danielme

Hey ppl... NEED SOME HELP HERE!!

PROBLEM::=
I want to write a basic software for pda (in this case, for a sony Clie) that syncs with a small network of databases on a desktop:

...more specifically,
this handheld program is for 'taking orders' like stock-taking... & stores info, then syncs with main database on a main pc everyday.

please please please give me your ideas & your valuable experiences, as this is something I REALLY REALLY WANT TO DO WELL, a little project for my dad's company (a surprise present).

1) i know it's simple programming!! (but i haven't been programming for 2yrs!)
2) I'll possibly go with a relational database -type.
3) it's for an OLD model Clie PEG-415 ...reason being, I've got it, and it's got a real handy dial on the side (ease of use when scrolling & selecting field options while doing stocktake.)
4) I have read up on other forums regarding HanDBase, SmartList To Go.
5) JUST REALLY NEED SEASONED PROGRAMMERS FROM THIS FORUM LIKE URSELF TO ADVISE & HELP ME, POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION - I WANNA DO THIS REAL QUICK too... partially, just to prove that I can still do something simple like that with a little help from the Online Forum community.

THANKS FOR UR INPUT!!!!!
thank you thank you thank you...
Daniel G

dmitrygr

writing DB software for your first PalmOS app is a bit of a high goal. first do a hello world app. then a simple ui, then try conduit programming and see how it works. then try a simple text-file sync conduit. then make a simple db palm<->pc conduit that works for you. then write the palm ui app for this. then write the pc app for it. this is a work for a few months if you're experienced with palmos and have much free time and intent to code all this by yourself, otherwise even longer.

__________________
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My software:PowerSDHC, PowerDrive, nuRom, UDMH, warpSpeed, PowerDiGi, brightnessFix, etc...
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danielme

Hey, thanks for that input!! (i will get started on it right away...)

i think i'll be looking at handbase... i've done major programming at the university & since then - just not in the last 2yrs... i know it may take a wee while to get into the groove again.

Although I'll 1st look at smartlist to go, then maybe handbase, just cos it's easier... IF I WERE TO START programming from scratch, u know ...like writting an applet using java, ...WHAT PROGRAM DO I USE to write it with? (i mean, is there a specific software that pda programmers use?? and along with them, libraries...)
[Yup, ANY other softwares? ...or other tangents u want to advise me on? Other websites or forums vaguely related to this - thanks!]

Secondly, the guideline that dmitrygr gave me... (1st starting off with (yet another) hello world, then ... ending up with a fully sync pc <-> palm db), any recommended websites to check out? -- for referencing.

ANY OTHER IDEAS OR EXPERIENCES, pleeeeeeease chuck it all here, i'll take the advises & will start on this TODAY...
Cheers
Daniel

alt236

If you are familiar with VB (the horrors!) have a look at hb++ (http://www.handheld-basic.com/). It will be faster than writing in C since its a high level language with built in support for conduits and DBs.
I agree with dmitrygr that using C is the best way as you will learn exactly how PalmOS works but you said that you want it done quickly.

In order to write apps in java, you need the java wireless toolkit from sun (http://java.sun.com/javame/index.jsp).
I'm not sure if you can use a conduit with it but I think not.

To program in C you can either use Codewarrior which is commercial or the tools given by Palmsource (have a look here http://palmsource.com/developers/)

Syncing with a ER database is trickier than it looks. PalmOS and the conduits only have support for flat database designs so you will have to do the table linking yourself (either on the PC or, if you feel really lucky, on the PDA). Try designing your DB first and make it as simple as possible (avoid normalizations if you can get away with it).

Also keep in mind that you cannot use any commercial DB programs for palm unless they provide APIs or the DB file formats or you can *cough* reverse engineer them yourself *cough*.

Instead of programing, why dont you see if a POS DB program can do what you want out of the box? Most of them can sync with access (to varying degrees).

danielme

thanks alt236, i'll take that advise... Since i'm most familiar with java, i'll check out that wireless toolkit first... hopefully it will work with Clie - i'm not even sure what os clie operates on!

Though, i'll also use hanDBase to see if it's really much quicker...

BTW, i didn't realise that PalmOS will be different enough such that I will learn more about it using C!! ...interesting though...

Thanks for this...
(p.s. any websites for programmers of pda softwares... let me know - fact is, i don't know how to program for palmOS, but from what i hear, it's quite different... how do i look & learn the differences between programming for palmOS, and say, applet (which is mostly cross platform on pcs) or c for windows... or even .net *sigh*)
Daniel.