FindHack User's Guide

Copyright 1997-1998 by Florent Pillet, All Rights Reserved.
FindHack Web Site: http://www.teaser.fr/~fpillet/pilot/index.html
E-mail:
fpillet@teaser.fr


Table of contents

  1. About FindHack
  2. Installing FindHack
  3. Upgrading from a previous version
  4. Using FindHack
  5. Tips and tricks
  6. Compatibility with other hacks
  7. Limitations
  8. Pay Your Sharewares!
  9. Send your comments and suggestions
  10. Other fine products from the author
  11. Changes history


1. About FindHack

FindHack is a replacement for the PalmPilot's Find function. It is compatible with all Pilot, PalmPilot and IBM WorkPad units. FindHack brings the following enhancements:

2. Installing FindHack

FindHack is a HackMaster extension. It is not an application, and can not be run alone. To install it, you first need to install HackMaster from Daggerware. You can download HackMaster from the HackMaster Web Site:

http://www.daggerware.com/hackmstr.htm

Note: HackMaster is shareware. Please support shareware!

 

3. Upgrading from a previous version

If you have a previous version of FindHack installed on your PalmPilot, make sure you first deactivate it by going to the HackMaster application and unchecking the checkbox left to the 'FindHack' line. If you do not deactivate FindHack before installing the new version, you PalmPilot will most certainly crash the next time you try to do a Find.

Install FindHack and HackMaster on your PalmPilot (if HackMaster is already installed, you do not need to reinstall it).

 

4. Using FindHack

Once you have installed HackMaster and FindHack, start the HackMaster application. You will see a list of installed hacks, including FindHack. On the left, a checkbox lets you activate or deactivate FindHack. On the right, the question mark brings FindHack's About box.

Tap in the + sign to set FindHack preferences. You can now enter up to 4 permanent searches, which will appear at bottom of the recent searches pop-up menu when you do a Find.

You can also preselect where each text will be searched by taping the arrow next to each line: in all applications, in built-in applications (Memo Pad, Date Book, To-Do List, Mail, Expense) or in the current application.

Once you have activated FindHack, the next time you do a Find the standard Find dialog box will be replaced with FindHack's. You'll notice an arrow at right of the text field: tap on it to select a recent search or one of the permanent searches you have configured.

Select where you want to search by tapping one of the buttons: All Apps for all applications, Built-Ins for built-in applications, Current for the current application. This is very useful, especially if you often need to search an address or a meeting and you have lots of applications installed on your PalmPilot.

 

5. Tips And Tricks

There are many ways to use FindHack in a productive fashion:

 

6. Compatibility with other hacks

FindHack is completely compatible with all other hacks. If you are using TealMagnify, you should take some extra steps to ensure that both hacks will work properly.

Doing so is very easy: go to the HackMaster application. You see a list of installed hacks. The order of the list is important: if you see TealMagnify appear AFTER FindHack, you should uncheck the checkbox on the "TealMagnify" line, then check it again. This will move TealMagnify at top of the list: now you are sure that it is called first.

 

7. Limitations

 

  1. Why FindHack won't improve Find in some applications

    FindHack has two levels of improvement:

    First, it lets users select whether they want to find text in the current application, in built-in applications or in all applications. It also remembers the last searches you did. This is compatible with all applications.

    Second, it lets you find text even if it is not at beginning of a word. This functionality will work only if applications use the standard PalmOS services to perform the find. Some applications have a custom, proprietary way of doing a Find because they store data in a specific way. FindHack can not help you find text not at beginning of a word in these applications.

  2. What happens in low memory conditions

    FindHack needs a bit more memory than the original Find function in the PalmPilot. When you tap the Find button, FindHack first checks how much memory remains in the current application, and if it considers it is not enough, it directs you to the original Find function.

 

8. Pay Your Sharewares!

The shareware distribution model allows authors to make very cheap software available to users. Also, shareware authors usually update their software as often as needed, and paying for the software you use keeps authors motivated!

 

9. Send your comments and suggestions!

If there is any improvement you would like, please send your suggestions to Florent Pillet (e-mail: fpillet@teaser.fr). Registered users are informed by e-mail when a new version is available. Also, please remember to send any e-mail address change to the author if you want to continue receiving update e-mails.

Your e-mail and address and user information is kept as confidential data. It is not given or sold to anyone else.

 

10. Other fine products from the author

Have problems accessing special characters in Graffiti? Can't get mathematical symbols? Check out SymbolHack, a nice add-on that gives you easy access to a palette with hard-to-type characters!

Also make sure you give a try to BrainForest from Aportis Technologies, the definitive Outliner, Action Item, Checklist and Project Manager for the 3Com PalmPilot Connected Organizer!

11. Changes history

FindHack 2.8 (March 10th, 1998)

FindHack 2.7 (March 9th, 1998)

FindHack 2.6 (End February 1998)

FindHack 2.5 (February 1998)

FindHack 2.1 (January 1998)

FindHack 2.0 (December 1998)

FindHack 1.0 (April 1997)

 


FindHack is Copyright (c) 1997-1998 by Florent Pillet, all rights reserved.