Doc Reader From Hell

[PalmTealLover]

I have been watching (duh!!) Tealpoint's site over the last few weeks and the alpha version of TealDoc 6, which they made available to all of us to look at and test and review. The highlights can be found if you go to

www.tealpoint.com

and click on "beta" on left side. Here are some of the main improvement points (over 5.56) condensed if you don't have time. I played with it "hard," and COULD NOT MAKE IT CRASH.

Version 6 Beta 6 - April 8, 2004
Fixed crash on edit screen finding past end of document immediately after deleting text
Fixed corruption of text by single characters when editing
Version 6 Beta 5 - April 7, 2004
Added "scanned for bookmarks" option on details page
Added "info" mode to bring up details on Document list
Fixed drawing of line in title bar
Fixed image rendering of vertically-clipped uncompressed TealPaint image files
Fixed corruption of documents over 8k when editing
Fixed "no" option when performing search and replace
Preselected text cursor on edit page
Fixed "edit" mode when selecting images (calls tealpaint)
Added warning when trying to open image file without TealPaint present
Modified pick lists to cycle selection when scrolling past bounds
Added auto-reset of keymaps when new actions added
Version 6 Beta 3 - April 6, 2004
Added option to auto-detect right-justification in Hebrew documents
Fixed "opening" of TealPaint images to launch TealPaint, if present
Fixed crashes editing documents
Added category pick list to details window
Fixed selection of text not to include initial spaces
Fixed refresh problem when using menu shortcuts to scroll screen
Updated manual to version 6
Version 6 Beta 2 - April 4, 2004
Added 'force grayscale' mode for monochrome handhelds
Fixed color selector to toggle colors in 1-bit mode
Fixed default colors to be visible for monochrome mode
Version 6 Beta 1 - April 4, 2004
Added doc editing cut/copy/paste/undo menus and functionality
Added ARM-native doc compression
Added search/replace functionality for edit screen
Added support for word lookup through BDicty dictionary
Fixed doc saving for multi-record docs
Version 6 Alpha 29 - April 1, 2004
Added doc editing capability
Fixed seeking from document links
Version 6 Alpha 28 - March 30, 2004
Added support for protected documents
Added support for printing through TealPrint
Added direct menu to select FontBucket font
Version 6 Alpha 27 - March 27, 2004
Added support for TICL standard button mapping (choose reset to refresh options)
Added support for user-defined color schemes
This is a bold and wonderful new version. I downloaded and tested newest Beta 3 version this afternoon, and the biggest thing I can claim is you can now EDIT or ADD bookmarks to a document on the SD Card, without bringing back in to RAM. You can also copy any part of the text and paste to any other application (addresses, quotes -- very handy).

As far as I'm concerned this brings TealDoc into a new competitive position against ISilo (which I never cared for), JPluck, Plucker and WordSmith. The fact that documents are no longer "dead" once they're placed on the SD Card (in any subfolder you create, or try the new "categories" option available in TDoc6). They remain somewhat editable plus there are links for TealPaint to automatically open up if necessary. It is fast, configurable and at 380k is 200k smaller than WordSmith and one third of the 1MB required for other apps of this type.

TealDoc also runs EXTREMELY well in Flash, although I'll keep this one in RAM until the final version can be overlaid and then inserted to Flash. It allows you to create folders like TealMover or Filez, and open up to the same screen if you elect. Another plus is it comes bundled with fontbucket prc and fontbucket fonts (3-4) should you prefer to view in those!! I personally prefer the "standard" or "bold," but some of you might prefer others.

One suggestion I have, if you're an "edit after the fact" type like me, is check the preferences box that alllows a temporary copy to be made in RAM. It will allow you to SORT BOOKMARKS of anything on the card MUCH FASTER. Normally I will have this set to off, but remember to enable it if you're doing a lot of SD Card document "editing."

[ryber]

From your post, it sounds like TealDoc is a winner. From the title of your post, however. . . Doc Reader from Hell sounds like a bad thing.

[abid786]

I agree with Ryber. I thought you found some super non-recommendable doc reader, which doesn't work at all with the Tungstens. Guess I will have to give TealDoc 6 a try soon

Abid

[scottoldford13]

I agree there were do you get that name too?

It should be Doc Reader from Heaven ???

Anyways I disagree there I think Isilo is the best doc reader available (No I don't have a reason)

[xlr8]

Scottoldford said:

I agree there were do you get that name too?

Huh?

[scottoldford13]

It is a stupid name becasue it should be the name the doc reader from heaven.

[abid786]

Originally posted by xlr8
Huh?

Sorry. We should have given you an introduction to the members of this forum. Meet Scott Oldford, the one person people should learn to ignore, since his spelling mistakes make his posts usually unreadable

Abid

[PDAMania]

yeah not the best of titles

[PalmROC]

I'm curious. What don't you like about iSilo? It's one of the primary reasons I use my Palm. So if this "hellish" new version of TealDoc is really that much better, maybe I should consider a switch.

I really like what I have been able to do with iSiloX and html file versions of all sorts of documents (and websites too). For document reading, I really like the iSilo/iSiloX combination.

And, by the way, [with tongue firmly planted in cheek] I know it may be a goofy way to spell it, but it is "iSilo."

[dwinget]

I haven't used Tealdoc so I can't comment on how well it compares with iSilo and iSiloX. However, I can say I have been using iSilo for the past 5 or 6 years, using both Palm and Pocket PC versions. I really like iSilo as a general purpose reader. I like creating ebooks with iSiloX. iSilo has support for the T3's stretch screen and it is very easy to use. I haven't tried converting normal Microsoft Office documents to iSilo, but that sounds like an interesting idea.

I'm also interested in testing Tealdoc and seeing what it is like.

[PalmTealLover]

I don't mean to tread on anyone's favorite. I looked at an iSilo trial a couple of weeks ago and it seemed impressive, but I store everything on the SD Card and TealDoc allows me to have folders under General Folder "TEALDOC" to sort documents. The new version also offers categories and I'm still figuring how to arrange the two -- there are now too many options. Whe I tried iSilo, it just seemed to jumble everything together, but perhaps that was MY inability to "organize the app" properly.

iSilo (however it's spelled - sorry) did seem POWERFUL in representing html stuff; right now I copy the text of web info I want, paste it in Notepad, convert it with the TDoc converter and a 1-3k file of TEXT ONLY goes on the palm. I then add bookmarks if necessary, and MOVE it to the SD Card in a specific "reference folder."

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, and would be MUCH appreciated, if you both would share your iSilo experiences here to any extent you wish -- how easy is "plucking" (there's another app that seemed promising but Jeez, the cache file and palm files were H U G E ) stuff form the web and viewing it AS IT APPEARED ON YOUR PC on the palm screen?

I will try out dozens and dozens (hundreds by now) of small apps, but complicatd stuff with PC syncs like JPluck, Plucker, iSilo (x), et cetera just sort of "gets to me" after a while - I unfortunately don't have that kind of time. TDoc always seemed like an unnecessary luxury for me (WordSmith will handle doc files too) . . . until I bought it and started using it - now I've got a reference library from hell and it's tying up maybe 150k on the SD Card. Store lists/locations, software manuals, et cetera -- all nicely contained.

But if either of you use iSilo and FIND LITTLE WAYS to make it REALLY cool, please let us all know here, or PM me with advice -- I'm always willing (and actually really INTERESTED at this point) about html files on the T3 in a quick, readable, thorough manner.

Thanks.

[dwinget]

Actually, iSilo has a way to categorize the list of documents, including the ones on the memory card. In the upper right hand side of the screen, there is a drop-down menu with the word All next to it. If you click on that, there is a list of categories or you can create your own. This list is used to filter the list of documents.

To assign the document to the category, you open the document, click menu-->edit-->details. In the details box that pops up, you can select the category. Click the OK button when you are done.

Hope this info is useful.

[Telyx]

There's a faster way to categorize a long list of docs. In the picklist at the bottom left of the screen, choose Categorize, then tap each app name and tap the category from the list that pops up. Documents on the SD card will have a little card icon next to their names, but they can be categorized as easily as docs in RAM.

I've been using iSilo for several years now and bought the full version of iSilo 3 a couple of years ago. I'm really happy with it. It renders tables and charts well, though it can take several seconds to get the formatting set up, and it does pictures too. I haven't grabbed any web pages with it--normally I use it to convert text files or read pre-made iSilo documents (from memoware.com, etc.).

[PalmTealLover]

I'm looking at it but I just don't like it as much as TealDoc, and yet I guess I'm looking for something more like plucker but not as complicated or memory intensive.

TealDoc as a READER is just terrific; I've been using it 2 years. iSilo is pretty but not NEARLY as functional - TDoc will handle HTML tags, et cetera -- I suppose the problem is I'm just not that "bright" with the html thing yet. If I "control c" copy a web page, I usually save as a word or notepad document. I don't even understand the basics of saving as "html" and where and how you would go about doing that!! I have the same nightmares with animated GIFs - God, they're irritating. Talk about frightening -- I'm referring to how DENSE I am!!!

Oh, I'm a whiz with folder hierarchies, encryption and JackFlash . . . . but saving something that's off the web . . . . I'm hearing the voices again!! Strapping on the little helmet . . . . .

I'll muddle along with it -- thanks again.

[PalmROC]

Originally posted by dwinget
...I haven't tried converting normal Microsoft Office documents to iSilo, but that sounds like an interesting idea.

I typically only do this for very large Word documents/books that have more complicated formatting and font sizes. I just find it pleasant to read them with iSilo. Stuff that I don't intend to change too often is a good candidate. (I use Wordsmith for docs that I am currently working on.)

For those who don't use iSiloX, the "basic process" is to first set iSiloX's default setting to however you like things to look on your Palm. Then edit your Word doc and "Save As" an html file. Drag the html file onto the open iSiloX window and hit the convert button. Sync. When you close iSiloX, that file will remain in the list ready for the next time you make changes to the doc/html file. Of course that is also how you can have a whole list of websites that you want to update regularly and have deposited onto your Palm for reading. It's not the only software that will do it, but I find it very handy to use.

I like that I can set the default picture size, include bookmarks from the original Word document, and a few other handy options.

Almost all of my iSilo docs are on the SD card. Only the more often updated stuff lands in RAM. (Besides, I actually have more free RAM than SD memory; now that's a scary thought!)

Of course, YMMV.

edit: Just noticed Paul posted while I was typing. I don't know if this post helps as well. It might still be too "general." I found that it certainly did take some time and experimentation to determine the best default settings for my taste. But after things are set up, it's pretty much "drag-n-drop" a html file (or paste a url) into iSiloX, hit the convert button, and hotsync. You can then choose to move the file to the SD card using iSilo's bulit-in copy/move function right on your Palm (or leave it in RAM if your card is full).