UniCMD Manual classic edition

- a Universal Commander for PalmOS® -

Table of contents

  1. What is UniCMD classic edition
  2. Disclaimer & License
  3. Installation
  4. Basics
  5. Main screen
  6. Navigation
  7. Button functions
  8. Menu functions
  9. Backup functions
  10. Encryption
  11. Viewer
  12. Exchange data
  13. Find function
  14. Limitations

What is UniCMD classic edition

UniCMD is a program to manage databases and files on PalmOS® computers.

UniCMD classic edition is derived from a past version of UniCMD, the Universal Commander for PalmOS®.

It encloses powerful and comfortable functions to
- copy, install, export
- compress (ZIP)
- cipher (BlowfishCBC)
- view contents (Jpeg/Exif/Text/HTML/Zip)
- automatic, manual, full or selective backup (Backup/Update-mode)
- exchange (beam, send, receive)
- delete (or erase)
- get infos on
palm databases and files


It runs from PalmOS 3.5 and provides all basic and common features to manage your files.
In spite of the classic version, the backup functions (and a few other parts) are realized from code of a recent version to offer you highest security for your backups!

If you like UniCMD, also try the recent shareware version that provides high resolution graphics and many new freatures and enhancements.

You can get the latest version of UniCMD at:

http://www.unicmd.de
http://www.pdassi.de
http://www.palmgear.com

The aim

The aim is to create an easy to handle and ergonomic user interface. Therefor a dynamic version of a two window user interface, which is also well known on desktop computers, is created.
You can control the functions and navigate with only a few clicks and short movements of the stylus.

Independence and compatibillity are important points: UniCMD uses system independent file formats. That means you can view Jpeg-files, can work on common ZIP-files and the logfile is a simple text-file. Backups will be put into ZIP-archives so you also can access your data without PalmOS or UniCMD.

Disclaimer & License

DISCLAIMER

This program is provided as is.
As with any file management application your data is at risk to be damaged or totally deleted while using UniCMD.
The Author(s) absolutely accept NO responsibility for ANY consequences of using this program.
This includes we take no responsibility for any damage, loss of data or fatality, that occur to the you, your PDA or any device, appliance or living being in the vicinity of you or your PDA, at the time of using UniCMD, reading the manual or at any other point after using this software.

LICENSE

UniCMD classic edition is free for private uncommercial usage.

You can get the latest version of UniCMD at:

http://www.unicmd.de
http://www.pdassi.de
http://www.palmgear.com


Installation

Simply install the files "UniCMD-classic.prc" and "UCmdClassic.pdb" to your PalmOs® device. You can do it with HotSync®, PInstall oder any similar installer. You also can tranfer it with an expansion card, beam it, use FTP or any other available protocol.

On the first lauch of UniCMD the "UCmdHelp"-database will be converted into a HTML-file and stored into the UniCMD data directory. After it the "UCmdHelp"-database will be deleted.

If there exists an older version of the "UCmdHelp.htm" inside of the UniCMD data directory, you have to delete ist yourself. This can also be done later.

The "UCmdHelp.htm"-file is identical with this manual, so you can also directly copy it into the UniCMD data directory.

UniCMD should be installed on the PalmCard. If not, the backup scheduler will not work. In spite of this if you want to install it on an expansion card, you must run it once on the PalmCard and then you can copy it from the PalmCard to your expansion card.

Never install more than one version of UniCMD at the same time.

Basics

PalmCard & Drives

The memory of your PalmOS-device (also called PalmCard) gets number 0. UniCMD will provide increasing numbers for any found expansion card (CompactFlash, ,MicroDrive,Multimedia, MemoryStick...). With this unified system, PalmCards and expansion cards are called drives that can be accessed easily by there number.
Most Drives (but not the Palmcard) support names called labels, that can be modified.

Principles of usage

Main screen


The main screen is divided into 3 parts:

Title bar

The title bar contains an universal info-display and two drive-selector-buttons.

Drive-selector-button:

The drive-selector-buttons show the drive-number of the window below it. Tap on it to open a popup menue with the names of all selectable drives.

If the active window uses the full screen width, you can also switch the active window with this buttons.

Info-display

Usually the info-display shows the drive number and path of the active directory window. If neccesary the display changes temporary to show other things like status reports or key input.

If the information does not fit into the small display, a button appears right to it. With this button you can force to display the full contents.

Directory windows

Below the title bar you can find the directory windows. The bigger one is called the ACTIVE/ SOURCE window , the smaller one is called the PASSIVE/ DESTINATION window . In the active/ source window you can navigate through its contents and you can easily select and mark items of the active/ source window by tapping on them with the stylus. Exactly these marked items are the basis for further processing.

>> Basics

Control bar

The main controls are placed here for fast and easy access. All functions will work on the active/ source window.

In the center you can find the navigation-controls which support the scrolling of the active directory. The bottom row shows buttons for the most important file functions. The row above(..) shows buttons for the most important selection and info functions.

>> Basics

Navigation

Navigation on the window layer

It's simple: There is an ACTIVE/ SOURCE window that is displayed bigger and it is the basis for any work and there is a PASSIVE/ DESTINATION one that is displayed smaller. The contents of the passive window usually are are displayed truncated. But this amount of information is usually sufficient to give the feeling of having control and overview. You can easily adapt the size of the windows to your personal needs.

The size of the windows can be changed by holding down the stylus onto the dividing field between the windows (which also contains/is a scrollbar) and slide/shift to the left or right. You can completely hide the passive window.

You can switch the active window by tapping the stylus onto the passive window. The sizes of the windows will swap for the new active window witch will get the size of the previous active window.

If the passive window is completely hidden, you can switch by tapping onto the drive selector buttons.

You can temporary switch to full view with the magnify-button.

Navigation inside a window

Inside a window you can navigate through the contents of a directory. You can jump or scroll up and down the directory list. If supported by the drive, you also can move through the directory tree be entering or leaving subdirectories.

Navigation inside a directory

The directory list can be easily moved with the navigation controls.

The upper one is a classic scrollbar , which is similar to the PalmOS scrollbar. This scrollbar works syncronous to the one between the directory windows. Aided by it you can move fast through long lists.

Below you can find a control for line by line scrolling. The speed and direction of scrolling depends on the pen position on the control.

Between the windows you additionally will find a vertical arranged scrollbar. Vertical movements with the stylus usually are a little bit inconvenient, but sometimes this control is useful for more accurat positioning because of its length. This scrollbar initially needs a small movement to work, because with this small movement you determin whether to scroll or to change the size of the window, that is done by horizontal movement.

Another possibility is the input of letters. The list immediately positions to the best match.

Navigation in the directory tree

First you may switch the drive of a directory path with the drive selector button .

Depending on the possibillities of the drive, additional buttons may be displayed to allow changing of directories.

Directories can also be entered by double-tapping them or with the execute button. They can be left by double-tapping the ".."-item.

Selection of items

The aim of navigation is to view, find and then select items for further processing.

Only the selected items of the active window are the basis for further processing. In case of movement or copying of data, the active window contains the source, while the passive window contains the destination.

Button functions

[0:] DRIVE SELECTOR button

>> drive selection

[v] FULL CONTENTS button

>> view full contents

( i ) INFO/HELP button

Usually if you tap on this button, a popup-menu appears and you can select an info- or help-function. But in the case of one selected item in the active window, you directly will get an info to it.

File - info:

Shows complete information about a file, database or directory. Depending on the type of file some of the following informations are displayed:

Drive - Info:

Shows complete information about a storage device.

Help on a screen object:

Select any screen object to get a help on it.

Manual:

View the manual.

(V) VIEW button

Switch the view mode of the window. At this stage here you principally can switch the sort order of the directory list. Depending on the type of the drive there are different modes offered for selection. PRC/PDB-Files can also be sorted by attributes of their internal database.

Simple sorting modes:

Applikation oriented sorting mode:

Type oriented sorting modes:

Basically alphanumerical sorting modes, but files or databases of a special type are put on top of the list.

(S) SELECT button

Select items of a given type or rule

Check the preferences <MENU/Options/Misc Prefs/clear Selection> to determin whether to clear all recent selection before any select operation

(C) CLEAR button

Clear all selections of the active window.

(<->) MAGNIFY button

Temporary switch the size of the active window to 100%.

(SDCT) INFOMODE button

Choose the kind of additional information that should be displayed to every directory item.

The kind of information may depends on the tap position on the button:

Specials

(EXE) EXECUTE button

Launch a Palm application or view contents of a file or database. Only one file or database must be selected.

Until now JPG-, ZIP- , several text- and HTML-files can be viewed.

>> Viewer

(CPY) COPY button

Copies all selected items and subdirectories of the active window to the path of the passive window.

In the case of copying PRC/PDB-files to PalmCard 0:

(FNC) FILE FUNCTIONS butten

Processes all selected items and subdirectories. It is similar to the COPY function but a popup menu will appear and you will be ask to choose the further processing. For example you can select directly if a PRC/PDB-file shall be installed or just copied.

(DEL) DELETE button

Delete all selected items and subdirectories. (>> Erase)

If a palm application is selected, UniCMD will ask if the whole application, that means all databases that belong to it, shall be deleted.

(Clock)

Menue functions

You can call the menu by tapping the info display with the stylus or just use the Palm menu button.

< File / New Dir >

Creates a new directory. This will not work in ZIP-files yet, but you can create it anywhere and then copy it into the ZIP-file.

< File / Rename >

Rename a file, database or directory. This will not work in ZIP-files yet.

< File / New Encryption Key >

You can enter a new encryption key. This is only senceful if you have activated the continued usage of a once entered key. <MENU/Options/Misc-Prefs/use-previous-encryption key>

< File / Send >

Send the selected files using the PalmOS exchange manager. Depending on the devices capabilities, you can select of several ways of transmission. The simplest case is to beam the data using the IRDA - port.

>> Exchange data

< File / Receive >

If suitable drivers and responding applications are present you can try to order files with the exchange manager.

>> Exchange data

< File / Beam Receive >

Enter the beam receive mode for several seconds.

< Drive / Label >

If supported, change the name, usually called label of a drive / an expansion card.

< Drive / Format >

If supported, format the a drive / an expansion card. All data will be erased. UniCMD asks twice, some PalmOs versions might ask once more, if you are really sure you want to do it.

< Tools / Backup Card0 >

Copy all non-ROM-based readable databases and files of card 0 into a ZIP-archive in the UniCMD backup directory.

>> UniCMD backup funktions / >> Backup

< Tools / Restore Card0 >

Copy/install the contents of a selected ZIP-archive to PalmCard0.

>> UniCMD backup funktions / >> Restore

< Tools / Goto Backup Dir >

Change the directory of the active window to the one in which UniCMD will store its backups of Card0.

< Tools / Update Selection >

Look at all files or databases (in prc/pdb-file) of the UniCMD update directory and compare them with their counterparts on PalmCard0. If PalmCard0 contains a newer or a changed version, update the one of the update directory. It's an easy and effective way to get an actual backup of a number of preselected important databases or files.

Of course, this also job can be done by the UniCMD update scheduler.

>> UniCMD backup funktions / >> Update

< Tools / Goto Update Dir >

Change the directory of the active window to the one which UniCMD will use for its Update-mode.

< Tools / View Logfile >

View contents of the UniCMD logfile

< Tools / Clear Logfile >

Clear the contents of the UniCMD logfile

< Options / Path Prefs >

Change the default directories:

<use active dir> insert the directory, that is set in the active window

< Options / DirWin Prefs >

Preferences that belong to the presentation and function of the directory windows:

< Options / Misc Prefs >

Preferences of different kinds:

< Options / Backup Prefs >

Setup the scheduler for the backup functions.

>> UniCMD backup funktions

< Options / Grafix Prefs >

Preferences for the graphic mode and the image viewer

< Options / Exchange Prefs >

< Options / Reset All Prefs >

Reset all preferences.

Backup functions

UniCMD supports several ways to create backups.

Type 1 - Backup Card0

Copy all readable, non-ROM-based, non-PACE databases and files of card 0 into a ZIP-archive in the UniCMD backup directory.

UniCMD backups are common ZIP-archives which means you can access your saved data independently from PalmOS® and UniCMD.

Even a full backup of all files an databases does not mean, that you are able to restore an identical system in any case. This is a general problem of all file and database oriented backups. As expected, not all system files can be restored this way because they may be in use on a running system. Additionally you cannot be really sure, that all important data are always stored in files or databases.

Type 2 - Update Selection

All files and databases (previously exported into PRC/PDB-files) of the UniCMD update directory are looked up and compared with their counterparts on PalmCard0. If PalmCard0 contains a newer or a changed version, the older version of the update directory will be updated. Its an easy and effective way to get an actual backup of a number of preselected important databases or files.

This is especially usefull for frequently modified databases like AddressDB, MemoDB and so on.

How to do it:

Scheduler

Backup Card0 and update selection can also be launched by a scheduler, that performs an operation at a predefined time and can repeat it in a predefined interval. Both methods may be active together.

You can setup the scheduler easily in the menu < Options / Backup Prefs >

If for any reason or error the date lies in the past , it will be shifted into the future depending on the interval time.

If you are just working an your Palm device and the scheduler tries to perform an operation, you will be ask to shift the scheduled operation by one hour.

Important: UniCMD should be installed on the PalmCard. Otherwise, the backup scheduler will not work.

All successful copies and errors can be written into the logfile.

Restore Card0

This function copies/installs all contents of a selected ZIP-archive to PalmCard0. If an item already exists, UniCMD will ask what to do. You can use <OK-ALL> to avoid further confirmations for the same type of error. Some system databases cannot be overwritten this way. Usually this isn't a problem and you can ignore it.

For a system restoration it is best way to use a newly initialized PalmPDA. You can initialize most PalmPDAs with pressing the reset butten while holding down the power button. If you do this all data on the system will be deleted!

CAUTION: PalmOS® will not work problerly, if you restore a backup to a different type/model of PalmPDA, a different PalmOS® - version or to a system with a different localization (country/language) setting. Its best to restore a backup to the identical PalmPDA with the same localization setup.

To avoid conflict even on identical PalmPDAs, UniCMD now adds a localization - label to the backup name. On restoration, this is checked an you may be warned.

Hackmaster - Hacks and other system - modifications must be deactivated.

After all UniCMD asks to do a soft reset. Some databases an the system needs some initialization that usually will be done on a reset. So, in most cases of successfull system restoration a soft reset has to follow. UniCMD will remind you.

Be aware: some systems, PalmOS® versions or devices may crash if system files are overwritten during restoration process!

Encryption

UniCMD is able to encipher and decipher files and databases.

Therefor the famous Blowfish-algorithm is used, which is well known to be fast and safe. In addition the cipher blocks will be chained (CBC enhancement), where the initial vector (IV) is also encrypted.

The Blowfish-algorithm is said to be save, which means in practice its safety depends on the lenght of the key. A key may contain up to 56 bytes (theoretically 448 bits). Blanc/space-characters will be deleted from the key because they are difficult to see and to count on a Palm screen. The input of "my new key" will be passed to the cipher rountines as "mynewkey". Be aware: a key of ASCII characters like letters, numbers and a few other signs has a value of 6 key bits per character rather than 8.

The Blowfish-algorithm works on 64 bit blocks. All files with a length not a multiple of 8, are extended with some random digits. Of course this random extension will be deleted after decryption.

The ciphered files have a simple format: the first block contains the encrypted IV (same key), followed by all the other chained cipher blocks.

At this time, encryption won't work together with the ZIP-functions, but certainly you can copy encrypted files into a ZIP-file.

Viewer

UniCMD can open files and databases to view their contents.

The interpretation depends on the filename extension:

Exchange data

UniCMD can transmit data using the PalmOS Exchange manager:

Usually UniCMD stores received files into the active directory. If UniCMD is not active it stores received data into the exchange directory.

Exchange Manager

The exchange manager can transmit files on several ways depending on the capabilities of the PalmOS version. If available PalmOs let you choose the way. The simplest case is to beam the data using the IRDA - port.

On your device you can register an application to receive a specific type of data. For example by default all files with a ".txt" extension are directed to the MEMO application.

In the exchange preferences you can preset which types of data are to receive by UniCMD. You can determin, what types of data are allways to receive by UniCMD, and what data UniCMD may receive if no other application is registered for. (On PalmOS3.5 devices only the first possibility works).

Another interesting feature is to send a file to a local application on the own device. For this, UniCMD temporary unregisters for all data so you can send types of data to other applicantions that normally UniCMD is registered for.

Find function

UniCMD supports the global find of PalmOS. But until now, it must be running to do so.

It searches for files and databases on all drives.

It's a case-insensitive substring search. You can use wildcards (* and ?).

Limitations

Files:

The names of files on a PalmCard are limited to 31 characters (and #0, End Of String). If you copy files to drive0 (the PalmCard) you should be aware, that their names will be truncated to 31 characters. To avoid further problems, UniCMD inserts an additionally counter, that is incremented on each truncation.

On the other Hand, filename and database names can contain characters, that aren't allowed on FAT file systems. In case of incompatibility, UniCMD translates them into a %XX code where XX is the hexadecimal number of the character. UniCMD also will decode %XX to a character if it is copied to drive 0.

The file dates like the date of last modification are poorly supported on some PalmOs version.

Until now I havn't found a way to reset the dates of copied file to the original dates of the source file. UniCMD sets the dates, but they always are overwritten again by PalmOs when the file is closed.

Does anybody know a solution ?

Palm databases:

PalmOs databases are something special.

They do not only have their names for identification. They also have a creatorID and a typeID. These are two 32 bit numbers, that usually correspond to a string of four characters.
(e.g. 'UCmd' for UniCMD, 'appl' for an application)

In addition, every database contains a version number. This is usually not a problem, however you have to be aware, there might be more then one databases with the same name, CreatorID and TypeID.

ZIP files:

Zipfiles may contain real directories. This is a way to have directories on drive 0.

If you copy a database into a ZIP-archive, it will be automatically converted into a PRC/PDB-file.

In this case UniCMD appends a CreatorID and TypeID to the filename for the reasons of performance and safety (it's much faster to retrieve them, than to unzip the database header).

For example if you copy the UniCMD application into a ZIP archive, it will be named: UniCMD{UCmd,appl}.prc
This file is compatible to anything. In spite of this: if you just copy the file out of the ZIP-file, this extension will be automatically deleted.

Until now you can view 2 ZIP-files, but you can only work with one ZIP-file.



(c).2002/2004, Ralf David