An Independent Publication for Users of HP Palmtop Computers ~ .,. N E S . "-

Publisher's Message ...... 1 THE u.s. $7.95 It)- Letters to the Editor ...... ~ .... Q) .0 E :::::l New Third Party Z PPalmtop Products and Services ...... ~ <0

Q) E :::::l HP Palmtop User Groups ...... L o >

User to User ...... ~ Hal's candid opinion of Windows CE; the future of the HP Palmtop Paper; Thaddeus Computing to sell upgraded 8-Mg double-speed 200LXs; plus three classic games. Fixingmspeeding Up PhoneBook,ApptBook Through the Looking Glass: Database, NoteTaker and Fixing &Speeding Up Database Files ... 11 What to do when you get "Record Not Found" or "Cannot Open File" error messages with any of the palm­ WorldTime Files top's built-in database applications (ApptBook, Database, PhoneBook, NoteTaker and WorldTime) .

User Profile: Administrator's HP Palmtop Helps Him Organize a 65-Workstation Network . .... 16 This user shows that the HP Palmtop has its own value, even on the site of a large network of workstations. Using pcANYWHERE on the palmtop while traveling, he checks dBASE files on the Network. The palmtop also comes in handy for Bible study and genealogy research.

Making The Transition To The New HP 300/320LX Palmtop PC ...... 20 Canno~ open file Transferring data from his HP 1OOLX to a newly pur­ chased HP 320LX Palmtop PC wasn't effortless for this new Windows CE user, but what he learned can help others out.

Web-enable Your 1-2-3 Data ...... 26 Use Lotus 1-2-3's ability to print to a file to create dynamic Wold Wide Web page templates.

~ ~ Basic Tips ...... 31

- New 8-Mb Doub/e-S pee d Quick Tips ...... 33

~ 200LX Advertiser's Index ...... 36

09> Files on September/October 97 ON DISK. 36 I feral (j8111111l1nlcaiioDl " Recognized for providing "extraordinary service for beyond expectations" - by the HP Palmtop Paper Best Tips 1997

Hardware

• HP Palmtop PCs • Windows CE HPCs • Toshiba Librettos • Digital Cameras • Portable Printers • Modems • Memory Cards • Custom Cables • Cases • High Capacity Rechargeable Batteries • Customized Newton Keyboards • Wireless Modems • Accessories ••. Software 'A-fW ., i'U'·q:t.,,,,,,.,., Mail/ Foru.. / Foldvr Sgct.ione Ma g Ho d Snd Bi n St.a t.ue .)"WWW/U and Post/LX: The graphical web browser • ~ ~ ~ u n e w ·• - and Internet e-mail client specifically designed for the ~~~~~ I V~;mdor l!l t~ is t7 • : . : d Vv nt.ura. Publ i s hvr 1 2 3 7 B 10 • q • • d 1 2 7 8 10 1 2 : • • d lOO/200LX ¥:~: I n ~f~~~r : t. i on • d Quick/LX: The typing aid for the HP Palmtop Magnify: Magnifies any area of the palmtop screen, making viewing much easier. acCIS4.0 Screen ABC/LX: adds intelligence to battery charging and monitors battery usage . • acCIS4.0: Compuserve automation program - all new look and ease of use!Supports CompuServe's "new mail", forums, weather, stock quotes and more. Much, much more ... Corporate Solutions & Development

aM ....

• Let our team of experts find the right solution for your ~ SHIER S VSTEMS • SOFTWARE. INC. workforce's ultra-portable computing, communications ~ SH IER Systemi & So ftware. Inc. Sileclallz es In HP Palmto p Computers and accessories. This Web site & . . ds provides a look at many of our products plus other useful Information. ImagIng nee . : =~~~ ~::-~ OO k:ipC In Your po<: kl! tl:- ~~~eH:o~i~!~,P~s to order It today! • Our Corporate Solutions Group can assist you with ------...... - needs assesments, detailed systems planning, full cost analysis, ROI calculations, WWW/IJ( Screen business process re-engineering, connectivity (wireless and landline), training and implementation. • We can help you select the hardware and software that is right for your business. • If needed, we'll provide custom software and intranet design as well.

Contact our Corporate Solutions Office in Irvine California at 714-559-1142 or e-mail [email protected] for details on how we can help your company or organization. SHIER SYSTEMS & SORWARE, INC. 920 Hampshire Rd, Suite A· Westlake Village, CA 91361 S Phone: 805-371-9391 • Fax: 805-371-9454 E-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: http://www.shier.com

In Europe or Asia, please contact our authorized agent: Rundel Detentechnik, Phone: +49716114707 Fax: +49716124473 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.rundel-d.com Publisher's Message The HP Palmtop Paper

've seen history repeat itself twice, and it I is a real shame for everyone involved. In the mid 1980s HP Corvallis engi­ neers created the HP Portable and Portable Plus. These laptops were years Volume six / Issue five ahead of their time. They had Lotus 1-2-3, September/October 1997 a time manager, a word processor, and a Executive EditorlPublisher terminal program built into ROM. At the Hal Goldstein time, laptop computing was far from the Publications Director norm - working on an HP Portable at the Richard Hall airport could create quite a stir. HP Managing Editor Portable users loved the machine, and Ralpfi C. Turner with the help of our publication, The Associate Editor Portable Paper, they created a whole after­ Carol de Giere market of useful knowledge, software and Technical Editor hardware add-ons. Tom Gibson Department Editors To the utter amazement of dedicated Ed Keefe HP Portable users, HP did not seem to Wayne Kneeskern market their wonder. Word of mouth Carl Merkle advertising was responsible for most sales. Contributing Writers Then inexplicably HP, rather than make Robert Steckbeck James A. Robertson Hal Goldstein several (relatively inexpensive) PC com- patibility changes, started from scratch Advertising/Marketing Brian 1'eitzman and created something called the Portable Vedra CS. The Portable Vedra had potential, Margaret Martin but missed the mark and was not the machine the original HP Portable was. It took Tiffany Lisk years for HP to regroup and get back into the PC laptop market with the OmniBook. Circulation David Brooks Sound familiar? HP introduced the HP 95LX and then the HP 100LX and 200LX at a Sharon Lloyd time when Palmtop computing was not the norm. Visionary users took advantage of Executive Advisor their pocket PC in a variety of ingenious and practical ways. As chronicled in The HP Rita Goldstein Palmtop Paper, a whole aftermarket of knowledge, software, and hardware emerged to support this tiny wonder. Once again to everyone's amazement HP has seemed to put The HP Palmtop Paper (ISSN 10656189) few resources in marketing and upgrading the 200LX platform. Instead, like the is published by Thaddeus Computing Inc., at 110 North Court Street, Fairfield, Portable Vedra CS before it, HP started from scratch and created the HP OmniGo 100 IA 52556. Periodical postage paid at organizer. Now in an attempt to be mainstream (similar to the HP OmniBook laptop), Fairfield, Iowa. Subscription rates HP has created the HP 320LX Palmtop running Windows CE. payable in U.S. dollars, checks drawn on a U.S. bank, or by credit card - one Unfortunately, for many users the HP 320LX is not nearly the machine the HP year: $39; two years: $69. Postage: U.S. and U.S. possessions free; Canada, 200LX is. Yet HP 200LX sales have plummeted, thanks to a severe shortage of units in Mexico add $6 per year; other countries retail stores over the summer, plus the introduction of the HP 320LX. As you will read add $18 per year. Published bi-monthly in my User to User column, the effect of few new users has been difficult on The HP plus two bonus issues, one in April and one in November. Please allow four to Palmtop Paper and our advertisers. six weeks for receipt of first issue. Despite this drop in sales, we still seem to be in the golden age of HP 200LX com­ Executive, Editorial, Circulation, Marketing and Advertising Offices: 110 puting. As you will see in my User to User column, 8 Megabyte upgraded palmtops are North Court Street, Fairfield, IA 52556. now available. As you will see in Quick Tips, great new palmtop software continues to Telephone: (515) 472-6330, FAX: (515) appear. It is now finally even possible to connect a keyboard to the palmtop, something 472-1879. I've wanted for years, and which we will review next issue. Copyright 1997, Thaddeus Compu­ ting, Inc., a1l rights reserved. No part of Our challenge is how to continue The HP Palmtop Paper, given fewer new sub­ this publication may be reproduced scribers. First off, please renew. That will help greatly. In any case, we will be able to without written permission. Reasonable efforts are made to provide accurate and continue with even a much smaller subscription base in the same way we managed to useful information, but the reader must continue The Portable Paper. What we will do is make pre-owned palmtops and other make his or her own investigations and palmtop products available to our subscriber base. By doing so we can continue to help decisions; the Publisher and Editorial Staff cannot assume any responsibility keep the palmtop community vibrant. We look forward to fulfilling your palmtop or liability for the use of information needs for years to come. contained herein. POSTMASTER: Please send any address changes to The HP Palmtop Paper, Attn: Thaddeus Computing, Inc., 110 North Court Street, Fairfield, IA 52556.

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 1 Letters

Addonics Pocket Parallel floppy that comes with the drive only works with AC Port CD-ROM drive, drive). (the adapter is a couple of which weighs 15 oz. and It also loads mscdex.exe, ounces; very small). It is the size of two stacked which I got from a DOS-5 would be nice to find a CD jewel cases, works laptop with a CD-ROM power pack to make this with the TransPC card on drive (it should be supplied, totally portable. Connecting a theHP. Addonics, if you're listen­ CD·ROM drive I now can carry m y ing). Jeffrey F. Friedman I enjoyed Tom Boyles' article Oxford English Dictionary The only glitch is that I jeff®friedman .com in the July / August Palmtop (version 1.0 for DOS), the find that I have to load and Paper (page 15) on connect­ complete Gutenberg library then drop out of Slstem [The Parallel PocketCD is ing a Zip drive and an IDE CD-ROM, and many other Manager after loading the available from Addonics hard drive to the HP. I am a databases of history and lit­ TransPC drivers (and before Technologies, 48434 Milmont real fan of the Transdigital erature that run with running pcd.bat) to keep the Drive, Fremont, CA 94538 parallel port PCMCIA card, DiscPassage (the old Bureau machine from hanging. USA; Phone: 510-438-6530; and have been running a of Electronic Publishing The Addonics Pocket Fax: 510-353-2020; E-mail: Zip drive from my HP since DOS CDs) and Folio for Parallel Port CD-ROM is a [email protected]; Internet: the TransPC card came out DOS. lOX drive (searches are http://www.addonics.com . last year. Setup only requires ena­ indeed fast, but the HP can't THE EDITORS.] I have recently been suc­ bling the TransPC port, then keep up with this!) that runs cessful with another device manually loading the about $300. (It doubles as a Why Windows CE which should be added to Addonics drivers by run­ music CD player on AC, or will sell the list of new toys Tom ning pcd.bat, which calls with four AA batteries.) Windows CE has the poten­ hinted at in his article. The drivload.com to load Unfortunately, the com­ tial clout to generate the pcd.sys (all on the software puter-interfaced CD-ROM (Continued on page 30) The EduCALC Catalog-FHEEfor One Year Cutting Edge Products to Enhance your HP Palmtop! Memory in Flash Wireless Access Palmtop Printing ==-= =. ' Experience the freedom ·and power of portable fi~l:l! ~=--._ .OIlZEN' :: == i!!iF-"= wireless palmtop communication. You can now _ = = ~~ ~ ==-=='T: reach anyone, anywhere, who has an email ad- dress, fax machine or RF messaging device-- Expand your HP wireless and from your HP Palmtop! Palmtop's memory #3422 [Motorola Wireless Modem] ... $699 with high-quality #10020A [EnBloc PalmStation+] ..... $1495 Print anywhere with your palmtop. These plain PC Card technology paper printers have great resolution (360 dpi) at an affordable price. Your Name in Silver and allow you to print last minute, life saving Whether you require Personalize your palmtop with this self-adhesive charts and graphs-in color. Designed for only a few extra mega­ narneplate--it installs quickly in the recess on today's professionals on the go, these small bytes or 40 megs, mM the back of your machine. Just give us up to 24 (1O"x2"x 1.85"), featherweight (1.1 lb.) por­ flash cards are your solution. Built-in data characters and allow two weeks for delivery. tables fit in your briefcase and deliver laser compression provides up to 80MB RAM for #2786 [Nameplate] ...... $4.95 quality printing. 2 pp per min on transparen­ your palmtop. cies, cut sheet or letterhead. The economical #3423A [3MB/6MB Flash] ...... $199 EduCALC is your place to PN50 gives you approximately 30 text pages on #3424A [5MB/10MB Flash] ...... $259 find all the newest, hottest black cartridge (requires serial/parallel convert­ #3425A [10MB120MB Flash] ...... $419 er with HP serial cable). The versatile PN60 #3426A [20MB/40MB Flash] ...... $739 technology for your model gives you a color option as well-print #3427A [30MBI60MB Flash] ...... $999 Hewlett-Packard Palmtop! 3-5 pages using color cartridge. #3428A [4OMB/80MB Flash] ...... $1239 Call us today #PNSO [PN50 Printer] ...... $249.95 #PN60 [PN60 Printer] ...... $349.95 EduCALC 800.713.6526 #3289 [NiCad Battery] ...... $78.95 27983 Cabot Road I #3290 [Car Adapter] ...... $44.95 #3061 [Palmtop Cable] ...... •••....•.. $34.95 Laguna Niguel, QA 92677 Check us out on the World Wide Web: #GA935 [SIP Converter] ...... $54.95 http:l.fwww.educalc.com Call for more info - #3292 [2 black ink Cartridges] .•...••... $8.95 714.582.2637 HP 1000000LX metnOlY upgrade now 8val1ableJ Call for details #3293 [2 color ink Cartridges] ...... $13.95

2 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 New Pr 0 due t s!

This section lists new products Contact: Conceptkitchen; Phone: 415- connect to numerous on-line dard NMEA 0183 protocol of interest to users of the HP 252-3333; Fax: 415-252-3323; E-mail: services, and more. over a serial line. palmtop pes. New Products [email protected]; Website: PDexpress is equipped LXGPS has the follow­ includes descriptions of hard­ www.conceptkitchen.com with advanced battery man­ ing features: ware, software, books, videos, agement electronics allow­ - moving map display using training and service offerings. ing the user 50+ hours of user-supplied maps in Prices listed in this section are NETWORKS suggested retail. You may be continuous operation on a PCXformat. able to get the products for less single 2-3 hour charge. - navigation to user defined The unit is configured waypoints, including if you shop around. POCKETWatch Provides with a radio modem that graphical bearing indica­ Portable Network Access HP Palmtop Paper Staff supports either ARDIS tor, distance to waypoint POCKETWatch, from Preci­ (DataTac) or RAM Mobile and estimated time sion Guesswork, combines Data (Mobitex) and a 14.4 enroute. HARDWARE! an HP 200LX Palmtop, a kbsp V. 32bis wireline - satellite tracking and sig­ ACCESSORIES Silicom PCMCIA Ethernet Rockwell modem (for use nal strength display. adapter, and LANWatch. when out of range of a wire­ - route logging and play- This allows users to look at less network, or at any time. back. PDexpress has a stan­ LXGPS is a DOS program ACCESSORIES a network anywhere they can plug into a 10BaseT dard RS-232 DB-9 (9-pin) written using the Palmtop port. It doesn't require an serial port that can be used Application Library (PAL), Chameleon Cases external power source and to connect the unit to a giving it the standard HP its power usage is limited, printer or a PC without hav­ LX application look and feel. Several of Chameleon's lea­ thus facilitating portable ing to use a null modem. LXGPS has been tested ther cases hold HP 95 / 100/- network viewing. If a net­ PDexpress, which is with the Delorme Tripmate 200LX Palmtops. Their work problem proves to be about an inch wider and and the Garmin GPS II. model SlO1 Premier Leather too complex to solve on site, deeper than the palmtop This first release is a Wallet holds credit cards POCKETWatch can be used (actual measurements are beta release, since it has not and memory cards. Their to save trace files of infor­ 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches), been extensively tested by Junior model S102 is a mation, and upload them to weighs 1.6 pounds without anyone other than the zipped case. The Deluxe a desktop PC for future the palmtop author. Bug reports, model S103 is a zipped case analysis. The unit comes with an enhancement requests and with detachable hand strap automobile adapter and a other suggestions would be and extra storage space for Contact: Precision Guesswork; Phone: 120V AC adapter, which can appreciated by the author, batteries or a pen. 508-887-6570, Fax: 508-887-6552. E­ be used to charge the bat­ who will e-mail a MIME­ mail: [email protected] ; tery and at the same time encoded ZIP file containing Price: Website: www.guesswork.com power the unit and the the program (150K) to any­ Premier: ...... $39.99 US. palmtop. one interested. Junior: ...... $49.99 US. Deluxe: ...... $59 .99 US. WIRELESS Price: ...... $895. Type: Freeware Contact: Chameleon Distribution Ltd, Contact: E-Com International, Phone: Available at Website: 800-671-9970 or 503-671-9900; Fax: www.palmtop.net United Kingdom ; Phone: 44-171-630- TM Contact: Greg Renda ; E-mail : 5736 ; Fax: 44-171-834-3473; E-mail: PDexpress Portable 503-646-2938; E-mail: [email protected] WirelesslWireline Docking [email protected] [email protected] Station Screen Cleaning Packet Data Express (PD­ FREEWARE & "Brain Wash" is a two-step express™) is a soon-to-be­ INTERNET cleaning system that released wireless modem/ SHAREWARE removes dust and debris docking station specifically from screens and provides designed for the HP 100/ 200 Free ETEXTs an anti-static coating. LX Palmtops. Disposable. Also available The HP Palmtop con­ COMMUNICATION University Cybershops' Free from Conceptkitchen is a nects to the PDexpress dock­ Book Database maintains a reusable "Karma Cloth," ing station through the seri­ Webpage database contain­ which cleans a screen with a al port leaving the PC Cards LXGPS . ing (at last count) over 351 gentle material that buffs slot free for additional mem­ electronic text versions of LXGPS interfaces your HP out minor scratches. ory or flash card applica­ popular books. 100/200LX Palmtop to a tions. PDexpress lets users Among the authors GPS (global positioning Price: send Faxes, send and receive represented: Lewis Carroll, satellite) receiver that com­ Brain Wash ...... $14.95 e-mail, access the Internet, Virginia Woolf, Samuel Karma Cloth ...... $9.95 municates using the stan- Clemens, Herman Melville,

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 3 and Sir Arthur Conan Contact: Owen Samuelson, 500 Doyle. Reference works are Brookside Dr., Macon, GA 31210 USA; also available at the site. E-mail: [email protected] HP PALMTOP USER GROUPS

Available at Website: www. Those interested in participating in an HP E-mail: [email protected] ucybershops.com/bookslbook-free.html TEXT EDITOR Palmtop users group should contact the follow­ ing individuals. Send us contact information for­ SINGAPORE .. Chaikin Koon; 334-B King George's Avenue, SINGAPORE 208571; E­ matted as below nyou wish to be added as a mail: [email protected] contact for a users group in your area. Some of the individuals listed offer Palmtop advice but New Version 1.82A SPAIN .. Barcelona: Julio Lazaro Crespo; REFERENCE may not be organizing an official users group. Email: [email protected] for VDE Editor HP Palmtop Worldwide User Group News .. SWEDEN .. Kent lIIemann; Telephone/Fax: 06· TOOLS Send material about User Group activities to 611 48 85; E-mail: [email protected]­ VDE.ZIP text editor for the Conrad Cox; E-mail: 76164.467 @com ­ son.se; or [email protected]; puserve.com; Websfte: www.ccnet.coml-cdcox Also Thomas H., Tel : 46 (70) 5308970 or palmtop includes in its ARGENTINA .. Buenos Aires: Miguel Angel Phone/Fax: 46 (8) 7733740; E-mail : The Palmtop Periodic upgrade a new file mode for Misseri; E-mail: 73070.3665@compuserve Thomas.Hull_n @mc.ey.se (This is a 200LX .com. Cordoba: Paul Nani; Tel: 54-51 -715649; group) Table . MEMO "formatted" file, as E-mail: [email protected] SWITZERLAND .. Alexander Gutfeldt; well as an icon and instruc­ AUSTRALIA .. Dr. Bany Collins; c/o Forensic Landoltstrasse 28, CH-3OO7, Beme, SWITZER­ This new chemistry refer­ Science Center; Tel: 08-8226-7700; E-mail: LAND; E-mail : 100527.2461@compuserve tions for installing to launch .com; or gutfeldt@msmail .advd.unibe.ch ence tool was written specif­ cOllib @atom.forensic.sa.gov.au from AppMgr. AUSTRIA .. Ulrich Hoesch ; Hoesch TURKEY - Ahmet G. Ozisik; Tel: (212)227 5200; E­ ically for the HP palmtop @hp-club.or.at I mail: aozisik@ibm.neI or HPTur1Computer Instructors Corporation, Tel: 703-486· If you have questions PANAMA I LATIN AMERICA .. Aviran Yanir; 2222; E-mail: [email protected] grams. Tel: 507 4410442; Fax: 507-441-0473; E-mail: about the mailing list, con­ aViran @palmtop.com WA-Bellevue .. Suzanne Ow ; E-mail : [email protected] tact the listserve administra­ PHILIPPINES .. Carlos: Caliwara; Tel: (632) Type: Freeware 8906229 to 36, exlensions 120 & 121 ; Fax: WEST INDIES-Ian Melville c/o Frontline Available at Website: tor, Al Kind, at MCHEMl@ (632) 9285635;E-mail: [email protected] Marketing Agencies; Tel: 868-642·5492 Fax: 868-642-2021; E-mail: [email protected] ww.hom.netl-owensam/ptidx.html UCONNVM.UCONN.EDU PORTUGAL - PPTUG; TeVFax: 351 -1-2597216;

4 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 NEW S

User to User

Hal's candid opinion of Windows CE; the future of THE HP PALMTOP PAPER; Thaddeus Computing to sell upgraded 8 Mg double-speed 200LXs; plus three classic games.

By Hal Goldstein

really want to like the new year, or five, is the question. on a 320LX are MEMO and other I Windows CE platform and the Still, every time I think I want ASCII files, importable in Pocket new HP 320LX Palmtop Pc. to switch, or at least try to run the Word. Frankly, the future of our compa­ HP 320LX in parallel with the HP Right now everyone at ny, Thaddeus Computing, largely 200LX, I stop. Just check out James Thaddeus Computing uses a depends on the success of our new Robertson's article on his experi­ 200LX. To give everyone a Handheld PC Magazine which focus­ ence switching from the HP 200LX Windows CE machine would es exclusively on Windows CE­ to the HP 320LX to understand require upgrading all desktop PC based Handheld PC's such as the why. I don't have the patience of hardware and software to run HP320LX. the author, and besides, I've got Windows 95. In addition, one real­ I am convinced the platform lots of Notetaker files, Database ly has to give up a PC serial port, (and our new magazine) will be files, HP Solver equations, and 1-2-3 since transferring data between an successful. Microsoft, by working spreadsheets with macros that HP IC Palmtop and a PC using a with HP, Philips, Casio, Compaq, won't translate directly. PC Card is not well supported. LG Electronics, Hitachi, and NEC Even now I am not a big fan of to create Windows CE-based Stand-alone Palmtop vs Windows and I am not a big fan of Handheld PC's has selected power­ "PC Companion" serial connections. The reason is ful teammates. Factor in hundreds simple. Their costs in terms of time of third-party companies develop­ The thing I really don't like about and money have far outweighed ing for the platform. That is a lot of the HP 320LX is its dependency on the benefits. The Windows user engineering and marketing muscle a PC - one that must run interface and serial transfer are working to make Windows CE Windows 95 or Windows NT. I supposed to "just work." The gory handhelds successful. Microsoft is can't use my 200LX flash card to details are hidden from the user. famous for keeping at projects until directly transfer Lotus files or When all works, great. The prob­ Comma Delimited Files created it gets them "right". Examplesl lem is that when things don't work, such as Word, Excel, Internet from 200LX NoteTaker and trouble-shooting often is difficult Explorer, and even Windows itself Database files directly to HP 320LX and time-consuming. demonstrate how Microsoft ends Pocket Excel. I have to first send To Microsoft's credit, up dominating a market and doing the files to Excel on a Pc. Similarly, Windows CE works pretty well for a pretty good job on the product I can't directly transfer my 200LX the first version. However, in truth itself. In other words, for those of Phone or Appointment files. I have I don't want a handheld "PC us not yet satisfied with Windows to first copy the files to the PC and Companion." I want a stand-alone, CE handhelds, eventually we will run the translation program there. self-sufficient PC in my pocket that probably switch, if for no other rea­ I am used to just sticking my can interface with other PCs as son that almost all the new and 200LX Palmtop'S flash card into my needed. That said, it seems I (and useful applications and hardware PC or notebook's flash card slot many others) will be using an HP developed for Handhelds will be when wanting to transfer data. Not 200LX for some time. In this con­ developed for Windows CE with the HP 320LX. The only text, I want to discuss the future of machines. Whether that takes one 200LX files on a flash card readable The HP Palmtop Paper with you.

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 5 NEWS: User To User The Future of Do you have a Palmtop you no longer use? The HP Palmtop Paper Weill buy it.•. even if itls broken! During the past six years many of you have shared your knowledge Thaddeus Computing (that's us) can always use extra palmtops for various projects. If you want to in the form of tips, profiles, mail in your Palmtop equipment and manuals to us, here is what we will pay. reviews, and as freeware, share­ Palmtop in good working order and good shape:· Broken Palmtop· ware and commercial products. In HP 95LX (with manuals): $ 55 Broken 95LX (with manuals): $25 HP 100LX (with manuals): $75 Broken 100LX (with manuals): $35 fact most of the material these past HP 200LX (with manuals): $100 Broken 200LX (with manuals): $35 years have come from you, the reader. Even if you haven't con­ * Without manuals: HP 95LX subtract $5; HP 1OOLX or 200LX subtract $10. tributed, you have been very loyal We'll adjust the price if equipment works but has some significant damage. in terms of your comments, re­ Accessories newals, and patronizing our adver­ HP Connectivity Pack with cable and manual: tisers. Therefore, I want to be as HP100 or 200LX: $15; HP95LX: $5 open with you as possible in dis­ Uncompressed Flash and SRAM cards: cussing the future of this publica­ $5.00 per megabyte (e.g., 40 Meg=$240) tion. Modem cards, cables, software, chargers, other items: we'll look things over, but we may not be able Many of you have e-mailed me to offer much. We'll adjust price as appropriate if accessories come without manuals, or if other items are missing. that the last issue contained less Send equipment to: HP Palmtop Used Equipment, Thaddeus Computing, 110 N. Court, advertisements and less pages. Fairfield, IA 52556, USA. Include a note mentioning this offer with your phone and fax number. If you This reflected an abysmal summer need to talk with us, you may call, 515-472-6330. You will receive reimbursement within three weeks both for our advertisers and our­ after we receive the equipment. selves. HP grossly underestimated the demand for HP 200LXs as the When you send in your palmtop, if you mention you saw this box you'll receive HP 320LX was introduced. The a free one-year subscription (or renewal) to Handheld PC Magazine. Offer good through December 31, 1997 result: those users wanting to pur­ chase HP 200LXs couldn't find them, and even the most knowl- Paper renewals to stabilize at much edgeable dealers thought the HP lower levels than we have been 200LX was being discontinued. To used to in the past. In the mean- put it mildly, new subscriptions time the paper costs have almost and even renewals dropped dra- tripled since we began publishing matically. The HP Palmtop Paper six years ago. If you have done business with In other words, the bad news our advertisers, you know most is that even assuming that sub- have knowledge, a genuine inter- scriber, renewal, and advertiser est, and appreciation for the HP rates stabilize at current levels, we 200LX. Many of these businesses would lose money each issue we depend on HP 200LX sales for a publish. significant portion of their busi- At the same time, new possi- ness. Even those like ourselves bilities for HP Palmtop use contin- who will support Windows CE ue. New hardware, new software, handhelds are caught in a tricky new imaginative uses of the palm- position. Sales of the HP 200LX top keep surfacing and will contin- have decreased dramatically (at ue to surface as long as there is a least in Summer 1997) while we all market and user enthusiasm. Just must incur significant startup costs glance through this issue as evi- preparing for the new Windows dence. I feel that six years of HP CE market. Palmtop Paper issues have played a The good news is that now central role in the palmtop'S suc- that HP 200LXs are back in the cess and in expanding palmtop dealer channel, sales have in- possibilities. If The HP Palmtop creased as reflected by new Palmtop Paper dies, many HP Palmtop inno- Pretec Electronics Corp. Paper subscribers. However, even vations, much user enthusiasm, (510)-440-8514 with the HP 200LX available, we and new HP Palmtop sales will die http://www.pretec.com expect new subscriber and Palmtop with it.

6 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 Personally, as an avid HP Portable and HP150 products, we to the work of HP Palmtop hard­ 200LX user I don't want to see that purchased their inventory and ware expert Mack Baggette, we happen. The HP Palmtop Paper rights to their software. That meant will not only be selling used palm­ helps me, like thousands of other even after we stopped publishing tops, but our centerpiece product readers, be more productive and The Portable Paper, we were the cen­ will be a refurbished, upgraded 8 effective. Glance through this issue tral location to support HP Megabyte double speed HP 200LX and you will see plenty of new and Portable and HP 150 users. that we will warranty for up to two useful ways of taking advantage of We feel we can continue to years! In addition, we will upgrade the HP Palmtop. serve HP Palmtop users with The existing machines and offer both So what's the solution? From HP Palmtop Paper if we resurrect extended warranties and a relative­ your side you can help us by that side of our business. Starting ly inexpensive repair service. renewing early, getting other users August 1, we began an aggressive If there is interest, we may also to subscribe, and supporting our campaign to purchase used offer a 200LX to 320LX file transfer advertisers. From our side, in order Palmtops which we will test, clean, service. That will save users the to justify the expense of The HP tighten hinges and otherwise refur­ time and hassle of converting files Palmtop Paper we plan to offer bish for resale. In addition, thanks when moving to the HP 320LX. additional Palmtop products and services.

A new Palmtop Business for Thaddeus Computing POCKETWatch Some of our loyal, long-term 10- Palmtop Protocol Analyzer year customers will remember a similar situation. In 1985 we began Thaddeus Computing (then called "Personalized Software") support­ ing the Hewlett-Packard 110 Portable and later the HP Portable Plus. These portable computers, like the HP Palmtop, were years ahead of their time, and were creat­ ed by some of the same HP Corvallis engineers that created the HP Palmtop. Unfortunately, HP was unable to market these machines - at the time the laptop market was like the palmtop mar­ ket is now. The public had yet to appreciate the benefits of portable computing. Turns Your Palmtop Consequently a select group of into a Network Analyzer! loyal users loved their machine~ and supported The Portable Paper Consider the convenience of a network analyzer that for six years - the last two years of fits in your pocket, goes anywhere you need to go, and which, HP Portables were no longer sold by HP. With a relative­ costs under $1500! ly small subscriber base (about POCKETWatch combines LANWatch ~ Network Protocol 2,000) we had 20 employees servic­ Analyzer with an HP 200 LX Palmtop PC and a Silicom ing HP Portable users as well as Ethernet Card. If you wish to convert an existing Palmtop, users of the orphaned HP 150 the software and ether net card can be purchased separately. Touchscreen desktop. We did this primarily by buying and selling P~E:CISION 9 Ht.~~w~rk, Inc. used HP equipment, adding Five Central Street, Topsfield, MA 01983 unique value such as speed (508) 887-6570 (phone) http://www.guesswork.com upgrades. As other companies (508) 887-6552 (fax) Email: [email protected] were unable to survive selling HP • THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 7 Knowledge Products From Thaddeus

_::. :':.-; ;.::~::.:: . I .....,~'L' I ... ~ The HP Palmtop Paper's CD In/oBase "" ..... " ,,= .,.. , THE I HP Palmtop NEW 1997 VERSION: Buy or Upgrade "1be contents oj the CD Paper's '97 CD InjoBase are great! I love having This Windows CD contains in hypertext searchable format all 1991-96 The HP Palmtop Papers, detailed all the injonnation in one adveItiser product descriptions, HP 200LX User's Guide, HPlO0;200;700LX Developer's Guide, and com­ single place instead oj plete DOS and 1-2-3 MicroRef manuals. You'll also find over 900 pieces of freeware and shareware from having to search through the 1991-96 ON DISK collectionlSubscriber PowerDisk!Developer's Guide plus 700 e-text classics readable piles oj paper. " The HP Palmtop Paper's CD InfoBase on the Palmtop. Thomas Rundel The HP Palmtop Paper PC In Your Pocket HP Palmtop bqok: Ideal for users, great gift for interested friends "Tbe HP Palmtop Paper has saved me The editors of The HP Palmtop Paper have organized some of countless hours offrustration" - Steve Mitchell their best material into a readable, practical book about the HP Subscribe Today! Included with your subscription Palmtop. The book is filled with hundreds of real-life examples are the following one time bonuses: of the HP Palmtop's features and capabilities. Busy professionals • Best Tips • PC Card Review • Subscriber PowerDisk describe how they use the HP Palmtop to organize their time, information, and monel' to be more effective. Order directly Order back issues of The HP Palmtop from us and we'll include a disk containing most of the software Paper while they last mentioned in the book. W,;tten both for users and for those Like the HP Palmtop? There's plenty of useful informa­ considering purchasing an HP Palmtop. tion already published. HP 95LX users will especially PC In Your Pocket benefit from thirteen 1991-93 issues, and HP 100LX and HP 200LX users will appreciate the eighteen 1994-96 Handheld PC M agazine The HP Palmtop Paper issues. Included is a Subscriber PowerDisk. ~

Interested in Microsoft's new Windows CE operating system? What better way to stay IHP lOO/200IX Developer's Guide ! on top of it than with a magazine from the publishers of The HP Palmtop Paper?

Attention: Palmtop Developers and Enthusiasts Subscription includes: • 6 bi-monthly issues • the The Developer's Package includes everything you need to write software, annual Handheld PC Magazine Windows CE Buyer's 189 New fIlE 8D1tW1A1 design hardware, or simply understand the inner workings of the HP Guide • Special Report: 12 Important Palmtop. Things Every Handheld PC User Should Know· Handheld PC Magazine's Goodies =*I=- _q""1 · \ The Package includes: ::::.-- ~~ .. 1) Printed copy of 586-page Developer's Guide Disk containing the 20 best Windows CE - ~:~et ~~-~ 2) Disk containing HP-created source code and utilities for developers based freeware/shareware games, Internet Explorer W''1:.! utilities, and applications. PlIl8,_ .... mIllIj1J .... 3) Complete set of kits for marketing your Palmtop product Handheld PC Bonuses iiiI KanIIIeItIWlnom ~.. 4) CompuServe starter kit (CompuServe is where Palmtop programmers Handheld PC Magazine hang out) 5) PAL: a C source code library for developing software with the look and feel of the HP Palmtop built-in applications IMicroRef Quick Reference Lotus 123 and DOS 5 Guides I

Get the DOS and Lotus Answers You Need - Fast and Easy "'"' HP foot.X I HP 2OOU( ~~.Ou" Locate subjects fast. Numerous examples and illustrations. "Far superior to any other guide, cheat sheet, or original documentation. .. an excellent guide for all users.... Highly recommended!" MicroRef Quick Reference John Dvorak - PC Magazine Lotus 123 and Dos 5 Guides The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK

Get all the great freeware and shareware you read about in each issue of The HP Palmtop Paper. This invaluable supplement to The HP Palmtop Paper also contains detailed infor­ mation from advertisers plus the full text of The HP Palmtop Paper for text search. HP 100/200LX Developer's Guide PLUS: Each year we compile the best palmtop tips and the best freeware and shareware and put it on two 1.44 Meg floppy disks. Included FREE with your Tbe Thaddeus HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK subscription, or can be purchased separately. Computing INC. Publisher: Tbe HP Palmtop Paper and Handbeld PC ,11agazine TO ORDER: Please use either 110 North Court, Fairfield, lA 52556 "Best Tips ON DISK" comes free with The HP 800-373-6114·1-515-472-6330 of the order cards in this issue. Fax: 1-515-472-1879· E-Mail: [email protected] Palmtop Paper ON DISK subSCription User To User (cont.) Users send us a disk, flash card, or that they are treated fairly, we will recommending our company to an HP Palmtop, and we will return need to add value on both the buy­ colleagues as a reputable, knowl­ a disk and simple instructions for ing and selling end. For example, edgeable source of inexpensive HP transferring files to a Windows CE when we buy a used Palmtop we Palmtop equipment. In return, we machine from a Windows 95 or NT will include, free, a $35 Handheld should be able to continue publish­ desktop. PC Magazine subscription and ing The HP Palmtop Paper at least to Making the plan work busi­ offer our HP 95LX/l00LX/200LX the millennium. ness-wise will be a little tricky. We to HP 320LX file transfer service at will have to engage in two market­ half price. On the other end, when Three Classic Games ing efforts - one for buying palm­ we sell a refurbished or upgraded I recently discovered three classic tops and another for selling them. Palmtop, we will offer our HP games of logic that run nicely on At least for a while, unless we can Palmtop Paper CD Infobase as well as the HP Palmtop. Battleship make a large buy, we won't have other products and services at (SEAHUNT.EXE . ) comes with much control as to how much greatly reduced prices. sound effects and taunts you as inventory of Palmtops we can We hope you will view our you try to guess the location of the build up. Furthermore, for this entering the used Palmtop arena as com pu ter' s ba ttleshi ps before the activity to be profitable enough to an opportunity to get your spouse, computer guesses yours (see make it worth the effort (given the children or colleagues Palmtops at Screen 1). But don't trust the com­ many expenses, the dollar amount reduced prices. Alternatively, you puter! On the "average" level the involved, and relatively low vol­ can take advantage of our rates to computer seems to play fair and ume) we will need to buy Palmtop purchase a backup palmtop or an 8 you can win. (For example, I won equipment at 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of megabyte double speed machine. one round when I bunched all my resale. We hope that customers You, The HP Palmtop Paper ships together. The computer calls understand this when they see that reader, know the value of HP you a "wimp" for playing at that we might offer $100 for a 200LX Palmtops more than anyone. We level). However, at the most that we advertise at $285. will really appreciate your patron­ advanced level the computer has In order for everyone to feel age in this new enterprise and your either an incredible algorithm that

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THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 9 NEWS: User To User Mastermind (MasterHP . ) O!::~~l er avy AdMiral Hal's Cleet was written for the Palmtop and is a simple, straightforward imple­ Sharewarel • • @j ) • •• ~ • @J mentation of MasterMind™ (see freeware B= -t! • • • Screen 2). It is a game of pure logi­ mentioned in this article • • • cal deduction. The computer @ • • [oJ selects at random from a group of SEAHNT.ZIP • - This version of the ~ i I'!~ : @ , five "colors." Your job is to deter­ classic game of "Battleship" runs nicely L'. • Read ¥Of ire . AdMiral. mine which color is in each posi­ on the palmtop. Freeware. Available on this issue's HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK tion in as few "guesses" as possi­ Screen 1: Battleship running on the LX. ble. After each guess, the computer tells you how many correct colors HBUS.ZIP . - The HP 200LX version erMind! !:: :iii :::::::::~ ::: : :: : :: ...... and how many in correct position. of the Hearts & Bones game that can be •...... © ...... ® run on the 100LX. Freeware. Available EGI S TERED COPY! t Finally, built-in to the HP f1 ;:]gcnta c 11 .... ::: :\'?i ::: :: : :J~:::: : ...... Re d c A on this issue's HP Palmtop Paper ON .... hite '" IJ B r own .. H I·.. ••••••••••••• .. • .... • ...... • ...... •••• ••• ••• .. • •• .... • •• 200LX and HP 95LX and available Cl;HJn '" C DISK Ye llow "' V Green '" G for the HP lOOLX is "Hearts and Blue '" B Bones" (HBUS.ZIP) • . Windows E-:~~~~:f MMINDHP.ZIP • - Written for the users might be familiar with a simi­ palmtop, this game tests your skill at log­ lar game, "Minesweeper." Ano­ ical deduction. Freeware. Available on Screen 2: The Mastermind game of logic. ther game of logic, the idea is to this issue's HP Palmtop Paper ON deduce where the mines are on a DISK matrix of squares. MinelOO • (see Screen 3) is different enough from MINES.ZIP • - Similar to "Hearts and Hearts & Bones (there is a timer, Bones," this game has additional fea­ for instance) that H&B fans might tures. Freeware. Available on this issue's HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK want to give it a try.

Where there's a DoubleSlof ~ there's a way ... To use 2 PC Cards at the same time - even copy files between Cards Screen 3: Mine100. To run multiple PC Card products - SRAM, fax/modem, memory cards, etc. reads your mind, or "peeks" and To connect Type I, II and III Cards - even a knows exactly where your ships Type II and III at the same time are. To externally power PCMCIA Cards - for those power hungry PCMCIA peripherals Detect/Plot Radioactivity To run ATA flash cards and hard drives­ On Your HP 1,OO/200LX like the notebooks can! ,', >. Complete RM 60 System: $149.50 DoubleSlot, PCMCIA Slot Expander - reaching new heights of performance for your HP Palmtop. Add the Travel FloppyTM to your Palmtop ... World's smallest 3.5" floppy drive PCMCIA, type II compatible For Palmtops or other DOS/Windows computers

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10 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1997 OW TO USE YOUR PALMTOP

Through the Looking Glass: Fixing and Speeding Up Database Files

What to do when you get "Record Not Found" or "Cannot Open File" error messages with any of the palmtop's built-in database applications (ApptBook, Database, PhoneBook, NoteTaker and WorldTime).

By Ed Keefe

t's been said before, but it bears index from the database file and up-to-the-minute and safe. The I repeating: the database applica­ puts the index alone in working drawback is that, if you have a tions make the HP 100j200LX memory. This index serves as the large database, resizing and rein­ unique among all its competition. raw material for the list view that dexing can take a long time. Not only does the palmtop's data­ appears on the screen. When you When you close a database base engine let you keep track of highlight one of the records in the application, the index is reattached phone numbers, notes, appoint­ list and press (Enter), the engine to the information file and the pro­ ments, and To Do items, it also pro­ reaches out to the RAM disk and gram shuts down gracefully. vides information on the times and copies that record into working Everything has been designed to phone prefixes in 450 cities. It even memory so you can view it or work flawlessly and reliably, but, lets you create custom, record­ modify it. on rare occasions, things can go keeping applications to suit your When you add, modify, or wrong. For instance, a portion of particular needs or interests. delete a record, several things hap­ your PC card might go bad for One of the greatest strengths of pen in the background: the record some inexplicable reason, thereby the palmtop's database engine is is stored on disk (or deleted from messing up several records in a that each application can hold an the disk). Then the index is updat­ database file. Your palmtop might excessively large number of entries. ed and the database file is resized decide to lock up while it's trying Some users have reported that they to make it as small as possible. to resize or close a file. You won't keep thousands of phone numbers Some people compare this resizing know that something went wrong in their palmtop. Others have cre­ to defragmenting a hard-disk or until the next time you try to load ated custom databases with 1,500 packing a database file. "Packing" the database file. Then you'll get an records or more. The database fil~ is a term that is familiar to dBASE error message telling you that a sizes are often in the neighborhood users. On the palmtop, this resizing record can't be found, or, worse of 1 Megabyte. or packing happens on-the-fly as yet, the database can't be loaded. How can the palmtop work you work with a database. It Don't panic. This has hap­ with database files that exceed the ensures that your information is pened to palmtop users before. working memory of the computer? It does so by using a "trick." The database engine creates an index of ABOUT THE AUTHOR all the records in a database and A long time contributor to Hewlett-Packard Handheld attaches this index to the informa­ support publications, Ed Keefe is an author, editor, pro­ tion file. It's like writing a reference grammer, computer sci~nce instructor, and part-time con­ sultant in the computer industry. Ed's articles appear in manual and attaching an index to The HP Palmtop Paper. He is also the editor of the book PC it. When you start a database appli­ In Your Pocket: Information When You Need It. Ed can be cation, the engine extracts the reached at: [email protected]

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 11 HOW TO USE: Fixing your database files Fortunately, it seems to happen have a program such as Norton's the back-up file is good, close the most often to programmers. It's Disk Doctor, try using that to application and use Filer to delete indeed fortunate for us, since repair the files. When you're confi­ the broken file and rename the they've taken the time to create dent that your RAM disk is in ZZZ.xDB file. You'll have to re­ some very useful techniques and working order, reload System enter any records that were added tools that will help us fix broken Manager and try opening the data­ or changed since the last backup. database files. base again. How current your backup file is If you still get an error mes­ will determine the amount of work The most secure cure: sage, then it's time to fetch the involved. use an up-to-date backup backup file. Begin by renaming the backup file to something like Less sure (but useful) The best way to cure a broken data­ ZZZ.xDB (where the "x" would be base is to throw it away. Delete it file recovery techniques an "A", "G", "N", "P", or "W", from the disk and start over with a depending on the type of database If your backup files are unusable, recent backup of the database file. file: ApptBook .ADB file; Database there are still some things you can However, before you delete .GDB file; NoteTaker .NDB file; do to recover as much information the damaged file, do the following. Phone Book .PDB file; or as possible. Terminate all applications and exit WorldTime .WDB file). Load this System Manager (use More Menu "ZZZ" file into the application pro­ Merge the file Application Terminate All OK). gram. Switch to the drive that holds your If you're able to start an application Why rename the file and load but the database file causes a database files and type in the DOS it? Well, if you backup your palm­ "Record Not Found" error message command CHKDSK and press top frequently, you may have inad­ Enter. If you get a message that to appear on the screen, press the vertently backed-up an already (Enter) key and choose the (Menu) tells you that your disk has errors, broken file. If that's the case, it file New... command. This will cre­ use the CHKDSK IF command to doesn't make sense to overwrite "fix" the problem. Better yet, if you ate a new database with the same one broken file with another one. If layout as the errant one. Then use

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12 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 the (Menu) Eile Merge command ABDIO either in the HPHAND A touch of garlic and try to bring the broken file into forum on CompuServe, or on The the new one. This simple technique HP Palmtop Paper's 97 CD InfoBase. GARLIC . is a utility program that may not work every time, but it's a tries to reconstruct any damaged good thing to try. database file on the palmtop. It Cannot Open File works by scanning a corrupt data­ base for anything it can recognize Sort and Copy The "Cannot Open File" error mes­ as a valid record. It then outputs sage will appear if you've inadver­ The "Record Not Found" message this, along with reconstructed tently moved your database file to usually means that there's a glitch tables and links, to a new file for another drive or directory or in the index of the database. you to examine and edit. GARLIC swapped one PC card for another Sometimes you can cure this by is one of the last things you should one. In this case the message means using the (Menu) View Sort com­ tryon a broken database file. If it that the program Cannot Find the mand that's available in every works, consider yourself fortunate. File. Use the Eile Open command database application except the The instructions that come with to get to the dialog box and use the Appointment Book. If the database GARLIC give several options you drive and directory pick-lists to file contains subsets, activate each can try with this utility program. locate and open the file. However, subset and perform the (Menu) GARLIC.ZIP is available in the if you still get the error message View Sort command. When you've HPHAND forum of CompuServe "Cannot Open File" then you've finished sorting all the subsets, use and The HP Palmtop Paper's 97 CD encountered a worst case scenario. the (Menu) Eile .copy... command InfoBase. Your file is so corrupted that the to save the file under a new name. database application doesn't recog­ Quit and restart the application, nize it. Again: don't panic. There If all else fails ... call on a PAL and try re-Ioading the new data­ are still a couple of remedies that base file. If you can load it without If all the above fails, there's one last will let you recover some or all of any error messages, you've lucked technique to try. Get a copy of the information in your file. out! PalEdit • , a fine text editor for the If your Appointment Book file HP palmtop. PalEd it will let you is corrupt, you won't be able to use the "sort-and-save" remedy, since the Appointment Book doesn't have a sort operation. Instead, here's a remedy suggested by: Bill Ferreira (CompuServe: 76520,3702). ELECTRIC COMPANY Bill writes: "Create a new Appointment Book (say XX.ADB) Specialty Products Division HP Distributor for 20 Years and merge your bad Appointment Book file into the empty one. Find long repeating entries and delete Fli:n- HEWLETT a:~ PACKARD them one at a time, saving and reopening the new XX version of your appointment book." HP PALMTOPS Hopefully this suggestion wi,ll AND put the Appointment Book file back in working order. If it does OTHER HP PRODUCTS not, and your Appointment Book file is less than 30K bytes, you & ACCESSORIES ••• might be able to use the ABD­ • Competitive Pricing DUMP . utility program. ABD­ • Excellent Service DUMP will take your broken file • Reasonable Shipping, No Handling Charges and attempt to create a humanly readable text file. If it can do this, CALL ·1-800-558-6970 then the companion program ABD­ LOAD . will let you rebuild your • Ask for Specialty Products Division· Appointment Book file. Both ABD­ DUMP and ABDLOAD can be TAYLOR ELECTRIC COMPANY found in the archive file called 1000 W Donges Bay Rd., Mequon, WI 53092 ·414-241-4321 • Fax 414-241-5264

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 13 HOW TO USE: Fixing your database files open any file for editing. There are apparently no restrictions on the size of the file. Of course, once you How I Speed Up My Phone Book bring the database file into PalEd it, you'll be faced with the daunting By Hal Goldstein task of going through the docu­ ment and deleting all the non-text My 200LX Phone book file is 200K in size. Even using the FASTDB • program on my characters. What you'll be left with double speed palmtop, searching and loading can take a long time. Here are several is the raw data of the database file, suggestions for faster access. minus any records that were totally First, create Subsets which will help you get at needed data quickly. For example, I corrupted. The next part of the have Subsets called "HP", "Company", and "Fairfield". HP consists of HP employees, in each record of which I have placed "HP" in the category field. "Company" consists of all Phone operation involves creating a new records, but sorted by company. (When defining such a Subset, just leave all fields blank. database and using the Copy and This Subset allows me to easily search for contacts within a specific company.) Paste keys to copy the data from For my home town of Fairfield, I look for a "472" or "469", the two Fairfield, Iowa PalEdit to the database. By the time exchanges, in the phone and business field. (I usuplly don't bother putting "Fairfield" in the you finish this task you'll hav e city field when I originally enter the data. I can easily screen out the few extra records with vowed, once again, to make fre­ "472" or "469" in them pulled up with this method.) quent backups. One learning expe­ The first time you access a Subset it can take a long time. However, the database rience, like this, is enough to last a apparently creates an index, because subsequent accesses of the Subset occur very quickly. lifetime. I have brought down my load and search time to virtually zero using Harry Konstas's DBV • database viewing program. DBV quickly loads and searches a Phone or other data­ base file. It requires less than 150K, so it can run as an application from Application Manager Shareware (More). (I use Software Carousel). The downside is that you cannot use both the PhoneBook Freeware and DBV at the same time. The solution is to back up every night and use DBV on the backup file. mentioned in this article I have further refined the solution. I use a macro to back up the PhoneBook file. The macro first opens each Subset in my PhoneBook, closes Phone Book, and from Filer backs up ABDDUMP • - Utility program that sal­ the file. The reason for opening each Subset is that DBV requires a Subset to be opened vages corrupted database files. Freeware. before it can take advantage of quickly accessing the Subset. Available on The HP Palmtop Paper's 1997 CD Info8ase. An ounce of prevention ToDo list. Other users report that ABDLOAD • - Utility program that helps moving forward or backward in you rebuild a corrupted Appointment book Fred Kaufman, one of the volun­ the calendar seems to take forever. file . Freeware. Available on The HP teer experts in the HPHAND Palmtop Paper's 1997 CD Info8ase. First, realize that slowness is a forum on CompuServe offers the relative term. Nowadays, we've final bit of advice: "My habit for become accustomed to the speed of DBV • - Database viewing program for many years has been to close each desktop or laptop machines that GDB/PDB database files . Freeware . database application when I'm fin­ Available on The HP Palmtop Paper's 1997 use 32-bit filing systems and have CD Info8ase. ished with it, rather than keeping it CPUs and disk drives that are 10 to perpetually open. I don't think I 25 times faster than anything on have ever (knock on wood) had a the palmtop. FASTDB • - A TSR (Terminate and It State Resident) program that speeds up corrupted data file. is a bit slow­ Hav ing said that, here are 100/200LX Database applications (Phone, er to reopen, but it works for me. some suggestions on how to speed Appointment book, etc .) Freeware . So I look something up, add a new up the Appointment Book applica­ Available on The HP Palmtop Paper's 1997 item ... whatever. .. and then I close tion. CD Info8ase. [(MENU) Quit] the application." - If you keep your Appointment Book database file on a PC card GARLlC.ZIP • - Utility program that tries to reconstruct any damaged database file Speeding up the that uses Stacker to compress the on the palmtop. Freeware. Available on The Appointment Book files, consider eliminating Stacker HP Palmtop Paper's 1997 CD Info8ase. or else move the appointment file Palmtop users sometimes complain to the C: drive for faster process­ that one particular database appli­ ing. PalEdit . - Text editor for the palmtop. cation, the Appointment Book, is Freeware. Available on The HP Palmtop - If you use a PC card to hold Paper's 1997 CD Info8ase. notoriously slow. It takes an inor­ your database files and you notice dinately long time to add an item that saving or closing a database to the Appointment calendar or takes a long time, it may be a sign

14 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 1997 that the PC card needs to be "wear - If you prefer using Repeating might suddenly experience an leveled." Heavily used sectors on Appointments, try not to modify or "insufficient disk space" error. PC cards eventually wear out. One delete individual instances of a Stan Dobrowski, one of the symptom of this is that it takes repeating appointment. This will volunteer experts in the HPHAND more time to save data. The PC let the Appointment Book start up Forum on CompuServe, discovered cards from Sandisk and HP come more quickly and it will reduce the how to eliminate this side-effect. with a utility program called chances of introducing errors that He suggests editing two records in WEAR that will flag the worn out may corrupt your database. the database ( two seems to be the segments of the PC card as unus­ - If all these strategies fail to get magic number) and then closing able and move your data to a part you the speed you want, consider the file. This forces the FAST­ of the card that still has a lot of life popping for a double speed crystal DB.TSR program to update and in it. You only need to run the pro­ upgrade. This will make your pack the file. Other users suggest gram once or twice a year. Several palmtop anywhere from 150% to creating a System Macro that will users have reported a noticeable 200% faster. Be aware that HP con­ add two dummy records to a data­ increase in speed when they save siders this upgrade a violation of base and immediately delete them or close a database file after wear­ the standard warranty. If your just before closing the application. leveling their PC card. palmtop requires service by HP, This has the same effect as Stan's - Delete or extract all out-of-date count on losing the expensive suggestion. Appointments and ToDo items upgrade. Even with Stan's work-around, from the database. That is, use the some users have reported that they (MENU) Eile Remove "Before" Speeding up ALL the databases have experienced corrupt database command, with the "Save files once they started using FAST­ Many users have tried using a pro­ Removed Items" option checked. DB .TSR. So the best advice for gram called FASTDB.TSR • to You can save the removed items in using this program is to ensure that speed up the performance of all a file with the name AUG97.ADB your database files are accurate their database applications. The (or whatever) and then merge this and then back them up. TSR extension to the file name indi­ with a larger archive file called cates that this program is a termi­ APPT97.ADB. This will let you nate and stay resident program trim down the size of the current peculiar to the HP palmtop. Once Appointment Book file while keep­ installed in the HP 100/ 200LX it ing a record of all your past accom­ modifies the operation of all the plishments. If you notice that the database applications. File Merge operation introduces Ordinarily, when you add, ••CARD-LINK database errors in the merged file, delete or modify an item in a data­ you can always use the File Print base file and press the FlO (OK) command to send the database to key, the database engine modifies an ASCII text file. Then you can the file, updates the index to the use the DOS command COPY file and then "packs" the file so APPT97.TXT +AUG97.TXT BIG­ that it is up-to-date and accurate. FILE.TXT and then COpy BIG­ Packing can take a long time, FILE.TXT APPT97.TXT, and final­ depending on the size of the file. ly, delete AUG97.TXT. You can use The easy way to transfer files between your FASTDB.TSR postpones the pack­ MEMO or PalEd it to search palmtop and desktop ing process until you actually close through the text file for informa­ -+ FAST - 80.000 Bytes/Sec the file. So if you have a lot of tion that you might want to use -+ Easy to use - Works just like a floppy editing to do, you might save some disk drive. during an annual appraisal review. time, but you'll have to wait a long -+ Convenient - plug in installation to - Reserve the Appointment Book your parallel printer port. time for the database file to close for upcoming appointments only. -+ For both ATA flash and battery backed and get updated. up SRANI cards. Model CL683 also Some users have created elaborate If, on the other hand, you have allows use of type III hard drives. database files to handle ToDo a large database file that contains items. Model CL680 for Type I and Type II cards. data that is typically read-only, $179.95 - ToDo items that are "Carried there is a down-side to using Model CL683 for Type I, II and I!I cards. Forward" ToDo's and repeating $189.95 FASTDB.TSR. Each time you open Appointments tend to slow down Steele Creek Technologies, Inc. and close the file, the size of the file the Appointment Book. Try not to 14035 Applin/.( Lane will grow by several thousand bytes. Charlotte, NC 28278 use them. If you're not aware of this, you Phone or Fax: 704-588- 1780

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER! OCTOBER 1997 15 l ow TO USE YOUR PALMTOP USER PROFILE Administrator's HP Palmtop Helps Him Organize a 65·Workstation Network

This user shows that the HP Palmtop has its own value, even on the site of a large network of workstations. Using pcANYWHERE on the palm­ top while traveling, he checks dBASE files on the Network. The palmtop also comes in handy for Bible study and genealogy research.

By Robert Steckbeck

lthough I don't think of given IP address to more than one keep a separate MEMO file listing A myself as a "computer wee­ computer, or one of the users won't the locations of these printers and nie," I do carry my 2Mb 200LX be able to access our system, as the their network names. This allows palmtop almost everywhere I go in address which his/her computer is me to quickly find them when I set my "RipOff" belt holster, which I claiming will already be in use. up a new workstation or otherwise purchased through EduCALC. I keep a listing of these in a need to change the printer to which When I say everywhere, I mean text file using MEMO on the palm­ any node directs its printing. I pre­ everywhere. I even wear it to top. This allows me to know at any fer to direct printed output to a net­ church. given time which IP address is in work printer from the AUTOEX­ use, and where. I can search for EC.BAT file, using a DOS com­ HP palmtop helps run any user's name or any IP address mand which specifies the printer's 65-workstation network using MEMO's "Search" function. name, so having this information Additionally, by periodically on the palmtop is of great use to I serve as network administrator uploading this ASCII file to my me. Again, I upload this MEMO for a 100-user Novell 3.12 Local desktop computer, I can import it file to my desktop system to use in Area Network in my position as into a Microsoft Word document my network manual. the Coordinator of Cardiology which serves as the Supervisor's Information Services at the Penn Manual for my network. I devote a Remote access to dBASE IV files State Cardiovascular Center of the chapter in the manual to the IP Since I carry my palmtop with me Milton S. Hershey Medical Center addresses on my network, and I everywhere, on several occasions I in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The regularly update this chapter from have used pcANYWHERE, Version Network includes about 65 work­ my palmtop. 4.5, and a Megahertz 14.4 X-Jack stations and 15 shared printers. As noted above, my network modem, Model XJl144, to remotely Since many of my worksta­ includes 15 networked printers, dial into my desktop computer in tions have Internet Protocol OP) mostly HP LaserJet Ills and IVs. I addresses for access to the Internet and our hospital's mainframe, I need to keep track of which IP address is being used by which ABOUT THE AUTHOR computer. Bob Steckbeck has been a Registered Nurse since 1974, with 20 years experi­ ence in Coronary Care and a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. He An IP address is used by the began working with computers about 12 years ago on a hobby basis, but moved five years ago to the position of Coordinator of Cardiology system similar to the way a house's Information Services at the Penn State Cardiovascular Center of the Milton street address is used by the Postal S. Hershey Medical Center. He is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Service to locate a building. So, it's Science, and has set up dBase applications for several volunteer organiza­ tion~ . Bob is married with four children, three sons (21, 17, andl4) and one important that I not assign any daughter (10). E-Mail: BSTECKBEOCATHLAB.CARDlO.HMC.PSU.EDU

16 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 This makes it possible for us to Records Organ iGe FieLds Go To Exit schedule appointments with each DRTE CODE DESCRIPT other without playing "phone tag." 1244 INVENTORY: OX: SHERTH 6FR SUPER RRROWFLEX ~~ 581228 PROCEDURE: LHC/C INE/ CORONRRY RRTERIOGRRPHY 1218/17/ 97 581412 Since several of us also use a 100 or 1213/17/ 97 581288 ~~88~B8~~; In~G~R~~~oe2Ecg~~~R~Ys~~G68~~ft~RY RNGIO 1218/17/97 58141t PROCEDURE: IMRGE/ INJ-VENT,RTRIRL RNGIO 200LX to keep our appointments, 1218 / 17/97 58141219 PROCEDURE: INJECT LT VENT / RTRIRL RNGIOGRRM 1218/17/ 97 HYPR CONTRRST: 145 ML HYPRQUE -76 we are in the process of purchasing 1218 / 17/97 6812112166 ITEt1: CCL S eo 0 SUPPLI ES 1218 / 17/ 97 6812112152 ITEM: HYPRQUE 76 2121121CC the necessary software to link our 1218/17/ 97 1244 INVENTORY: OX: SHERTH 6FR SUPER RRROWFLEX 1218/17/97 771211217121 PROCEDURE: INS/RPL PRC PLS GEN 2 CHRMBER palmtops with OnTime via our 1218 / 17/ 97 7712112188 PROCEDURE: INSERT/REPLRCE/REPOSITION ELECTRODE 1218/17/ 97 HYPR CONTRRST: a ML HYPRQUE -76 1218/17/97 ITEM: EP S eo 0 SUPPLIES desktop computers. This will allow 1218/ 17/ 97 ~~l~b~ ITEM: PRCEMRKER SPECIRL 1218/17/ 97 286 INVENTORY: EP: SHERTH 1121FR PEEL-RWRY/PRCERS us to download the Appointment 1218/17/97 581228 PROCEDURE: COMB RT eo RETROGRRDE LT HERRT Book on our palmtops into our 1!J;I!I!e=II_OIE,all"'!'IIIm.;--II~-II_1 I individual calendars in OnTime. We have serial cables attached to Screen 1: The palmtop's cursor is sitting on record 239,950 of a dBase IV table which our desktop computers, in addition contains 242,324 records, as noted in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. to HP's Connectivity Pack soft­ ware, to perform routine backups of the data on our palmtops. Incidentally, I strongly advise Connection InforMation for STRESS2 anyone to frequently back up their Connection TiMe: Network Rddress: ~6~~~~EI2I~I2I~~~~CE~~5~~~~~~§ palmtop. The first time I used my ReQuests: 49,296 I Statu's: NorMaL Ki Lob~tes Read: 17,5121121 SeMaphores: a PC Card modem I drained my bat­ Ki Lob~tes Wr i tten: 52 LogicaL Record Locks a teries, including the backup bat­ tery, to the point that I lost EVERY­ THING. Fortunately I had just done a full backup two days earli­ er, so was able to restore my sys­ tem with minimal loss. However, it was a real lesson in the importance of doing regular backups. Screen 2: The author's palmtop is controlling his Netware file server while running pcANYWHERE. In-flight typing Over the years I've seen several my office and connect to my net­ The actual work (such as re­ articles extolling the virtues of the work. (pcANYWHERE is a DOS indexing a database) is carried out palmtop as a word processor, as application that lets you remotely on my desktop computer rather well as discussing the difficulties of access and control your office com­ than the palmtop, since the using the tiny keyboard. puter from anywhere in the world.) pcANYWHERE software is allow­ However, in spite of its small This allowed me to correct several ing me to use the palmtop's key­ size, I've typed a four-page docu­ problems while I was on vacation board to control the desktop com­ ment on an airplane while return­ in Ocean City, Maryland, as well as puter. I'm also able to run several ing from a business trip to perform routine "check ins" with Novell Netware utilities, such as Minnesota to observe several hos­ my network. pcANYWHERE uses RCONSOLE (see Screen 2.), which pitals. I needed to submit to our about 670KB of disk space. ' allows me to control my 64Mb, department head a summary of our I store pcANYWHERE on the 3.5Gb Compaq file server, and findings, and the palmtop was C: drive, leaving the slot available PCONSOLE, which allows me to with me on the plane. So, I lowered for the Megahertz modem (which I control the networked printers. my tray, took out my palmtop, and use interchangeably in my Toshiba began typing with my index fin­ notebook computer). With this con­ Keeping up with network-based gers. About 45 minutes later my figuration, I'm able to remotely on-line scheduling report was complete, and needed access our dBase IV database appli­ only to be downloaded to my desk­ All administrative personnel in our cations. This has allowed me not top unit and imported into department use OnTime schedul­ only to open databases as large as Microsoft Word. With about five ing software stored on our Local 225,000 records and re-index them, minutes of formatting I was able to Area Network, so that our business but also navigate the menu-driven print the report and submit it to my calendars are available to our dBASE program we use to run the boss within an hour of returning to department heads and colleagues. Cardiovascular Center (Screen 1). work.

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 17 HOW TO USE: Network Administrator profile regular printed Bible, but moving to any chapter and verse is a snap. I can even search for specific words or phrases, although a long list of matches can take a bit longer than one would want, since the program is running on an 80186 processor. I ~ Turning off the sounds that indicate an error is a good idea, using the palmtop's system setup. This helps avoid having any embarrassing computer· sounds occurring during the service. Our pastor is very enthusiastic about using his desktop computer Screen 3. The author uses QuickVerse to access the King James version of the Bible. with various Bible software pack­ Transferring data between downloaded QuickVerse Version ages, so he has no problem with Windows 95 and the palmtop 2.13 from Parsons Technology onto my using my palmtop in church. it. (See Screen 3.) The program, Being familiar with Quick­ I attached my palmtop to my with only the King James Version, Verse allows me to use it with a Toshiba laptop computer via the the Bible Index and the files I've minimum of manipulation, so my serial port and ran the Connectivity found needed to run it, takes about hand movements with the palmtop Pack software to download several 3Mb of disk space and runs quite are about the same as if I were Mb of data to the Palmtop. well. using my printed Bible. However, my Toshiba's operating I'm even able to place "book­ system is Windows '95, and even marks" in various verses, allowing Collecting family history data though I was running the software me to quickly hotkey from one on the palmtop from the MS-DOS As the historian for our family I've book to another. On a desktop used Brother's Keeper . for sever­ prompt via the Program Manager, computer, bookmarks are placed in al years to maintain our family his­ during file transfer Windows QuickVerse using the [Shift] key tory records. Although I'm current­ brought up its screen saver. and the regular number keys locat­ ly using the Windows version on Although I didn't initially real­ ed above the top row of letter keys my Toshiba notebook, I've recently ize it, several key files on the palm­ (not the separate numeric keys). downloaded several of the pro­ top were garbled, including one of Since the palmtop doesn't have the directory names. So, the pro­ gram files from my older D?S these keys and the numeric keypad Version 5.2 and all of the data fIles gram I was loading initially would­ doesn't work with QuickVerse, I to my palmtop (see Screen 4.). n't run. I re-transferred all of the discovered that bookmarks may be Although I have only a small files after rebooting in DOS-only placed using the [Shift] key in as~o­ portion of the program on the mode. Following that problem I've ciation with those characters whIch palmtop, I have everything I need found it best to restart Windows are normally represented on a to add new people to my files and '95 in MS-DOS mode when trans­ "regular" computer with the shift­ modify their listings, including the ferring files to the palmtop, rather ed value of the number keys. note files. Now, when I'm paging than just "shelling out" to DOS For example, the shifted value through church baptismal and from the Program Manager. of the [2] key on a desktop unit is death records in the local County the "@" character. To place a book­ Historical Society's library, if I find Tagging favorite mark on the palmtop I use the any listing for a "Steckbeck" I can Bible passages [Shift] key with the "@" key, which check my records to see if they're is the Appointment Manager's hot Earlier I mentioned that my already in our files. Being able to key. For those who might plan on Palmtop is useful to me in church. run this program on my palmtop using Quick Verse on your palm­ This may sound extreme, but I has been a tremendous boon to my tops, you need to remember the often refer to it when my wife and I research. And being able to down­ shifted values of the number keys attend Sunday school to check my load the data files back to my desk­ on a regular keyboard for placing personal calendar against. plan~ed top unit allows me to keep our per­ bookmarks. class activities, as well as fmd BIble manent records up to date. passages stored on my 4Mb I've begun using only my MagicRAM Flash Card. palmtop in church rather than my Palmtop and personal life Since obtaining the card, I've regular King James Bible. The printing is a bit smaller than my The built-in applications of the

18 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 various projects with which I'm NaMe MichaeL Steckbeck u1 SeH: M Bo~n in involved. Bapt i2ed in Died NoveMbe~. 1787 in I also keep World Wide Web Bu~ied in SaLeM Luthe~an Chu~ch. Lebanon. Penna. Othe~ in addresses of special interest in MICHREL1.TXT Occupation: TaiLo~ Ref NoteTaker, along with software registration information and the Ma~·~au,.~) Mo~aue~ in u2 phone numbers of technical sup­ port for many different vendors. I've heard it said that "the best computer you have is the one you use the most." That would have to be my HP 200LX. My palmtop has been one of the best additions to my business, as well as my person­ Screen 4: Brother's Keeper on the palmtop, showing the author's genealogical records. allife, in the last several years.

palmtop are, of course, regularly SHAREWARE/FREEWARE Pricing and used to keep track of appoint­ mentioned in this article ments, reminders and names, Contact Information phone numbers and e-mail Brothers Keeper . 5.2 for products mentioned addresses on a daily basis. DOS-based genealogical program that works on the palmtop. in this article The NoteTaker is an excellent Shareware: John Steed, 6907 Childsdale place to store notes to myself con­ Ave., Rockford, MI 49341 USA; E·mail: RipOff Holster #3000, $14.95 cerning installation instructions for [email protected] IntelliLink #2517A, $94.95 various pieces of software used The program will be on The 1998 HP EduCALC, 29753 Cabot Rd., Laguna throughout our department and Palmtop Paper's CD In/oBase, as well as Niguel, CA 92677 USA track items and dates needed in on our Website: www:thaddeus.com Megahertz X-Jack Modem The 14.4 X-Jack modem is no longer avail­ able. Thaddeus Computing is selling non-X­ The MagicRAM Flash Storage Solution Jack 14.4 Megahertz modems. See page 25 for details. tI 100% Plug & Play QuickVerse 2.0 tI Low cost, high capacity storage Parsons Tech, 1 Parsons Dr., P.O . Box tI No batteries required 100, Hiawatha, IA 52233 USA tI Super low power usage for longer palmtop battery life pcANYWHERE V 4.5 tI High performance solid state technology Symantec Corp., 175 W. Broadway, tI Fully compatible with HP Palmtops, digital cameras, Windows CE Eugene, OR 97401 USA; 800-441-7234 or Handheld PC's and other PCMCIA based computers 541-334-6054, Web: www.symatec.com tI Withstands 1000G of shock E-mail: [email protected] tI 4MB to 64MB uncompressed tI Lifetime warranty dBASE IV Version 1.5 Borland Inter., 1800 Green Hills Rd., P.O. Box 660001, Scotts Valley, CA 95067 4MB Turbo Flash Card $99.00 USA; 408-438-5300 8MB Turbo Flash Card $ 139.00 12MB Turbo Flash Card $ 179.00 Novell Netware Version 3.12 16MB Turbo Flash Card $229.00 20MB Turbo Flash Card $279.00 Novell, Inc., 122 E. 1700 South Provo, UT 40MB Turbo Flash Card $449.00 84606 USA; 800-453-1267 64MB Turbo Flash Card $649.00 ONTIME Version 1.54 Also Available: CompactFlas h™, Linear Flas h, Flash Miniature Card, SRAM, PC Card ReaderlWriter, PC Card Hard Dri ve, FaxfModem and Ethernet PC Card. Campbell Services, Inc., 21700 North­ western Highway, 10th floor, Southfield, MI 48075 USA; 248-559-5955; IJ5~ 2:.~ye!1,; ,a~ A~'~~~P: :.?,; ~~:42 _ Web: www.ontime.com Tel: 213-413-9999 Fax: 213-413-0828 ~ .. e-mail: info@magicram,com • Internet: http://www.magicram.com-ti ~G Ie p.,..-""

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 19 W TO USE YOUR PALMTOP

Making The Transition To The New HP 300/320LX Palmtop PC

Transferring data from his HP lOOLX to a newly purchased HP 320LX Palmtop PC wasn't effortless for this new Windows CE user, but what he learned can help others out.

By James A. Robertson

s soon as I saw the description solved various problems I encoun­ to have them. As soon as I had the A of Hewlett-Packard's new tered. My solutions may not be the names, I went shopping. Three out Windows CE palmtops, I knew I best, but they worked for me. I will of four local stores did not have would have one. After using my not repeat the 300/320LX hard­ any in stock, but I finally struck 2Mb 100LX for the last four years I ware and software specifications gold at a nearby discount office have corne to rely on it for most of that you can read in the articles supply store. the tasks I used to carry one of that have appeared in The HP I spotted the 320LX immedi­ those ubiquitous planner note­ Palmtop Paper, (see pages 16-21 of ately among the several Handheld books for. the March/ April 1997 issue). PCs at the store. HP's CE screen is So when I read after COMDEX noticeably larger, compared to the 96 that HP would soon introduce a How I Acquired my Unit other units that will be displayed Windows CE palmtop, I hoped - alongside the HP in many stores. Initial shipments of the 300LX and maybe expected would be more After playing with the demo 320LX (along with accessories and like it - that it would do the kinds machine for a few minutes, I asked card memory) were hard to find as of things for handhelds that for one in the box but was told the of the first week in June. Early Windows 95 did to improve DOS one on display was the only one in units are likely to be snapped up and Windows 3.l. stock. The sticker price of $699 was quickly, so if a similar situation Now that I've been through the best I could do. I could have arises in the future, I suggest to the transition process, I have to saved $46 by waiting for the mail keep in daily contact with one or confess to being mildly disappoint­ order dealer to receive a supply, more dealers until they can sell you ed by the amount of effort it has but after six months of buildup of a unit. taken, and by the missing features anticipation I couldn't wait any I called HP's pre-sales number in the Windows CE software that I longer. The clerk told me that the (800-443-1254) to obtain the names enjoyed in the 100LX. The jury is store had received two 320LX of local dealers that were supposed still out on whether the 300/320LX platform will be as good as the 100/200LX has been. This article will describe the ABOUT THE AUTHOR process I went through to set up my new 320LX and to import files James A. Robertson is president and owner of Interisk Limited, an from my 100LX. I'll mention the insurance consulting and litigation support firm located in New­ strengths and weaknesses I have port Beach, CA. He frequently testifies as an expert witness in been able to observe in the new insurance litigation cases. He can be reached bye-mail at platform during my first week of [email protected] use. I will also describe how I

20 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 machines that morning. One sold It's not necessary to remove the batter­ and CompactFlash cards that are when the store opened; I bought ies and reset. EDITOR]. Everything listed in the README file on HP's mine at noon. worked as it should after my sec­ CD-ROM which comes with the Back at my office, the first task ond attempt. unit. Other AT A flash cards using was to check the package contents. I unpacked the docking station 3.3v should work, but cards requir­ When you open the box there are and plugged in the 320LX. The ing 5v are not recommended by two manuals, a large setup instruc­ palmtop's plug on the AC adapter HP. tion sheet (useful for explaining the is noticeably smaller than the Another revelation came out of battery insertion order and reset lOO/200LX's, and the serial connec­ this experiment: All file transla­ procedure), an add-on product cat­ tor has a flat, rectangular shape tion/ conversion of lOO/200LX files alog, warranty, licenses for H/PC with an arrow on top for proper must be performed on your desk­ Explorer and the other software, orientation. The serial connector top machine (not in the palmtop), and two CD-ROMs containing the may be removed from the docking using HP's PIM conversion soft­ software for the desktop (or laptop) station by turning the unit over ware and the H/PC Explorer syn­ partner machine you must have to and pinching the plastic clip that chronization option that must be connect with the 320LX. Inside the holds the cable in the docking sta­ installed on the desktop PC from inner box the 320LX was enclosed tion. The cable rests under the clip the CD-ROM. If you've been using in cardboard on one side. The other and removes easily. It's unfortu­ HP's Connectivity Pack to back up side of the box held the docking nate that HP changed the design of your palmtop on your desktop PC, cradle, with serial connection cable the power and serial connectors; it you already have the files, but it's attached, HP's neat folding-prong means that none of the accessories unfortunate that you can't simply AC adapter, two AA alkaline bat­ for the lOO/200LX which use these interchange files by moving a teries and the backup battery. connections will work with the PCMCIA card from a lOO/200LX to 300/320LX. the 300/320LX. Use care during setup The first accessories I obtain will be an extra AC adapter and I followed the instruction sheet to Phone to Contact conversion serial connection cable for my trav­ insert the ba tteries and reset the Converting my phone/contact list el kit. Nearly as important will be a new palmtop [Actually, resetting is was the most important task to me; CompactFlash card, which will unnecessary; the palmtop powers on I have almost a thousand names allow me to leave the PCMCIA slot automatically. EDITOR]. I turned it and phone numbers of clients, free for a modem. (The HP 320LX on by pressing the [spacebar] and friends and professional associates. unit has two card slots: a PCMCIA hurriedly began following the The first step in this process is slot, as well as a Com pactFlash setup and personalization instruc­ installing the special H/PC soft­ card slot.) tions, using the stylus. The result of ware on the CD-ROMs that accom­ this process demonstrated the Importing usable pany the 300/320LX. When the importance of following the on­ Microsoft CD setup program starts, screen setup instructions precisely. lOO/200LX files it shows three software installation Pay special attention to stylus One of the first things I wanted to options (which must be installed in calibration. If you do not calibrate know was whether the Windows the stylus accurately (as I unknow­ CE machine would read files ingly did the first time through), directly from the Sundisk 5Mb Two-Way the commands and menus will not PCMCIA card on which I have Conversational Translator­ work correctly when you use the stored programs and all reference For 14 Lllngullges! stylus. For example, pressing on files I have maintained on my You can't translate a foreign document with Entente, but one menu item may execute the lOOLX for the last four years. (The you can do everytbillg else: talk to foreigners and under· stand their replies, discuss even complex issues, print infor· adjoining menu choice. I could see predecessors of Sandisk cards were mal translations or send them as e·maiL Entente uses no the problem immediately when I Sundisk cards). I turned the 320LX plurals nor conjugated verbs, so translations often sound funny, but the system is easy, understandable, and accurate. attempted to cruise around the off with the [fn] + [spacebar] keys, Ask WHERE IS ... , and get the translated reply THE SHOP OF menu bars in the built-in programs. inserted the card and turned the COMPUTER BE NEAR OF THE BIG CHURCH. Get informa· Because of the difficulty this mis­ CE machine back on. I searched tion you !KlO!. Talk to the whole world! 1. Entente· English to & from any language below: $79.95 calibration caused in restarting the everywhere on the Windows desk­ (ali prices postpaid.) calibration program in the Control top and My Handheld PC menus, 2. Entente II· Any language to & from any other, e.g. . Russian to French, wi 2 languages: $99.95 Panel, I finally had to remove the but the palmtop gave no sign of 3. Additional languages @$39.95: Arabic, Chinese, batteries (including the backup bat­ recognition of the card. English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian,Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish. tery), reset the machine and go I called HP's Technical For HP IOO/200LX or VGA computers. through setup and calibration from Support folks. It seems that the the beginning. [Pressing (CTRL)+ 300/320LX is known to recognize Entente (ALT)+(=) allows you to recalibrate. 1441 Mariposa Avenue, Boulder CO 80302 only the Sandisk PCMCIA cards 800-409-1701

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 21 HOW TO USE: Transition to the HP 3001320LX the order displayed): (1) install rect Contacts database fields. This the sycnchronization error was to Microsoft exchange updates (not problem resulted from my attempt disconnect the two machines, reset required if you already have to rename the fields being mapped. (reboot) the palmtop, reboot the installed this update from Everything converted recognizably desktop and reconnect the Microsoft's Internet download site, after a second conversion of my machines. A few more contacts can or if you have Microsoft Outlook, Phone Book. However, synchro­ then be synchronized until it times released with Office 97); (2) install nization with the palmtop was out again and the rebooting Microsoft Schedule+ 7.0a (not another matter. process must be repeated. required if you have Microsoft When you have connected the After over a dozen attempts Outlook); and (3) install H/PC desktop PC to your palmtop with and reboots, including a 3-1/2 Explorer, which is the heart of the the serial cable, turn on the hour phone call to HP Tech desktop interface with your new 300/320LX and start H/PC Support, I finally achieved a "syn­ HP palmtop. Next, load the HP Explorer on the Pc. The program chronized state" between the desk­ CD. Although there are many free immediately begins establishing a top and palmtop files. However, trial software offers on the CD, the connection between the PC and the palmtop file is not alphabetized only one you need immediately is palmtop. H/PC Explorer shows its andI I have not yet been able to the translation program in the progress establishing a connection clean it up so that it is entirely use­ directory named \HP\PIM. Setup on its status bar. The palmtop able. Frankly, conversion of this file for these programs is easy if you screen displays a corresponding has been a nightmare and has follow the menus. message. If you have an open, cor­ wasted at least two full days of my When you start the HP PIM rectly configured serial port, con­ time. I hope none of you experi­ translation program, it asks you to necting the two machines will be ence it, but if you do, follow the locate your 100/200LX Phonebook easy. Troubleshooting instructions pre­ (.PDB) or Appointment book cisely before you bother calling HP. (.ADB) files. After loading the My suggestion: turn off They don't have a solution for the Phonebook file, you will be shown automatic synchronization problem (as of early June). a fieldname conversion table. You have the opportunity to remap the You have the choice when you con­ new field names at this time, but figure H/PC Explorer to perform you can't add fields, rename fields automatic synchronization or modify the database structure between files on the PC and the HP like you could in Phonebook. Note palmtop. I recommend turning off that the only PIM conversions are automatic synchronization in the Phonebook and Appointment H/PC Explorer's Tools menu. Book files. There is no conversion Automatic synchronization is safer, utility for database files. but it takes time and may inconve­ nience you while you wait for it to finish. Just remember to synchro­ Synchronizing PC nize before you disconnect the and palmtop files palmtop or before you close H/PC Explorer on the desktop. PC Card with Parallel Port and Instant File Transfer I discovered another problem after When I finally attempted to conversion: H/PC picks Outlook as Trans PC Card adds the Parallet Port making your Patmtop synchronize the files, the process 100% real PC, so now you can connect parallel devices like the PC's interface with the palmtop 100 MB Zip, etc. and fast print to standard parallel printers. appeared to be working smoothly if you have Outlook on your Pc. Programs for Instant (no installation or setup) transfer - for awhile. Eventually, however, I However, the HP PIM conversion synchronization and management of files between PCs are on received an error message that the the Card flash to save system memory_The Card (Type I, with program only converts Phonebook very low power draw) upon insertion becomes drive A:. desktop was not receiving a reply files into Schedule+ contact files. Programs on Card run under DOS 5.0 and Windows using from the palmtop. Both machines You may then need to import your familiar XCOPY syntax or pOint and shoot Interlace_Included indicated that they were success­ cable (used also for connection to peripherals) allows for contact list into Outlook from transfer between the Card in Palmtop and PC standard fully connected, so I had no other parallel port at 30 KB/sec - 60X faster than Puma's IntelliSync. Exchange/ Schedule+ before you tools with which to test the direct can synchronize the PC and palm­ Trans PC Card with Trans Flex Cable, Manual, serial connection. Unfortunately, if Quick Reference and backup disk is $149.00 top files. The first conversion/ syn­ the number of synchronized con­ chronization I performed joined the For more information and dealer nearest you please call: tacts does not increase after this name and business phone fields Trans Digital Corporation message, I found (using the into the Contacts name field, 3517 Marconi Ave, Suite 203 Troubleshooting guide in the Help Sacramento, CA 95821 instead of placing them in the cor- Tel: (916) 482-5599 ' Fax: (916) 482-5598 files) that the only way to eliminate Email: [email protected]

22 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 Difficulty recognizing months. MEMO and Lotus files Note that conversion to or Moving 1 00/200LX from Pocket Word and Pocket NoteTaker and Before experimenting with other Excel format occur automatically as file conversions, I made a copy of you move or copy files from the Database files To all my 100/200LX files in a new desktop to the palmtop and back. Pocket Word and directory for 320LX files on my Pc. This file conversion process is sepa­ I did not want to risk losing the ra te from the sychroniza tion Pocket Excel desktop backup copy of my process used to compare desktop on the HP 320LX 100/200LX files. Then I tried to and palmtop copies of your move groups of the copied appointments, contact and task ("to 100/200LX application files to do") databases. By Hal Goldstein H/pe Explorer and synchronize them, to see what file types the HP technical support 1OOLX and 200LX NoteTaker 300/320LX software would recog­ HP and Database files can be nize without further effort. Several setup and configuration accessed on the HP 320LX in either This was another disappoint­ problems caused me to call HP Pocket Word and Pocket Excel. In fact, ment. Neither Pocket Word nor Technical Support during the first like Lotus 1-2-3, Pocket Excel can be Pocket Excel recognize the days after I bought my 320LX. My used as a tabular database. 100/200LX Lotus 1-2-3 files with longest wait was about 30 minutes, The trick in either case is to make the .WKI extension. H/pe when I started out as caller 15 in use of F5 (Smart Clip) in NoteTaker Explorer thinks .WKI is a Pocket the queue. They are trying to be as and DataBase. Smart Clip is a power­ Word file type. helpful as possible, but the 300 ful, easy-to-use formatter that lets you However, Pocket Word recog­ series units are so new that they output data in any format you want. If nizes .TXT files without difficulty, don't have solutions for every you decide to export to Excel, then you and in order to get the program to problem. The technical support need to create a Smart Clip that pro­ recognize 100/200LX MEMO files representatives I spoke to had only duces a Comma Delimited or Tabular recently received their own 300 file which Excel (on a Windows 95 with the .DOe extension, just series units, so they couldn't possi­ machine) can read. change the display of files from bly have had too much experience So for example, in NoteTaker you "Pocket Word Documents" to "All might create a smart clip that reads: Documents." with potential problems. I plan to "Category", "Title" ,"Note" using the F2 To solve these conversion report the resolution of all prob­ (Field) key within Smart Clip. (You may, problems I opened my Office 97 lems to HP so they can add to their however, have difficulty importing into desktop copies of Word and Excel know ledge base for 300-series Excel long comments in the Notes field and imported each 100/200LX file problem-solving. the way you want them.) Once you with a DOe or .TXT extension into have defined the Smart Clip, from the Word, then used the menu com­ main Notetaker or Database menu use mand "Save As ... " to save the files the (Menu) File frint command to cre­ in standard Word format. Then I ate the file to be imported into Excel. imported the 100/ 200LX Lotus 1-2- Project: Vision Similarily, Pocket Word will read 3 files with .WKI extensions into the output from any Database or Excel and saved them as Excel files. NoteTaker file (using Smart Clip and , I then deleted the old 100/200LX Gives You (Menu) File frint). If you wish to create versions of the files from my 320LX Planning In Your Palm For $99 a 320LX Pocket Word document from file directories. For HP 100/200 and DOS based PC's your 100/200LX NoteTaker or Database When I moved the newly Features Include: Free Demo Pc Di file, you will have to decide how you saved files onto the H/pe Explorer • One Hour Learning Curve sk want your data displayed, and in what desktop (using the copy and paste • Uses 300K with Max file size from 80K to lMEG. order. The end result will be a long • Logic Networks, Timelines, Resource Histograms commands), each file automatically Pocket Word file with one Databasel • Critical Path, Milestones, Variable Zoom converted effortlessly into Pocket NoteTaker record following another. • Mouse and keyboard for pon:abiliity The good news about the Pocket Word or Pocket Excel format. After 'NEW! toMS Excel and Pocket Word solutions is that conversion, I was able to open and both allow access of HP 100/200LX review my files on the 320LX, data. The bad news is that the access using Pocket Word and Pocket is clumsy, and creating new data for the Excel. Many of the text files will databases is even clumsier. require reformatting, but I will do this as I use them over the coming

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 23 HOW TO USE: Transition to the HP 3001320LX The missing database engine Access on the 300/320LX. Initial impressions I have investigated third-party I have a sizable number of solutions for the database problem, As I use the 320LX I am impressed 100/200LX database, notepad and but the program described as most by many of its features. I used HP Calc equation files (.GDB, closely matching my needs has Pocket Word to prepare the draft of .NDB and .EQN) that cannot be been withdrawn for reworking. this article. Although I could not converted into usable format for The others do not appear to meet touch-type at 80 wpm (like I can on the 300/320LX. (However, see side­ my needs. my PC), I made steady, acceptable bar for conversion of Database The .EQN files are used in progress with a "modified hover" files.) The new machine has data­ many HP Calc applications for the typing technique in which I basi­ base files for appointments, tasks older palmtops, but these applica­ cally use three fingers of each and contacts, but these functions tions are missing on the new hand. The keyboard is still small, are entirely different from the model. For example, I'm a pilot, so but it's a great improvement over 100/200LX databases. I made I have an E6B flight calculator pro­ the 100 /200LX. extensive use of the database func­ gram for HP Calc in the 100/200LX I'm wildly excited to finally tions on the 100/200LX. They are that makes extensive use of .EQN Ihave a useful handheld computer great for a wide variety of uses. files. I have not seen comparable with a backlit screen. It works! At this point in my discovery functionality in the 300/ 320LX cal­ Everything on screen is visible in of the 320LX's capabilities, I feel culator. Its menus do not include the dark, but you may need to go that HP or Microsoft made a grave the ability to store or call up saved slow until you learn where the error in omitting the database from functions or equations. curser and alternative function the 300/320LX. I know other Don't look for a DOS prompt keys are located. I wish HP had 100/200LX users who will not on the 300/320LX desktop. included backlighting on the switch to the Windows CE plat­ Windows CE does not have the 100/200LX! External screen lights form because of this omission. ability to open a DOS window or have been the only solution until Third-party developers are going run DOS programs. This is one of now. Warning: extensive use of to have a field day with this, but the Windows 95 functions missing backlighting will quickly drain a how much of the precious 2 or 4Mb from Windows CEo If you made new set of AA batteries. Keep a of RAM will be sacrificed? Perhaps extensive use of DOS programs on spare set on hand at all times! HP and other Windows CE your 100/200LX, you will have to machine OEMs will put pressure wait until third-party developers Hasn't abandoned on Microsoft to add a "Pocket introduce Windows CE versions of lOOLX's database Access" program for future ROM their DOS program to perform the At this point I have not abandoned updates. HP then could include same work on a 300/320LX. database converters for the desktop my 100LX, and I don't think I will version of Microsoft Access that until HP and Microsoft solve the will make the files usable in Pocket missing database problem in

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24 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 Windows CE on the 300/320LX. I adapter! I went through a new set read all The HP Palmtop Paper pre­ of batteries in an evening by ignor­ release articles and comparisons on ing this advice. the 300/320LX's built-in software, I have ordered a 15Mb com­ so I was aware of the missing data­ pact flash card for file storage. So ~~\fI'14.4M"".' base engine. But until I was far I have transferred less than 1Mb reviewing my files during the of usable files from the 100LX, but I transfer process, I did not realized expect the 320LX's 4Mb to need MODEMS that I made more frequent use of cleaning soon because of my past the database applications than any palmtop work and filing habits. In Available While other program in the 100LX PIM the past I have always tried to keep suite. My largest files were the all working copies of files on the They Last! Phonebook and a Lotus 1-2-3 file card rather than clutter up precious Thaddeus Computing INC has recently on which I keep my pilot's logbook RAM. purchased 200 Megahertz unalog/ cellu­ entries. If I had given it more lar 14.4 fax/modem cards for resale to its thought, I probably would have What I recommend customers. Most of the faster fax/modem cards on the market today put the logbook in a database, but Overall, I expect my palmtop it's a little late to start over now. draw too much energy for use in the usage to increase on the 320LX, but palmtop. This 130MA runs fine on the You may have noticed that I I still need the 100LX for work HPlOOLX and HP200LX. A disk contain­ have said little about the 100LX involving the database programs. ing HP Palmtop fax, communications Appointment Book database func­ My recommendation? If you want and internet shareware is included. tion. The reason is that I have used what the 300/320LX has, go for it a desktop PC scheduling program - you'll love it! But if you have Price: $69.95 while the supply lasts. for several years and I refused to been using a lot of DOS software Use Order Card (this issue) or contact: enter the data twice (on the PC and on your 100/200LX, or if you make again on the 100LX). The synchro­ extensive use of HP Calc and/or Thaddeus Computing INC. nization of Microsoft Outlook and database functions, stick with what 110 N Court St. the 320LX is, for me, one of its you have. Each machine has special Fairfield, IA 52556 USA strongest selling points (if only it strengths that are not duplicated by PHONE: 515-472-6330 would work with less effort!). In the other. And each machine is FALX: 515-472-1879 addition, I can now exchange files extremely useful, in spite of its E-MAIL: [email protected] easily between Word and Excel on weaknesses. HP probably loves my WEBSITE: www.thaddeus.com my PC and Pocket Word and current dilemma best: I've decided Pocket Excel on the 320LX - by to keep both machines. inserting a serial plug, starting H/PC Explorer and simply copy­ ing or moving files back and forth. It can't get much simpler. New! Link-A-Printer II Interchange between my PC and the 100LX was certainly possible, Smaller size & Attached cable but hardly as easy and convenient Link-A-Printer II is a serial to parallel converter as it is with the 320LX. that allows direct printing from your OmniGo I have purchased a 33.6 PCM-' 100 to any parallel printer. It also works with CIA card fax/modem (one of the the HP 100/200LX $79 ones that's on HP's list of tested devices). Although HP advised me that this model was withdrawn Link-A-Printer " has a built-in connectivity cable that plugs in to your OmniGo from the list the last week in May, 100. Since it does not require batteries or extra cable Link-A-Printer " is simple my initial test of its operation was and easy to use. successful. I was able to dial into a remote site and establish a working Also Available Link-A-Printer I connection. I'm looking forward to Requires connectivity cable and optional battery Features auto $59 trying out the 320LX's communica­ on/off fixed 9600 baud tions, Internet and e-mail capabili­ Greenwich Instruments LTD ties. Warning: Don't leave a Tel: 704-875-8490 European Distributor modem card in the 300 series slot GRIINWa Fax: 704-875-2801 Tel: 011-44-181-302-4931 unless you are using the AC ISlllllllllIIA Toll Free: 800-476-4070 Fax: 011-44-181-302-4933

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 25 W TO USE YOUR PALMTOP

Web-enable Your 1-2·3 Data

Use Lotus 1-2-3's ability to print to a file to create dynamic World Wide Web page templates

By Carl Merkle

he growth of intranets and on corporate data many of the What distinguishes HTML from T their powerful potential to paper reports currently used in any other plain-text file is the pres­ enhance the way people work and business today can be replaced ence of markup codes called tags. communicate adds a whole new with an electronic version in its These tags tell the Web browser dimension of value to the version place. The electronic report can be that you are using how to display of Lotus 1-2-3 on the palmtop that viewed by any authorized person the formatting and layout of the didn't exist before the populariza­ from anywhere in the world. The document on your computer, spec­ tion of the Internet/intranets. high costs of distributing and stor­ ify hyperlinks to areas in the docu­ This article explains why, and ing paper-based information can ment or to other documents on gives you some ideas how you can then be eliminated. your intranet, and how to do many use the ultra-portable, low-cost PC On the palmtop, a freeware other things. Of course, different that is with you or your employees graphical Web page browser Web browsers render the same anytime, anywhere to create and known as HV • is available which document in different ways - update useful Web pages to facili­ was created by author Dr. Andreas color, font types, font size, and so tate communication, to deploy cor­ Garzotto. HV stands for the first on. porate knowledge and to efficiently characters of the words "HTML The really nice thing about execute methodologies on a private Viewer." If you don't have this Web pages is that any currently network. browser, I highly recommend it. popular or previously popular And of course the price is right - computer can see them. That Web Page Background it's free! makes a single Web page univer­ sally viewable by a widely distrib­ Web pages are documents on the uted group of people which can Internet and intranets (which are An introduction to HTML even be international in scope, each private networks based on Internet Web pages are called HTML files using different types of computers standards). Web pages are just sim­ or HTML documents. HTML and different browsers. ple plain-text files like the ASCII stands for HyperText Markup Also, large documents can files produced by MEMO or the Language. HTML files contain have links to other parts of the doc­ note sections of PHONE, DATA­ nothing but letters, numbers, punc­ ument or links to other documents BASE and NOTET AKER on the tuation marks and other plain on different computers within the palmtop. printable characters. intranet, making it fast and easy to When viewed with a Web browser, the most popular of which is Netscape Navigator, those plain text documents can appear to ABOUT THE AUTHOR be richly formatted - sometimes Carl Merkle is the Director of Corporate Projects for Shier taking on the fancy graphical Systems & Software, Inc. and is responsible for managing deliv­ ery of ultra-mobile computing and communications business appearance of a high gloss maga­ solutions to corporate accounts. A CPA by background, previ­ zine advertisement. ously he was a senior manager with Ernst & Young, LLP. Carl lives in Irvine, California witfi. his wife and three children, where Since browsers are fun and the use of handheld PCs is woven into the fabric of their daily easy to use, by putting a Web face activities. He can be reached bye-mail at: [email protected] or by voice-mail at 714-559-1142.

26 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 1997 view the linked sections with a information you see displayed as a information in formula driven tem­ Web browser. Web browsers take Web page is contained in the plates that would otherwise take a little or no training to use. Thus of the document. (In this long time to work through manual­ people who are new to computers circumstance the only information ly. They also manipulate string can instantly benefit from viewing that will be displayed by your Web (text) data very well with 1-2-3's documents with them. browser is "My First HTML string formulas, which can be a big Document.") time saving tool over MEMO. If you've been following along, Macros can also be used to speed Create a simple Web page use MEMO and just save the text the process of data entry, to save above, as plain ASCII text, to a file files with unique names, or even to HTML markup codes are sur­ called FIRST.HTM and then try to import information from other rounded by special markers to set view it with your favorite Web HTML documents. them off from the text displayed by browser like HV. Be sure to include Why take data from a spread­ the browser. These symbols are the the .htm extension, since this iden­ sheet and re-enter that data in a right and left angle brackets shown tifies it as HTML. word-processor, when you can do as follows: "<" and ">". it directly from 1-2-3? A spread­ HTML markup codes are usu­ HTML tags are important, sheet is useful for directly creating ally included in pairs, one to mark Web pages that benefit from the the start of a browser instruction, not spaces or carriage returns template paradigm. This includes and one to mark the end of a Web browsers running on different fairly repetitive activities such as browser instruction. The end of a computers pretty much decide for daily, weekly, monthly and quar­ browser instruction starts with the themselves how to wrap lines of terly reports used by all commer­ following two characters: ", 2. , 3. be ignored. This means you must recent Microsoft, Corel or Lotus basic and is simple enough for the In the November/December 1996 average person to learn the basics. issue I demonstrated how easy it is to copy-and-paste information Why use 1-2-3 to from a 1-2-3 spreadsheet into My First HTML Document. create Web pages? MEMO. Using that same tech­ nique, it would be easy to copy a After you've created a few HTML small amount of tabular data from documents, updating certain frag­ 1-2-3 to an HTML document in ments of them (especially the lists MEMO. Using the tag

, tab­ --end example ------and tables) can get pretty monoto­ ular data copied-and-pasted from a nous. Word processors are useful 1-2-3 worksheet is displayed in its The  tag defines this as an for text entry, but they tend to be original format on a Web browser. HTML document. The  more static with information that is Otherwise, extra spaces will be identifies this as the beginning of in them. ignored or otherwise displayed the document and includes docu­ Spreadsheets, by contrast, are improperly. ment information, such as the title more dynamic. Just think about The copy-and-paste technique of the document enclosed in the what a spreadsheet is useful for. It works fine if the amount of tabular 
 However, intra nets are a trend 9 still in the early stages, and most of 10 ABC Project the people who will use them in 11 Financial Statements the future still either don't know 12 Month Ended June 30,1996 about them, or don't know how 13 simple and useful it is for the aver­ 14 Cash $ 300,000 ~ge person to create their own Web 15 Work in Progress 5,000,000 pages for sharing and disseminat­ 16 Accounts Receivable 1,000,000 ing information to others. 17 Applications to solve business 18 Total Assets $ 6,300,000 issues are just beginning to surface, and success stories are just begin­ 19 ======20 
 ning to come to light. Expect many 21 more stories over the next year or two. It doesn't take much imagina­ tion to see that combining the Box 1: Creating an HTML file in Lotus 1-2-3. power of a low-cost, ultra-portable network-centric palmtop PC with which cannot handle large chunks a file, press (MENU) Print File. Set the broadcast and storage power of of data. So what do you do if you the file name as 96JUN.HTM, set an intranet opens the door to appli­ have a larger report? the range as cells A7 through H20. cations that could never have been Easy - you print the report to Set Options Margins None. Press dreamed possible before. a file. Printing to a file, instead of to Other Unformatted. Press Quit Go. The computing and template a printer, creates a plain-text docu­ This creates an HTML file power of 1-2-3 to create and update ment like those used by Web which can then be seen by HV, or Web pages enhances the number of browsers. Since you can print to a you can view it with MEMO or the things that can be done by the file, you might as well put all the FILER view option. average person with a little bit of HTML tags in the print range and Of course, you could get much spreadsheet and computer knowl­ create an HTML file. more complicated than this simple edge. example. The purpose is just to I'd like to know your views Steps to print to a file give you an idea of a few of the about combining intranets with possibilities. palmtops and 1-2-3. Send me an e­ Let's walk through a simple exam­ mail letting me know if you dis­ ple. The spreadsheet in Box 1 has This is where the growth is agree with me or if you also see the two ranges, an input range and value of this combination. output range. The input range Expect to see intranets continue to allows data to be entered in cells B3 grow at an exponential rate and E3, which in turn flow through between now and the year 2000. to the output range below. Cell A7 This powerful new medium has Shareware has the following formula: completely taken the software and Freeware +/1