Word Processing on the n810?

[heron61]

I'm very interested in getting an n810, but I've heard no discussion of word processing on the n810. I'm a professional writer and need to be able to write and edit text, and don't want to be limited to the extremely narrow screen the Palm emulator provides. If there any program for the n810 that allows reading, writing, and editing of .txt, .rtf, and .doc (Word) files. I don't need spreadsheets, databases, tables (although tables would be nice) or pictures, just basic word processing. Is this possible now or is it likely to be possible soon?

[Rocketman]

I recall seeing an entry (with screenshots) on the Planet Maemo RSS feed that Abiword was ported to the OS 2008 fairly easily. I would expect an official release soon.

[RedMist]

You can also use Google Docs if you are online. The word processor seems OK, but the spreadsheet doesnt work for me.

[heron61]

I recall seeing an entry (with screenshots) on the Planet Maemo RSS feed that Abiword was ported to the OS 2008 fairly easily. I would expect an official release soon.Thanks for the info. I've seen reviews and screenshots of abiword and it looks absolutely perfect for my needs. My only worry is that I've seen some discussion of abiword being unstable and otherwise problematic on the n800. Hopefully, it will work considerably better in OS 2008.

[dormant]

I use my n800 for note taking all the time. I use leafpad. At first it was annoying not to have lots of formatting options, but after a while it became a good thing.

I keep all my notes in txt files. That way, I can read them on the n800, linux, windows. Plus the files are as small as possible can be.

[gammer]

I use my n800 for note taking all the time. I use leafpad. At first it was annoying not to have lots of formatting options, but after a while it became a good thing.

I keep all my notes in txt files. That way, I can read them on the n800, linux, windows. Plus the files are as small as possible can be.

Notecase (via garage.maemo.org) also has all that advantages, plus it gives more and flexible structure to notes. You can also encrypt your texts easily. Very useful and stable.

[clach04]

Notecase (via garage.maemo.org) also has all that advantages, plus it gives more and flexible structure to notes. You can also encrypt your texts easily. Very useful and stable.

Notecase http://notecase.sourceforge.net/ doesn't appear to support text files, it looks like it shoves all notes into one big (binary) file which I think was what Dormant by txt files.

I too am a big plain text file user for the exact same reasons, they work everywhere :-) I've a Pocket PC and use Tombo http://tombo.sourceforge.jp/En/ (windows ONLY) which uses plain text files also supports encrypted notes. I ended up writing a (pure) Python library http://code.google.com/p/pytombo/ to read/write the encrypted notes so I can deal with them under Linux.

When I get a N810 I plan on writing an interface for it. Right now I have a web based "grep" tool written in Python that should in theory work with Pymaemo (if BaseHTTPServer is installed as this is not part of Pymaemo yet).

One tip for plain text users is to use some sort of wiki-like markup language. I'm a big fan of Markdown (which is what the maemo wiki uses) - this is handy for making "pretty" documents if you need to print something out.

Chris

[Karel Jansens]

Notecase http://notecase.sourceforge.net/ doesn't appear to support text files, it looks like it shoves all notes into one big (binary) file which I think was what Dormant by txt files.

Also, it appears I cannot enter any text into Notecase at all, which arguably defies its usefulness as an editor.

Seriously, I installed it from the Garage, it starts, shows a blinking cursor, but none of the N800's editing utensils (HWR, stylus-board, thumb-board) show up. All I can do is stare at a mostly empty screen.

Kinda stupid. Erase...

[heron61]

I use my n800 for note taking all the time. I use leafpad. At first it was annoying not to have lots of formatting options, but after a while it became a good thing.

I keep all my notes in txt files. That way, I can read them on the n800, linux, windows. Plus the files are as small as possible can be.Does this program work with RTF files? At bare minimum, what I need is a program where I can read, write and edit RTF files.

[Karel Jansens]

Also, it appears I cannot enter any text into Notecase at all, which arguably defies its usefulness as an editor.

Seriously, I installed it from the Garage, it starts, shows a blinking cursor, but none of the N800's editing utensils (HWR, stylus-board, thumb-board) show up. All I can do is stare at a mostly empty screen.

Kinda stupid. Erase...

Wait... I just read: this thing is read-only on the Internet Tablets. That's even dumber...

Mind you, to find that -- totally unimportant -- tidbit of information, you'd have to go to the "news" section of the author's homepage and scroll down the list until you find the N800 release note, which clearly says "read only". I cannot believe I did'nt see that at first glance. <insert_non-existent_sarcasm_smiley>

Let me guess, actually making and editing notes on the N800 is reserved for the commercial version...

[BruceL]

I use NoteCase all the time -- on the N800. It's the best note-keeping program I have found so far. it isn't "read only." It allows RTF. The N800 soft keyboards work normally.

I keep the list (tree) of items on so that I can quickly access my random notes. Accessing a note takes <0.1 sec. I use it for storing/encrypting passwords, storing random lists or bits of information and for accessing business card scans. It exports to txt or html.

[Karel Jansens]

I use NoteCase all the time -- on the N800. It's the best note-keeping program I have found so far. it isn't "read only." It allows RTF. The N800 soft keyboards work normally.

I keep the list (tree) of items on so that I can quickly access my random notes. Accessing a note takes <0.1 sec. I use it for storing/encrypting passwords, storing random lists or bits of information and for accessing business card scans. It exports to txt or html.

It didn't do anything at all on my N800, except sitting there and eating CPU cycles. No amount of tapping, thumbing or, indeed, cursing would bring up any text entry device. I threw the thing off -- it was either that or throw my tablet against the nearest wall -- but I'm willing to give it one more go.

And it really says "read only" on the author's site, in the "news" section, where it mentions the N800 release. BTW, I downloaded the 1.7.2 version, which is mainly the reason why I got angry. A release with that version number should "just work". Period.

[dormant]

Does this program work with RTF files? At bare minimum, what I need is a program where I can read, write and edit RTF files.

In truth it does, since an RTF file is just a text file with tags in it. So you could edit the text, but not be able to see the effect of formatting. And it'd be very easy to muck up the formatting. I would only take this approach in an emergency.

So, in essence it doesn't, and you are probably better off with summat like Abiword.

Oh for the word processor on my old Psion 5mx.

[jurop88]

It didn't do anything at all on my N800, except sitting there and eating CPU cycles. No amount of tapping, thumbing or, indeed, cursing would bring up any text entry device. I threw the thing off -- it was either that or throw my tablet against the nearest wall -- but I'm willing to give it one more go.

And it really says "read only" on the author's site, in the "news" section, where it mentions the N800 release. BTW, I downloaded the 1.7.2 version, which is mainly the reason why I got angry. A release with that version number should "just work". Period.

Hi Karel,

(informal greetings because you are one of the oldest member here, heh!)

i can confirm notecase to be working perfectly for me, too! Did you create a first node? i.e. open a menu and choose new node, then start typing...

My treelist is fully populated and i use it both on my desktop and my 770, OS2007HE. And IMHO the 1.7.2 version 'just works', as 1.6.9 did

[Benson]

<insert_non-existent_sarcasm_smiley>
This one :rolleyes: says (in the tooltip):
Title: Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)

That what you're after?

[gammer]

Notecase http://notecase.sourceforge.net/ doesn't appear to support text files, it looks like it shoves all notes into one big (binary) file which I think was what Dormant by txt files.
...
Chris

It ex- and imports txt (and simple html).

[Karel Jansens]

Hi Karel,

(informal greetings because you are one of the oldest member here, heh!)

i can confirm notecase to be working perfectly for me, too! Did you create a first node? i.e. open a menu and choose new node, then start typing...

My treelist is fully populated and i use it both on my desktop and my 770, OS2007HE. And IMHO the 1.7.2 version 'just works', as 1.6.9 did

I tried lots of things, and finally found out what was the problem: For some reason NoteCase had decided it wanted to save its file in /home/user, but then couldn't write to that directory. I had to manually type /media/mmc2/notecase (A directory I prepared earlier) as the destination. After that, it now works. But thanks for the help.

Oh, and as one of the elder members, you can address me correctly as "Your Excellent Bodaciousness". :D

[Karel Jansens]

This one :rolleyes: says (in the tooltip):
Title: Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)

That what you're after?

I dunno. Something like Comic Book Guy?

[megabyte405]

There is a patch for AbiWord for Maemo Chinook (2008). I have yet to test it to see if it works well - there are some modifications to it to be made before an official release. Hopefully I will have some free time soon to poke at this - I am getting an N810 as soon as I can use my maemo device code, so that should help in the testing.

[basco]

Has anyone got Notecase or Abiword to work on os 2008 yet?

[Karel Jansens]

Has anyone got Notecase or Abiword to work on os 2008 yet?

I have both working, but I eventually may go down a third road: Here

http://home.cfl.rr.com/genecash/nokia/index.html

is the site of Gene Cash, who is porting several of Palm's mini-apps to the Internet Tablets (as Python applications). Especially his Info On Tap is what I'm eagerly awaiting, as it comes so close to the Psion's Data app that was my main collector-of-everything for many years.

I'm still working out a bluetooth connection to my PostScript printer, but if it works (eventually), I might go down the QuickScript route on my N800 and have all my material in Info On Tap databases.

Abiword 2.2.7 works on my N800, but I've discovered that such a tiny screen is not exactly fit for a WYSIWYG wordprocessor. The (unattainable) ideal for me would be a port of LyX to Maemo, because it formats to the screen and not to the paper, making it possible to have larger onscreen fonts without having to scroll sideways.

I call that dream unattainable, because I don't know how to program and it doesn't seem to figure on any real programmer's list of todos.

[heron61]

I've seen a few articles that mention in passing using Abiword on the n810. Has anyone managed to get it to work on the n810? If so, how difficult is this to accomplish and how stable is the program?

[megabyte405]

Well, the OS 2008 patch is integrated, and it _should_ work - however, it's finals week and I haven't tested it, or even built it yet. You might want to start at www.cleardefinition.com where I am developing/documenting the build procedure. I'd imagine it will be fairly stable - the upcoming 2.6 version is a lot nicer than even 2.4 (on the desktop, where it was way beyond trying to run the 2006 AbiWord on 2007, which was broken due to Maemo changes.)

[qole]

Ryan (megabyte405):

If you can get a stable, hildonized Abiword for OS2008 put together for us, you will be a True Hero. Just think of the respect and honor you will receive!

[BruceL]

From my understanding (from the web-site), Abiword 6.0 is ready to go but for legal issues. However, as far as I can tell, anyone can check out the source code and build it. Ryan, I realize you may not have time or may be waiting on the legal issues before an official release, but is there any reason someone couldn't build it and post the maemo binary here as RC1?

[megabyte405]

There are still some blocker bugs for AbiWord 2.6.0, especially on Windows. (The legal issues look like they'll be resolved in two ways, one quick and one slow.) As I am doing Windows as the maintainer of that port (and the guy who does all the builds) and I haven't heard from the individual who gave us the Maemo 4.0 port, it seems I'll be doing that too, I have a lot of demands on my limited time. As a university student, I just got done with finals, so give me a breather here before I fire up VMWare and get to the hacking again :D

I do have information on how to take care of one of the major blockers on Windows right now, so I just have to test that out and standardize a build protocol.

[munky261]

karel , ive searched but cant seem to find anything , you said you got abiword working on the 810 , how can i get it on mine?

[Karel Jansens]

karel , ive searched but cant seem to find anything , you said you got abiword working on the 810 , how can i get it on mine?

I don't even have (nor do I want) a N810. I have Abiword 2.2.7 working on my ITOS2007 N800, and the instructions on how to get it are easily findable on this forum.

(That last part means: I've done it, using instructions I got from (I think) Alexandyr and I'm way too lazy to go look them up again)

[munky261]

sorry , i misunderstood

[Karel Jansens]

sorry , i misunderstood

Come to reread, it appears I did. I gave the impression that I had Abiword running on ITOS2008.

Sorry. What can I say? I'm old. And often drunk. My dog has Alzheimer's. My cavia's dyslexic.

Sorry.

[PinCushionQueen]

A few days ago I tried to install the Abiword version that Karel speaks of on my 810 and it failed with error= Incompatible Package. :( I've also written off to Gene Cash to see if he had plans of porting any of his apps to OS2008 and he said he wasn't even sure he was going to update his N800 to the new OS and therefore wasn't sure he was going to update his apps either.

[BruceL]

Thanks Ryan, BTW, will AbiCollab work on Maemo? I'm hoping to try that out!

Bruce

[linuxrebel]

I use google docs on my n800 don't know why it wouldn't be easier on an n810.... Perfect transfer in doc rtf or pdf format to windwos and odf too.

[Karel Jansens]

A few days ago I tried to install the Abiword version that Karel speaks of on my 810 and it failed with error= Incompatible Package. :( I've also written off to Gene Cash to see if he had plans of porting any of his apps to OS2008 and he said he wasn't even sure he was going to update his N800 to the new OS and therefore wasn't sure he was going to update his apps either.

Gene's quite smart for holding off updating.

But, as his apps are Pythons, shouldn't they work on any ITOS, provided the Python runtime is recompiiled for that particular version of it?

[Karel Jansens]

I use google docs on my n800 don't know why it wouldn't be easier on an n810.... Perfect transfer in doc rtf or pdf format to windwos and odf too.

Google docs works well -- until your Intarwebs tubes get cut off and you're left with no program and no files (unless you happen to be anal enough to have transcoded and auto-mailed everything every five seconds).

Google Gears might change all that, but is there even an inkling of an indication that Google Gears will work on an Itablet?

[PinCushionQueen]

But, as his apps are Pythons, shouldn't they work on any ITOS, provided the Python runtime is recompiiled for that particular version of it?

That's what I thought/hoped too, I have Python 2.5 installed and I know it's working because several other apps run on python too. But no go :(

I just went to Gene's site to try it again and found this update:

"Somehow I missed the fact OS2008/Chinook ships on the N810 and isn't beta at all. DOH! So I'm installing the Chinook Scratchbox and seeing what's necessary to get my apps to run on it. Then I'll upgrade my N800. These apps are for OS2007/Bora, and I'll have to figure out what's necessary to keep them around in my repository. I'm looking forward to a lot of the bugfixes and GTK 2.10.

It appears that the sites at 72.246.97.48 & 12.20.40.72 can't get their **** together enough to let me do the "apt-get update" during the SDK install. So, NO OS2008 4 j00!" :(

[megabyte405]

My intention is to have AbiCollab working, yes. Whether that's feasible for the first release, we'll see, but I hope so.

[guest_user]

so what is the standard way to view .doc files on the n810 running the latest diablo edition?

[petur]

so what is the standard way to view .doc files on the n810 running the latest diablo edition?

I use Abiword

[guest_user]

I use Abiword

how do I get abiword and antiword? when i try to install the repo it says incompatible or something like that

[neatojones]

Click the icon on the left hand of the screen that looks like four boxes (three green and one blue) --> Click on "Settings" on the left column of the menu that pops up --> Select "Application manager" on the right side column of the menu --> After the application manager loads, click on the top of the screen where it says "Application manager" and a menu should appear --> Select "Tools" and a side menu should appear next to that --> Select "Application catalog" at the top of that menu --> A new dialog box should appear on the screen. Select "New" at the bottom of that dialog box. --> Another dialog box should appear. Write "maemo Extras-devel" in the Catalog name box, then write "http://repository.maemo.org/extras-devel" (without the quotes, of course) in the box next to Web address, and write "free non-free" in the Components box, then select the "OK" button at the bottom of that dialog box. --> Next ensure that the "maemo Extras line is not grayed out --> if it isn't then select "Close" at the bottom of that dialog box --> Your repositories will refresh --> select "Browse installable applications" --> Select the "all" botton on the left --> Navigate down to aviword and highlight it--> Click the install button at the bottom of the screen.

[ja-kid]

You can edit MS Word documents on the N810, if you "Save As", and Edit your MS word documents as an .HTML, instead of as a .doc file.

You can also edit N810 files on your PC, in MS Word (via USB cable) by using a file manager tool, and right clicking on the N810 file and slecting "Open With". Choose "MS Word, or Word Pad" as the software to open the N810 word processor file in.

[maacruz]

You can edit MS Word documents on the N810, if you "Save As", and Edit your MS word documents as an .HTML, instead of as a .doc file.

Or you can simply open your .doc file in OpenOffice

[ja-kid]

Or you can simply open your .doc file in OpenOffice

True, however, with the .doc extension you could not edit on the stand alone N810 unit, when away from (OpenOffice located on) your PC or laptop. Kind of like how Google Docs restricts your movement and ties you to the internet. The HTML extension frees you to work in the field, as well as, gives you the flexibility to go back and forth.

[maacruz]

True, however, with the .doc extension you could not edit on the stand alone N810 unit, when away from (OpenOffice located on) your PC or laptop. Kind of like how Google Docs restricts your movement and ties you to the internet. The HTML extension frees you to work in the field, as well as, gives you the flexibility to go back and forth.

On the contrary, EasyDebian's OpenOffice works fine with .doc files on the n810, it can open, modify and save them with no problem at all; no need to use your PC at all.
HTML may be more convenient for simple documents, as it requires much less resources, but if complex formatting is required or it is just a document someone sent to you then it is not an option.