YiShow Explorer for Palm v5.6

Table of Contents

> About YiShow Explorer
> Supporting Documents
> Applicably Models
> Version Changes
> Screenshots
> How to use
> Software Installation
> Setup
> RAM Big Icon Display Mode
> RAM Small Icon Display Mode
> RAM Detail Listing Display Mode
> External Storage Card Big Icon Display Mode
> External Storage Card Small Icon Display Mode
> Specifying Copy Directory Screen
> External Storage Card Detail Listing Display Mode
> Select File Copy Destination Directory Screen
> Using YiShow to View Images
> Using YiShow to View DOC Files
> Using YiShow to View Text Files
> Customizing YiShow
> Other Convenience Features
> Legal
> Contact Us

## •YiShow Explorer

YiShow Explorer is a powerful application Launcher for Palm handheld PDAs. It integrates the functions of viewing pictures, reading e-books, and managing files in one program. Its features include:

> - Easy operation and high speed picture viewing.
> - BMP/PCX/JPEG/Picture Gear Pocket format support.
> - Smooth scrolling for images larger than the screen resolution.
> - SlideShow image viewing.
> - DOC/MeDOC file format support and the ability to show and bookmark such files stored in RAM/Memory Stick.
> - Text file support: able to view and bookmark text file stored in MS.
> - Launcher functionality that is able to directly launch programs stored in Memory Stick.
> - Creation of short-cuts for programs, images, DOC/MeDoc documents that are stored in Memory Stick for easy access.
> - User self-customizable skin: you can change the look of for YiShow's buttons, CLIE built-in icons, and file type bitmaps with high resolution support.
> - Provides Pop-up and Tab type Category management with drag-and-drop support.
> - Hidden programs, directories, and files based on system security settings.
> - Flawless file management support: You can copy files between RAM <-> MS and MS <-> MS. You can easy copy files between different Memory Sticks.
> - Viewing modes for low resolution icon, high resolution icon, and detail listing.
> - PalmOS 5.0 support.
> - Palm Tungsten T 5-Way Navigator Button support.
> - PalmOS's high resolution and low resolution mode support.
> - CLIE PEG NX70/NX60 series' 320x480 display support.
> - CLIE PEG NX70/NX60 series' hardware JPG decoding support.

YiShow Explorer is a shareware. You can download an evaluation version here for 30 days trial. Please register your copy if you have used it beyond 30 days. For registration, you can visit Handango or PalmGear . If you cannot visit the above websites, you can also transfer the money into the following bank account. Click here to download the evaluation version.

## •Supporting Documents

YiShow Explorer supports the following file formats

> - BMP: Un-compressed 16-color, 256-color and true color format
> - PCX: 256-color and true color format
> - JPEG: gray and true color format
> - Picture Gear Pocket: Supports compressed/un-compressed 256-color and 65K-color format stored in RAM or Memory Stick
> - DOC/MeDOC: Supports viewing DOC files stored in RAM or Memory Stick
> - Text: supports viewing Text (Windows format) file stored in MS
> - Supports installing files into RAM that are stored in Memory Stick and directly launching programs from Memory Stick
> - Restriction on viewing images: True color images can be viewed only on OS v4.0 or above.
> - Restriction on image size: The size of viewable images is device dependent.

## •Applicably Models

YiShow Explorer can be run on devices having PalmOS v3.5 or above. Currently we've tested YiShow on the following devices:

- Palm m505/m515/m130/m505
- Palm Tungsten T (Supports Hi-res display mode)
- CLIE PEG NX70/NX60 (Supports Hi-res display mode)
- Acer S50/S60 (Supports Hi-res display mode)
- Treo 90/180/270 (Emulator)

## •Version Changes

- YiShow Explorer v5.6 25st May, 2003

> For this version upgrade:

> 1. Enhanced background setting. You can use any kind of background, regarding the image resolution, as long as YiShow can displays.
> 2. Added the ability to scale up the small image for background.
> 3. Added the ability to force a high-color image into 256-color mode.
> 4. Added the ability to right-align icons. You can set to align icons to either left or right in “Setup”.
> 5. Added auto refresh of registered program in QuickLauncherBar. You can set the number of software to be refreshed in “Setup” or totally disable it.
> 6. Completely rewrote the engine to display Text file, changing font will no longer require to reload the file now.
> 7. Added color setting for displaying DOC/Text.
> 8. Added functionality for switching Battery and RAM display mode.
> 9. Added supports for multi-external storage cards.
> 10. Added capability to identify WebClipping database file. Now WebClipping database will correctly being shown on the Explorer.
> 11. Category will be sorted before display when using “TAB”.
> 12. If you're upgrading from previous version, please uninstall the previous version first from the standard Launcher before you proceed the upgrade.

- YiShow Explorer v5.4 30st Apri, 2002

> 1. Added QuickLauncherBar. You can drag and drop frequently use program onto the QuickLuncherBar for easy access. You can disable this functionality in the preference or adjust the update option.
> 2. Added color setting for displaying DOC/Text
> 3. Added option to hide or display RAM and Battery level's status.
> 4. Added functionality for switching Battery Level and RAM display.
> 5. Added option to disable automatic database scanning function.
> 6. Due to the preference's option increased, the setting for DOC, Image and Background have been moved to another screen.
> 7. If you're upgrading from previous version, please uninstall the previous version first from the standard Launcher before you proceed the upgrade.

- YiShow Explorer v5.25 28st December, 2002

> 1. Palm Tungsten T 5-Way Navigator Button support.
> 2. Quickly Scan Database.

- YiShow Explorer v5.2 22st November, 2002

> 1. Added feature for setting the font's color.
> 2. Largly enhanced database management's function. You can select ROM Appl/RAM Appl in RAM listing mode to display the program's database and preference database for copy/delete operation. For details please read RAM Detail Listing Display Mode.
> 3. The small icon display was changed in high resolution mode.
> 4. Battery residual quantity and the free memory were displayed in high resolution mode.

- YiShow Explorer v5.1 1st November, 2002

> 1. Added strong support for palm/Launcher in memory stick. When you store programs in the palm/Launcher directory, you can launch them the same way as those stored in internal RAM, with category management support. Also, when inserting and removing memory sticks, YiShow will automatically import/export the programs in palm/Launcher without losing their category setting. It's easier than using shortcuts.
> 2. Added support for viewing images; the image filename can be shown.
> 3. Skin management is added. Now you can manage skins through SKIN Manager (under Options) for changing the skin and wallpaper; just simply store the skin in the directory "/palm/program/YiShow/SKIN" in a memory stick, and wallpaper in "/palm/program/YiShow/Wallpaper". For details please read Customizing YiShow.
> 4. Quickly display icons for programs stored in MS.
> 5. Supports CLIE PEG NX70/NX60 series' 320x480 display
> 6. Supports CLIE PEG NX70/NX60 series' hardware JPG decoding function

- YiShow Explorer v5.0 23rd August, 2002

> This version is basically ported from YiShow Explorer for CLIE v4.5 with enhanced features for PalmOS v5.0. YiShow is now able to use high resolution screens for devices such as Acer s50/s60 that support PalmOS v5.0 high resolution API. Compared with previous versions, a totally new interface is provided with Tab Category management function for dynamically switching between Toolbars. Moreover, 16bit background images are finally supported; you can now enjoy beautiful launcher screens.

> 1. Added Tab-type Category management for easy access and can switch between Tool bars.
> 2. Added 16bit background and skin support for PalmOS 4.0 and above.
> 3. Supports High resolution background and skin setup function only for devices that support the PalmOS 5.0 high resolution API.
> 4. For background images, you can now use PCX, PGP, JPEG format files instead of only BMP. In particular for PGP images, you can beam them to other Palms or simply Hot-sync them with your PC. It not only provides an easier way to change the background image, but it also lets users without MS to enjoy this function.
> 5. Added 16bit icon support. Through the setup of Skins, you can change the Title bar, Tool bar, and icons to high resolution with high color. With using 16bit backgrounds, you can create a very beautiful launcher screen. However, the launcher screen will only switch to use 16bit color when using a 16bit background; so you can only use a 16bit skin with it.
> 6. Short-cut format changed, now the new YiShow's short-cut can be displayed like normal files. You can even launch it directly if it's executable. All the short-cuts created with old version will be deleted.
> 7. Supports Pop-up Category menu and Tab Category function. When used the first time, it will retrieve the categories setting from the built-in launcher and automatically generate short-cut(s) for program(s) stored in /palm/Launcher.
> 8. Deleted DOC, PGP and ShortCut categories. Added button for displaying DOC and PGP and the button for Palm/Launcher.
> 9. Added the ability to copy files between different MS with one CLIE.
> 10. Added the ability to change the font for the launcher screen and display mode.
> 11. Added the ability to change time/date display format.

- YiShow Explorer for Palm v3.1 9th December, 2001

> 1. Added the ability to setup the Launcher's background image.
> 2. Added the ability to beam data.
> 3. Added the ability to drag and drop for Copy, Delete, and Beam operations.

- YiShow Explorer for Palm v3.0 16th November, 2001
  1. The first official version released

## •Screenshots

Starting YiShow Explorer will display the directory listing of either internal RAM or the external storage card.

The following screenshot is captured from Palm m505/m515, displaying internal RAM.

The following screenshot is captured from Palm m505/m515, displaying external storage card.

The following screenshot is captured from Palm Tungsten T, displaying internal RAM.

The following screenshot is captured from Palm Tungsten T, displaying external storage card.

##

## •How to Use

For demonstration purposes, all the screen is captured from a Palm Tungsten T. If you're using a Palm m505 or similar device then you can only use low resolution.

•Software Installation

> If you're upgrading from previous version, please uninstall the previous version first from the standard Launcher before you proceed the upgrade.

> Decompressing YiShow Explorer for Palm will get you the following files:

> yishow-english.prc

> > YiShow Explorer (English version)

> yishow-japanese.prc

> > YiShow Explorer (Japanese version)

> YiShowLowresSkin.prc

> > The low resolution skin for YiShow Explorer when you're using a Palm m505/515 device. You can use the following high resolution skin too but that will waste your RAM.

> YiShowHiresSkin.prc

> > The high resolution skin for YiShow Explorer when you're using a device such as Palm Tungsten T (CLIE PEG NX70/NX60/Acer s50/s60). If you use the above low resolution skin with a high resolution device, all the icons and bitmaps will be in low resolution mode.

## •Setup

> Please refer to the following screen:

> 1. If checked, when launching applications stored in an external storage card, all the files, including databases, will be copied to RAM.
> 2. If checked, when exiting an application that launched from an external storage card, all the files, including databases, will be deleted from RAM.
> 3. If selected, automatic database scanning. Strongly recommand you that do not disable automatic scanning function, it may cause fatal error when using software like PiDirect.
> 4. If checked, YiShow will be used as the default launcher.
> 5. If checked, the avaliable RAM will be shown digitally.
> 6. If checked, the remaining battery level will be shown digitally.
> 7. If checked, selecting an icon will only highlight the text description.
> 8. If checked, you can use QuickLauncherBar.
> 9. Set the number of automatic refresh item for QuickLauncherBar.
> 10. If checked, YiShow will force those icons, version 2.0 or above, that do not have transparent backgrounds to become transparent.
> 11. If checked, YiShow will try to force version 1.0 icons to become transparent too. However, please bear in mind that version 1.0 icons don't support transparency and may result in an error when used.
> 12. Sets the Launcher's icon font color.
> 13. Sets the Launcher's icon font type.
> 14. Sets the number of icons shown in the Launcher screen.
> 15. If you have set to use left- or right-align icon.

> 1. If checked, YiShow will display the background image in full screen mode.
> 2. image that smaller than screen resolution will be tile.
> 3. hi-color image will be transformed to 256-color, before using as background.
> 4. If checked, when contracting images for full screen display, the image length/width ratio will be maintained.
> 5. If set, the image filename will be shown when viewing an image.
> 6. If checked, the title will be displayed when viewing a the DOC/Text file.
> 7. If set, you can adjust the frontground and background color when displaying DOC/Text file.
> 8. Sets the delay time for slide shows.

•RAM Big Icon Display Mode

> 1. Change the time display format.
> 2. Launch the "Preference" application.
> 3. Display battery status.
> 4. Display RAM status.
> 5. Category button.
> 6. Display the YiShow menu.
> 7. Launcher icon. If it's a program icon, tapping it will launch the program directly. If it is an image/DOC/Text file, tapping it makes YiShow display the content too. If you tap and hold for more than a half second, a command window will pop-up. You can also drag and drop the icon to perform file operations and category management.
> 8. Launch "Security" setting.
> 9. Switch to Tab-type Category bar.
> 10. Switch to display files in external storage.
> 11. Beam button. Drag and drop an icon to this button for beaming.
> 12. Slide Show button. Dragging and dropping an icon to this button will pop up a file management window.
> 13. Copy button. Drag and drop an icon to this button to copy the file into external storage.
> 14. Delete button. Drag and drop an icon to this button in order to delete it.
> 15. Big icon display mode button.
> 16. Small icon display mode button.
> 17. Detail listing mode button.
> 18. Scroll Up arrow.
> 19. Scroll Down arrow.

•RAM Small Icon Display Mode

> 1. Display a PGP file stored in RAM.
> 2. Display a DOC file stored in RAM.
> 3. Display the content of the /palm/Launcher folder in the external storage card.
> 4. Switch to display files in the external storage card.
> 5. Shift one previous Category tab
> 6. Shift to the next Category tab
> 7. Tab Category button. Tapping it will bring you into that category's content.

•RAM Detail Listing Mode

> 1. Check box for selecting the file you want to process.
> 2. Tapping the icon will bring out a pop-up management window.
> 3. List the database and preference database of the application.
> 4. Filename: tapping it will either launch it or displaying its content.
> 5. File size.

•External Storage Card Big Icon Display Mode

> 1. Launch the CardInfo program, or display the external storage card's status.
> 2. Move up to the parent folder when tapped.
> 3. Go into the sub-folder when tapped.
> 4. Display the image when tapped.
> 5. Switch to RAM
> 6. Display the DOC file when tapped.

> To create a directory, Tap File->Create Directory.

> When launching a program from an external storage card, please bear the following in mind:

> > YiShow Explorer can execute programs from both internal RAM and external storage. Since internal RAM is typically smaller, with most devices having only 8MB, putting programs in external storage can greatly reduce the space needed by them. Nonetheless, you can organize them by creating different directories by their type or attribute for easier usage. However, please keep the following in mind if you use this feature:
> > - For a program composed of only a single file, just execute it directly
> > - For a program composed of more than one file, you can execute it in two modes as:
> > 1. Copy all the associated files into internal RAM and then execute the program.
> > 2. Turn on the "All Install" mode in the Setup menu. You can also turn on the "All Delete" option too, so that when the program exits, all the files will be cleared from RAM by YiShow Explorer. Of course, any updated data be erased and thus you will lose those changes.
> > - For programs that support VFS, for example KDIC v1.30, you need to put the supporting files into a pre-defined directory before executing it. In this example, you need to put the dictionary into MSFILES.

> > [Note]Executing programs stored in MS need double RAM space. You are encouraged to keep at least 1MB free space for proper execution.

•External Storage Card Small Icon Display Mode

> Tapping the directory button will display the whole external storage directory structure, as shown below. Select the directory you want to view and press "OK" and YiShow will quickly display it.

•Specifying Copy Directory.

> When copying file(s) stored in RAM to external storage, the following will be displayed.

•External Storage Card Detail Listing Display Mode

> For each button and icon's description, please refer to the above section.

> When you select file(s), you can select/clear them all via the YiShow menu.

•Specifying Copy Destination Directory

> When copying file(s) from external storage, you will see the following screen.

> When copying the file(s) to another directory, just select the destination directory from the screen and tap "OK".

> When copying file(s) to internal RAM, Tap the "Palm" button. Only files with extension of PRC/PDB/PDA can be copied to RAM.

> When copying file(s) to another storage card, Tap the "Other MS" button". This will temporarily copy the file into RAM and then a dialog will request you to change the card. After you have replaced the storage card, tap "OK" and a new directory structure screen will be shown for the new card. Select the destination directory and tap "OK" to confirm.

•Using YiShow to view Images

> No matter whether you're in Icon display mode or Detail listing mode, tapping an image icon will show you its content. After the picture is displayed, you have the following operations:

•Use YiShow to read DOC file

> No matter whether you're in Icon display mode or Detail listing mode, tapping a DOC/MeDOC icon will display its content. After the content is shown, you have the following operations:

> 1. Close the file.
> 2. Change the display font.
> 3. Display MeDOC file's Index (Only MeDOC has this feature).
> 4. Display the current location within the file. You can change the location by tapping it.
> 5. Display the current paragraph. You can change the paragraph by tapping it.
> 6. Jump to the beginning of the DOC.
> 7. Jump to the defined Bookmark.
> 8. Setup a Bookmark.
> 9. Jump to the end of the DOC.
> 10. Jump to the previous page.
> 11. Jump to the next page.

•Using YiShow to read Text files

> No matter whether you're in Icon display mode or Detail listing mode, tapping a Text icon will display the content. After the content is shown, you have the following operations:

> The basic operation is the similar to DOC/MeDOC except it has no index button.

•Customizing YiShow

> 1. Using the skin function, you can customize buttons, icons, etc.:

> > To setup a skin, HotSync the YiShow skin to your Palm and it will automatically be used. You can download skins from here. Please note that, in order to use a high resolution skin after you have installed it, you have to use a high resolution background image.

> 2. You can setup the wallpaper too:

> - Setup of Wallpaper

> > To setup wallpaper, select the image file and pop up the management window, select "Backimage" and it's done.

> > The useable wallpaper has to be the same size as the device's screen resolution. You can use 16-color (for mono. devices), 256-color, or true color images.

> > When using 256-color wallpaper, the image's color palette will be adjusted to match the PalmOS's 256-color palette. Thus the resulting image will contain some distortion if the two palettes do not match. If the image contains more colors, I suggest you use true color mode for better results. If speed comes into consideration, you can use 256-color mode with some image processing for better results.

> > 1. Resize the high/true color image to fit the device's resolution.
> > 2. Use 256-color standard palette and dithering to reduce color-space.

> - To delete wallpaper

> > Tap Option->Delete Background.

> 3. Using Skin Manager for simple and fast skin/wallpaper switching

> 1. Copy the SKIN files into the memory stick in "/palm/program/YiShow/SKIN".
> 2. Copy the wallpaper files into memory stick in "/palm/program/YiShow/Wallpaper".
> 3. From Options, select SKIN Manager.
> 4. Select the file you want to switch to and tap the Load button as shown below:

•Other Convenience Features

> 1. Using Short-cuts to launch/manage files

> > Using a short-cut for programs stored in external storage can greatly simplify operation, as if the program were stored in internal RAM. You can also manage the short-cut's category and launch it directly in the launcher screen. To create a shortcut, from the command pop-up window mentioned above, select "ShortCut". YiShow is not only capable of generating shortcuts for programs, but also DOC/MeDOC, Text and image files for convenience.

> 2. Hiding a file/directory from other people's viewing

> > In order to hide a file/directory, just set its attribute to "Hidden." This depends on the level of security set in the "Security" screen. Files that can be hidden include all types of files storing in MS, DOC, PGP, and Short-cut file storing in RAM. If you want to hide programs stored in RAM, just move it to the MS and create a short-cut for it, then hide the short-cut.

> > 1. When Security is set to "Show Records", even if the file is set to "Hidden", the file will be shown normally.
> > 2. When Security is set to "Mask Records", the file will be shown but cannot be executed.
> > 3. When Security is set to "Hide Records", file will not be shown nor be executed.

> 3. Edit Category

> > YiShow has several Category edit modes. Beside dragging and dropping icons to the category button or the tab category button, you can also tap Menu>Edit Category to edit the category as if you were editing the built-in launcher's category.

> 4. It is suggested that you store programs in the directory of palm/Launcher in the MS, so that you can use them the same way you using programs in RAM.

> > When running YiShow for the first time, it will automatically scan the palm/Launcher directory in the MS and import the programs storing in it. Then you can setup categories as if they were stored in RAM. When switching Memory Sticks, YiShow will automatically sense the change and import the new program list with their corresponding category settings. The difference between this and creating shortcuts are:

> > 1. There's no database generated in RAM.
> > 2. When changing MS, the program list will be automatically loaded with corresponding category settings.
> > 3. All the programs in /palm/Launcher will be imported at one time.

> > If you want to manually update the program listing for /palm/Launcher, you can select Options->Refresh Apps from the menu or by tapping the Tab-type category bar and selecting refresh.

## •Legal

- YiShow Explorer is copyrighted and owned by Piao Yi Bing.
- You can try YiShow Explorer for 30 days without any limitation, after that you must purchase the official version or delete it at once.
- YiShow Explorer is provided AS IS, without any warranty. So use it at your own risk and I do not bear any responsibility.
- If you see any place that introduces YiShow Explorer, please let me know.

## •Contact Us

For the most up to date news about YiShow Explorer, please visit my homepage at http://www.yibing.net/, if you find a bug or have any ideas about YiShow, please let me know. You can write me at yishow@yibing.net, Thank you!

Copyright (C)2001-2003 Piao Yi Bing

HomePage: http://www.yibing.net/