A5 new Beta is out!

[Noodles Hovar]

Brand new version of an already excellent program:

http://www.rg.mirrorz.com/

Here are the official changes :

0.1f new/changed

* list view: "day" list type added
Can be handy if you tap on a bar (day label) in the grid view.
Instead of weeks days are scrolled.
* list view:
Undated To Do items can be appended to the list (instead of seperate area).
(to make the difference clear you can set the list type to day and try "append" and "area")
f.i. To display a "separate" todo list:
General options -> Share filters between view: off
List options -> Type: long, Undated to do items: append, Empty days: off
And set the type selector on the listview to 'T' (to do items)
* list view: week wise scrolling changed:
scrolls to the next week it the last page of the selected week is reached.
* list view: Show system icons: optional repeat and alarm icons.
* 5-way nav.: left/right has opposite of up/down (week/items scroll)
* Palm Color Themes supported:
Set the colors (Options | Color & Icons | Appearance) to the
"transparent color" (Options | Color & Icons | Markers & priorities) in order
to use the palm current color themes.
f.i. set the transparent color to green and set this same green color to
every object found on "Appearance".
* Add "J" (Journal) option to today's ETP list
* Type filter: Marked (events) added
* grid view: optional daylabels in bold
* icon shown in info window.
* strikethrough (edit forms)
This can come in handy if f.i. a (repeating) meeting has been canceled and
you want to record this (instead of deleting)
* default icon for journals
* snooze indicator ( OS4.0 and up )
* A5AgendaListHack
* Hide selected group:
All but the items belonging to the categories belonging to the selected group are displayed.
Instead of "#1" (for group 1) "!1" (not group 1) will be displayed in the category selector.
* Start at power on: The power button can start A5 never, always or after a specific time.
* Trash can on daily journal deletes journal (event + note)
* Clie Wide-Resolution support
* item form: priority checkbox: when unchecked the last selected priority is used for new to do items
* item form: alarm checkbox: when checked the alarm is always set for a new event.
* skins a bitmap for the top "title bar"
Skins can be selected at (Options | Color & Icons | Skin).
Press on the rectanglular button to set the text color for the skin.
* graffiti stroke -> m : jumps to the palm's datebook month view.
Needs one off the A5 hacks to jump to the appropriate month.
* category coloring:
A checkbox has been added to (Options | Color & Icons | Appearance | Background).
When checked (default) only the selected day background colors are used.
When unchecked the day background colors are over written by the color of the items category.

These new category colors can be set at (Options | Color & Icons | Events categories) (or todos)
On this form you can set the icon for the items category as well.

. If you don't want to see the color for some categories you can set the color to the "transparant" color.
(Options | Color & Icons | Markers & priorties).
. Markers (for items and days) do have a higher priority and overrules all other background colors:
palm default background -> A5 background -> items background -> Marked background.


fixed:

* list view & day markers (only event markers where displayed)
* date of select event wasn't marked in the calendar selector on the edit form
* weeknumber "sequence" when "today on top left".
* DA Launcher didn't Launch
* colors week 53

note:
A5Conv: Some prefs (e.g. battery friendly) are reset to default.

Wow!!



More when I fire it up . . .

[kennyd]

Some sweet additions. Good eye hover!

[sebring]

Thanks for the tip.:)

[Noodles Hovar]

The skin feature is nice—

You can have a gradient bar up top!

[DanT]

Thanks for the detail update report. I'll play around with it later, but from reading your report, it sounds like I can now dump Wassup.

[Noodles Hovar]

DanT-

The feature I requested was the Startup at power on. Now you can turn on the PDA, and your calendar/todo or whatever view you like is right there automatically at the interval you'd like.

He did a great implementation. Choosing "List View" is a good substitute for a Today or Wassup app.

[DanT]

Well, it seems to startup A5 when I press any hard buttons to turn on my Clie, not just the power button like Wassup. Wassup with that? I still want to be able to turn on and go directly to MemoPad or AddressBook when I press those buttons from off. I think I just assign A5 to ToDoList button and keep Wassup for now.

[X Destruction]

There's a couple things I'd like to be implemented to this before I would really love this. I'd love it to be compatible with datebk5's icons or for people that use agendus, agendus' icons (also being compatible with agendus and datebk5's fonts(from normal to large bold) and colours for specific things. I'd also love to edit the views straight from the view (especially for list view). I'd also want the implementation of having large icons on all the time except when you'd chose the small icon (not small text). I want small/tiny text but a big icon (datebk5 doesn't do this either). If that was the deal, I wouldn't switch from datebk5, but make it work with it by assigning it to my todo list button instead of wassup. If the a5 people would change these things, I'd REALLY love it, but it'd probably take a lot of work.

[kennyd]

Originally posted by X Destruction
I'd love it to be compatible with datebk5's icons or for people that use agendus, agendus' icons (also being compatible with agendus and datebk5's fonts(from normal to large bold) and colours for specific things.

On my TungstenT I am using IconMgr as my icon launcher/editor.  I use HiRes icons, designed for use on Agendus/DtBk5, exclusively in A5 without any conflicts.  Give it a try, and you'll find that it works.  You can access control of your icon's of choice by:


loading your icons into IconMgr
in A5 go to menu/options/Colors&icons
From hear choose "Icon Set"
Select your choice of icons  


This was implemented in A5 about two builds back.  I have even heard of others with os4 clie's being able to view HiRes icons with the use of a HiRes hack that can enable this feature on os4 devices.

 I'd also love to edit the views straight from the view (especially for list view).

This is the feature that keeps my loyalty to A5.  To edit any event I simply tap the icon area of the event, and the edit page apears allowing me to edit everything from repeat items, catagories, icon, time, date, alarm.  In other words when I tap the icon the full configuration screen appears.

A5 contains the most configurable settings for jumping, editing etc.  If any of the other apps have recently developed anything comporable let me know.  I have always been more than willing to buy a better week view app it there is one out there.  But to date, for me A5 is the best of the best.  These configurations can be accessed by: 


menu/options/system
Under "Actions" select your action from the drop down menu to the right of every tap location listed.


Hope this helps. 

[sebring]

It's true that OS4 users can also use the hires icons of DateBk5, Agendus, Handyshopper, etc. You need v3bhack to enable the hires icons in A5.

http://www.freewarepalm.com/utilities/v3bhack.shtml

Of course you need a hack manager too. I recommend YAHM, available at Palmgear. Both are free.

[Noodles Hovar]

DanT—

Hi again.

I set A5 to "always" auto startup.

Power brings up A5 and the hard buttons are doing their job. A5 flashes on for a split second and then the right app comes on.

Are you running something else that is polling the hard buttons?

[sebring]

Couple of bugs.

1. Changing from Default ETP to Default ETP with Journal at bottom of General Options causes a crash.

2. Either checking or unchecking Private Journal then selecting OK, under Items Option causes a crash.

Anybody know what all the other .pdb files are for? I'm not using any of the hacks.

[Noodles Hovar]

1. Changing from Default ETP to Default ETP with Journal at bottom of General Options causes a crash.

2. Either checking or unchecking Private Journal then selecting OK, under Items Option causes a crash.


Neither crashed my NR70.

What are you using, Sebring?

[sebring]

I'm using a NR70V. Hmmm.

Do you know what he A5_Gray.pdb and A5_Blue.pdb files are for? I didn't install them.

[sebring]

Apparently A5 doesn't like NewPen hack.

[sebring]

Maybe NewPen isn't it, still testing. Now sometimes it crashes when I toggle to list view from grid view.

Still crashes, seems to be related to opening a journal item. Crash comes later. Tested with all hacks, NR Buttons, MSMount and Relate all disabled. still crashes. Hard to replicate since the same action doesn't always have the same result., but eventually crashes.

[X Destruction]

No, you didn't understand AT ALL want I needed.

I want the icon DATABASES from them, not the icons themselves. A5 doesn't use the note system, instead... it uses numbers on there. I want it to be compatible with the existing datebk5 icon datebases, not the icons themselves. I don't want to make two versions of each icons, then having these ugly numbers taking up space in datebk5. For datebk5, if you switch to another, all it leaves is that note, if you switch from a5, it leaves these ugly numbers for use of the icons. I want these databases to co-exist. I know they can use the same iconsets, I use iconmgr myself and have one big 575 iconset.

Editing straight from the view I meant like the day view of datebk5 or the normal datebook. Just implement that and I'd love it. The tiny font, big icon is a must for me.

Believe me, I know EVERY in and out of A5, I know exactly what I'm talking about.

[DanT]

Originally posted by sebring
I'm using a NR70V. Hmmm.

Do you know what he A5_Gray.pdb and A5_Blue.pdb files are for? I didn't install them.

That is for the title bar skin.  Check out my A5 Grid screenshot below using the A5_Gray.pdb.

http://www.cliesource.com/gallery/data/500/2949a501f1.jpg

[DanT]

Originally posted by Noodles Hovar
DanT—

Hi again.

I set A5 to "always" auto startup.

Power brings up A5 and the hard buttons are doing their job. A5 flashes on for a split second and then the right app comes on.

Are you running something else that is polling the hard buttons?

Lucky you.  Mine don't flash and return to the right app.  It just stay on A5.  I have to press it again to launch the right app.  I still use the stock AddressBook on the AddressBook hard button.  I also use Easylaunch to assign button press-hold and button press-hold-long so I can launch 3 apps with one button.

[kennyd]

Originally posted by X Destruction
No, you didn't understand AT ALL want I needed.

I want the icon DATABASES from them, not the icons themselves. A5 doesn't use the note system, instead... it uses numbers on there. I want it to be compatible with the existing datebk5 icon datebases, not the icons themselves. I don't want to make two versions of each icons, then having these ugly numbers taking up space in datebk5. For datebk5, if you switch to another, all it leaves is that note, if you switch from a5, it leaves these ugly numbers for use of the icons. I want these databases to co-exist. I know they can use the same iconsets, I use iconmgr myself and have one big 575 iconset.

Editing straight from the view I meant like the day view of datebk5 or the normal datebook. Just implement that and I'd love it. The tiny font, big icon is a must for me.

Believe me, I know EVERY in and out of A5, I know exactly what I'm talking about.

My post was a reply to your first post.  Not the second post that I am now responding too.  I apologize for the confusion.  Your second post is much more specific than your first.  I can also see that my first reply could have seemed to have come across in a demeaning way.  That was not intended at all. 

Also, in reply to the icon designation in A5...this is not a fix all by any means, but I use a lot of catagories in A5 with static icons assigned to each catagory.  Icons that are selected by means of catagory default do not make add a numeric tab to your event entries. 

[sebring]

Originally posted by DanT


That is for the title bar skin.  Check out my A5 Grid screenshot below using the A5_Gray.pdb.

http://www.cliesource.com/gallery/data/500/2949a501f1.jpg

AhHa! That explains why the sample skin looked funky when I tried it. Maybe this has something to do with my crashes. Thanks DanT.:)

[sebring]

I must be missing something here. Here is what I installed.
A501f.prc
A5_gray.pdb (from the Clie_OS3_OS4 folder)
A5Conv.prc

I ran the Conv and deleted it. I'm still getting crashes and the time doesn't appear in the box on the skin( not a big deal, since the time is on the task bar of my NR) Now everytime I exit any of the option screens I get a crash, even without changing anything.

[plaid]

Just a warning incase someone else has problems with the skin not working. If you use an icon database that has the icons that enhance the agendus interface (that replace the icons in the buttons etc) then the skin will not work in A5. I don't use agendus anymore, so I just went into my icon database with Icon Manager, and changed the icon id numbers to something less than 2000 and my A5 skin now worked. There must be a conflict with resource id numbers.

[sebring]

OK, it now seems to be working. I deleted A5 and reinstalled it.. Apparently something had gotten corrupted (happens to all of us from time to time).:D

[DanT]

Sebring, I was just about to suggest for reinstalling from scratch. I'm glad you fixed it. :cool:

Here is my A5 Today List View :D
http://www.cliesource.com/gallery/data/500/2949a501f-list1.jpg

[sebring]

Looks great. A5 is one of the best freeware apps money can buy, right up there with HandyShopper.:D If it keeps developing, it's gonna make the Gorillas an endangered species, unfortunately.

[Noodles Hovar]

Sebring-

It's the 26th . . .

Did you turn those valves off???

;)

[sebring]

Those are DanT's valves. He lives in Texas, that's too far for me to go to turn his valves off.:cool: Wonder what he drives, having to rotate 323 tires.

[Noodles Hovar]

DanT-

Sebring is worried about your valves. Are they off?

[DanT]

I know it's a stupid reminder to turn valves off of my lawn sprinkler system first thing in the morning. But I tend to forget this weekly habit in a rush to go to work. If I don't do it, my water bill will sky rocket from $40 to $100/month.

There must be a leak somewhere in the underground line between the hand valve and the sprinkler solenoid valves, so the programmed timer that automatically tun off the solenoid valves would still not prevent the water loss. I haven't been able to spot where the leaks are. I may need to add another main solenoid valve right next to the main hand valve. For now this stupid reminder works perfectly.

Thumbs up for A5. Those icons replace many words. I just glance at the icons and I understand exactly what they are for and what I need to do. :cool:

[Noodles Hovar]

What you need are Bluetooth solenoid send/receive modules so the Clie can turn them on and off automatically.

New feature for next A5 beta?

[DanT]

Originally posted by sebring
Those are DanT's valves. He lives in Texas, that's too far for me to go to turn his valves off.:cool: Wonder what he drives, having to rotate 323 tires.

You guys are too funny! :D

323 is my coded message in order to fit the words in such a small line.  If it is next to a car icon, it means I need to work on the BMW323.  It sure sounds a lot of work to rotate 323 tires doesn't it? ;)

[DanT]

Originally posted by Noodles Hovar
What you need are Bluetooth solenoid send/receive modules so the Clie can turn them on and off automatically.

New feature for next A5 beta?

:cool: idea.  Once it's available, I run it by my wife, she is the secretary of treasury in this shack of mine.

[DanT]

Originally posted by plaid
Just a warning incase someone else has problems with the skin not working. If you use an icon database that has the icons that enhance the agendus interface (that replace the icons in the buttons etc) then the skin will not work in A5. I don't use agendus anymore, so I just went into my icon database with Icon Manager, and changed the icon id numbers to something less than 2000 and my A5 skin now worked. There must be a conflict with resource id numbers.

There are two sets of A5 skins, one set is for Clie OS3 & OS4 and one set for other Palm PDAs.  Do you use the right A5 skin? 

[DanT]

I finished playing with v.01f and jotted down some of nice updates from the previous v.01e7:
1. Added icon next to the date in detail popup.
2. Added Journal option to ETP popup (now ETPJ popup).
3. Added day font option (normal or bold) to Grid view.
4. Allow 19 (or 18+note icon) characters of normal font to fit one line of the List view. Before it only fit 8 (or 6+ note icon). It's nice to know that one of my requests got through.
5. You can now append Undated To Do Items at the end of the List view week, instead of just giving a fix area at the bottom of the screen.
6. Added day option to the List view, as discussed earlier.
7. If your item description is longer than 18 characters of normal font, you can make it wraps around to the second line.
8. Added skin to the top bar as discussed earlier.
9. Added Journal icon selection.

[Noodles Hovar]

4. Allow 19 (or 18+note icon) characters of normal font to fit one line of the List view. Before it only fit 8 (or 6+ note icon). It's nice to know that one of my requests got through.

I only seem to get 12 or 13 !?!

7. If your item description is longer than 18 characters of normal font, you can make it wraps around to the second line.

I love this feature!!!

[Noodles Hovar]

I see - the "long" list view has a shorter text display than the "day" or "week" list view.

Unfortunately I use the long view:(

[DanT]

Yap that is what mine looks like too, so I stick with "week" list view . I thought about using the "long" list view since it has the advantage of continuous scroll to later weeks. But there are more pluses than minuses of "week" option in comparison to the "long" option. Here are the pluses of "week" option that I noticed:
1. Provide unlimited space at the end of the week for displaying "undated to do items" when you select "append".
2. By selecting "Weeks" for the Up/Down key and "Items" for the Jog Dial, the combination of the Up/Down key and JogDial operation allows me to scroll the whole week list just like the "long" option. That is using JogDial to scroll the whole week list + undated to do items and using the Up/Down key to scroll from week to week un interrupted to the end of the time. :D

[sebring]

DanT,

Anytime I tap the right arrow (that's supposed to take you to datebook) from the Journal text screen, I get a crash. Actually, it's back to constant crashes on my NR. Gonna try reinstallling it once again. If that doesn't work, i"m kicking it to the curb, until the next release.

[DanT]

Strange. I have no problem whatsoever with the Journal thing. Tapping the right arrow brings me to DateBook w/o crash. I have no idea what is wrong with your setup. I assign A5 to ToDoList button and use none of the three hacks that come with it. Here are my setup if that would help you:

1. System:
a. Select Don't sort to do database
b. Check App. button switch only
c. Startup at Power On: Never
d. time/priority: jump
e. description: info+note
f. info top left: delete
g. info top right: edit
h. Font: Normal

2. General:
a. Start screen: List
b. Check All To Do items when Unlinked
c. Check respect on/off filter
d. Check Share filters between views
e. Check don't beam private items
g. Select ETP list with journal

3. Grid:
a. Select Day labels in bold
b. Select Current day blinking fast.
c. Up/Down key: Weeks
d. Jog Dial: items

4. List:
a. Type: week
b. Undated to do items: append
c. Empty days: on
d. Check Show system icons
e. Up/Down key: Weeks
f. Jog Dial: Items

5. Items:
a. Journal: Personal
b. Events Meeting
c. Alarm: 15 Minutes
d. Launch: Date Book
e. To Do items: Business
f. Check Priority: 1
g. Check Record Completion Date
h. Check Forward uncompleted

Any items that I didn't mention in the list were left uncheck.

[Noodles Hovar]

2. By selecting "Weeks" for the Up/Down key and "Items" for the Jog Dial, the combination of the Up/Down key and JogDial operation allows me to scroll the whole week list just like the "long" option. That is using JogDial to scroll the whole week list + undated to do items and using the Up/Down key to scroll from week to week un interrupted to the end of the time.


Could you type that again, s-l-o-w-l-y?:eek:

Nevermind I got it.

:eek: wait!

No - I'm good;)

[sebring]

DanT,

Thanks for your detailed setup. I've discovered what caused my crash problems on my NR. In List options, with Long view and Undated to do items set to "area" my Clie crashes whenever I exit any of the option screens. If I set it to Week view, anytime I change between area and append, I get a crash when I exit that screen. In that case, after the reset, A5 seems to function as expected.

The issue could be related to the 320x480 screen on the NR.

As long as I select none or Append in Long view, no problems. Also in Week view, after the initial reset, it seems to function normally.

On my device, Battery friendly mode deletes the time from the top bar. Is that what it's supposed to do?

My settings are pretty similar to yours. As long as I avoid setting 'Undated to do items' to "Area" under List options, everything seems to work ok.

Thanks for your help:)

[sebring]

Another little problem. If I tap on a "note" icon for an event that is where the calculator would normally be in the Virtual Grafitti area, in List view, it launches the calculator. I think this beta needs some work on how it handles the NR expanded screen.

[DanT]

Originally posted by sebring
DanT,
On my device, Battery friendly mode deletes the time from the top bar. Is that what it's supposed to do?

Yes.  It's supposedly for saving your juice by, not only removing the clock, but also stopping the flashing today's date in Grid view.  But I don't think I worry about it.  Having that clock and flashing today's date are more important to me than saving a drop in a bucket of juice.