Agenda will not open

[Eightball]

I am using a Psion 5 8Mb (seies 5 R1, s/w ver 1.01(145)), and I am having trouble with the Agenda.

The Agenda applcation will not open, when trying to open the app the screen blanks and an error mesage appears immediately. The eror was:

Program Closed
Program: Agenda
Reason Code: KERN-EXEC
Reason No: 3

The Agenda will occasionaly (very, very occasionally) open after a reset (all batteries out and then left for an hour or so), but after the first file opening the error will appear the next time the app is initialised.

I would be grateful for any help/advice anyone could offer, as I've searched all over the place with no luck so far.

Cheers,

8ball

[brianh]

Try deleting the .ini file in System/Apps/Agenda. The preferences may have become corrupted.

Does this happen with each Agenda file (assuming there is more than one)? If it only happens with certain files, then they are probably corrupt. If it happens will all Agenda files, then the program has a glitch and deleting the .ini file may sort it out.

Do you launch the program by tapping the icon in File view or does it happen when tapping the silkscreen button?

[diem]

If deleting the .ini file does not work (that would have been my first suggestion), then next time it does open up okay, try using File..Create New File.., and then use File..More..Merge In.. to merge the content of your existing file (probably C:\Documents\Agenda).

It might also be worth using File..More..Tidy/archive file.. to split out your old entries an make the file smaller.

[Eightball]

Cheers for the replies, I've sort of got a workaround solution.

Deleting the .ini file didn't help.

I can Agenda to run if I do a 'hard' reset (pin in reset hole, then hold down both Shift keys when powering on). This then defaults to all programs running. I can open/create agendas this way. If I close Agenda though it will not reopen, and gives me the same error as in my first post.

I could just leave Agenda running permanently, and hope that when running other stuff I never run out of memory, though I never have so far.

Any advice on a proper fix still appreciated, is there anyway to uninstall and then reinstall Agenda? I do have an Agenda Update 1.01 in my installed programs list (along with Sheet, Word and Series 5 Update, all at 1.01), but can't remember when I did that, and when the problem started.

[brianh]

You might try "killing" the program. You can do this while the program is open by opening the Show All Open Files/Apps Dialog, highlighting the trouble file and pressing SHIFT+CRTL+E.

Also, can you open the closed file by going to the File/Open menu in the System screen?

[Eightball]

The program won't actualy open enough for me to kill it, I get a 'no files open' message.

Is there another Agenda style program (that obviously doesn't need agenda to run), that anyone would recommend? I only need the basic agenda functions, calendar views, repeating entries and to-do list.

Thanks,

8ball

[WolfUK]

I am guessing that your hard-reset fix works until you restore the contents of your Psion. What happens if, after you perform a hard reset, you don't restore any data and simply enter some agenda entries, close the Agenda file and then re-open it? I'd guess that this works fine and that the problem only re-occurs after your restore a backup.

If this is the case then you possibly have a corrupt Agenda file. What happens if you create a new one by pressing Ctrl+N in the System screen? Does this Agenda file work?

[Eightball]

Nope, My Psion is completely cleaned out, and no restore is attempted.

The hard reset only manages to open agenda occasionaly, then if I close agenda and attempt to reopen the error mesage comes up.

I don't think the agenda file is corrupt, 'cos last time I managed to get agenda open (after a hard reset a few days ago) it opened fine.

The problem seems to be with the application itself, wether it be an existing file, an empty file or a newly created file. CTRL + N and trying to create a new agenda still results in the error message.

I may have to start looking for a new program to do the same thing.

[brianh]

Eightball-

It truly does seem like something in Agenda is sending mixed signals. In terms of other programs, there is a month manager available from www.rmrsoft.com.

You could also build a relatively simple to relatively complex Agenda-style app using Kevin Millican's PsiDat v1.21. ( www.millican.info/home/PsiDat.htm ) With the new version of this app it would be possible to create a parent-child relationship between data allowing sub tables to represent different tasks, etc. Filters are applicable ... it is a great app but may be this may be more work than you are wanting.

[WolfUK]

Originally posted by Eightball
Nope, My Psion is completely cleaned out, and no restore is attempted. ... The problem seems to be with the application itself, wether it be an existing file, an empty file or a newly created file. CTRL + N and trying to create a new agenda still results in the error message.I find this very strange since a hard reset will restore your Psion's software to out-of-the-box state and therefore the only way that Agenda could be misbehaving is if your ROM has become corrupt (which I have never heard of happening before).

Are you keeping your Agenda file on a Compact Flash card? If so then try removing the card and then trying a hard reset.

Are you leaving all of the batteries out of the machine for a good few minutes to ensure that it gets a chance to completely discharge?

Beyond that, if Agenda is still behaving badly then I'm stumped and I would only be able to suggest that you return the device to Psion or to POS to have a look at it (although they will charge you since I doubt that your 5 is still under warranty.

[Eightball]

WolfUK - If the hard reset puts the Psion back to 'out of the box' setup, will my user installed apps still be there? I only ask because they are (a unit conversion app, a game, RMRMonth and an update form the psion site). Am I doing the hard reset wrong? (press pin in hole in backup battery compartment, hold down both Shift keys and press ON).

Brianh - RMRMonth looks pretty good, and will be OK if I can't get Agenda working, but both together would be excellent.

All my data is backed up onto a Compact Flash Card, and I have been keeping this out of the Psion when trying various ideas and bits of advice.

A big 'Thanks' to everyone who's given advice, I appreciate all the help.

8ball

[brianh]

I think that the problem is that you aren't actually doing a hard reset. If your apps that you have personally installed there (i.e., from a .sis file or via your PC) then what you are actually doing is a soft reset.

To do the hard reset, first back all data that you want to keep up (either to PC or CF card). Remove the CF card and then remove both the main AA batteries and the backup battery. Leave them out for about 5 minutes. When you re-insert the batteries and power on the device, the splash screen will appear and it will take you to the file view. None of your data that you have installed or created on the machine will be there.

The machine should now be the same as when it came out of the box (except for the usual exterior wear and tear). Try Agenda before installing any apps and copying data back over.

Hope this works for you.

[Eightball]

Hi guys, some good news, I managed to get it all working.

Thanks for all your help, I'll try and explain what I think was wrong in a sec.

Brianh, my fault, I was confused, I have been doing all batteries out resets, but last time I was copying stuff around from the flash card, and must have moved all the apps back onto the psion.

What happened was.......

Yesterday I noticed that, after a hard reset, the Agenda worked only when the flash card wasn't in. The flash card has a copy of the internal drive on it. When this problem first came up I didn't have a PC to back up to, so had to wait a while until I got a flash card to do a reset.

When I copied my stuff over to the flash card I copied everything, the entire internal drive, including the system directory etc. Then, after resetting it, I would put the batteries and flash card back. Sometimes Agenda would seem to work, but then it failed when I put in the flash card and tried to open Agenda (either from internal or flash card), but I dind't realise this at the time.

All I did yesterday (now I have a PC and PsiWin) was to move the system directory off the flash card (moved to a PC directory), leaving only my data files on the card.

Another hard reset, and agenda works. Insert flash card (minus system directory), everything still works.

It looks like Agenda was just confused by having two different .ini files or something (Brianh - you were spot on with the mixed signals). This didn't seem to affect the other apps .ini files, but then the .ini files may be identical for those on both flash and internal drive.

Anyway, thats what happened, and has got it all working again.

It may work in future to tell others to make sure they only have one system directory/.ini file.

Once again thanks for all your help, I'll definately keep browsing these forums.

8ball

[brianh]

8ball,

glad to read that you were able to sort out the agenda problem...it pay's to be persistent