PalmOne Files is an application that debuted on the Tungsten T5 and has been included since then on the Lifedrive and newer Treos. One of the most useful features was the Open File menu option it created in Blazer seen here.
Selecting “Open File” will allow you to browse to the local file you want to open.
Now when we delete PalmOne Files 2.0 from the Lifedrive, and install version 2.1 from the newest Palm smartphone – the Centro – this menu option mysteriously disappears on my TX.
Palm, what happened to it?
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Honestly, I don’t think they care. They are more concerned (I hope) with P.O.S. II. System feature consistency never felt like a popular choice by them before anyhow.
I though that maybe Blazer 4.5.8 in the Centro might have its own file browsing capability built in, and not need Files for that anymore. But I checked the Centro simulator and that’s not the case.
Oddly, Docs2Go 10.000(332) non-Premium Edition on the Centro DOES still use Files for file browsing.
I still can’t figure out why Files 2.1 exists, except maybe as a bugfix. But why downgrade its capabilities?
Swamp Thing, I think it was you who mentioned that Files 2.1 only needs three files instead of four. I think that “unneeded” file is the one that enabled the Blazer Open File option. I am trying to get Files 2.1 + that mssing file from 2.0 working on my device atm, so I’ll report back my results!
So I installed Files 2.1 + FileBrowserLib from 2.0 and everything seems to be working fine, including the Blazer Open File option. Swamp Thing, give this a go and see if it effects other things (Files is used in so many ways, this could break the compatibility somewhere else).
Hi,
I don’t particularly get everyone’s fascination with Files… Kinda a worthless file manager when 90% of us own Resco Explorer… Oh well, to each his own, I, for one, will just use explorer to browse html.
Best Regards,
Ryan
This is the main reason I got resco’s Explorer – to load saved, offline web pages from the sd card into Blazer.
(without having to do that triple slash – /// – crap)
This was a feature in WebPro that was not carried over to Blazer.
I hear your pain. Fortunately there’s a solution
You’re right, FileBrowserLib is needed if other apps shall be able to use Palm Files. Can you confirm it works correctly with Files 2.1?
I don’t even understand why Palm includes Files as a bonus app. Normally they only do it when they REALLY have to – an internal hard drive (LifeDrive) needs a file manager. And a LifeDrive needs a USB mass storage mode, whereas a TX, Treo, E2 etc. doesn’t – and thus hasn’t got one.
I think I’ve finally found out how PalmOne Files works. It has the main application and its language overlay (FileBrowser.prc and FileBrowser_enUS,prc). It also has FileBrowserCacheLib.prc, and that is what institutes the “Browse” menu option in the Media Browser (this is available when you are browsing for media in the Media application, and is also available to 3rd party applications that allow you to browse to images.). Then there is FileBrowserLib.prc that enables the Blazer Open File menu option. This last file (FileBrowserLib.prc) is missing from Files 2.1, and thus that option vanishes in Blazer. Installing FileBrowserLib.prc from PalmOne Files 2.0 will re-enable this option in Files 2.1.
Brent: Yes, adding FileBrowserLib.prc from Files 2.0 to the other three PRCs from Files 2.1 re-enables the “Open File” menu item in Blazer on the T|X. Good thinking!
Alexander: Not all other apps need FileBrowserLib.prc to use Files 2.1. Docs2Go 7.006(955) used Files 2.1 to “Open…” without this fourth PRC.
Yes, Docs to Go uses the “Browse” API, and that is controlled by the FileBrowserCacheLib.prc Library. The Blazer Open File option is a very specialized thing, and that has its own Library to controll that (FileBrowserLib.prc), you can tell it’s this way, because FileBrowserLib.prc is only 2KB.
Thank you Brent. I have been using Files 2.1 for a while on my TX but could not figure out why the Open File option was not available in Blazer. (I got Files 2.1 off a 700p CD called FilesInstaller.prc). You now solved the mystery! I copied a 2.0 version of FileBrowserLib.prc from an LD ROM and all is well again.
I am on a treo 650 & would like to know if palmfiles app will work & let blazer open files.
I would need to know where to get the files …
Instead of looking for those files, you may try TreoOfflineViewer that does exactly the same (and a little bit more
http://www.ranosoft.net/tov/
where would i get my hands on either the old Files 2.0 or FileBrowserLib.prc?
Hi,
get to a device like a Palm Tungsten T5!
All the best
Tam Hanna
I have files 2.0 installed. But Versamail does not use it at all. I never experience a crash.
Using Palm TX.
When I choose save attachment, files does not come up. The built in/default save to device / save to card comes up if its a pictures, but I can only choose the album. If the accachment is of another type, then only save to card option is available, and I cannot choose where it goes. And in most cases I wont know where it goes. But prc usually goes under the launcher, (each file type seems to have its own specific folder). If its an uknown attachment type, then clicking save to card does nothing. Usually when the file is saved it will say its finished being saved except when the file is unknown.
Now, documents2go will use files, versamail will use files when browsing for a file to attach. Media will use files. Blazer uses files to open a file, but clicking that will cause a reset.
Something wrong with FileBrowserLib-PFiA.prc I think. I tried it after an hard reset too.
I can’t figure out whats wrong. Tried both files 1.0 and 2.0.
I got files 2.0 from using filez and using the lifedrive simulator. btw, FileBrowserLib-PFiA.prc is only 174 bytes when on my SD card. I checked it on my pc. Palm will show 3K.