Backdrop GC Documentation
Software Version 1.0
Released March 07, 2001

Written by Josh Freeman
©1998-2001, Twilight Edge Software
All Rights Reserved

About Backdrop GC
System Requirements
Archive Distribution
Disclaimer
BackdropGC.zip Archive Contents
Download
Quickstart
Selecting A Background
Adjusting The Foreground Color
Adjusting The Background Brighness
Backdrop GC Settings
Choosing Applications
Where To Find Background Images
Creating Your Own Backgrounds
Deleting Images
Registering Backdrop GC
Known Incompatibilities/ Bugs
Version History
Twilight Edge Software Contact Info


About Backdrop GC

    Take full advantage of your color Palm OS device's screen! Backdrop GC allows you use images as backgrounds which will stay in place when other applications are running! (You may control which apps will display the background). Backdrop GC reads images in the FireViewer format, which has several utilities for converting from popular formats such as BMP, GIF & JPEG.


System Requirements
    Backdrop GC requires a color Palm OS device. If you have a greyscale device, you can use Backdrop EZ (current models) or Backdrop (Palm III or earlier).
     TrapWeaver is also required to install Backdrop GC; TrapWeaver is a system utility which prevents conflicts between applications that patch system traps. For more information on TrapWeaver, see the TrapWeaver documentation.
    Backdrop GC uses 160K of memory. (This includes the Backdrop GC and TrapWeaver applications, as well as the memory Backdrop GC uses when it installs its system patches). Running Backdrop GC with less free memory may cause instability.


Archive Distribution
    Backdrop GC and TrapWeaver are shareware. The 'backdropgc.zip' archive may be freely distributed, provided its contents are not changed in any way. If you distribute the archive on a website or with a software collection, please notify the author. Any form of distribution that charges the user a fee, such as a commercial software collection, must clearly state that the user is purchasing unregistered copies which will require additional payments to register.


Disclaimer
    All Twilight Edge software titles are provided as is, and are not guaranteed to be free of bugs. The author assumes no responsibility for problems resulting from the use of these products. Installing and/or executing this software means you agree to the above terms.

If you find a bug, please report it, along with the following info:

- Model of Palm device
- System version
- Amount of free memory
- List of hacks/apps installed (if possible)
- Special options (Palm III upgrade, TRG memory card, pager card, etc.)


BackdropGC.zip Archive Contents
BackdropGC.prc  - Backdrop GC application
TWeaver.prc     - TrapWeaver application (required to run Backdrop GC)
earth-color.pdb - sample color image
bdgc_docs.html  - Backdrop GC Documentation


Download
Backdrop GC, Version 1.0


Quickstart

If you have previous versions of Backdrop GC or TrapWeaver on your Palm device, please uninstall them before installing the new versions.

To Install & Turn On Backdrop GC:

    1. Install 'BackdropGC.prc' and 'TWeaver.prc' on your Palm device.
    2. Run TrapWeaver
    3. Press the 'Install' button

The following step will reset your Palm device:

    4. Press the 'OK' button on the 'Engage TrapWeaving' dialog
    5. After reset, run Backdrop GC
    6. Press the 'Install' button

To Turn Backdrop GC Off:

    1. Run Backdrop GC
    2. Press the 'Uninstall' button

To Uninstall Backdrop GC:

    1. Turn Backdrop GC Off
    2. Delete Backdrop GC

To Uninstall TrapWeaver:

    1. Turn TrapWeaving Off
    2. Delete TrapWeavr


Selecting A Background
    Tap the 'Background' tab if it is not already in the foreground. When the 'Background' tab is selected, a list of available images on your device will be displayed. Select an image's name from the list to install it in the background.
    Backdrop GC reads images in the FireViewer format. You can find image files in this format online, or create your own. The preferred image size is 160x160; Backdrop GC won't read images smaller than this, and if they are much larger, they may take up too much memory to load. If the selected background image is bigger than 160x160, an 'Align' button will appear on the right side of the form. Pressing this button will bring you to the alignment screen, where you may drag the image with your stylus to center it. Once you are done aligning, tap the graffiti area or press any of the hardware buttons to return to the main form.


Adjusting The Foreground Color
    The foreground color can be changed by pressing the 'Foreground...' button - this will bring up a Palette or RGB Color Picker, depending on the Default Color Picker setting.
    Backdrop GC will remember the foreground color setting for each image; If an image does not yet have a foreground color setting, it will use the same foreground color as the default background.


Adjusting The Background Brightness
    The background brightness can be adjusted to make the foreground more legible: Press the 'Brightness' button to bring up the 'Adjust Background Brightness' slider.
    Backdrop GC will remember the brightness setting for each image; If an image does not yet have a brightness setting, it will use the same brightness value as the default background.


Backdrop GC Settings
    Tap the 'Settings' tab if it is not already in the foreground. When the 'Settings' tab is selected, a list of customizable settings will be displayed:

- 'Reinstall On Reset' Checkbox
    When this box is checked, Backdrop GC will automatically reinstall itself when the device is reset; Otherwise you will have to reinstall Backdrop GC manually.

- 'Display As Startup Screen' Checkbox
    This option will delay drawing the foreground when the device gets turned on, showing the background image as a startup screen. The startup screen will only display when the device has been turned on from the power button, not from any of the other buttons. If the 'Use Original Colors' box is checked, Backdrop GC will display the image without the brightness adjustment that is used when the foreground is shown. The user can choose how long to display the startup screen by selecting from the 'Delay:' drop-down menu. To instantly bring up the foreground while the startup screen is being displayed, tap the screen or press a button.

- 'Default Color Picker' Drop-down Menu
    This menu allows you to select between 'RGB' and 'Palette' as the initial color picker mode when you press the 'Foreground...' button to adjust the foreground color.


Choosing Applications
    Backdrop GC allows you to choose in which applications the background will be displayed. This allows you to remove the background for incompatible apps or to improve legibility.
    Tap the 'Apps' tab if it is not already in the foreground. When the 'Apps' tab is selected, a list of all the applications installed on your device will be displayed. To hide the background when a certain app runs, simply uncheck its checkbox. You may notice that some app names have no checkboxes next to them - this is because Backdrop GC has a default list of incompatible apps, and it won't give you the option of turning on the background when one of them runs.


Where To Find Background Images

    You can find sample images for backgrounds at the Sample Color Images Page or the Sample Greyscale Images Page.

    If you have custom images or a link you would like to see displayed on the images page, please send in a file or URL.


Creating Your Own Backgrounds

If you have a Mac: You can use the shareware program, Graphic Converter, to convert images to FireViewer format.
    To convert, select 'FireViewer PDB (*.PDB)' as the format from the 'Save As...' dialog. Verify that you're saving to the correct depth by pressing the 'Save As...' dialog's 'Options' button.

If you have a PC: You can use the shareware program, Fire Converter, to convert images to FireViewer format.

    The preferred size for a background is 160x160; Backdrop GC won't read anything smaller or too much larger than this. If you've created a custom background you'd like to share, please send in the image or its URL for posting on sample images page.


Deleting Images
    If there are images you want to delete, select 'Delete Images...' from the 'Options' menu to go to the 'Delete Images' form. Click on an image's name in the list to delete it. (You will be given a chance to confirm this).


Registering Backdrop GC
    Backdrop GC is shareware. If you decide to keep it, please register it. Registration will remove the 'UNREGISTERED' message in the background and also entitles you to future versions of Backdrop GC, free of charge.
    Registration is $18, and is currently only available through PalmGear H.Q. They can take orders either through their secure server online, or over the phone at (800) 741-9070.

    Make sure you include your correct, case-sensitive Pilot username (this will be used to generate the registration code), and your email address.
    Once your registration has been processed, you should receive your code by email within a few days. Enter the code in the registration window by selecting 'Register...' from Backdrop GC's 'Options' menu. Please save your code, as you will need it for future versions, or if you have to reinstall Backdrop GC after a hard reset.


Known Incompatibilities/ Bugs
    Backdrop GC does not support a foreground depth greater than 1-bit. Applications that force the device into a deeper grey or color mode will temporarily disable the background until the 1-bit foreground mode is restored.
    If an application or hack draws directly to the screen instead of using the Palm OS drawing APIs, Backdrop GC will not properly update the foreground; Please notify support, as well as the author of the app or hack.

If you find a bug, please report it, along with the following info:

- Pilot model
- System version
- Amount of free memory
- List of apps installed (if possible)
- Special options (Palm III upgrade, TRG memory card, pager card, etc.)


Version History
1.0  (03/07/01)
    - Initial release


Twilight Edge Software Contact Info

Twilight Edge Software Home Page
Software Support