Can I use programs straight from the memory stick and how?

[kcdavid]

I have noticed that programs are getting bigger and bigger. So people say buy a memory stick like a 1gb. This is great for storage, but can a person use a program from the memory stick without transferring it over to the Clie pda? I love my clie but that seems to be a sticking point. With newer Palms you can use programs straight from the SD card.

Is there a software that lets one use the memory stick as a hard drive or RAM? :confused:

[DCBAKER]

If you have a UX, you can use the aliasext trick. Do a search for it on the forum here as it's been discussed numerous times. There are also third party launcers which will allow you to lunch apps from the card.

The catch is that any app that is launched from the card is moved to internal RAM to run. So you have to make sure you have enough RAM to run the program. Usually if you keep 3-4MB of free RAM, you shouldn't have a problem. This is a great way to have a lot of programs available (on the card) without having to have a lot of RAM in which to permanently store them.

[c_nechal]

you just have to paste your prc file on the memory stick (/launcher ) and put it back in your UX :)

[golalmo]

powerrun (http://simple-palm.com/index-e.html) will move application and it's db to the memory card and create a launcher shortcut.
yet, dcbaker is right. you have to keep enough free space in ram to launch it.

[Kappa]

To summarise up, I think there are three options (correct me if I'm wrong):

1) \Programs\AliasExt
2) \Launcher
3) PowerRUN or similar

Similarities:
- all need to copy the files back to RAM for launching
- files on MS are not backed up/synched during HotSync
- associated alarms won't go off (i.e. don't put DateBk5 program file on MS if it is supposed to manage alarms) and other software that needs to manage the system does not function if not loaded, ie not in RAM (e.g. BtToggle and the like)

1) \Programs\AliasExt
Keeps only the program file(s) on the MS, leaves databases in RAM. After copying, a soft reset is needed so that the program shows up in the Launcher (a shortcut to the MS resident program is created in RAM marked with an * in the filename)
Advantages:
+ during HotSync the databases are synched with the PC if there is a conduit installed (good for software with both PC and PDA client/PC-PDA conduits, e.g. password trackers, database managers, etc.)
+ program shows up as if it were in RAM and not in the separate MS/Int.Memory categories of Launcher (in reality only the shortcut to it is shown)
+ the created shortcut can be assigned to Hard Keys of unit so it's possible to assign the program to a button

2) \Launcher
Keeps most of program and database files in RAM, but not always all. No shortcut created (program shows up in MS/Int.Memory category of Launcher)
Advantage:
+frees up more space in RAM

3) PowerRUN or similar
Moves all program and database files to RAM and creates shortcut in RAM marked by *
Advantage:
+ frees up most space
+ software shows up in normal categories in RAM ("All" category + the manually assigned categories)
+ the created shortcut can be assigned to Hard Keys of unit so it's possible to assign the program to a button

For disadvantages of the options, refer to Advantages of the alternatives. :)

So in all if I need synching of software databases I put it to AliasExt, if not, use PowerRUN

Cheers, k

PS: corrections, additions welcome!

[kcdavid]

Thank you all for the time spent answering. Tech lovers who help others are invaluable. Thanks again.

[bdhu2001]

I'm going back to my UX and having problems with apps that won't function, but show on RAM due to AliasEXt trick:
How do you get rid of files once you've stored them in AliasExt?
What if you deleted files before you realized there was a directory?

[Kappa]

I'm going back to my UX and having problems with apps that won't function, but show on RAM due to AliasEXt trick:
How do you get rid of files once you've stored them in AliasExt?
I think in 3 steps:
1. Delete them from the AliasExt folder
2. Delete their shortcut from RAM (they start with an *) [they might be locked
and you might need FileZ, PalmInsiderPro or similar filemanager]
3. Delete their databases from RAM (might be a good idea to check the creator type in stpe 1 and 2 to know exactly which databases to delete


What if you deleted files before you realized there was a directory?
Not sure I understand this one

[bdhu2001]

Thanks Kappa,
The second part was would it prevent you from completely deleting the file if you started trying to delete with filez and later noticed it was in your AliasExt.

Evidently, I'm not finding the full files, because I can't seam to delete them from my UX. I'm using FileZ and Zlauncher. I tried Mcfile, but UX required hard resets and the file still remained. I even used Uninstall manager to delete “a68k” files. Now that I know it's definitely possible, I'll keep trying.

[kiteandcamera]

Evidently, I'm not finding the full files, because I can't seam to delete them from my UX. I'm using FileZ and Zlauncher.

Sometimes the most efficient way to deal with this problem is to do a hard reset and start from scratch.

If you want to continue hunting down files associated with certain apps, you could run the .exe from the PC, open the Install Tool and write down everything you see on the list. Delete the app and dbs from Install Tool (no sense loading them at the next hotsync), and use a file manager to delete those files in your handheld. This is useful for large apps like Docs To Go which loads up about ten or so files to the handheld.

My recommendation to the original question in this thread is to purchase and use ZLauncher to manage the apps you want to move to the external card. ZL will move apps to the /Palm/Launcher directory and create a shortcut in RAM while it can also emulate PowerRun by moving apps with associated databases to the card, also creating a shortcut in RAM. With ZL you should not have to manually move any app/DB to the card.

[bdhu2001]

I did a hard reset and started from scratch. The problem is that with the Alias Ext trick, they still show. I already own ZL. I'll start again, use file manager to delete everything before I start adding apps. Since I have my VZ90 that I'm using in the meantime, I can take the time to get it right.

[Kappa]

So you say you deleted all files from the following directories from both the Internal Media and your MemorySticks: /Palm/Programs/AliasExt and just in case PowerRUN was used earlier, from /Palm/Programs/PowerRUN; you did a hard reset to totally wipe RAM and these still show up? That's pretty strange... What are the names of programs/files you see in the Launcher, RAM and AliasExt you're trying to get rid of?

[bdhu2001]

I don't own PowerRUN. I have ZLauncher. The memory stick is brand new so it had nothing in it. Thus, the programs had to be in the internal media somewhere. I could still see the program, but there aren't any directories that list them in internal media. I have three programs that show up that way. Snapper mail, ZLauncher, and Mobipocket. With ZLauncher, I finally decided to install it in the directory that kept showing up when I tapped it. I may have to do the same with the other two, because I'm simply missing how to delete the entire programs after using the Alias Ext trick.

I haven't tried running exe from the PC yet. I'll try that next. Perhaps I haven't found all the files associated with the apps. Thanks for the advice Kappa.

[gman]

You could also try a program called: TealAlias. It is similar to PowerRun in that it allows you to move the program and its associated databases over to the memory stick after you've used them!

Check it out! It's a pretty descent program and has the potential to save you a significant amount of space!

[golalmo]

did you tried to delete the content of the \palm\launcher folder on both internal and ms?

[bdhu2001]

Original quote from golalmo:
did you tried to delete the content of the \palm\launcher folder on both internal and ms?
It worked. I think the problem is that I deleted the files, but didn't soft reset so they still existed. Who knows, but thanks for all the help.

[Tam Hanna]

Hi,
as always - most answers and a bit of background info here:

http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2006/08/11/mysteries-of-palm-os-memory-part-two-sd-card-or-internal-ram/
http://tamspalm.tamoggemon.com/2004/11/26/the-treo-650-sd-card-giveaway-mysteries-of-memory-explained/

I wonder why nobody posts these..