MS File System - Clue Me In

[SJ33User]

I've read up on using MS media and have had a 128MB stick in my Clie for a couple weeks now, but I'm confused about the MS file system.

By default, it seems like any file or app I try to install to the MS via HotSync lands in whatever MS directory I last browsed while in MS Gate. If I use MS Import, I can organize the incoming files and apps in my own, custom directory tree, but the apps don't appear in the Launch menu for the MS and the files are typically invisible to the various Clie-resident apps I want to use to read those files.

Even when I use the /Programs or /Programs/MSFILES folders, which seem to be on the MS by default, my Clie apps won't "look" for files there---with the possible exception of PalmReader, which seems a little smarter about this stuff than all my other apps. It's maddening to know I've got documents or pictures loaded in an MS directory and have my Clie app stubbornly insist those files don't exist. The only way I can be sure the Clie will "see" all my MS files is if I allow everything to install to the /Launch folder.

Being a typical Software Engineer, I'd like to have an orderly directory tree structure on the MS with separate folders for different kinds of files, but it seems like my Clie doesn't want me to. It seems like the only way I can be sure my Clie apps will "see" my MS files is to just dump everything into the /Launcher folder. Is there something I'm doing wrong here, or do I truly have to store everything at the root level of the /Launcher folder? :confused: TIA

[cykalan]

the file system used in Palm OS is indeed quite odd and may take you a while to fully understand it....

for many apps you maybe able to store some of the files on the MS, and more than often each program will have it specific path for storage, for example, iSilo's ebooks should be stored at \palm\programs\isilo (notice the s in programs, not program)), MP3 should be stored in \palm\programs\msaudio, etc..
Usually the specific path on the removable storage can be found in the application's manual, and if not specified, \palm\launcher (or \palm\programs\msfiles, due to historical reasons) will be a good try. for these apps, the program will usually directly access the required file on the MS without copying them into internal ram.
this method of accessing files is refered as "Virtual File System".

for other kinds of programs which do not support storage of databases on the removable storage, you got an option of moving the apps into the MS and copy the whole thing into internal RAM when you use it.
the default launcher is not really good for this purpose because:
1. you can't categorize the apps stored on the MS
2. the built-in palm os launcher by default will only move the program itself onto the MS, without the associated database, but more than often is that the associated databases is the one which occupies most space
to counter these problems, Powerrun is a much better option, in which all the associated databases will also be copied into your MS and there will be a shortcut created for you in the launcher. Powerrun is good as long as the apps are not way too large, this is because all the files need to be copied into internal RAM before running and that takes time.

if you got really large databases for some program and that program does not support VFS, programs like Pidirect will be able to help you, in which you store the concerned files in a particular path on your MS, and Pidirect will try to emulate the file as if it is in internal RAM when the program try to access it. Pro is that the whole file is not required to be copied into RAM when the file use it and hence greatly reduce start time. Cons are that only relatively simple and read-only programss/db will be able to use this method, such as dictionary databases, etc.. but there are also exceptions such as Quickoffice, Minipolis, etc.. which are relatively complex prgorams that can run on MS directly using Pidirect.

Ok. hope this can help you. god'mn my fingers are sore now. ;):p

[SJ33User]

Thanks, Alan. Sheesh, what a pain! It sounds like a major inconvenience to try and figure out on a file-by-file and app-by-app basis which MS directory will or won't work. Maybe I just need to give up my compulsive ways and stop caring how the stuff is stored on the MS. After all, when I use MS Gate to browse the MS it groups files by type, and when I launch a specific app and scan for files to use, the app only displays compatible files (so I don't have to browse through all the non-compatible stuff, i.e., MP3s while running DocsToGo).

[cykalan]

By the way, MS Gate is not too good a file manager. Get McFile, that's by far the best file manager on the Palm platform, IMHO.

Not free though.

[Quantumduck]

The best discussion on the files system for Palm I have ever read is found on Tanker Bob's website.  He has some in depth and thorough info there.  You will find it at

http://www.tankerbob.com/palm/ 

You will also find Tanker Bob floating around Cliesourse and giving his advice and comments as well. 

Thanks TankerBob!!!

[PaulNB]

Originally posted by SJ33User
Thanks, Alan. Sheesh, what a pain! It sounds like a major inconvenience to try and figure out on a file-by-file and app-by-app basis which MS directory will or won't work.

I can't imagine why you worry about it really. I let Hotsync install things where they're supposed to go to work properly & it's never caused me any problems. It's not a PC after all even though some people expect it to work the same.
:rolleyes:

[SJ33User]

PaulNB - I 'worry' about it because, as I explained in my original post, HotSync does not automatically put the files in their correct locations, it seems to dump everything into whatever folder I last browsed with MSGate.

I wouldn't say I'm 'worried' about it per se, the feeling I have is more one of 'irritation'.

[PaulNB]

Originally posted by SJ33User
PaulNB - I 'worry' about it because, as I explained in my original post, HotSync does not automatically put the files in their correct locations, it seems to dump everything into whatever folder I last browsed with MSGate.

I wouldn't say I'm 'worried' about it per se, the feeling I have is more one of 'irritation'.

OK that is a bit strange, I don't use MSgate very often but I have used it & it's never caused my files to become misplaced. The only thing that caused that for me was using an external MS reader which was weird. Sorry you're having problems.

[SJ33User]

Eh, such is life. When I stop to consider that my Clie has more computing power than my first desktop PC did, I can hardly complain. :)

[filber]

FYI, ZLauncher has an excellent built-in file manager. Zlauncher also gives you two options for storing apps on the MS. Using the Palm/Programs/ZLauncher/Apps folder option, you are able to store the app and all of its DB's in one folder together, and ZLauncher is able to launch the app from there, just like PowerRun. I grew quickly frustrated with the Clie's ms file system, and found ZLauncher to be one of the best investments I've made.

[AcuraCL]

Originally posted by cykalan
By the way, MS Gate is not too good a file manager. Get McFile, that's by far the best file manager on the Palm platform, IMHO.

Not free though.

There's also the excellent (and free) FileZ.

My personal fav is FileMan (also not free). Nice method selecting destination.