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-- Problems installing zipped programs.. (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=1746)

Most Palm programs I need to install are zipped. When I unzip them using Winzip, I then try to "add" them to the install utility. The problem is that many of the files are in formats other than supported palm formats and I can't get them into the install window to load them. I realize that these files (mostly *.txt, but some in C, bin, etc. format, must be converted to palm format somehow, but can't figure out how. I considered myself semi-computer literate until now, but am frustrated by this. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Robear (edited 11-25-1999).]

Robear,

Files that you can directly install onto your Palm device end in .pdb (usually data files or doc files) or .prc (applications).

If you unzip a zip archive, and you get .pdb or .prc files, you probably don't need to install anything else in the archive on your Visor.

If you unzip a zip archive, and all you get are .text files and other formats, then you can't install those on the Visor directly.

If you have a text file (.txt), you can convert it into a Doc file and install the Doc file on your Visor. There are programs you can run on your desktop machine that do this. To get a program that does this,
visit:
http://www.palmgear.com

click on the "software" link, then click on "Doc/Ebook". You'll see lots of software tools for creating Doc files from text files and other formats. (You'll also need to have a Doc reader tool installed on your Visor, such as TealDoc, SmartDoc, iSilo, or CSpotRun).

Are there any other kinds of files that you can't install?


[This message has been edited by mportuesi (edited 11-25-1999).]

Thanks much for the very informative reply. I'm now in the midst of downloading various files to follow your suggestions.

The only other files I've run up on so far are one written in the "C" language and some with the *.bin extension. I'll let you know if I encounter more.


------------------
Bob Brunson
Charleston, SC

The "C" program files are the source code, or the original programmer's instructions for creating the Palm application. You don't install the C files directly. Instead, you have to have a developer's environment such as CodeWarrior or GCC to compile the C files down into a PalmOS package (.prc file).

The .bin files, if they accompany .C files, usually hold the "resources" that accompany the programming instructions in the .C file. By "resources", I mean icon pictures, and layouts for the controls and dialogs the Palm application displays. Again, you use Codewarrior and GCC to combine these (along with the .C file) into a finished package.

My guess is that if you've downloaded a .zip file containing .C and .bin files, there's already a finished .prc file there waiting for you - no extra work is necessary.

Hope this helps,
Michael Portuesi (SF, CA)

[This message has been edited by mportuesi (edited 11-26-1999).]

Your comment "...my guess is that....there is probably an prc waiting for you...." was what solved my problem. I went back in, found an *.exe file tucked away in there, ran it and got the .prc file you predicted. Hotsync went fine and I got the book on the Visor.

Thanks a million for all your help.

Bob

I've got a related question. On my PowerMac using Internet Explorer I download what are supposedly .zip files from PalmGearHQ and they download with the file name, Redirector.cfm. What to do?

Davydd,

I'm doing some more guessing here, since I don't use Internet Explorer - I'm typing this message using Netscape on a Linux system.

But I'm pretty sure that the problem you're seeing is that IE is saving the link to the .zip file, and not following the link to the .zip file itself.

First, just try just clicking once on the ".zip" link. That really ought to work.

If that doesn't work, try a shift-click, or option-click, propeller-click, or perhaps click and hold the mouse button. You should get a menu of options. Choose the one that says "Save As..." or closest to it. (This is *really* guesswork on my part; I don't use IE. I do know that it behaves eerily similar to Netscape, and this is what Netscape does).

Anyway, once you've got a Zip file on the Mac, you will need a program that can unpack it. I think that Stuffit Deluxe can probably unpack .zip files.

Good luck.

[This message has been edited by mportuesi (edited 11-27-1999).]