QEX2 Help (V1.10)
by QLand.de

Highlights

QEX2 is an easy to use Windows program to convert text documents between PC and PalmPilot format (both directions). The program supports Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 and XP. Read here in this helpfile how to convert and transfer documents to/from your PC/Palm device. QEX2 is Shareware, read here how to Register QEX2. Unregistered QEX2 is fully functionable but registration requesters will appear on program start and sometimes during work.

V1.10
- fixed tray icon problem
- command line options for desktop icon property

V1.07
- additional options
- corrected CR/LF handling (no more blocks in text)
-> option list

V1.05
- starting out of windows autostart drawer
-> send app to tray

Tips
Converting Step by Step
Clipboard Use
Command Line
Documents

Assumption for working with QEX2 is that your Palm Desktop and Hotsync application on your PC is properly installed. QEX2 will not work correctly with old versions of Palm Desktop, so be sure do dowlnload the latest version at palm.com/software/desktop/.

If you are looking for a stable and fast text reader and editor for your Palm, I can recommend QED - Document Editor.

Overview of Controls

1 tasklist pc file
2 tasklist sync action
3 tasklist palm file
4 pc file name
5 sync action
6 palm file name
7 pc file info
8 browse pc file
9 palm file info
10 browse palm file
11 convert tasks
12 tab space setting
13 option list
14 auto naming
15 ask overwrite
16 install list
17 register application
18 category setting
19 task status
20 delete task
21 add new task
22 save default
23 clipboard setup
24 exit application
25 send app to tray
26 version info
27 link to help

Converting Step by Step
Clipboard Use
Command Line
Documents

Registration

1 Tasklist PC File
Here you find the list of tasks to be converted to/from your PC. Every entry in the list should be a valid path and name of a textfile on your PC.

• select an entry in the list and edit the path and filename manually in 4 pc file name
• select an entry in the list and browse a path and filename with 8 browse pc file
  - you can also double click an entry to browse it
• add new tasks with 21 add new task
• delete a selected task with 20 delete task

2 Tasklist Sync Action
This column shows the synchronisation action for the task. The kind of action is represented by a associated icon. After converting the tasks with 11 convert taks a short success or error code, the task status, is shown behind the icons. The action icon of the current task is also shown at 5 sync action.

• click on the icon to change it

no action for this task on the next conversion
the pc text will be converted to a palm text document on the next conversion
the palm text document will be converted to a pc text file on the next conversion
depending on what file has been changed, one of the upper two actions will be performed
.... if both files have been changed a requester will ask you what file should be updated

• task status shortcuts behind the icons
  
  OK
  ....... last conversion was ok
  ??
  ....... an error happened during conversion, look 19 task status for more detailed information
  -
  ....... this task was ignored at last conversion

The task status of the last conversion is also displayed in the tool tip text of the QEX2 tray icon.

3 Tasklist Palm File
Here you find the list of tasks to be converted to/from your Palm device. Every entry in the list should be a name of a Palm text document. If a HotSyncID is choosen at 16 install list, then the Palm document is converted to/from the users default backup directory managed by your Palm Desktop application. If 'Custom' is set at 16 install list then the conversion is done to/from a path and filename of your choice.

• select an entry in the list and edit the path and filename manually in 6 palm file name
• or select an entry in the list and browse a path and filename with 10 browse palm file
  - you can also double click an entry to browse it
• add new tasks with 21 add new task
• delete a selected task with 20 delete task

4 PC File Name
The PC file name field holds the path and file name of a PC textfile, it is linked to the corresponding entry of 1 tasklist pc file. This file can be source or target of a conversion action, depending on what sync action is set in 2 tasklist sync action or 5 sync action.

• you can either edit the path and filename manually or use 8 browse pc file button to change it
• the field beneath 7 pc file info shows a short info about the pc file
• changing the pc file name with checked 14 auto naming and 5 sync action or will try to generate an adequate palm file name

5 Sync Action
Shows the synchronisation action for a selected task. The kind of action is represented by an icon, the icons correspond to the tasklist entries in 2 tasklist sync action.

• click on the icon to change it

no action for this task on the next conversion
the PC text will be converted to a Palm text document on the next conversion
the Palm text document will be converted to a PC text file on the next conversion
depending on what file has been changed, one of the upper two actions will be performed
........ if both files have been changed a requester will ask you what file should be updated
this icon is shown if no task is choosen in the tasklist

6 Palm File Name
The Palm file name field holds the name of a Palm text document, it is linked to the corresponding entry of 3 tasklist palm file. This filename can be source or target of a conversion action, depending on what sync action is set in 2 tasklist sync action or 5 sync action.

• if a HotSyncID is choosen at 16 install list, then the Palm document is converted to/from the users default backup directory managed by your Palm Desktop application
• if 'Custom' is set at 16 install list then the conversion is done to/from a path and filename of your choice
• you can either edit the path and filename manually or use 10 browse palm file button to change it
• the field beneath 9 palm file info shows a short info about the palm file
• if 14 auto naming is checked the Palm document extension .pdb is appended to the filename
• changing the palm file name with checked 14 auto naming and 5 sync action or will try to generate an adequate PC file name

7 PC File Info
The PC file info field shows a short information about the current 4 pc file name.

• if the given path and filename are valid and the file exists, date, time and filesize are displayed
• if path and filename are valid but the file does not exist 'New File' appears
• if a valid path without a filename was entered 'Browse or Enter Filename' will show up
• to have a closer look at the directory and filename you specified, you can press 8 browse pc file

8 Browse PC File
Pressing this button pops up the browse PC file dialog. Choose a path and filename of a PC textfile and it will be used as source or destination for the next conversion, depending on the sync action set with 2 tasklist sync action or 5 sync action.

• usable PC files contain plain ASCII text, mostly with extension .txt, .c, .cpp, .asm, .h, .bas, .log or similar
• changing the pc file name with checked 14 auto naming and 5 sync action or will try to generate an adequate palm file name

In this version of QEX2 you can only select one file at a time, it is planned to allow multiple file selection in a future version. Read also about Documents.

9 Palm File Info
The Palm file info field shows a short information about the current 6 palm file name.

• if the given filename is valid and the file exists, date, time and filesize are displayed
• if the filename is valid but the file does not exist 'New File' appears
• if no filename was entered 'Browse or Enter Filename' will show up
• to have a closer look at the directory and filename you specified you can press 10 browse palm file
• if multiple HotSyncIDs are set at 16 install list and is set at 5 sync action, than Distribute Mode will be shown in this field

10 Browse Palm File
Pressing this button pops up the browse palm file dialog. Choose a path and filename of a palm text document and it will be source or destination for the next conversion, depending on the sync action set with 2 tasklist sync action or 5 sync action.

• if a HotSyncID is choosen at 16 install list, pressing this button will open the dialog with the default direcotory for this user
• with set 'Custom' in 16 install list you can browse a path of your choice
• generally palm document files appear with the extion .pdb at your PC
• if 14 auto naming is checked the Palm document extension .pdb is appended to the filename
• changing the palm file name with checked 14 auto naming and 5 sync action or will try to generate an adequate PC file name

In this version of QEX2 you can only select one file at a time, it is planned to allow multiple file selection in a future version. Read also about Documents.

11 Convert Tasks
With this button you start the conversion of all tasks listed in the tasklist, 1 tasklist pc file and 3 tasklist palm file. Depending on the selected 2 tasklist sync action the files are handled as source or target.

• when starting conversion the caption of this button changes to 'Stop', pressing it will stop the conversion as soon as practicable
• a progressbar and a progress icon in the tray bar are shown while converting
• during conversion you may be asked for updating files or overwriting files if 14 ask overwrite is checked
• after conversion a status shortcut is shown behind the sync icon in 2 tasklist sync action of each task
  - in case of an error a more detailed message for the selected task is shown in 19 task status

- The task status of the last conversion is also displayed in the tool tip text of the QEX2 tray icon.
- You can also start conversion by selecting 'Convert List' in the tray bar menu.

12 Tab Space Setting
This field holds the number of spaces to replace the TABs of a text document with.

• it is only effective if 5 sync action shows and 'TABs to Spaces' is checked at 13 option list
• it is recommended to check this option and put the tab space setting to a value of 4 or 8
  - possibly tables and sourcecode are looking much better with this setting on your Palm device

• Compress
  documents converted from PC to palm format will be stored in uncompressed format
  documents converted from PC to palm format will be stored in compressed format (recommended)

• TABs to Spaces
  TABs in a PC text file are converted without changes
  TABs in a PC text file are converted to spaces (recommended)
  ... look also 12 tab space setting

• Strip HTML
  will be implemented in a future version

• CR to LF
  CR's are not replaced with LF's (recommended)
  CR's are replaced with LF's, this means to get paragraphed text in most cases
  ... see also note

• Allow Binary
  will be implemented in a future version

• Raw
  CR's are stripped for PalmOS (recommended)
  document data isn't changed in any way
  ... overrides the CR to LF and TABs to Spaces setting
  ... deactivates default CR's stripping, see also note

Note: By default CR's are stripped off the document because PalmOS will show them as little squares in the text.

14 Autonaming
The autonaming setting activates or deactivates the automatic generation of an adequate PC/Palm filename when changing one of them. See 4 PC file name and 6 palm file name for more information. Activated autonaming will append the Palm document extension .pdb to 6 palm file name.

16 Install List
All Palm devices registered on your system are listed here with their HotSyncID. Depending on the setting in 5 sync action your Palm device(s) backup directory(s) is source or target of a conversion. An own install list is managed for each task.

• if 5 sync action is in mode you can select more than one target device
  - 'Distribute Mode' will be shown in 9 palm file info
  - use this mode for convenient distributing one text file to more than one Palm device (31 max.)
• the 'Custom' setting in the list is for converting to/from a directory of your choice
  - no automatic installation of converted Palm documents happens when 'Custom' is checked

17 Register Application

18 Category Setting
The document transferred to your Palm device will be assigned to the category number set in this field. Your reading- respective writing-software on your Palm device will evaluate this setting. Values from 0 (= unfiled) up to 15 are allowed.

20 Delete Task
Pressing this button deletes the currently highlighted conversion task. You can add a new task with 21 add new task.

21 Add New Task
After this button was pressed a new conversion task will be added to the list.

• the settings for the newly added task are taken from the default settings
• press 22 save default to save the settings of the currently highlighted task as default
• start the conversion process for all activated tasks with 11 convert tasks
• delete the currently highlighted task by pressing 20 delete task

22 Save Default
This will save the settings of the currently highlighted conversion task as default. If adding a new conversion task with 21 add new task these settings will be used to fill 5 sync action, 12 tab space, 13 option list, 18 category, 16 install list and the paths of 4 pc file name and 6 palm file name.

A clipfile name
B file count up
C convert clip
D clip settings done

23 Clipboard Setup
One of the most important features of QEX2 is a convenient method of converting the content of the clipboard to a Palm document, ready to use on your handheld device after few mouseclicks, see Clipboard Use for more information. Pressing this button leaves the normal task setting view and enters the clipboard setting. It has nearly the same settings as a normal conversion task and additionally some special ones.

A Clipfile Name
Enter a filename for the clipboardfile here. If pressing C convert clipboard the current content of the clipboard will be converted to a Palm text document with this filename.

• if the field stays empty the default name 'clipboard.pdb' is used
• if B file count up is checked an automatically counted up number is added at the end of the name
  - see 6 palm file name for more information
• if 14 auto naming is checked the Palm document extension .pdb is appended to the filename

the same file is used and updated (overwritten) on conversion
a new file is used on every conversion, an automatically generated number at the end of the filename is counted up
... you can set the startvalue by entering a number between 0...999

In order to work fluently with the clipboard function of QEX2 no overwriting confirmations are performed.

D Clipboard Settings done
This will finish the clipboard settings and return to the normal task view of QEX2. At any time, also in task view and especially when the main window of QEX2 is hidden, you can start the clipboard conversion from QEX2's tray icon.

A desktop
B task bar
C tray bar
D QEX2 tray icon

25 Send Application to Tray
You can hide the window of QEX2 by sending it to the traybar. This is useful especially if you use the clipboard conversion function. When starting the program it will remember the window state it was finished with lastly. You can use this to launch QEX2 in minimized state (only the traybar icon is shown), out of the windows autostart drawer.

• right clicking D QEX2 tray icon will pop up a menu
  - see also Clipboard Use for more information
• to restore the main window double click the QEX2 tray bar icon
  - you can also use the tray bar icon menupoint 'Restore Window'
• D QEX2 tray icon is also used to show the progress of conversion
• a small checkmark is shown in the icon if the clipboard conversion was successful
  - a small exclamation mark is shown if an error happens while converting the clipboard
• if the mouse pointer stays quiet over D QEX2 tray icon an info text is shown
  - it contains the success or error message of the last clipboard conversion

Tip: Drag the QEX2 desktop icon into the windows 'Start/Autostart' drawer. On next windows start QEX2 will be launched automatically.

Tip: If QEX2 was quitted in minimized window state, it will start without showing its main window. Use the QEX2 traybar menupoint 'Exit' to quit the program while its window is minimized.

Tip: You can also send QEX2 to tray by selecting 'Hide Window' of the tray bar menu.

Converting Step by Step
This will give you a brief description how to add a conversion task and convert a file to/from your PC/Palm device.

• hotsync your Palm device if necessary*
• press 21 add new task -> a new empty task will be added
  - the default settings are used for the settings of the new task
• choose the direction of the converison by clicking 5 sync action
  - you can also change the conversion direction by clicking 2 tasklist sync action
• set the source/destination username or 'Custom' at 16 install list
• choose a name for the source file at 4 pc file name or 6 palm file name
  - check the destination file name as well, also have a look at 14 auto naming
• check the conversion options for this task at 13 option list
• now press 11 convert tasks
• hotsync your palm device if necessary*

*) Depending on the conversion action you want to perform, it is necessary to hotsync your Palm device before or after starting the text conversion.

Clipboard Use
One of the most important features of QEX2 is a convenient method of converting the content of the clipboard to a Palm document, ready to use on your handheld device after few mouseclick. Take the following steps to use it. See also 23 clipboard setup and 25 send app to tray.

Preparation

• start QEX2
  - if you don't need the main window then 25 send the application to the tray bar
• now, while working with your PC, QEX2 shows its icon in the tray bar
  - let's assume you are working with your internet browser or favourite word processor
  - further assume you've found an article or a piece of text you want to read later on the sofa or when on a conference

When QEX2 is already started

• mark the text passage to highlight it
  - drag the mouse while holding the left mouse button
  - or press cursor/page down key while holding the shift button
  - or press CTRL-A to mark the whole text
• now copy the marked text to clipboard
  - select menu/edit/copy
  - or press CTRL-C
• right click the QEX2 tray bar icon
  - a menu pops up
• select 'Convert Cipboard' in the menu
  - a progress icon is shown while converting
• if conversion is done properly a small checkmark in the tray bar icon is shown
  - if an error happens a small exclamation mark is show in the tray bar icon
• hotsync your Palm device
  - the clipboard content is transferred to your mobile device

For more information what file name is used for the clipboard text on your Palm device see 23 clipboard setup. For more info on the tray bar and error messages see 25 send app to tray.

Distribute Mode
QEX2 allows to convert text documents or the clipboard content of your PC to more than one target Palm device with a single conversion. This is especially useful if you want to have the same text on multiple Palms, for example on a conference.

• choose at 5 sync action
• for option and filename setting see Converting Step by Step
• select multiple target usernames in 16 install list
  - 'Distribute Mode' is shown in 9 plam file info
• press 11 convert tasks
• hotsync each target Palm device that was checked in 16 install list
  (if no error has happened during conversion)

Command Line Options for Desktop Icon Property
There are two command line options to start QEX2 in special modes without showing its main screen. To add or change command line options right click on QEX2 desktop icon and choose 'Property' of the context menu, the property dialog pops up, in the 'Target' field add your option sperated by a space.

Example: C:\Programs\QEX2\QEX2.exe -s

• -s
  - QEX2 starts in silent conversion mode
  - if QEX2 is not running yet
  ... all activated tasks are converted without showing the main window
  ... if no errors happen QEX2 is finished quietly
  ... if errors happen a message is shown
  - if QEX2 is already running
  ... all activated tasks will be converted
• -c
  - QEX2 starts in clipboard convert mode
  - the recent content of the clipboard is converted without showing the main window
  ... if no errors happen QEX2 is finished quietly
  ... if errors happen a message is shown

Before using these commands be sure valid conversion tasks are in QEX2 tasklist, respectively the clipboard is not empty.

Tip: Copy your QEX2 desktop icon to start QEX2 in different modes. To distinguish between the different QEX2 start modes you can use different desktop icons. Use the property dialog of QEX2 desktop icon to change it, QEX2 is shipped with four different icons.

Documents
In order to load documents on your Palm device and read or work on them with a Reader and Editor like QED or an other program, it is helpful to know a little about the used text formats. That includes the reverse way, if you made a new document or edited an existing one on your Palm device and want to transfer it to your PC. Text documents on your Palm device (on your PC recognizable on the .pdb extension) contain only plain text and paragraph information without consideration of the typeface, typesize or underlining, and are mostly compressed. This format is often described as DOC. On your PC text documents exist in the simplest case as ASCII files, recognizable on the .txt extension, they also contain only the plain text and paragraph information, however they are always uncompressed.

From PC to Palm device:

• In the easiest case you load a text document from the net in the .pdb format, unpack it if necessary and transfer it with Palm Desktop and hotsync, like any other application (for instance with a double click), to your Palm device.
• If you want to transfer a .txt ASCII format document from your PC to your Palm device, you have to convert it to .pdb format with QEX2 before transfer.
• If you want to transfer MS-Word (.doc), Ritch Text Format (.rtf) or documents of other word processing applications, you have to save this document - with this application - as plain ASCII text at first. This could mostly be done with the menupoint 'File/Save as', then choose in the following 'Save as' dialog 'Text only' (.txt) for 'Filetype'. You have now generated an additional document, a plain ASCII document, and you can continue as described in the point before.
• A new and very convenient method now with QEX2 is to copy a text from your favourite PC word processor to the clipboard and convert it to a Palm document with a few mouse clicks. Read here how to use QEX2 clipboard functionality.

•  

  From Palm device to PC:

• After a hotsync you will find documents edited on your Palm device in a special directory of your PC. This directory is used to synchronize and backup your 'mobile' data and was created with installation of your Palm Desktop. Normally you will find this directory under 'c:\Palm\1k\Backup', if you have choosen a different path on Palm Desktop installation you will find it there: '...\Palm\Backup\1k'. Did you register more than one Palm device, Palm Desktop numbers the directory names 2k, 3k etc. Now search your document in the corresponding directory, the documents name is the same as displayed in QED plus extension .pdb. After you have converted this document by means of QEX2 to a normal ASCII text, you can read or edit it on your PC.
• After the preliminary work of the last point you can take over the won ASCII file to your favourite word processing program. In case of MS-Word use menupoint 'File/Open', choose in the following 'Open' dialog 'Text only' (.txt) for 'Filetype'. Nearly every word processing program allows importing of ASCII texts in one way or another.

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