Requesting help with Japanese DA/Hack app...

[ReadOnly]

I have been collecting DA's (Desktop Accessories) and trying to determine what they do.

If your not familiar with DA's, you might want to check them out. I am fascinated by these little gems that folks wrote. Many are both extremely useful and clever. Most all were distributed as freeware. Unfortunately, very few were distributed with source code.

My interest is in DA's is hampered by the fact that virtually all of them were written by Japanese programmers, and very few have English versions of their documentation. I, unfortunately, never studied the Japanese language...

Most I have been able to figure out fairly well. Others ... not so well.

One application that is REALLY vexing me was apparently reviewed on the following web page:
http://muchy.com/review/stopdahack.html
This is the first of 3 linked pages that form the review.

A Google translation was, well, LESS than helpful.

What is very confusing to me is this program is a hack that is supporting some sort DA functionally.

I'd really appreciate anyone's help here.

[kiteandcamera]

This app appears to work on pre-PalmOS 4 handhelds and stops an active DA or hack via the push of a user specified button. I suppose one might benefit from this app if a poorly written DA or hack does not close properly. I see no overwhelming need to even try this DA.

[ReadOnly]

Thanks!

It appear that the "spec's" for writing DA's does not discuss allowing for or requiring a hard key press to exit the DA. DA's typically are looking for a screen tap outside of their pop-up box to exit, or pressing a QUIT or EXIT button in the DA's window.

This app actually sounds kind of useful for one-handed operation - like when you don't want or can't afford to take out a stylus. One-handed operation has has been a goal of Palm since it started developing the 5-way interfaces in PalmOS 5 machines. It has been a goal of some users long before Palm started moving in that direction...

I am curious why you say it appears to be for pre-PalmOS 4.
Around my house, we have and still heavily (and lightly) use several pre-POS 5 machines.

Thanks again!

[Sharkk717]

hi. if you would like help writing a DA i have a fully documented skeleton C DA that i wrote a while ago. it's for CodeWarrior but you can use it with PODS as well i imagine.

send me a PM if interested. best regards, tyler

[kiteandcamera]

I am curious why you say it appears to be for pre-PalmOS 4.
Around my house, we have and still heavily (and lightly) use several pre-POS 5 machines.

Thanks again!

Since the DA has not been updated since 2001, I assumed it has not been modified or optimized for OS5. It likely may work just fine.