WONDERSILK & Virtual Graffiti Area

[the_iceman]

I've seen around various questions regarding how to change the virtual graffiti area and I thought I would take a couple of minutes to give my experience in regards to using WONDERSILK and skins to replace the standard virtual graffiti area of the Sony NX/NX Areas of your Palms.

Wondersilk is a wonderful FREEWARE program which seems to have been developed overseas aiding in replacing the virtual graffiti area of the CLIE NX/NZ Series. WONDERSILK is simply a program. You still need to download skins (or use the skins provided in the wondersilk download). Here are the locations of the sites where one can obtain wondersilk, and different skins for the program.

Wondersilk Program:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/fairy/chimera/files_p/WonderSilk0112_0120.zip

Best Site for Skins (Yes they are free... but please feel free to contribute to the Creator of the skins for further development!):
http://g04.com/html/index.php

Installation Steps (for English Version only):

1> Download WonderSilk from Above mentioned Link
2> Unzip the File to a directory
3> Download Skins you Wish to use in replacement of your standard virtual graffiti from the Skin Site mentioned above.
4> Unzip the Skin File(s) to a directory.
5> Install the following Wondersilk files on your Handheld (I believe the must be in RAM and not on MS): WonderSilk.prc, E_FunctionsSkin.prc, E_Standard.prc, and Kinumaru_E.prc (E_FunctionsSkins.prc & E_Standard.prc are some defaultish skins provided with the program.)
6> Go to the directory where you unzipped the SKIN file(s) and install just the .pdb file for each skin you want installed. (nice to load different skins and swap back and forth at will :) )
7> Perform a sync to install all the above mentioned file onto your HandHeld
8> Look in your UNFILED group area for the 'Kinu-Maru' program and place that into a folder you go to often (this is the program you will be using to make any skin changes on your Clie).
9> Launch Kinu-Maru
10> For each skin you installed (the default .prc files and the .pdb files from your downloaded skins) you will see them listed with 'unchecked' boxes next to each name.
11> Choose a skin by hilighting it and clicking on the ASSIGN button below
This will UNCHECK the box, and place a BLACK-DIAMOND next to your selected skin
12> If you want your graffiti writing to be a different color than the standard 'white', click on the square box just to the right of the label 'Graffiti Locus:'. This will change the color of your graffiti writing in the virtual graffiti area.
13> If there are 'buttons' which can be assigned (like quick-launch buttons), you can assign them (non datebook, memo pad, tasks, address) by clicking on your menu button and selecting the Launcher Info Management (shortcut is /L). You may wish to wait to assign the buttons once you see the silk skin in action... you can always come back and do this at a later time :).
14> On the very bottom-left of your CLIE screen there are 4 soft-buttons: HOME, MENU, FIND & SILK PLUG-IN. Click the 4th soft-button (SILK PLUG-IN) and you should see two or more options. The normal virtual graffiti option is called StandardInput, and you should also see a Plug-In for WonderSilk. Select WonderSilk and click the OK button.
15> Whatever Skin you chose back in step 11 will now show up in your virtual graffiti area.

That is about it. Pretty simple and straightforward if I may say so myself.

I don't think I left anything out.... but if I did... You may find lots of replies here.

Everyone have a great day!

[cjones]

how about some pictures of folk's NZ's that are using this software? :)

-chris

[dramsey]

The link to the WonderSilk app doesn't work...

[Mr. Thompson]

Not going to vote on this one since there is no "It Crashed My Clie" category.

[oneeyesquare]

It runs fine on my NZ. I even posted a few amatuer skins myself.
For those MSImport savvy, rather than install the skins in ram as PDB's. Create a Palm/programs/wondersilk directory and load the .wsb files into that directory. The demo skins will include both .pdb and .wsb files. Then using Kinu-Maru, tap the Kinu-Maru tab (upper left), tap "skin import", it will access the Wondersilk directory, check the skins you want, tap "import" and it will bring the skins over. Check the skin you want and assign.... Simple as that!!!
Also I have no problem running Kinu-Maru off the stick with Z-Launcher. So my total memory footprint is right aroun 100k with Wondersilk and 1 skin onboard.

[lanchman]

Originally posted by oneeyesquare
Create a Palm/programs/wondersilk directory and load the .wsb files into that directory.
You are awesome, this works very good. I've had no crashing.

[oneeyesquare]

and you can carry a crapload of skins that way!!! I have 12 or so on the stick...

[gwillems]

The web link you have listed for Wonderskin is incorrect. Where can I find a copy of Wonderskin?

[lanchman]

Originally posted by dramsey
The link to the WonderSilk app doesn't work...
That's odd, the linked worked yesterday around noon, his morning...no working. hummm

[the_iceman]

I don't know what is wrong with the link either.... it worked just fine for the last week or more.

In response to the posting that it 'crashed your clie'.... I am sorry that happened to you. I've been making attempts to run YiShow for a week... and It keeps freezing up my NZ90. I've talked with several who have had 0 issues with YiShow... yet I do.... must be something with the software that I have running in regards to YiShow not working as appropriately as it should.

Perhaps it does have something to do with whatyou have running as well.... why WonderSilk isn't working as intended.

Most find there are 0 issues with it.

Maybe if you are running Photoshow... or whatever that app is (the one to put a background on your virtual graffiti area) .... is causing conflicts?

Just a thought.

I ran Wondersilk Plain Jane.... (using Sony's Desktop).... and I just recently put in a demo version of zLauncher and have had no crashes/issues thus far.

I hope everyone has a great day!

[the_iceman]

Try this link for WonderSilk:

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/fairy/chimera/files_p/WonderSilk0125.zip

I just tested this link.. and it works fine

[fireman54]

A major problem is that the onscreen keyboard of an NX shows up in the Japanese format. Otherwise, if a skin is set up correctly, it is great. Unfortunately, I use the onscreen KB for international characters. Therefore, Wondersilk is useless to me.

[gwillems]

Originally posted by the_iceman
Try this link for WonderSilk:

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/fairy/chimera/files_p/WonderSilk0125.zip

I just tested this link.. and it works fine


Great, it works. Thanks!

[the_iceman]

Fireman,

That Japanese keyboard shows up if you have a SKIN with such a keyboard on it. I created a skin just recently... and when I loaded just that skin into KINU-MARU it didn't have the japanese keyboard. It has Alphabetic (includes QWERTY keyboard + numbers), International, and Symbol tabs. There are skins out there which do not have the japanese keyboard on it. :)

Also.... Just a word about the .WSB files. Yes they are great to put on your memory stick.... however there is one word of caution..... DELETE from the KINU-MARU program the skins you do not wish to run. The more skins that show up in the KINU-MARU program... the more main memory you are wasting.

What happens is that when you copy skins (.wsb files) into your memory stick and then import them into KINU-MARU.... it compiles the .wsb files and creates a .prc file in main memory. The more skins loaded... the more memory it takes. I do keep several skins on my memory stick (about 10) but I usually only have 2 imported into KINU-MARU. That way it doesn't hog all my memory.

I do believe it is best... to have as many .wsb files as you want on your MS and then find the one you wish to use normally, and an alternate for certain times... and just have 2 of them loaded up in KINU-MARU. (my personal suggestion)

Also... if you launch KINU-MARU and 'delete' skins.... it will only delete the .PRC files in your main memory, and will have no effect on the .wsb files on your memory stick.

I hope everyone has a great day!

[eemonty]

I am new to this whole PDA game with a NX70, but after following the instructions from the_iceman, Wondersilk 1.25 worked fine. I think the important thing is the turning on of the silk screen with that 4th button.

I am running it with ZLauncher with no problems.

Now if the program was not so big.

Thanks Iceman

[JohnJ80]

Now this is all very cool, but how do I go about designing my own skins now?

j

[the_iceman]

If you are interested in doing some skin designing with Wondersilk...... You can use WonderMaker. This software seems more of a 'beta' software, but works fine. I've used it to create several skins so far. Once you get the hang of it.. you will be flyin!

Here is the link:

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/fairy/chimera/files_p/WonderMakerApp0125.zip

[gambit_b]

i dont know what i am doing wrong. i installed everything, but the only four soft buttons i have are home, menu, calculator, and find. i cant figure out wich button to push. thanks james. i have a nx 70

[Lupin Addams]

I just discovered the joys of Wondersilk and as far as I'm concerned, it's the best freeware kit for my NX 73 yet! Using one of the Tappad replacement skins lets me type with the hard keyboard *and* easily imput numbers without fiddling around with number lock! For that alone, it's a winner... then yo add the ability to user-define 8 of the buttons and suddenly life just gets easier!

[the_iceman]

I like wondersilk as well.... downside... is it does tend to be a little sluggish at times .....