CoSVi Readme

Program version: 476L
Readme last changed: 06.07.2004


I. Introduction

CoSVi (Comic Strip Viewer) is a comic strip viewer application.
The program has been developed using PocketC for PalmOS and is free software.


II. Installation and Usage

First installation:
Install CoSVi_xxxx_install.prc via HotSync on your Palm.
Then run "CV install" from your launcher.

Update:
Install CoSVi_xxxx_update.prc via HotSync on your Palm.
Then run "CV update" from your launcher.

Select the comic strip to view from the dropdown to the top right. Use up and down
buttons to scroll through a comic. You can jump to a specific image by setting the
image number (right to the main screen header) - followed by pushing up or down
button.
You can mark and unmark your favourite strips. The comic strips list can be sorted
strictly alphabetical or by setting your favourite on top. View a strip in loop
(return to first image of same strip) or through all strips installed (loads next
comic strip after last image) by up and down buttons. You can return to the last
viewed strip image when returning to CoSVi.
Deleting and renaming of strips is supported too.

Memory card support! CoSVi scans the directory "/PALM/CoSVi" on the first installed
card for comic strips. Comics from a memory card are marked with the card symbol in
the selection dropdown. All functions (mark, rename, delete etc) work the same way
like for comics from Palm memory. Rename dialog allows to rename file name and file
title.
Sub-directories of "/PALM/CoSVi" are available in CoSVi left to the comic strip
dropdown (Palm memory card symbol) and should help you to organize even bigger
numbers of comic strips. Via options dialog you can defide if CoSVi should show or
hide comic strips from memory in sub-directories.

The directory "Create" contains a sample for the way you can create your own strips
for CoSVi.
The files have the following functions:
dilbert.bat       creates a sample Palm database by calling 2CoSVi.bat
2CoSVi.bat        batch script for creating CoSVi compatible comic strips
                  (the created pdb files are Palm databases containing standard
                  Tbmp ressources, thus not a proprietary format)
PC4CoSVi.bat      prepares and converts any given image file into Palm-readable
                  format (requires fitting config file) - allows easy Explorer
                  context menu integration
Dilbert_066_1.bmp and Dilbert_066_2.bmp and Dilbert_066_3.bmp are sample images
If you have any experience with command line operations you shouldn't have a
problem to create your own comic strips using 2CoSVi.bat or PC4CoSVi.bat.
I recommend the IrfanView batch conversion function if you need to cut a bigger
number (above 50) of comic strips into bitmaps.
See "Reference information" section for information about PILRC and PAR license and
creator contact.


III. Version history

E=Error correction; F=Functional change; T=Technical change; C=Cosmetic change

06.07.2004 [476L]
	- F: new info dialog displays type and size of a particular comic
	- C: minor adjustments to UI

04.07.2004 [474L]
	- E: file name entry field in target selection dialog was hidden sometimes
	- C: minor adjustments to UI

20.06.2004 [46FD]
	- E: sub-directory list was destroyed after sub-dir change sometimes
	- F: new copy and move functions for comic strips (sub-dir to sub-dir,
	     sub-dir to memory and memory to sub-dir), including renaming support
	- F: function for creating, renaming and deleting sub-dirs of "/PALM/CoSVi"
	- T: better favourites identification (please note: strips with identical
	     names are all threaded as favourites if one has been marked - and
	     vice versa - regardless of the sub-dir they are saved in!)
	- C: minor adjustments to UI (progress indicator, resized dropdown lists)

02.05.2004 [452H]
	- F: comic strips can be stored in sub-directories of "/PALM/CoSVi" for
	     better organization
	- F: option to show/hide comic strips from memory when in sub-directory
	- F: integration in Explorer context menu via PC4CoSVi.bat (see
	     PC4CoSVi.txt)
	- F: automated extraction, preparation and conversion with 2CoSVi.bat via
	     config file feature
	- F: help dialog extended
	- C: minor adjustments to UI

11.04.2004 [44BF]
	- T: CoSVi deletes "Delete me!" database (remaining Combiner database from
	     CV_install.prc)
	- T: minor adjustments in 2CoSVi.bat (now including PilRC 3.0 - cygwin1.dll
	     obsolete)

07.04.2004 [447C]
	- F: no more batch script editing - use 2CoSVi.bat from create directory
	     for converting bitmaps to Palm-readable .pdb files
	- F: path where CoSVi looks for comic strips can now be edited in options
	     dialog (default "/PALM/CoSVi"); please note that CoSVi lists all files
	     found in a directory regardsles whether they are comic strips or not
	- F: as deleting / renaming a file can quite take a while if you have a lot
	     (>200) comic strips on your memory card CoSVi now displays an time
	     estimation based upon an Palm m515
	- E: fixed Fatal Error that occured on Tungsten devices
	- E: minor fixes in VFS support
	- C: minor cosmetic changes regarding "please wait..." message

23.03.2004 [43NK]
	- F: memory card (VFS) support for comic strips in fixed path "/PALM/CoSVi"
	- C: "please wait..." message now flashes while collecting comic strip data

11.04.2002 [24BG]
	- F: shows "please wait..." message while preparing comic strip list now

08.04.2002 [248N]
	- initial release


IV. License

This build of "CoSVi" is released as freeware. Please use and copy as you like, but
note to keep program and readme as one package.
You may not distribute nor sell this software without permission.


V. Known Issues

None.


VI. Contact

Please check the homepage http://www.project-viewer.com for updates - or contact me
directly via support@project-viewer.com (only in German or English please!).


VII. Thanks and Credits

My thanks go to Jeremy and Kevin from OrbWorks for developing PocketC, to Maxime
for developing CryptoPad and to Joseph Stadolnik for developing PocketC Toolbox.


VIII. Recommended Software

If you need to coordinate a lot of tasks, employees or resources of any kind on
your Palm, then maybe you should have a look on the Project Viewer.
Please see www.Project-Viewer.com /.de !


IX. Reference information

PToolboxLib.prc

Legal statement of the author: I am making the Pocket Toolbox Library freely
available to the general public. You may use it in a commercial product, but you
may not sell the library. If you do use it in any publicly available commercial or
freeware product, please give me (Joseph Stadolnik) due credit and please include a
link to this web page in your documentation. The Pocket Toolbox Library comes with
absolutely NO WARRANTY of any kind. I cannot be held liable for any data loss or
damage to a system resulting from the use of this library.
As for payment for my efforts, I only request that you send me a complementary copy
of any software that you publicly release which uses the Pocket Toolbox Library.

Contact: http://www.geocities.com/retro_01775/PToolboxLib.htm

____________________

PilRC version 3.0

Legal statement of the author: GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE (Version 2, June 1991)

Contact: http://www.ardiri.com/index.php?redir=palm&cat=pilrc

____________________

PAR (November 1999) Version 0.5 (beta)

Legal statement of the author: Freeware (?)

Contact: David Williams, djw@djw.org

____________________

IrfanView 

Legal statement of the author: FREEWARE, provided "as is"

Contact: Irfan Skiljan, www.irfanview.com, irfanview@gmx.net



X. Legal Disclaimer for CoSVi and all related documents

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING
(BUT NOT LIMITED TO) THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES,
LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN
IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

***
