TealLaunch User's Manual

By Vince Lee, Tex Tennison, and Amanda Epume
Program Version 1.06
Last Updated: July 2, 1999

Description

Thank you for trying TealLaunch. This system extension gives you powerful and easy access to useful system and editing functions and your frequently-used applications. You can access the functionality through a full-configurable popup window, or wire up to two dozen instant functions to presses of the Palm silkscreen buttons or hardware buttons, including the Palm V contrast button.

Installing

This archive contains the files:

TEALLNCH.DOC: This doc in plain text format
TEALLNCH.HTM: This doc in HTML format
LNCHDOC.PRC: This doc in TealDoc (Palm) format
TEALLNCH.PRC: The TealLaunch program file
HACKMSTR.PRC: The HackMaster System Extensions Manager
REGISTER.HTM: TealPoint Registration form in HTML format
REGISTER.DOC: TealPoint Registration form in text format

Important note: Before updating or deleting any Hackmaster system extension like TealLaunch, you must to disable the extension first in the Hackmaster control screen.

TealLaunch is a system extension, and is intended to run with a system extensions manager, like HackMaster (*See references below). This program a safe and standard way to add and manage extended system functionality on the PalmPilot.

Use the Palm Install Tool to install the program file TEALLNCH.PRC. Also install HACKMSTR.PRC if you do not already have it on your organizer. The Palm Install Tools comes installed on your desktop computer as part of your original software package form 3COM. Instructions on how to use the Palm Install Tool are in the Palm Handbook that came with your Pilot, PalmPilot, or WorkPad.

TealLaunch will not appear by itself in the Launcher applications screen, but it will appear in the list of files as either TealLaunch or TealLaunchDB ("NameCache" before 1.06b).

Terminology

This manual uses the term 'button' to describe tappable rounded rectangular areas on the Palm display screen. 'Hardware buttons' refer to the four standard application buttons at the bottom of the organizer, the up and down buttons, power button, and contrast button on the Palm V. Lastly, 'silkscreen buttons' refer to the four round tappable areas printed below the Palm display screen on either side of the graffiti writing area.

Using the Program

By default, TealLaunch is configured to pop up it's launcher window when one taps on the the silkscreened 'Calc' button on the organizer screen. On a Palm V, it will also come up if the hardware contrast button at the top of the unit is pressed quickly. If pressed and held briefly before releasing, the normal contrast control will come up instead. These settings are fully configurable.

You'll no doubt want to heavily customize the program listings and key assignments for TealLaunch, but first here's an overview of the program and it's screens.

Popup Window

The TealLaunch Popup Window contains buttons for useful functions and a customizable list of apps for quick access. Note that if TealLaunch is not yet registered, the registration reminder covers up some of the space that is normally available for apps in the list.

You can scroll through the list of apps using the page-up and page-down hardware scrolling buttons. Once an app is selected, you can launch it by pressing the 'Goto' button. You can also tap it in the list with the pen or press a hardware or silkscreen button if you have that button configured to execute a 'Goto' command.

You can tap on a button in the popup window to execute the following functions:

Apps: Go to the normal applications launcher. This is the screen that comes up normally if you press the 'apps' silkscreen button.
Keybd: Bring up the system alpha keyboard if the cursor is active in a text field
Graffiti: Bring up graffiti help (PalmOS 2.0 or higher only)
Backlite: Toggle on/off the screen backlight (if present)
Cut: Cut selected text from an active text field
Copy: Copy selected text from an active text field
Paste: Paste text from the copy buffer into an active text field
Lock: Lock the organizer and turn it off. If TealLock is present on your Palm, TealLaunch will use it instead.
Goto: Launch the currently-selected app in the app list on the left.

Configure Window

The TealLaunch configure window can be found inside the application Hackmaster. Open it by starting Hackmaster and tapping on the '+' (plus) button next to the 'TealLaunch' entry in the list of system extensions.

The top of the configure window contains a list of Triggers that can tell TealLaunch to do something special, along with the actions it should take. The bottom of the window contains the current list of applications for the Popup Window and buttons to Add or Remove applications from the list.

Triggers

TealLaunch can be configured to execute actions or applications from presses of any of the four application hardware buttons, four silkscreen buttons, or Palm V hardware contrast button. All of these button triggers can be configured to execute different actions depending on whether the TealLaunch Popup Window is open or closed, giving you additional optional functionality based on a two-press combinations.

Wait there's more. Any of the hardware buttons can also be configured to execute different actions depending on whether they are pressed and released quickly or pressed and held for more than a half-second before release. Just press them and you'll hear a click. If you hold it down, it will click a second time after a half-second pause, indicating that the optional 'button-hold' trigger has been detected. In total, this gives up to 28 separate independently-configurable action triggers.

To change the function of a trigger, select it from the trigger list and tap on the 'edit trigger' button. You'll see a window with two popup lists that allow you to change the functionality of that trigger for two cases: when the popup window has not been opened (closed) and when it is already up (open).

Actions

You set the triggers to implement actions mimicking any of the buttons described above for the Popup Window. In addition, you can also set them to:

Launch an App...: Allows you to select an application to instantly launch when this button is pressed.
Open TealLaunch (Closed Only): Open the TealLaunch window and switch over to the alternate set of Open button mappings.
Close TealLaunch (Open Only): Close the TealLaunch Popup Window.
Goto Selected App (Open Only): Go to the selected application in the popup apps list, if any. Note that the 'Close TealLaunch' is often unnecessary because this action can be used as a 'close' if no apps have been selected by tapping or pressing the hardware scroll buttons.
Undo (Closed Only): Undo the last change in an active text field. This option is not available in the Popup Window either as a key mapping or from an onscreen button because the Palm OS clears any undo information in an active field when you popup to a new window like the TealLaunch Popup Window.

Of the available triggers, you probably won't want to change the Menu/Closed or Find/Closed triggers, as these functions can't currently be called from other buttons. Note that you need to make sure that somewhere you've left a way to reach the system applications launcher, either through the TealLaunch popup or the the 'Apps' button / Action so you can still access all your apps.

Troubleshooting

Installing and Running

If you are having problems getting the program to run, be sure that you have installed both files: HackMaster and TealLaunch. Refer to the PalmPilot manual that came with your unit if you are unsure how to do this.

Afterwards, be sure to activate TealLaunch by running HackMaster and selecting the checkmark next to TealLaunch. If it still does not work, try unselecting and reselecting the checkmark. If Hackmaster has gotten confused because you either updated or deleted TealLaunch without first deselecting it in Hackmaster, Hackmaster will likely crash, but with no lingering side effects afterwards.

Lastly, check the TealLaunch options in Hackmaster ('+' key) to insure it is set up to activate by your desired choices.

Compatibility

As we cannot control the style and robustness of other products, we cannot guarantee compatibility with Palm OS applications beyond those included from Palm Computing. However, we try to resolve compatibility issues as best we can.

TealLaunch, like all Hackmaster applications, hook into the PalmPilot operating system in a way which may not be compatible with all other programs of this type, often due to the fact that all system extensions run simultaneously and need to share limited system resources and special runtime memory.

Registering

Currently, you may register by snail mail, electronically through our website, or with a credit card through the online store PilotGear HQ. (www.pilotgear.com) 1-800-741-9070. For the first option, the enclosed registration form is provided for your convenience. You may use this form or simply send the following to the address below.

Product Name
E-Mail Address
HotSync User ID (Required for Passkey generation, this is the name you entered when you first HotSynced. You can find it going to the HotSync application on the Palm organizer. Your HotSync ID appears after the word 'Welcome' on older units, or in the upper right corner on new models)
Check or Money Order drawn on a US bank for ($11.95 US) to TealPoint Software

After you register, you will receive email with a passkey you can enter in the config screen for TealLaunch in Hackmaster. This key will turn off the 'Please register' message, freeing up space on the TealLaunch display screen. If you register online, you can download a temporary password that you can use until your permanent passkey arrives. To enter a passkey, activate the HackMaster Control program and press the '+' (plus) button next to the program's name. Click on the 'Register' button and enter the passkey.

Revision History

Changed filename cache name to be less confusing in memory app

Cached file names to increase popup speed
Reorganized trigger list to be more logical

Fixed Palm V contrast button-hold recognition

Fixed recognition of temporary passkey
Fixed launching of TealGlance

Added wrapping-over of popup list scrolling
Changed activation in popup from double-tap to single-tap
Fixed category changing when leaving standard apps.
Fixed deleting of last app in config screen.

Initial release.

Contact Info

TealPoint Software
454 Las Gallinas Ave PMB #318
San Rafael, CA 94903-3618

We look forward to hearing from you.

Please visit us at www.tealpoint.com, or
email us at contact@tealpoint.com.

Thank you.
*HackMaster is By Edward Keyes, DaggerWare Software
www.daggerware.com

Disclaimer

We at TealPoint Software are committed to providing quality, easy-to-use software. However, this product is provided without warranty and the user accepts full resposibility for any damages, consequential or otherwise, resulting from its use.

This archive is freely redistributable, provided it is made available only in its complete, unmodified form with no additional files and for noncommercial purposes only. Any other use must have prior written authorization from TealPoint Software.

Unauthorized commercial use includes, but is not limited to:

A product for sale.

Accompanying a product for sale.

Accompanying a magazine, book or other publication for sale.

Distribution with "Media", "Copying" or other incidental costs.

Available for download with access or download fees.

This program may be used on a trial basis for 30 days. The program will continue to function afterwards. However, if after this time you wish to continue using it, please register with us for the nominal fee listed in the program.

If you do choose to register with us, please also register HackMaster with DaggerWare ($5) if you have not already done so and are not using another extensions manager instead.
Thank you.