PIDirect, MSMount or Powerrun?

[palmguy-again]

I would like to be able to run some more applications from my expansion card. I am looking into PIDirect, MSMount and Powerrun. Does anyone have any recommendations? Do any of these apps have performance drawbacks? Any work better than the other?

[JohnKes]

PiDirect is good for programs and databases that don't get updated. It allows those items to be read, but won't save changes back to the card. The items are not fully copied to RAM when run - only what is necessary. This is good because you can run huge databases that are bigger than your available RAM.

I just discovered that Mapopolis maps can be read directly from the card. I have less than 2MB RAM left - now I can use a 5MB map!

I think one or both of the others fully copies items to RAM, then copies back any changes when the program exits. This is good because you can save changes, bad if you don't have enough RAM. Hopefully someone else can provide more details.

[djmangen]

I also use PiDirect, and have found it to be very useful. I would recommend it.

I have heard of some problems with MSMount, especially with cleaning handling the transfer from card to main memory, but can not personally confirm these issues.

I am not at all familiar with Powerrun, other than having heard the name.

[PilotUser]

I use both PiDirect & MSMount ... however, you should be aware of the differences in them.

Like mentioned above, PiDirect should be used with non-updatable files (program apps, static info databases). PiDirect loads only what it needs into Palm memory when you run that app.

For MS Mount, it places the file (ie. database) into external memory, then when you run an app, it will copy that back into Palm memory.

The difference between MS Mount-managed file, and normal file placed in \Palm\Launcher\ is that the O/S still thinks the file is in internal memory. If I'm not mistaken, the O/S only copies the app back into main memory when it runs (not the associated databases)

NOTE: If you use both PiDirect & MSMount, note the steps to enable & disable as follows:

Enable: PiDirect then MSMount
Disable: MSMount then PiDirect

Else you will get a Memory Fault and need to do a reset.

Hope this helps ...

[JohnKes]

I thought OS4 pulls the whole app from the card onto RAM, runs it, then deletes if from RAM when done - no copying back to RAM. That's why you need MS Mount.

Can anyone confirm this?

[PilotUser]

Sorry John ... I think my comment "copy back" is misleading. What I mean is "copy TO main memory" instead of "copy BACK to main memory"

You're correct in stating the O/S will copy app/database from SD memory to internal memory, then deletes it once it's done.

Some apps do not allow their databases to be placed on SD card, hence placing it in \Palm\Launcher\ or \Palm\Programs\ will not work

What MSMount does is to trick the app into seeing its database as if it were on main memory, although it is placed on the SD card