney

02-21-2006, 05:35 PM

Don't know, it might. At least PalmPDF is prepared to be called in the same way as it is from Resco Explorer. Hmmm. Are you using sysAppLaunchCmdOpenDB?

I'm not going to install ZLauncher on my device :-)Heh. What do you use? :)

Incidentally, one issue on Tapwave Zodiac devices. In PalmPDF 1.0, the Zodiac analog joystick provided four way scrolling in a displayed PDF. In PalmPDF 1.1, pressing the joystick to the left closes the current document and returns you to the document selection list.

Is this intentional? I hope not. I've backed off to v1.0 till there's a fix.

Thanks!
______
Dennis

alokeprasad

02-21-2006, 05:59 PM

DanT

02-21-2006, 06:53 PM

...
- added file handling support with RescoExplorer, ZLauncher, MobiSystems OfficeSuite etc.
- direct mode for the apps above, means no stop in the file browser and direct exit after the renderer is closed...

What do they mean? :confused:

Does it mean that I can open the PDF file from ZL File Manager?

I don't see any different other than the green battery icon changed to a magnifying glass icon and the previous green battery icon appear next to the clock.

What's the purpose of the green battery icon now? I tap on it and nothing happens.

MetaView

02-22-2006, 02:12 AM

Hmmm. Are you using sysAppLaunchCmdOpenDB?

No, I'm using sysAppLaunchCmdCustomBase.

Heh. What do you use? :)

LauncherX, which is just all what I need as a launcher.

Incidentally, one issue on Tapwave Zodiac devices. In PalmPDF 1.0, the Zodiac analog joystick provided four way scrolling in a displayed PDF. In PalmPDF 1.1, pressing the joystick to the left closes the current document and returns you to the document selection list.

I see... Fix is on its way and will be released this evening.

If there is a soft reset, the PalmPDF icon dissappears from the Palm launcher!

Very weird and I have no clue why it does happen. But I've ordered a Treo 650 and I hope I can reproduce this error.

Does it mean that I can open the PDF file from ZL File Manager?

That's at least what I hope...

What's the purpose of the green battery icon now?

Just an information about the battery level.

Regards
Henk

I love my mom

02-22-2006, 08:05 AM

First of all, YES!!!!!! HENK ORDERED A LOW RES DEVICE!!!!!! Now, I am having many problems with 1.1. it doesn't open all the pdf's that 1.0 did. It just crashes and goes on with life. :D

dmccunney

02-22-2006, 09:53 AM

Are you using sysAppLaunchCmdOpenDBNo, I'm using sysAppLaunchCmdCustomBase.Okay, thanks. I'm curious about whether I can make a PDF as launchable, tap the icon for it, and have PalmPDF invoked to read it.

What launcher do you use?
LauncherX, which is just all what I need as a launcher.:) Me, too.

Left joystick press on Zodiac exits PDFI see... Fix is on its way and will be released this evening.Thank you!

Regards
Henk______
Dennis

MetaView

02-22-2006, 11:34 AM

First of all, YES!!!!!! HENK ORDERED A LOW RES DEVICE!!!!!! Now, I am having many problems with 1.1. it doesn't open all the pdf's that 1.0 did. It just crashes and goes on with life. :D

No, the Treo 650 is a hires device... About the crash: does it say something before or does it just crash without any word?

dmccunney

02-22-2006, 01:08 PM

No, the Treo 650 is a hires device... About the crash: does it say something before or does it just crash without any word?Speaking of which, when I open a PDF with PalmPDF, I see a batch of messages appearing in a rounded box as it progresses. Each overwrites the other, and they go by too quickly to really read. Any chance of an option to turn them off, or re-direct them to a log file? The latter would be useful in cases where PalmPDF chokes on the file for some reason and can't open it.
______
Dennis

MetaView

02-22-2006, 03:26 PM

dmccunney: nope, they go into a log file, when you check the appropriate option. If they just fly by quickly it's ok. But there are files outside where you will really happy about them, as they open quite slow and it is the only progress you will see for several seconds. Things like complex 400 page PDFs.

BTW: The Zod fix is out. No really now version, but you can indicate it on the 1.1a in the about window. No other fix yet, I go and need some days to finish the Skin stuff. The first skin looks very nice, but I have to adjust some parts of the UI to make it fit nicely.

I love my mom

02-23-2006, 07:16 AM

No, the Treo 650 is a hires device... About the crash: does it say something before or does it just crash without any word?

:( Treo600 low-res.... Well, before my crash it says something about abort, and then has an abort button for me to tap, followed by a message that resests my device, and it is NOT a memory error. Of course, if it is memory, it is crashing with about 7k left everytime.

SoS

02-23-2006, 07:19 AM

Installed ver 1.1 and moved most of the application to the SD card using the Options->To Card.

If there is a soft reset, the PalmPDF icon dissappears from the Palm launcher! I have to re-install the prc and move to card again just to be able to run PalmPDF again.

This is on a Treo 650 with lots of storage RAM free, and using the standard Palm launcher.

Others are seeing it too:
http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=107616

Aloke

also on LD! Another issue - tried to launch palmpdf today (v1.1) and get message 'unable to launch - system error' and returns to system prefs window?!?!?

Reinstalled 1.0 for the time being..

jconaway99

02-23-2006, 09:00 AM

I had the same problem but with the new myKBD program. Maybe it is not PalmPDF but zlauncher update I just installed.

dmccunney

02-24-2006, 11:01 PM

dmccunney: nope, they go into a log file, when you check the appropriate option.Yes, I see the Debug log option in Preferences. That adds more messages to my screen as PalmPDF loads and renders a PDF... :p

If they just fly by quickly it's ok. But there are files outside where you will really happy about them, as they open quite slow and it is the only progress you will see for several seconds. Things like complex 400 page PDFs.Agreed. But I'd still like an option to turn them off.

BTW: The Zod fix is out. No really now version, but you can indicate it on the 1.1a in the about window.Yes. I grabbed it, and it works fine. Thank you!

No other fix yet, I go and need some days to finish the Skin stuff. The first skin looks very nice, but I have to adjust some parts of the UI to make it fit nicely.[/QUOTE]I look forward to this. Will there be instructions at some point for people who want to create PalmPDF skins?
______
Dennis

MetaView

02-25-2006, 04:30 AM

I look forward to this. Will there be instructions at some point for people who want to create PalmPDF skins?

Yeap, there will be an example skin (almost the build in) and an instruction. But it will need a Win-PC to create it.

SoS

02-25-2006, 06:33 AM

I had the same problem but with the new myKBD program. Maybe it is not PalmPDF but zlauncher update I just installed.

I had it with MyKbd also. Seems like it happens after I use versamail but not sure.Dont think it has anything to do with PalmPDF :) Sorry Henk!

alokeprasad

02-25-2006, 11:10 AM

How can I upload a PDF file for others to try? This BBS accepts image (jpg etc) uploads only.

Anyway, with tis PDF file, PalmPDF produces a pixellated display and seems to generate errors and restarts itself repeatedly.

examples of errors that causes it to restart:

NULL at Splashbitmap.cc
Textoutputdev.cc 2486.

Thanks.
Aloke

PS:
Is version 1.0 available for download? Ver 1.1 has problems on my Treo with it dissappearing after reset.

alokeprasad

02-25-2006, 11:15 AM

I posted the file on Treocentral BBS

http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=108076

MetaView

02-25-2006, 12:20 PM

Hi alokeprasad:

I've tried your file:

on my TX with UDMH enabled: No problems to view it. But I've recognized it is very large and 25 % zoom is much enough for it. Problem with the big page size is the large amount of memory it takes for it.

TX without UDMH: it displays with 65% in gray, but does run out of memory and switch to b/w when trying to zoom. I've found a bug: when I switch to gray, the zoom is reset to 65%, I will fix it. Setting zoom to 25% and exit and reopen the file works fine and is very good readable.

Treo 650 no UDMH: It works but even 65% is too large for gray. So only b/w with 65% but as 25% is enough, I did the same, set zoom to 25% in the open file, quit and reopen it in grayscale.

Regards
Henk

Regarding the lost .prc after a Reset, I will evaluate it and probably have to change the way I import and call the renderer...

SoS

02-25-2006, 12:26 PM

Regarding the lost .prc after a Reset, I will evaluate it and probably have to change the way I import and call the renderer...

ok, I feel better about this. I hve nnever had this problem before and now it is happening with two apps indepedently - PalmPDF1.1 and Pruss' mykbd. How strange! Anyway, I have to say that with two of the best developers around at the moment (Henk and Alex obviously) both on the case, I have no fear!!

pruss

02-25-2006, 02:38 PM

ok, I feel better about this. I hve nnever had this problem before and now it is happening with two apps indepedently - PalmPDF1.1 and Pruss' mykbd. How strange! Anyway, I have to say that with two of the best developers around at the moment (Henk and Alex obviously) both on the case, I have no fear!!

It's conceivable that myKbd was causing other apps to disappear beside itself, no?

Alex

SoS

02-25-2006, 02:54 PM

It's conceivable that myKbd was causing other apps to disappear beside itself, no?

Alex

Dont think so, PalmPDF croaked the day before I installed the mykbd trial!!

pruss

02-25-2006, 04:16 PM

Dont think so, PalmPDF croaked the day before I installed the mykbd trial!!

But you might have had mySkin?

I also saw a report of this happening with Docs2Go.

I really don't know what was going on in myKbd/mySkin. I fixed two problems before releasing the [12].10 versions. (1) A startup bug where I was calling a function in a segment different from the main one, even though I was in a no-globals situation (the function didn't actually get called, but I think the code to call it might have caused trouble); (2) notifications that were getting unregistered even when they were never registered.

I also found that on my TX any app would disappear if one did a reset soon enough after installing it ("soon enough" here means faster than one can do it by hand), even if the reset is after a DmSync() call that should prevent NVFS cache issues.

I am thinking that there might be some NVFS corruption issues involved with soft resets.

SoS

02-25-2006, 04:26 PM

Alex,

I did, indeed, have myskin (I think still 1.8 though). But Ive been using myskin for a while and this was the first time I saw this effect. However, it is a lifedrive so, as ever, all bets are on! ;)

Anyway, all seems ok with mykbd 1.1 so far...

dmccunney

02-25-2006, 09:06 PM

I also found that on my TX any app would disappear if one did a reset soon enough after installing it ("soon enough" here means faster than one can do it by hand), even if the reset is after a DmSync() call that should prevent NVFS cache issues.

I am thinking that there might be some NVFS corruption issues involved with soft resets.I've been following a thread elsewhere with problems running Launcher X on a TX, and the launcher getting into a fatal error/reset loop condition.

It appears that something is corrupting the database file where LX stores its configuration info (which will produce behavior like that), and I'm guessing Yet Another NVFS Bug, but since I don't have a TX I can't confirm it.

My impression is that the TX is doing something akin to the LifeDrive, and using RAM as a cache for NVFS, which I can see causing issues for stuff that is supposed to be in actual RAM.

Just what does the TX do? Is NVFS seen as an internal card, with RAM seperate, or is there some form of caching going on?
______
Dennis

sambucca

02-28-2006, 01:04 PM

pruss

02-28-2006, 01:08 PM

I finally tracked down the problem with mySkin/myKbd disappearing. It was because I was deleting resources within the database (I was using the main program to deploy them) which was screwing up notifications and/or NVFS.

DanT

02-28-2006, 02:58 PM

this may be a dumb question, but do i have to uninstall palmpdf 1.0 first before i install 1.1? If i just copy it into rom will it overwrite or will it leave some stuff on the rom from the previous version?

If i do have to uninstall, how should i do this?

You can't overwrite Read-Only Memory, just Random-Access Memory. If you install 1.1 in RAM it will overwrite the 1.0 w/o any problem.

I haven't tried uninstalling it. but plan to use Uninstall manager to cleanly uninstall it. If you don't have that utility, then I suggest you to send Henk a PM about it. So far I only see PalmPDF with creator ID PPDF (90KB) and PalmPDF_PPDF_appl_a68k with creator ID a68k (84B) if you move the rest of files to Card (PalmPDF Menu, Options, To Card). My guess is if you remove those 2 files from RAM, you should be OK. Then all you need to do is to go to your Card and delete the PalmPDF folder in /Palm/Programs directory

MetaView

03-01-2006, 01:53 AM

Updating PalmPDF is just a matter of hotsyncing the new version to your device or card, wherever you have it. If you have installed the prvious version on the device and moved the renderer to the card, just do it again, after you've installed the update on your device.

To uninstall: Remove PalmPDF using the standard launcher's Delete menu item. Then remove the PalmPDF folder from your card. Use a card reader or a file application as FileZ or FileProg to do it.

That's all.

Regards
Henk

I love my mom

03-01-2006, 10:58 AM

Henk, for some reason I am finding that 1.1 opens significantly less pdf's than 1.0 did. Many of my pdfs crash when I try to open them.

MetaView

03-02-2006, 01:28 AM

I love my mom: I don't know a good reason for that. Maybe you send me some of them and I'll check them here. But if they work fine here, I'm lost.

I love my mom

03-02-2006, 08:55 AM

I'll do that. I have had so many problems with PalmPDF+Zire 31 though, problems that other people haven't had, it might just be my device.

MetaView

03-08-2006, 08:27 AM

about lost PalmPDF on reset: Could you check the 1.2 preview at

http://www.metaviewsoft.de/PalmPDF_prc.zip

Thanks
Henk

schulj

03-08-2006, 11:11 PM

about lost PalmPDF on reset: Could you check the 1.2 preview at

http://www.metaviewsoft.de/PalmPDF_prc.zip

Thanks
Henk

I tried this version this morning and unfortunately by this afternoon I still spontaneously lost Palmpdf. I can see on my initiate launcher that the icon's not showing and when I select it I get a soft reset. The error reads "System Compatibility.c, Line:64, Invalid card #". This case I hadn't even copied all the fonts to the card. After the reset it completely disappeared.

For me it doesn't even seem to happen after a reset - just randomly. I've gone back to version 1.0 on my 650 and will give that a test over the next couple of days.

MetaView

03-09-2006, 01:37 AM

schulj

03-09-2006, 03:39 AM

schulj: thank you very much. To clarify things: Do you have moved the renderer to card (using "to card" option)? What do you mean with "the icon's not showing and when I select it..."? What do you select when which icon isn't shown anymore? Could you try it without Initiate? How did you bring the app to your device? Hotsync or bluetooth or copy from card?

Using 1.1 I did move the renderer to the card but using the trial 1.2 I didn't (ie. it copied the neccesary files to the card but kept the fonts and still took up about 600kb on the treo). So it doesn't seem to matter.

What I mean when I wrote the icon's not showing is that the palmpdf logo is not showing up in initiate. It is just a generic palm application logo and says 'Palmpdf'. If it's in this state and I try to launch Palmpdf from zlauncher than it still resets and then doesn't appear at all in zlauncher after this soft reset.

I always cable hotsync the program but I use Pinstall so I don't have to go through the whole hotsync process. When I open it the first time it automatically copies the neccesary files to the SD card.

I don't think it's related to initiate as my brother doesn't use initiate (only zlauncher) and he now is having a launch error with palmpdf 1.1 When selecting it it says 'The application cannot be launched because of a system error.'

Hope you can sort this out as otherwise Palmpdf is terrific software.

schulj

03-09-2006, 04:02 PM

The same problem happened to me with version 1.0

I've gone back to 1.1 and I copied the folder myself to the card. Will see what happens!!

SoS

03-09-2006, 04:22 PM

The same problem happened to me with version 1.0

I've gone back to 1.1 and I copied the folder myself to the card. Will see what happens!!

..in that case, you have a specific issue because the problem (insofar as it is a problem) didnt manifest itself until 1.1...

schulj

03-10-2006, 05:16 PM

..in that case, you have a specific issue because the problem (insofar as it is a problem) didnt manifest itself until 1.1...

After giving palmpdf a good workout I've come to the conclusion that something was wrong with the way I had it installed originally. After manually copying the palmpdf files to the card I have found 1.2 beta is working fine and it's much more stable than 1.1 in terms of surving a reset. Thanks for the update!

MetaView

03-11-2006, 09:00 AM

schulj: Nice to hear about it.

Other ones get problems regarding missing .prc after a reset on a Treo? Does the 1.2 preview cure it?

bald1

03-11-2006, 10:51 AM

Henk,

While I don't have a Treo to use to help here, I did attempt to grab that v1.2 beta preview to test on my TX but found the link supplied above in this thread simply provided v1.1a dated 8 March. That version works great BTW :)

MetaView

03-11-2006, 12:16 PM

Ehm, it should be the preview to 1.2. The version numbers aren't correctly changed. The button bar should be a little different to 1.1. Anyway, the official update comes next week, I hope.

cleoo

03-18-2006, 01:07 PM

I have a Treo 650, SanDisk Ultra II 1gb SD, and I installed PalmPDF 1.1 on it.

A number of issues with 1.1:
Sometimes it would load up a PDF which had 1164 pages in a dithered gray mode (quite difficult to read with all of the dots all over the place) and sometimes it would load with the proper white background and readable text.

When I would skip to the next page whether with the arrows or with the down arrow pad, the page numbers would blink while loading the next page, and frequently PalmPDF would crash, where I would have to perform a soft reset to get out of the program. The program refreshes quite a bit, blinking screen and all. But when viewing text it's stable.

I had the Adobe Reader for Palm installed and then I installed PalmPDF 1.1. Next thing, PalmPDF uninstalled Adobe Reader. I wish it would have asked first. I was trying to compare.

Things I like:
I like the battery and clock
I like the PalmPDF folder, just wish it would install that and the files automatically.

Wishlist:
Bookmark and show the last page viewed on each PDF.
Save the current window view (e.g., placing the PDF so that text is visible and not the margins...say there is 2 inches of margins, after I situate the text on the palm the next page that I tap on should match up to the same margin free screen, unless I move it.)

Issues with 1.2:

When I reopened a PDF file it blinked and it still shows "Do PceNativeCall" and lookup page (numbers increasing). Any way to hide those or is that necessary for us laypeople?

It takes longer to reopen the page, especially when the PDF is over 1100 pages. When before on the 1st time I opened the file, it flew to page 1100 in no time.

Speed, speed, speed.

Otherwise, it's a great little program.

cleoo

03-18-2006, 01:12 PM

I spoke too soon. It crashed on me and it reset. I think I should just open it once and use it and not try to reopen it.

Some of the info messages overlap on the screen and show up black like the CLOSING.

MetaView

03-18-2006, 02:41 PM

little program... [cough] :-)

Especially when using a file with 1100 pages, it's better you see the page numbers running up the screen. BTW: it really should save the horiz. scroll position, even (if requested) two different for even and uneven pages. But it depends on your default settings. If it comes up with b/w or with gray depends just alone on your free dynamic memory.

wmvdg123

03-26-2006, 06:57 PM

Hi, palmpdf is fantastic, much better than doctogo. I have several thousand pdfs, and palmpdf opens all of them without errors (treo 650). Plus, when scrolling page to page I get good speeds. I like the new features in 1.2 and they all work fine.
My only problem is when I have to open a large pdf, say 200-1500 pages. It takes too much time to load. After it loads going from page to page is fine. Is there a way to skip the indexing when first opening a pdf?
Thanks,
Wayne

MetaView

03-28-2006, 01:44 AM

Hi Wayne,

actually I've tried it but it doesn't work. It would need quite a lot of changes in the renderer to have the page tree not loaded in the beginning. But in the next version you can stop the loading, if you only go to view the first part of the document. But it might lead to other problems. We will see. Check out the preview at http://www.metaviewsoft.de/PalmPDF_prc.zip