[Palm OS] BeCrossword access to memory card?

[scottfranklin]

Hi all,

I've installed BeCrossword, which should allow me to load AcrossLite crossword puzzles. The BeCrossword FAQ is pretty slim, but it seems to imply that puzzles in a ".puz" format can be read directly from a memory card, while those converted to .pdb can be "installed" during a Sync. I would like to do the former.

My question: I haven't figured out how to access files on the memory card (not the same as installing, I think). Do other Palm applications have this issue? Does Garnet not allow reading files from a memory card?

Installing .pdb files raises another question: how do I delete them? They don't seem to appear in the Home screen. I don't mind manipulating them from a terminal, if I just knew how.

Thanks for any and all help,

scott

[brecklundin]

Hey Scott,

Have you used BeCrossword before? I haven't used the Garnet VM, since I still need to order my N800... :) But, it should allow access to the memory card. BeCrossword will be looking for files in the /Crosswords directory on the card's root directory, if it was on a PalmOS device. So, hopefully look at the VM doco as to where the directories are/should be?

[mrklaw]

Garnet does not support memory card access yet so you will have to convert .puz files to .pdb. Once you have created .pdb files, you can click on the "Install" button and select your pdb and have it installed to the garnet storage heap.

To delete files from the garnet storage heap, launch a garnet application to start up the vm, hit the home button near the bottom left, and then tap on the top left where the time is or on the menu button on the bottom. There will be a menu item called "Delete". Select that and you should see the pdb files in the list. If you don't see them, you may need to install a palm file manager to delete them.

[brecklundin]

mrklaw:

dunno about the OP but THANKS as BeCrossword is one of the main uses I will have on my N800 soon as it gets here tomorrow.

[brecklundin]

If you are running KDE there is this as an interesting option that uses AcrossLite .puz files:

http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php/KrossWordPlayer?content=9836

You can d/l the source and maybe complie the source using whatever Maemo SDK there is out there. I haven't done any development in years but it should be manageable if the libraries used are not system specific. Might need some interface tweaking but otherwise hard to imagine the basic application logic and code would not translate into Maemo.

[brecklundin]

Just for the heck of it I emailed LitSoft asking for a Maemo OS2008 version of AcrossLite. Here is the email addy:

feedback@litsoft.com

Here is the page explaining some of the details:

http://www.litsoft.com/across/alite/MiscFaq.html

The more folks who email the better the chance. Likely will not work BUT if you have a NYT subscription email them too. Bug Will Shortz until he knows the you by the way the phone rings!

[scottfranklin]

I used the web puzzle converter at beocean to convert from .puz to .pdb, installed and solved yesterday's puzzle. So right now, BeCrossword looks to be a pretty good solution, albeit w/the added step of web conversion.

Thanks for all the help!

scott

[brecklundin]

outstanding!! I forgot they had that online conversion page. But cripes that is 10-yrs worth of puzzles to convert...see, since I have no life I d/l'd the entire archive. Ya never know if they mught go poof at some point. :D

[brecklundin]

thought I would stop by and add that there is a puzzle (.puz -> converter) converter included in the download for BeCrossword. And it will convert multiple files in a single batch. Just run the converter and then select all the files you want to convert to .pdb and viola it's done in seconds. I just converted 10 yrs worth of NYT puzzles in like 10 minutes...it took longer to figure it out then it did to convert them. Now they are all on a memory card waiting for importing when I want some new puzzles.

I figure at around 365 puzzles/year over to years is about 3600 puzzles give or take some I missed or simply were not there. So say it takes me a good 2-3 days/puzzle as I don't just work them until done...I play with them a while, often I look up info when a clue triggers some curiosity about something so I get side tracked. And it's not like the N800 is gonna make that harder, it's gonna be easier to get side tracked...so that is 7200-10,000 days or between 19 to 27ish YEARS worth of puzzles. Think my Clie & N800 will last that long?

I think I am done now except for the occasional puzzle when I want something more current.

[klinglerware]

When you purchased BeCrossword, did you need a legitimate Hot Sync ID? I've managed to purchase another game (Pocket Mini Golf -- which works great in Garnet, incidentally) without having to specify one, but I suppose that I may not always be so lucky...

[brecklundin]

what do you mean legitmate HSID? That is always whatever you named your device on setup of the device. That way if you have several devices you can specify which to sync to. Not all apps require a device ID.

I have yet to figure out how to convince BeCrossword of the ID on the version running in GVM...not sure if I even will be able since I have a Sony Clie and the closest the VM comes is a T/X...

[klinglerware]

what do you mean legitmate HSID?

I don't recall if HSID is generated (or if I was prompted) when I first set up Garnet VM. I'm working under the assumption that it doesn't (until you try to hotsync in garnet).

Obviously, many commercially bought apps require the ID to generate the unlock/registration code. I've bought one app so far--since I've assumed that I don't actually have an ID in garnet, I've been leaving the "HotSync ID" blank on the purchase screen. For the particular app that I purchased, it still generated an unlock code for me and I've been able to use the app without incident. My general question is whether I am pushing my luck by purchasing apps in this manner.

[brecklundin]

hmmmm...I really am not sure. I have been sort of thinking the same thing. As in since there are zero xword apps for Maemo as of today. Unless of course, I want to run KDE off a card, very doable. And I might partition a SDHC card just for that and maybe some office type apps.

But I really do not know anymore then you about buying aps which are locked to a device. I have done a bit of searching on the topic but only half hearted. I am leaning toward caution as while taking individually the apps are not too expensive, though some can get pretty expensive. But when you consider you are spending cash on what is a platform that has shown almost no movement in over a year now, well, to me it makes me think long and hard am I just burning $20-bills.

[terrencegf]

Perhaps this question has already been answered, but here's my experience. I had purchased BeCrossword for my Palm TX a while ago and the registration process asked for the HotSyncID. Naturally, I gave it and received a license code that is tied to that HotSyncID. When I installed BeCrossword on GVM, I used the command line startup method (http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12297) to set my HotsyncID appropriately. Then I registered BeCrossword in GVM without any problems.

For the record, I created a .desktop file to allow me to launch GVM into favorite application (Beyond Contacts (http://www.dataviz.com/products/beyondcontacts/)) with my HotSyncID. The file is "/usr/share/applications/hildon/beyondcontacts.desktop", but really I could have named it anything. The contents of the file are:
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Version=0.1
Type=Application
Name=Beyond Contacts
Exec=/usr/bin/gvm/gvm --bgcolor=0x0000,0x0000,0x0000 --rotated=no --dynheap=4096 --sound=no --hotsyncid="MyNameHere:19523" -a DTOD
Icon=garnet-vm

I found my hotsyncid on my Palm TX via the "shortcut-dot-dot-4" trick, and the application "creator" code (DTOD for Beyond Contacts) by using FileZ. If you wanted to start BeCrossword, you'd use the creator code "BeCW".

[lm2]

Perhaps this question has already been answered, but here's my experience. I had purchased BeCrossword for my Palm TX a while ago and the registration process asked for the HotSyncID. Naturally, I gave it and received a license code that is tied to that HotSyncID. When I installed BeCrossword on GVM, I used the command line startup method (http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12297) to set my HotsyncID appropriately. Then I registered BeCrossword in GVM without any problems.

For the record, I created a .desktop file to allow me to launch GVM into favorite application (Beyond Contacts (http://www.dataviz.com/products/beyondcontacts/)) with my HotSyncID. The file is "/usr/share/applications/hildon/beyondcontacts.desktop", but really I could have named it anything. The contents of the file are:
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Version=0.1
Type=Application
Name=Beyond Contacts
Exec=/usr/bin/gvm/gvm --bgcolor=0x0000,0x0000,0x0000 --rotated=no --dynheap=4096 --sound=no --hotsyncid="MyNameHere:19523" -a DTOD
Icon=garnet-vm

I found my hotsyncid on my Palm TX via the "shortcut-dot-dot-4" trick, and the application "creator" code (DTOD for Beyond Contacts) by using FileZ. If you wanted to start BeCrossword, you'd use the creator code "BeCW".

For those a bit intimidated by the post terrencegf links to, here's what you do to get your becrossword registration recognized by gvm on the tablet.

First, purchase becrossword from pocketgear.com. When it asks for your hotsync id, enter something you'll remember. Download the becrossword zip file on your computer or tablet, unzip, and then move unzipped folder to your tablet.

Open the GVM launcher on the tablet, and install the becrossword prc file.

Once it installs correctly, DON'T launch it. Close the launcher and open xterm.

In exterm, enter:

$ cd /usr/bin/gvm
$ ./gvm --hotsyncid=[your hotsync id]

This will launch gvm directly, and will assign it your hotsync id while its at it. Now you can touch the home icon in the bottom left corner of the gvm screen, and then open becrossword. Then navigate to the help menu within becrossword, choose, "Enter registration code." Enter the code you got from pocketgear.com, using the keyboard that pops up when you tap the arced "abc" in the bottom left corner. This should get you all registered.

You can from now on launch becrossword using the normal gvm launcher.

[Wes Doobner]

Xword is available for N8X0 - works great! NO need for Garnet VM. Works w/ .puz files i.e NY Times.

Look in the app manager.

[lm2]

Xword is available for N8X0 - works great! NO need for Garnet VM. Works w/ .puz files i.e NY Times.

Look in the app manager.

Yes, but it's not as responsive, and lacks handwriting support. I'm loving becrossword via GVM!