Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

Well, I finally found a way to store eye2 pics on my Memplug, restore them to handheld memory, and successfully sync them to my PC. I use pz, a palm zip tool, to package together in one file the following DB's: burkeDB, burkeMovieDB, burkeNoteDB, burkeVGADB, >>and<< eye2(3.1), the one in handheld memory, not the one on the eye2 module itself. Apparently, the eye2 app in handheld memory contains some crucial and changeable information! I then move the .pz file to the MemPlug, delete the original burke*DB's, take more pics, sync those to the PC, restore the .pz file to handheld memory, extract burke*DB's and eye2 app, then sync those pics to the PC. Using pz to package the files is apparently necessary because I have tried moving the unpackaged files to the MemPlug and back only to be stifled by the annoying "Invalid Unique ID passed" error at hotsync.

The big gotcha in all this is that you need to have enough free handheld memory to create the .pz file, which is only a little smaller than all the DB's put together w/o compression. Having enough handheld memory free to create the .pz file pretty much obviates moving the pics to external memory in the first place! The same gotcha applies when restoring the .pz file to the handheld.

If this all sounds convoluted, it is! If someone (anyone! please! I'm begging you!) has a less tortuous way to do this, enlighten us VC'ers!

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 12

ASP01

I suggest another way to store your image and movie databases generated by eyemodules in SmartMedia card. Select and copy the databases of burkeDB, burkeMovieDB, burkeNoteDB, burkeVGADB and eyemod 2 app with using PiMover from RAM to SMC. Once you want to get back your images, just copy back the above databases and eyemod 2 from SMC to RAM. There is no error when you hotsync the databases.

__________________
MemPlug

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

Simple copying doesn't seem to work

Thanks MemPlug Support for your response, but simple copying doesn't seem to work. This problem is not confined to the MemPlug as CF adapter users have complained of the same problem. The databases themselves can be backed up, but the HotSync stalls with an "Invalid UniqueID passed" error on the handheld when the Eyemodule2 conduit starts to do its business. This thankfully only requires a soft reset on the handheld to restore functionality but the pictures are not synced to the desktop even though pictures added to the databases subsequently WILL be synced. This doesn't seem to be a problem with your fine product but a problem with the way databases are recognized by the PalmOS when not added through a Hotsync.

MemPlug Support, if you have actually succeeded in syncing pictures to the desktop from databases restored by a simple copying, I would appreciate any details you could provide that I may have missed.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 42

Folks,

I have sent the following e-mail to eye2 support:

" Hi there,

I have recently bought the eyemodule2 which I use with a Visor Deluxe.
If I am generally quite happy with the product as it fits my needs and it
is what I expected it to be, there are a couple of things that tend to ennoy
me.

1) I'm using niCad batteries, therefore I have changes the battery settings for Nicad,
and the eyemodule2 will tell me that the battery voltage is too low to capture images.
It is probably due to the fact that the software does not check the battery setting. A patch
release would be nice.

2) This one is quite more ennoying and has been reported by several users (see www.visorcentral.com).
When you take pictures and you save the burk* databases on to some memory (flash, Compact Flash, ......)
you take some more pictures that you store on new empty databases (installed when you insert the module)
and then reload the previously saved databases, you can't hotsync your pictures anymore as the visor gives you
a "invalid unique ID" error. A patch would be greatly appreciated by the eyemodule2 user community.

Thanks.

Regards."

I will post their answer here.

BobRus.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 42

Folks,

As promised the answer from EM Customer Support:

"As per Handsprings FAQ for their Visor Deluxe.

Q. What types of batteries can I use with my handheld? Are rechargeable batteries ok?
A. When replacing batteries, always use good quality batteries of the same type. Use only alkaline batteries with your handheld.

The Eyemodule will react to the Voltage on the Batteries that are installed. The Eyemodule is designed to work within the specifications of the Visor. If non alkaline batteries are used, then unexpected results may occur.

We have tested moving the Burke database files to the Flash module and then taking new pictures. We have been unable to duplicate the error message.
We started fresh.
1. Deleted Eyemod2
2. Inserted the Eyemodule2 took a few pictures and a movie.
3. Removed the Eyemodule2 and Inserted the 8MB Flash Module
4. Moved just the 4 Burke DB files to the Flash.
5. Removed the Flash module and inserted the Eyemodule2
6. Took several pictures and performed a hotsync.
7. Removed Eyemodule and reinserted Flash module.
8. Moved Burke DB files back to Visor overwriting existing
files.
9. Performed Hotsync, images transferred with no difficulty.

The only time we have seen the "invalid unique ID" is when performing Hotsync''s between two different computers."

My thoughts:

1) What I can't understand is that we've got the possibility to change the battery settings in the visor but it is not officially supported !

2) They have tried it with a Flash Module and I have tried with a CF adapter. Can anyone confirm that it works with a Flash module please. If it does, it would mean that there may be something wrong with FAFileMover.

BobRus.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

quote:

---

Originally posted by BobRus
They have tried it with a Flash Module and I have tried with a CF adapter. Can anyone confirm that it works with a Flash module please. If it does, it would mean that there may be something wrong with FAFileMover.

---

__________________
<br>"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union" -Frank Lloyd Wright

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Man, this is deadly, isn't it?
I'm still using EM1, BTW.
But, yeah, I think HS's 8Mb FlashModule may not share this prob. -- maybe it does the job "cleaner" than the FA FileMover app.

Anyway, my "genius-level" solution has been to fill up my CF card w/images ... and there they still sit!

(I even did a hard-reset w/my Visor, re-loaded everything [except the EM app], and hoped I could "fool" the EM DB. I was willing to take this hit to be able to take plenty 'o pix. But no dice.)

But about a week ago (about a year's worth of time in my life ) I saw (on PalmGear HQ?) an app that claimed to extract photos (and video?) from EM DBs.
Sadly, I don't remember the name, or even if I dl it at home to try later.
But maybe somebody can, meanwhile, and post their results here.
Good luck...

__________________
"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

I feel your pain!

quote:

---

Originally posted by bkbk
Man, this is deadly, isn't it?
I'm still using EM1, BTW.
But, yeah, I think HS's 8Mb FlashModule may not share this prob. -- maybe it does the job "cleaner" than the FA FileMover app.

Anyway, my "genius-level" solution has been to fill up my CF card w/images ... and there they still sit!

(I even did a hard-reset w/my Visor, re-loaded everything [except the EM app], and hoped I could "fool" the EM DB. I was willing to take this hit to be able to take plenty 'o pix. But no dice.)

But about a week ago (about a year's worth of time in my life ) I saw (on PalmGear HQ?) an app that claimed to extract photos (and video?) from EM DBs.
Sadly, I don't remember the name, or even if I dl it at home to try later.
But maybe somebody can, meanwhile, and post their results here.
Good luck...

---

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Yeah, what a nuisance.
Hope this is fixed by EM3. (Jamming everything into a db.)
I could swear I'd've noticed if they'd stated it was an app for another platform -- but I could be wrong.
I didn't get a chance to track it back down yet.
I figured worse came to worst, I could just move and store all the pix on my PC, then when an app finally came around (as it ... must ... no?), I'd be able to see all the photos ... like back in the old days, when the drugstore took a month to develop 'em, eh?

__________________
"Great Spirits Have Always Encountered Violent Opposition From Mediocre Minds." -- Albert Einstein

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 165

quote:

---

Originally posted by bkbk
Yeah, what a nuisance.
Hope this is fixed by EM3. (Jamming everything into a db.)

---

Well, in fairness to Blocks/Ideo, they probably didn't have CompactFlash/SmartMedia solutions in mind when the EM2 was in development (Certainly not when developing the EM1!) I don't know if 'fixed' is the right word, since it implies that the product doesn't function as advertised.

It would be really handy to move eyemodule databases to and from non-flash external storage, though. Don't get me wrong. If Ideo doesn't release a patch or supplemental app, maybe a third party will.

here's hoping,

-Andy

__________________
<br>"Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union" -Frank Lloyd Wright

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

I cannot believe it!!! Has this problem been solved? I am now stuck with tons of photos I can't hotsync!

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 159

Have solved in MemPlug

quote:

---

Originally posted by stormy
I cannot believe it!!! Has this problem been solved? I am now stuck with tons of photos I can't hotsync!

---

In response to our customers,
MemPlug SM and MemPlug CF has solved this problem already.

You can now backup / restore EyeModule database or transfer its database without any problem.

You can even run Eyemodule and its database directly on card with our company's new product PiDirect.

PiDeveloper

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

Thanks for the quick reply! So... what do I have to do to solve the problem? Just installing the new versions of the software?

By the way, I used combiner for 3 of my picture databases and saved one without compressing it. 2 of the combiner databases sync'ed fine.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 159

quote:

---

Originally posted by stormy
Thanks for the quick reply! So... what do I have to do to solve the problem? Just installing the new versions of the software?

By the way, I used combiner for 3 of my picture databases and saved one without compressing it. 2 of the combiner databases sync'ed fine.

---

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

No luck.

Maybe the new version is needed _before_ the databases are moved?

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 159

quote:

---

Originally posted by stormy
No luck.

Maybe the new version is needed _before_ the databases are moved?

---

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

Ok, I will try that. Thanks!

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

No luck again.

I copied the databases from the old backup to the visor. I put them again on the memplug, and back again. Still get the error. (By the way, operations seem to take longer now, but I can't tell for sure).

So... are all my photos lost forever? How can I sync them back?

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 159

quote:

---

Originally posted by stormy
No luck again.

I copied the databases from the old backup to the visor. I put them again on the memplug, and back again. Still get the error. (By the way, operations seem to take longer now, but I can't tell for sure).

So... are all my photos lost forever? How can I sync them back?

---

Last edited by PiDeveloper on 07-20-2001 at 04:21 AM

Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

Sorry but I don't really understand what I have to do. Maybe I'm not explaining myself clearly, so I will try again:

- I have the 4 Eyemodule databases I want to sync in the SmartMedia card.
- They were put into the card one week ago, with the 1.4 version of MemPlug, and they're nowhere else (yet).
- I can copy them from the card to the visor, but I can't hotsync the pictures after that. The conduit gives the already discussed error.

What would be the process, with the updated MemPlug, to get the pictures sync'ed into the desktop? (is it possible?) I've read your reply many times but can't seem to figure it out!

Thanks a lot for your support,
Jorge