Memory

[RobWarenda]

What exactly is a memory card supposed to do? I have a few programs that tend to take up a lot of space, so I figure I can install them on my 32 MB memory card, but if I do that, they don't sync. The smaller programs work fine on the card, but they aren't the ones I need on the 32 MB card. It's things like Eudora Internet Suite or AvantGo that should be using the card. I thought maybe they'd start using the card if they run out of the internal memory, but nope. AvantGo is still telling me it doesn't have enough room to save all my channels and I don't have that many channels. Is there a way to get programs to sync properly with a memory card? In case it matters, I have an m130 and I just got it last week, so I have no idea how it works.

[djmangen]

Wow, what do you have that is burning up that much space.

OK, a couple of thoughts. First of all, as you have discovered, some stuff will work just fine from the card, and you will want to put that out there. Avantgo can burn up 2 MBytes of space fairly quickly.

Here is what I do:

1. Use PiDirect II to move some files to the card. In particular, the large Avantgo data files are moved out to the card after sync. (Note that before sync, you have to move them back into main memory.

2. A large dictionary is out on the card with PiDirect.

3. Vindigo, if you have it, can be a real space hog. I move that back and forth between the card and main Palm memory.

4. Same with Zagat files, although these don't get synced regularly.

Others use some launchers to manage the files.

An important thing to remember is that the card is more like a RAM disk than it is like internal memory. A program like PiDirect is like one of the old extended memory managers that were required back in DOS days.

It might also help a bit here if you told us what you've installed that is taking up all of this room.

djm

[RobWarenda]

Originally posted by djmangen
Wow, what do you have that is burning up that much space.

My main memory hogs are Eudora Internet Suite for my e-mail syncing, AvantGo with only 4 or 5 channels and SecondScreenTV, which has 7 days worth of TV listings. At least I think those are the worst ones. I don't have Vindigo or Zagat files as far as I know. I'll have to try PiDirect and see if that helps. I guess I should also get Palm For Dummies so I won't have to ask stupid questions.

Thanks.

[djmangen]

My guess is that the TV listings are taking the most space. Since you'd only need to sync this once a week or so, this would be an ideal candidate for PiDirect II (make sure you get V2).

Eudora will probably have to stay on the main card so you can work with your emails and send them again. However, consider getting rid of the browser component (if installed and not used) and also set up email filters so that any spam and the like is not downloaded. Also, if you download only a set number of most recent messages, and keep your main in box (on PC) free of mail that has already been processed, you'll save some space there too.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, Avantgo will end up being a bit of a pain. I end up having to move the two large data files back and forth between Palm main memory (prior to sync) and then back to the card (after sync). It doesn't take that long, but it is still an additional step that is a pain in the a--. However, that frees 2 MBytes of main Palm memory.

You might also want to try Avantage, a product that you can find at http://www.toysoft.ca. I have not used it, but other products by this company have gotten good reviews (in particular, MyWorkbench).

Speaking of MyWorkbench, you will probably also want a file utility program. MyWorkbench is nice (I'm on a 7 day trial) as is Filez (a free utility). This will help you move files, delete them, and manage your available memory a bit better.

As for your last point, one of the reasons these boards exist is to give feedback. Not asking the question and failing to get productivity out of this PDA would be far more "dummy" than asking the question.

Hope this has helped.

[RobWarenda]

I've been playing around with PiDirect for a while and it just doesn't seem to do anything useful. No matter what I tell it to move to the card, it tells me I shouldn't move it to the card. I wouldn't know a read-only database if I tripped over it. I've done some reading about external memory and from what I can tell, nothing can be run from it, unless it's something that doesn't change. That eliminates all of my memory hogging programs.

I did download Avantage and it seems to be working well with the card. It syncs and works while it's on the card... yeah, I know it's moved to RAM when it's being synced. This only causes one problem. If I need more than 8 MB to be synced at one time, I'm out of luck. At least, that's the way I figure it. I sync the TV application evey time I do a HotSync because you never know when a TV line up will be changed. The funny thing is that SecondScreenTV is more accurate and complete than my own cable company's on screen TV guide.

I gave up on syncing my e-mail. I really didn't want to have to switch to Outlook Express or Eudora and Forte Agent doesn't allow for syncing. Maybe they will some day, but until then, I won't worry about it.

I might check out MyWorkbench some day, but since I haven't really figured out the Palm file system, I'm not sure poking around in there is a good idea for me right now. Plus, I already have quite a few things I have to register as soon as I can afford it. I don't want to keep making the list bigger. Even $10 ($15 for us Canadians) is a little too much for me right now. I'm still paying for the PDA. For now, I'll just go on a search for something that will allow me to run stuff from the card and use the internal RAM as a temporary work space.