pToolSet Manual

NOTE. This very same manual can be found online here (HTML) and here (text). You can also download them from here (HTML) and here (text).

NOTE.If your Palm OS is 4.x or older, then please read 00README_preOS5.txt and 00README_pToolButtonsPro.txt which are included in the pToolSet distribution.

NOTE. If you run Palm OS 5.0+, then please read 00README_OS5.txt and 00README_pToolButtonsPro.txt which are included in the pToolSet distribution.

WARNING

Since pedit, LapTopHack, and pToolSet share components, if you use more than one of them, then they all must be of the same version, preferably the latest one.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Downloading pToolSet
  • pToolSet vs. pToolSet demo
• Version Information and Recent Changes
• Installation
• Registering pToolSet
• Technical Support
• Troubleshooting
• Spelling pToolSet
• Online Help in pToolSet
• Using pToolSet
  • pToolOn
  • pToolOff
  • pToolZapper
  • pToolButtons
  • pMasterTool and pToolPrefs
  • pAddressTool
  • pControlTool
  • pDateTool
  • pFindTool
  • pInfoTool
  • The pLaunchTool collection
    • pLaunchList
    • pLaunchTool
    • pDeskAccList
    • pDeskAccTool
    • pLaunchEngine1
    • pLaunchEngine2
  • pMemoTool
  • pPointerTool and pGraffitiTool
  • pRotatorTool
  • The pScriptTool collection
    • pScriptEngine3
    • pScriptButtons
    • The pScriptRunner mini-applications
  • pSearchTool and pReplaceTool
  • pSharedEngines
  • pTipsTool
  • pToDoTool
  • pTextTool
    • pTextEngine1
    • pTextEngine2
    • pEditTool
    • pMagiPad
    • pScriptPad
    • pAsciiTool
    • pSortTool
    • pWordCountTool
• External Keyboards and Thumbboards
• List Navigation
• Compatibility Issues
• Known Bugs
• Fixed Bugs
• Unknown Bugs
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • pToolSetPro
• Disclaimer and Legal Statement
• Acknowledgement
• Closure
• More from PaulComputing
• Development History
  • Recent Changes

Introduction

pToolSet is a collection of tools for all Palm Powered handhelds that are at your disposal without quitting your current application.

For instance, pToolSet allows you to find out essential data such as date, time, and battery status with a stroke of the stylus. It also allows you to create DateBook and ToDo items on-the-fly. You can use pToolSet's powerful text editing capabilities in any application that uses text, including all the built-in ones.

The following screen shoots give a few illustrations of what pToolSet can be used for.

pToolSet is the OS 3.5+ equivalent of HackMaster extensions. The latter are going to be no longer available under the upcoming OS 5 whereas pToolSet will exploit the power of the Palm OS for years to come. Whether you are a "newbie" or and "expert", you will soon find out that pToolSet is one of the most useful pieces of software ever written for Palm Powered handhelds.

Downloading pToolSet

You can download the demo version of pToolSet via PaulComputing's web page [this is it]. The demo version is also included in PaulComputing's master package.

You can't directly download the registered version of pToolSet. However, all registered users will always be given instructions how to obtain the latest registered version.

pToolSet vs. pToolSet demo

The demo version of pToolSet is almost fully functional except that it has the following additional features. Most of the modules work perfectly as applications but, if they are used as Operating System Extensions, then occasionally they put up a friendly message on the screen reminding you to register pToolSet. Once you see this message, the current operation may be aborted. Moreover, some functions of pToolSet may be missing from the demo version. In addition, registered users will always get notified of the latest releases that are expected to happen quite frequently.

In order to make your pToolSet trial more pleasant, the demo version of pToolSet nags you only on weekdays.

Installing the demo version over a registered version will delete the latter and vice versa.

Version Information and Recent Changes

Information on PaulComputing's software versions is here and on recent changes is here.

Installation

pToolSet runs on all Palm Powered handhelds with operating systems [OS] at least 3.5, and they are not compatible with OSs older than 3.1. Certain components of pToolSet are usable with OSs 3.1+ although their full potential is not going to be seen with OSs under 3.5.

pToolSet is a collection of applications consisting of pToolOn (aka pToolSetOn), pToolOff (aka pToolSetOff), pToolZapper (aka pToolSetZapper), a special database called pToolButtonsPro [and another called pToolButtons], and other components called "modules". The latter may be be self-contained applications such as pInfoTool or just pieces of codes such as pEditTool which are a part of one of the self-contained applications. To install all the components of pToolSet, just use the regular Palm installation process via HotSync. However, please read the section on using pToolSet for certain caveats and for more details.

pToolSet also consists of various "engines" which are essentially libraries housing either shared or module specific functions.

The primary difference between "modules" and "engines" is that the latter can be deleted and installed without using pToolOn (aka pToolSetOn and pToolOff (aka pToolSetOff).

NOTE. Exceptions exist. For instance, pScriptEngine1 and pScriptEngine2 should be treated as modules as far as installation and deletion goes. As of February 24, 2007, these are the only exceptions but I can't predict the future. To be on the safe side, if you prefer tinkering with pToolSet and want to avoid the less flexible commands of pToolZapper, always do a sequence pToolOff, delete/install modules/engines, and then pToolOn.

NOTE. It is not necessary to install all modules and engines. Just pick those that you want to use. However, always install the latest version of pToolOn, pToolOff, and pToolButtonsPro [pToolButtons]. In addition, please use the latest versions of all modules and engines as well. All components of pToolSet interact with each other. Therefore, they all need to have the same version number and compilation time'n'date.

NOTE. pToolSet will usually, but not always, tell you if some of your modules need a correcponding engine installed.

NOTE. The installation of pToolZapper is purely optional. However, please keep it handy all the time since it allows you to delete individual pToolSet components with the least amount of hassle and inconvenience.

NOTE. I always install everything, including pToolButtonsPro, except pToolButtons. Do not use pToolButtons unless you want to stick to the very basic feature of pToolSet. Do not confuse "pToolButtons" with "pToolButtonsPro".

NOTE. The applications pToolsOn, pToolsOff, and DateVolt have been replaced by pToolOn [no "s", aka pToolSetOn], pToolOff [no "s", aka pToolSetOn], and pInfoTool, respectively. If you still have any of the obsolete pToolsOn, pToolsOff, and pDateVolt on your Palm Powered handheld, then, prior to installing the latest pToolSet, you should install pToolZapper all by itself [it is part of the latest pToolSet package], and run it with the delete all pToolSet modules box checked and the zap assoc prefs option used with the no push button. This will delete all your pToolSet modules but it will leave your saved pToolSet preferences untouched.

WARNING. If you use version 7.xx or newer of any of the pedits, LapTopHack, or pToolSet, then all your pedits, LapTopHack, and pToolSet must be 7.xx or newer since they are not compatible with version 6.xx or older.

In addition, since pedit, LapTopHack, and pToolSet constantly exchange information, it may be necessary that they be of the same version number.

NOTE. I suggest that you keep a backup copy of your peditDB.pdb which is somewhere in your HotSync backup directory on your desktop computer since you may need it in the highly unlikely event that you decide go back to versions 6.xx of pedit, pToolSet, and LapTopHack.

Registering pToolSet

The demo version of pToolSet is free and requires no registration.

The registration fee for the registered version of pToolSet is US$14.00.

Occasionally you may get a discount if you register it via PaulComputing's website.

Registered users will always get notified of the latest releases which are expected to happen quite frequently.

If you honestly cannot afford the registration fee but you must have my Palm products anyway, then please contact me for discount rates.

PayPal is the strongly preferred, easiest, and fastest way to register pToolSet. Please register

at PayPal right now.

A working alternative is to mail a check for US$14.00 to Paul Nevai, 3346 Mansion Way, Columbus OH 43221-1573, USA. Please include your e-mail or your mailing address if you have no e-mail.

You can also register pToolSet at eSellerate: browse all, pToolSet.

Technical Support

First, please read the section about troubleshooting.

Second, if the advice given in the section on troubleshooting did not solve your problem, then please contact me.

Please state clearly the version number and compilation time'n'date of your pToolSet, the exact name of your Palm Powered handheld hardware, the version number of you Palm operating system, and please describe the problem you have experienced.

If you live in North America, please provide your phone number, your time zone, and the times that are convenient for you.

Please note that you can also obtain help by contacting the peditors Forum. In fact, as it turns out, the collective mind of all peditors works better than mine alone. Therefore, in most if not all cases, it makes sense to e-mail to the peditors Forum prior to contacting me.

On the advice of JohnH, I recommend that you use the following template when contacting me.

DO: Your Name (yourname@yourisp.com) year/month/day [such as 2001/09/11]
Short description of the problem such as "I start up peditPro and my Palm crashes."
Application: [LapTopHack | peditPro | pToolSet etc.]
Version: [such as 6.02]
Compilation time'n'date: [11:01:43 EST on Jan 19 2002]
Handheld hardware: [such as TRGPro]
PalmOS version: [such as 3.5.1]
Other hardware (keyboard, expansion memory, etc.):
Free memory: [such as 2Mb]
Other HackMaster extensions active: [such as FitalyStamp]
Other OS patching applications: [such as QuickBits]
Steps to reproduce: [you must include the settings of all check boxes and selection triggers]
Debug message: [see below]
Other comments: [such as "I love your stuff"]

You can find out the version number and the compilation time'n'date by bringing up the version info dialog. You do the latter by selecting the Version Info command in the Options menu, or by entering "V" [upper case "V"].

Troubleshooting

First, please read the section about compatibility issues.

Second, turn off all your other HackMaster extensions and see if the problem goes away. If it did, then turn on your HackMaster extensions one by one and isolate the problem. Once you identified the guilty party, please contact their technical support and explain the problem. I know from personal experience that most Palm developers provide superior support.

However, there are some exceptions. If you happen to experience the latter, then please be persistent. It may help your case if you send a copy of your correspondence to the peditors Forum and to some of the Palm related newsgroups such as comp.sys.palmtops.pilot and alt.comp.sys.palmtops.pilot.

You may also try Calvin's PGHQ FAQ. Much of my Palm knowledge comes from studying this FAQ database.

Next, check out the peditors Forum or write to peditors Forum since, as I mentioned it already, the collective mind of all peditors works better than mine alone.

If the problem still persists then contact pToolSet's technical support.

QUESTION. In some applications I get crashes. What is going on?

ANSWER. Most likely you are facing a stack overflow problem as a result of too many things being done at the same time. I suggest that you contact the developers of the software under consideration and explain them the situation. Most likely the software is either not managing memory properly or the stack is too small [or both]. If the problem originates from an application and not from a HackMaster extension or an Operating System Extension, then your developer can easily fix the problem by adding a proper 'pref' resource with the right setting to the application. In addition, TealMemBrain can also salvage the situation most of the time so that you don't need to depend on your developer's time schedule.

HINT. Use pInfoTool or TealMemBrain to check the free/used/total stack space in your application. I recommend that you set the size of your problematic application's stack space to 8K that is equal to 8,192 bytes [0x2000]. This advice works only if your Palm OS is at least 3.0. However, I have yet to see a non-newbie Palm user with a Palm OS under 3.0 on her primary Palm Powered handheld.

QUESTION. What is a stack anyway?

ANSWER. Excellent question. First, "officially" it is called "application stack space". Second, you could start, for instance, with the manual of TealMemBrain, and then move to here or here. In short, it is a small portion of your regular RAM where many of the computations take place.

QUESTION. My command toolbar icon is not showing up. What happened and how can I fix it?

ANSWER. Most likely you forgot to read 00README_1st.txt, and, therefore, you have not followed these instructions. The solution is very easy, First, run pToolZapper with the delete all pToolSet modules box checked and the zap assoc prefs option used with the no push button. Second, perform a soft [pin] reset of your Palm Powered handheld. Third, repeat the first step two more times. Fourth, reinstall the latest version of pToolSet.

Spelling pToolSet

pToolSet (cf. here).

Online Help in pToolSet

In almost every dialog online help is available via the Help and/or i-Tips buttons and/or by typing "?" and/or "ESC ?" and/or "H" and/or by pressing the Help list item, depending on the individual circumstances.

If pTipsTool and pToolButtonsPro are installed, then in almost every online help dialog there is incremental, forward, and backward case-blind search capability, full keyboard and Graffiti support, and other useful features. Please see pTipsTool for the details.

Using pToolSet

pToolSet is a collection of applications consisting of pToolOn (aka pToolSetOn), pToolOff (aka pToolSetOff), pToolZapper (aka pToolSetZapper), a special database called pToolButtons, and other components called "modules". The latter may be be self-contained applications such as pInfoTool or just pieces of codes such as pEditTool which are a part of one of the self-contained applications.

Most of the modules have a double duty life. They can act as regular applications or as Operating System Extensions.

• pToolOn turns on pToolSet's modules. Under normal circumstances you never need to use pToolOn. It should run automatically after each reset and HotSync. However, if you use third party tools to install your files, then you may need to run pToolOn to turn on the modules of pToolSet. For instance, if you play with pToolSet on POSE [Palm Operating System Emulator], then you need to run pToolOn after you installed any pToolSet module.
• pToolOff turns off all pToolSet modules, including pToolOn. While a pToolSet module is turned on, you can't delete it. Hence, if you wish to delete a pToolSet module, you must run pToolOff prior to deleting the module. After you deleted the selected pToolSet module, you need to run pToolOn manually to turn on the remaining pToolSet modules.

• pToolZapper allows you to delete individual pToolSet components and all pSharedEngines with the least amount of hassle and inconvenience. Although you can delete any of the pToolSet components manually if you follow the rules below, I still recommend that you use pToolZapper since then the probability of making mistakes is reduced to zero for all practical purposes.
  • Choosing zap assoc prefs with the yes option, will also delete the saved preferences of those components which are themselves deleted.
  • Choosing zap assoc prefs with the no option, will keep the saved preferences of those components which are themselves deleted.
  • Choosing zap assoc prefs with the only option, will delete the saved preferences of those components which are checked but will not delete the components themselves.
  • The More button allows you to delete all pSharedEngines. Please keep in mind that pSharedEngines are used by both pToolSet and LapTopHack.
  • In addition, pToolSet lends several of its components to LapTopHack such as pDateTool, pSearchTool, and pToDoTool.
  • Don't forget to explore pToolZapper's menu commands.
  • Please use the Help or the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pToolZapper [see here].
  NOTE. Since pToolSet constantly evolves, so does pToolZapper. Therefore, the above picture may not be up-to-date.
• pToolButtons is a necessary [silent] component of pToolSet. You don't need to worry about it except that you must install it alongside with the other modules.
  NOTE. Regarding pToolButtonsPro, please see 00README_pToolButtonsPro.txt and 00README_preOS5.txt and/or 00README_OS5.txt. You must install only one of pToolButtons and pToolButtonsPro and not both. Do not use pToolButtons unless you want to stick to the very basic feature of pToolSet.
  • In order to delete pToolOn and pToolButtons, you must run pToolOff first.
  • pToolOff may be deleted without running pToolOff first. However, I recommend to keep them on your Palm Powered handheld unless you want to delete all pToolSet modules.
  • pToolOn and pToolButtons must reside in your regular RAM or flash ROM and should not be placed on an external expansion card.
  • pToolOff may be kept on an external expansion card although it is such a small application that there will not be much memory gain by doing so. I suggest keeping it in the regular RAM or flash ROM. If you choose the latter, then please do not forget to delete it prior to installing a fresh copy of pToolOff. Hence, the safest bet is to keep pToolOff in the regular RAM.
  • Each module has its own rules as to whether it is external expansion card compatible. However, even in case of compatibility, there will be a significant performance degradation if kept on an external expansion card.

• pMasterTool is a pToolSet module. It is the launching pad of all other pToolSet modules. In order to use pMasterTool, your Palm's OS must be at least 3.5.
  • You can use pMasterTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1. pMasterTool shows up as pToolPrefs in your Palm application launcher.
    • As an application, pMasterTool, that is, pToolPrefs, can be used to set all the pToolSet preferences, and it is equivalent to the "pToolSet Prefs" command of pMasterTool when used as an Operating System Extension.
    • Use the pToolSet preferences to set various optional features of pToolSet which are operational only if pToolButtonsPro.prc has been installed on your Palm Powered handheld.
    • Here is a partial list of special actions which can be assigned to various buttons and/or strokes and/or taps: no special action, disable all actions, cancel all actions, current pMasterTool, built-in pMasterTool, pAddressTool, pAsciiTool, pControlTool, pDateTool, pDeskAccList, pDeskAccTool, pEditTool, pFindTool, pGraffitiTool, pInfoTool, pLaunchList, pLaunchTool, pMemoTool, pPointerTool, pRotatorTool, pSearchTool, pScriptTool, pScriptButtons, pSortTool, pTextTool, pTodoTool, pMagiPad, pScriptPad, calendar, data lookup, Palm Prefs, Palm Sound Prefs, turn WiFi on, turn WiFi off, toggle WiFi, screen portrait, screen landscape, rotate screen, turn DIA on, turn DIA off, toggle DIA, flush S[ilent] DBCache, flush V[erbose] DBCache, open prev appl, open peditXXX, open AddrList, open DateBook, open MemoPad, open TaskList, open XXX, play XXX, copy text [32K], cut text [32K], paste text, select all text, export all text, export selection, export clipboard, paste date, paste time, paste date'n'time, change case, rotate case, insert char, rotate font, toggle ruler, rotate ruler, word count, power off, tap action button, tap HOME button, tap MENU button, tap CALC button, tap FIND button, tap ABC button, tap 123 button, tap CLOCK button, toggle BackLight, adjust brightness, older brightness [similar to "adjust brightness" except it is meant for older Palms, it also is identical to toggle BackLight on some Palms], adjust contrast, command toolbar, pMasterTool #X, pScriptTool #X, pMagiPad #X, pScriptPad #X, XX: open my appl, run pScript_XX, and so forth.
      NOTE. The "my Apps" button is used to customize the "open my appl" special actions. The rules by which these applications are launched are explained in the section about the pLaunchTool collection and in pedit's manual where the "/&launch [...]" pFunction is discussed [see here].
      NOTE. The "SpecActIDs" button is used for the "/&specAct [...]" pFunction [see pedit's manual for details].
      NOTE. All special actions involving the DIA, screen rotation, and WiFi have numerous [harmless] glitches since the Palm OS was not meant to accommodate manipulation of the control bar [aka status bar] programmatically. In particular, neither the DIA [dynamic input area] nor the screen rotation actions are sticky and they tend to revert once the current window changes.
      NOTE. The "open XXX" and "play XXX" special actions are preprogrammed to launch certain popular applications which fit the key word XXX. If your favorite one doesn't get launched, contact 2me@PaulComputing.com with the exact name of your application and its creator ID [use a file manager utility], and the developer's website. I might add support for it. Please do not recommend obsolete and non-mainstream applications.
      NOTE. The command "cancel all actions" is only useful as a button action command. It acts as "disable all actions".
      NOTE. If you assign special actions taps to the left-hand and right-hand sides of the display screen, then pToolSet will ignore these special action requests if the current screen has a scrollbar, or text field, or a similar object which could cause conflict with those taps. To some extent the same is true with taps on the top and the bottom of the display screen although the built-in tolerance is more relaxed.
      NOTE. You will get a visual feedback for display screen taps associated with special actions. This will help you to learn the location of the sweet spots. If the size the display screen of your Palm Power handheld can be changed on-the-fly, such as the Tungsten T3's, then the location of the sweet spots may change too. In other words, for instance, "2nd fourth" refers to the second fourth of the current width/height of the display screen.
      NOTE. Under certain circumtances, certain Graffiti area special action tap sweet spots are ignored on certain Palm Power handhelds. For instance, on a Tungsten T3, when the display screen is normal sized, then special action taps in the Graffiti area are ignored, since there is no way to determine whether you have the normal Graffiti area shown or the virtual keyboard is there. However, the special action strokes still work as usual.
    • Please see here and here for the details.
    • In particular,
      • The difference between the current pMasterT and the built-in pMasterT special actions is that the latter brings up the default pMasterTool which is built into pToolSet no matter which customized pMasterTool was last selected.
      • If you assign the special action power off to a button in the "press only" mode, then you will not be able to turn on your Palm Powered handheld using that button since it will turn itself off immediately.
      • The special action run pScript_XX performs the first pScript which is located after the tag [bookmark] pScript_XX in pScriptPad.
        EXAMPLE. ... pScript_08 blahblah {mess::/&mess@[@@pScript_08@@,,]}
        Please see pedit's manual [see here online] for details on pScripting.
  • You can activate pMasterTool as an Operating System Extension via the command toolbar.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • You can also activate pMasterTool via LapTopHack either by entering "ESC S" [upper case "S"] or by tapping the tap firmly on the very right edge in the middle third of your Palm's Graffiti area, just to the right from [and between] the "CALC" and "FIND" SilkScreen buttons [see the "Graffiti area hot spots" and the "undocumented features" sections in LapTopHack's manual]. This is especially useful when the command toolbar is not available such as the "Prefs" [Preferences] application.
  • Don't forget to explore pMasterTool's menu commands which can be invoked by entering "!", or by a tap in the upper left corner of the screen, or by using the menu button.
  • If you use a keyboard, then the list navigation rules will help you in picking your command.
  • Even if you are not using a keyboard, some of the list navigation rules will come handy.
  • In particular...
    • If you are in regular search mode and you have "x: command name", then entering the case-significant "x" selects and activates the item.
    • If you are in regular search mode and you have "x: command name" or simply "command name", then entering the lower cased version of the first letter of the command name selects the item but does not activate it.
    • The RETURN and the 5-way navigator SELECT keys activate the currently selected item.
    • You can cancel pMasterTool by tapping on the screen outside the list [but not around the edge of the screen] or by entering "." [period].
    • See here for more ways to cancel.
  • Please use the help command for additional advice on using pMasterTool.
  • In particular...
    • Enter "V" [upper case] to see the version number and the compilation time'n'date of pMasterTool.
    • In addition...
      • The Opt menu's "Auto pEditTool on|off" menu command allows to invoke pEditTool transparently when editing attached notes and certain similar text items in Palm OS and third party appications. Try out this command with DateBk4 or DateBk5.
      • The Opt menu's "Left-Handed Palm on|off" menu command fixes the non-sticky left-handedness Palm OS bug; see, e.g., here or google "palm handedness" for details.
      • See here for details on the Opt menu's "Low-Case ListNav Fix on|off" menu command.
      • The calendar command allows you to browse your Palm Powered handheld's built-in calendar. Unless you quit via the "Cancel" button, the picked day's datestamp will be either pasted into your current editable text field at the current cursor position or text selection if such a text field exists, or else it will be placed onto the ClipBoard. If you pick today, then the datestamp includes the current time too as in "2002/07/15 10:11:27" [date'n'time], whereas otherwise it consists of the date only as in "2002/07/15". The datestamp uses the preferences set in the "Formats" Preference Panel.
      • The data lookup command allows you to add phone numbers and similar information from your Address (aka Address Book) database to your currently focused and editable text field.
        NOTE. The data lookup command cannot be used if the current application has already opened up the Address database with write access. Examples of such applications include "DateBk" and even the built-in "Address".
      • The Toggle BackLight command turns on and off the backlight on some but not all Palm Powered handhelds.
      • The Invert BackLight command inverts [reverses] the backlight on some but not all Palm Powered handhelds. It is equivalent to the "shortcut .8" command. You will see the change the next time you turn on the backlight.
      • See here for details on the flush S[ilent] DBCache/ and flush V[erbose] DBCache.
      • The switch pMasterT command displays the built-in pMasterTool and all customizable pMasterTool lists whether or not they have already been customized unless their names have not yet been changed from their built-in default "pMasterTool - #X" or they start with "." [period]. The latter two types are hidden although they can be fully accessed via the pMasterT Prefs command where they can be both customized and renamed.
      • In addition...
        • The pMasterTool #X special actions allow to start up pMasterTool using buttons/strokes/taps with the customizable pMasterTool #X loaded.
        • The current pMasterT special action allows to start up pMasterTool using buttons/strokes/taps with the last used customizable pMasterTool loaded.
        • The built-in pMasterT special action allows to start up pMasterTool using buttons/strokes/taps with the default pMasterTool loaded.
      • The pMasterT on left, pMasterT centered, and pMasterT on right commands allow you to display pMasterTool on the left/center/right portionof the screen of your Palm Powered handheld. pMasterTool remembers the position you last selected.
      • Please read about pMagiPad [aka magiPad] and pScriptPad [aka scriptPad] in pedit's manual [see here online and here online].
        NOTE. The "Copy'n'Paste" command [see also the "QopyPaste" and "QopyExit" buttons] a la pedit and LapTopHack works in pMagiPad and pScriptPad only and not in pEditTool, and only if there is a current text selection.
        • First, it copies the current text selection to the ClipBoard and exits pMagiPad or pScriptPad.
        • If there is no currently focused and editable text field in the current dialog, then "Copy'n'Paste" stops at this step.
        • Second, it either replaces the current text selection by the contents of the ClipBoard, or, if there is no such text selection, then pastes the contents of the ClipBoard at the current cursor position.
        • Third, depending on the choice you made with the Copy'n'Paste Selects on|off command in the Pad menu, either the newly pasted text will be shown highlighted, or the cursor will be placed right after the pasted text.
        NOTE. Use the Copy'n'Paste Selects on|off command in the the Pad menu to control whether the Copy'n'Paste command will also select the pasted text in your memo or else it will just place the cursor after the pasted text. NOTE. Certain pEditTool operations such as Save Text and Restore Text are not available in pMagiPad and pScriptPad.
      • The "pScript /&menu@[ID] on" menu command allows to create pScripts "pScript_XX {menu:://&menu@ [menuID]}" by selecting a menu command.
    • In Palm OS 5+, as an optional feature, after 15 seconds of inactivity, pMasterTool quits on its own.
    • Please see here, here, and here for more details.

• pAddressTool is under [?permanent?] construction...

• pControlTool allows to activate buttons, check boxes, lists, and so forth, via keyboards by typing the first letter or the first few letters of the control structure label.
  • If the text entry field is blank or says "!enter label here!" then RETURN activates the "default button".

    NOTE. The "default button" is defined in some mysterious way and it might not be the button that you expect it to be. Hence, do not rely on it unless you know in advance what will happen.

  • pControlTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • RETURN = ";" = 5-way navigator select/right = ;Go button
  • "," [comma] = 5-way navigator left = ,Cncl [= Cancel] button
  • page up = 5-way navigator up = up arrow = move pControlTool upward
  • page down = 5-way navigator down = down arrow = move pControlTool downward
  • Please type ":" [colon] or use the "pControlTool Help" menu command for onboard help when in pControlTool.

• pDateTool is a pToolSet module which can create DateBook [aka appointment] items in Palm's built-in "Date Book" application without quitting your current application. In addition, pDateTool provides many more options than the "Date Book" application.
  • You can use pDateTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1.
  • You can activate pDateTool as an Operating System Extension via pMasterTool if your Palm OS is at least 3.5.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • pDateTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pDateTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pDateTool's menu commands.
  • The Toggle AddMode menu command allows you to switch between the "Add New Item and Stay in pDateTool" and "Add New Item and Exit" modes. pDateTool remembers the settings of the current AddMode.
  • If you are in the "Add New Item and Stay" mode, after you successfully added a new item, the item field becomes focused and the current text gets highlighted. This facilitates creating another item.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pDateTool [see here and here].
  • The Start: and Length: labels are, in fact, buttons. Try them out and see the i-Tips button for an explanation.
  • pDateTool uses the same ESC key concept as pedit and LapTopHack except that pDateTool's ESC key can be configured on the fly and there is a visual feedback mechanism.
  • pDateTool cannot be used if the current application has already opened up the "Date Book" database with write access. Examples of such applications include "DateBk" and even the built-in "Date Book".
    NOTE. I was told that some of the older versions of "DateBk" open up the "Date Book" database with some delay so that you may be able to open up pDateTool in them. However, such an action may lead to a spectacular albeit innocent crash.
  • pDateTool may be deleted without running pToolOff first.
  • pDateTool must reside in your regular RAM or flash ROM. If you choose the latter, then please do not forget to delete it prior to installing a fresh copy of pDateTool. Hence, the safest bet is to keep pDateTool in the regular RAM.

• pFindTool is a pToolSet module which is an OS 5+ compatible cousin, and, in a sense, advanced version, of superFinderHack. pFindTool is a replacement for the Palm OS built-in SilkScreen "FIND" command, and, compared to the SilkScreen "FIND" command, it is certainly "feature rich".
  NOTE. pFindTool is an intelligent front-end for the built-in SilkScreen "FIND" command [or superFinderHack, if installed]. pFindTool simply passes on the search string to the currently active "FIND" command, and the actual search is performed by the latter.
  NOTE. If your Palm Powered handheld's OS version is older than 5.0, then I recommend that you use superFinderHack in addition to pFindTool since the former is much more powerful. pFindTool implements as many of superFinderHack's features as it is possible in Palm OS 5+. I can assure you that superFinderHack and pFindTool can happily co-exist.
  • You can use pFindTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1 but then it is only partially useful.
  • You can activate pFindTool as an Operating System Extension via pMasterTool if your Palm OS is at least 3.5.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • pFindTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pFindTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pFindTool's menu commands. In particular...
    • Use the Set ListNav Mode... menu command to pick the default list navigation [search] mode in various pFindTool lists.
    • The Force ListNav Mode on|off menu command allows pLaunchTool's list navigation mode to override pMasterTool's global "Low-Case ListNav Fix" setting.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pFindTool [see here].
  • The Find: label is, in fact, a button. Try it out and see the i-Tips button for an explanation.
  • A few words about saving search strings...
    • pFindTool automatically saves 128 [only 2 in the demo version] of your most recent search strings which you can recall instantaneously by tapping on the recent [ESC R] selection trigger.
    • In addition, you can manually save another 128 [only 2 in the demo version] of your favorite strings by tapping on the AddFav [ESC a, Add Favorite] button. You can recall the latter by tapping on the favorite [ESC F] selection trigger.
    • Both string saving methods work on a FIFO basis, that is, "first in first out". Hence, if you ever accumulate 128 [only 2 in the demo version] favorite search strings, then adding another one will destroy the very first one [more precisely, the one which is currently in the last position which is the same as the very first one only if you have not sorted the strings yet]. However, you will be given a chance to reconsider your actions.
    • If you want to delete any of your saved recent search strings, then just use the Delete Recent command in the Options menu, and then click on the string which you want to delete.
    • Similarly, if you want to delete any of your saved favorite search strings, then just use the Delete Favorites command in the Options menu, and then click on the string which you want to delete.
    • The Sort Recent and Sort Favorites commands in the Options menu do exactly what you would expect from them. The sort is case-blind.
  • pFindTool uses the same ESC key concept as pedit and LapTopHack except that pFindTool's ESC key can be configured on the fly and there is a visual feedback mechanism.
  • pFindTool must not be deleted without running pToolOff first. Otherwise, the built-in SilkScreen "FIND" command and/or superFinderHack will get confused and will not work. If you accidentally deleted pFindTool without using pToolOff, don't panic. Just run pToolOff and it will fix the mess you created.
  • pFindTool must reside in your regular RAM or flash ROM. If you choose the latter, then please do not forget to delete it prior to installing a fresh copy of pFindTool. Hence, the safest bet is to keep pFindTool in the regular RAM.

• pInfoTool is a pToolSet module which is an advanced version of LapTopHack's now retired "Date'n'Time & Voltage'n'Battery" function.
  • You can use pInfoTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1.
  • You can activate pInfoTool as an Operating System Extension via pMasterTool if your Palm OS is at least 3.5.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • pInfoTool can be called up via LapTopHack either by entering "ESC d" [both lower and upper case "d" work] or by tapping firmly on the very left edge in the middle third of your Palm's Graffiti area, just to the left from [and between] the "MENU" and "HOME" SilkScreen buttons as long as the Palm OS is at least 3.1 and pInfoTool is installed [it does not need to be turned on via pToolOn] [see the "Graffiti area hot spots" section in LapTopHack's manual]. This is especially useful when the command toolbar is not available such as the "Prefs" [Preferences] application.
  • pInfoTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pInfoTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pInfoTool's menu commands.
  • In particular...
    • The calendar command allows you to browse your Palm Powered handheld's built-in calendar. Unless you quit via the "Cancel" button, the picked day's datestamp will be placed onto the ClipBoard. If you pick today, then the datestamp includes the current time too as in "2002/07/15 10:11:27" [date'n'time], whereas otherwise it consists of the date only as in "2002/07/15". The datestamp uses the preferences set in the "Formats" Preference Panel.
    • The Palm Preferences command in the Actions menu allows you either to launch the built-in Preferences application or to visit the associated preference panels without quitting your current application.
    • The Flush S[ilent] DBCache and Flush V[erbose] DBCache commands in the Misc menu allow you to, surprise surprise, flush the DBCache. These are operational only in Palm Powered handhelds with NVFS [non-volatile file system]. Googling "palm dbcache nvfs" will help to understand these concepts and also their shortcomings if any.
      NOTE. JohnM recommends using this pScript to launch Blazer via the pScriptRunner mini-application pFScript.prc on his Palm TX.
      
      {pScript#F::/&script$[@@Flush1@@]}
      {Flush1::/&specAct[403]/&script$[@@Flush2@@]}
      {Flush2::/&launch[@@Blazer@@]}
      
      
    • The Feature Numbers command in the Misc menu gives you numerous pieces of information regarding the currently defined feature numbers. It tells you the the creator of the given feature number, the feature number itself, and the associated value. This is very useful for "experts" such as developers whereas it is totally irrelevant for the rest of us.
      NOTE. You can search and copy the displayed information.
    • The Open DataBases command in the Misc menu gives you numerous pieces of information about all the databases which are currently open. It tells you the name, the type, and the creator of the given database, whether it is a resource or record database, and how many times is has been opened up. This is useful for "experts" such as developers whereas it is totally irrelevant for the rest of us.
      NOTE. You can search and copy the displayed information.
    • The Screen Size command in the Misc menu shows the size of your screen in pixels. This is quite useful for "experts" such as developers whereas it is totally irrelevant for the rest of us.
    • The Screen Coordinates command in the Misc menu shows the screen coordinates of either pen taps or pen strokes. The only way to terminate the Screen Coordinates... command is via entering "o" [lower case "oh"] or "0" [zero]. Well, you can also pull the plug. This is quite useful for "experts" such as developers whereas it is totally irrelevant for the rest of us.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pInfoTool [see here].
  • In particular...
    • Tap on the RAM/ROM/ETC statistics display selection trigger to obtain comprehensive information about the RAM/ROM/ETC situation of your Palm Powered handheld.
    • You can up/down/left buttonSlide the RAM/ROM/ETC statistics display selection trigger to change the RAM/ROM/ETC information. pInfoTool remembers your most recent selection.
    • "0" [zero] = tap on the right half of the "Date'n'Time" display = toggle between leading 0 in the hour and no leading 0 in the hour formats
    • "a" = tap on the "Date'n'Time" display = toggle between 12 hour and 24 hour formats
  • pInfoTool may be deleted without running pToolOff first.
  • pInfoTool must reside in your regular RAM or flash ROM. If you choose the latter, then please do not forget to delete it prior to installing a fresh copy of pInfoTool. Hence, the safest bet is to keep pInfoTool in the regular RAM.

• The pLaunchTool collection combines five tools.
• pLaunchTool itself is a regular pToolSet module housing pLaunchList, pLaunchTool, pDeskAccList, and pDeskAccTool.
• pLaunchEngine1 is a library shared by pedit, LapTopHack, and pToolSet. It is used for launching items such as applications from any directory of all expansion cards or desk accessories via pScripting.
• pLaunchEngine2 is a library that houses pLaunchTool's and pDeskAccTool's "recent" and "favorite" application and desk accessory list manager tools.
• NOTE. Both pLaunchList and pLaunchTool can launch applications residing on expansion cards. There are two ways of dealing with applications residing on expansion cards. Either use pLaunchTool's Card Appls button to list all your applications in the default directories or your expansion cards or internal drives, usually named "/PALM/Launcher/" or "/Applications/", or proceed as follows.
  • First, launch your expansion card based application using Palm's built-in launcher [tap the "HOME" SilkScreen button] or any other application launcher utility.
  • Second, while your application is running, invoke pLaunchTool and use the Add Current to Favorites menu command to prepend your application to the current favorite list.
  • From now on you can use your favorite list to launch your application.
  • However, if your expansion card based application resides in a non-default directory and you launched it via pScriptTool's omnipotent "/&launch [...]" pFunction, then this procedure doesn't work since both pLaunchList and pLaunchTool only search the default directories of expansion cards and internal drives. The latter directories are usually called "/PALM/Launcher/" or "/Applications/" although they may be spelled with different lower/upper cased combinations.
• NOTE. Due to a Palm OS design deficiency, sometimes it may happen that there are multiple copies of the same Palm application in your RAM and/or on the expansion card which have different names, and this may lead to problems, especially when you have different versions of the same application.
• NOTE. Both pLaunchList, pLaunchTool, and "/&launch [...]" use the "prc" name of expansion card based applications and not the "DB" name when searching for them and when launching them. The "prc" name is what you usually see on your DeskTop computer when installing an application, whereas the "DB" name is what you get in your backup directory of your DeskTop computer after a HotSync. Very unfortunately, the two may be different. That's why I call it a "Palm OS design deficiency".
• NOTE. You can also use pScriptTool and the "/&launch [...]" pFunction for applications residing on external expansion cards [see here for details].

• pLaunchList is a component of the pLaunchTool collection.
  • pLaunchList is a plain vanilla launcher for starting up your applications residing in the main memory of your Palm Powered handheld.
  • Use the "pLaunchTool" item to switch to pLaunchTool.
  • Use the "Favorite APPLs" item to switch to the current favorite list.
  • The "Switch Favorites" command in pLaunchList's "Favorite APPLs" list displays only those favorite lists whose name does not start with "." or it is not the default "pLaunchTool - #X".
  • Use pLaunchTool to change the names of the favorite lists.
  • If you use a keyboard, then the list navigation rules will help you in picking your DA.
  • Even if you are not using a keyboard, some of the list navigation rules will come handy.

• pLaunchTool is a component of the pLaunchTool collection.
  • pLaunchTool is a fancy-shmancy launcher for starting up your desk applications residing in the main memory of your Palm Powered handheld.
  • pLaunchTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pLaunchTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pLaunchTool's menu commands.
  • Use the "pLaunchList" button to switch to pLaunchList.
  • pLaunchTool incorporates numerous "tap minimizing" features. In particular...
    • The Edit: label is, in fact, a button. It is the same as the Item pEditor menu command.
    • The item label is, in fact, a button. It is the same as the Switch Favorites... menu command.
    • When using the Card Appls button, you will see two items called erase & rebuilt list and rescan & refresh list. Use the latter if you either installed new applications on your expansion card or if you regularly use more than one such card and you keep switching between them. If you never change your applications on your expansion card then both will do the same job.
    • The "1" through "F" push buttons allow to switch directly to favorite lists #1 through #F.
    • Tapping on a highlighted "1" through "F" push button brings up the current favorite list.
    • Use the Instant Mode on|off menu command to set the instant mode. If it is "on", then one tap in the recent, favorite, and Applications lists launches applications.
    • Use the Set ListNav Mode... menu command to pick the default list navigation [search] mode in various pLaunchTool lists.
    • The Force ListNav Mode on|off menu command allows pLaunchTool's list navigation mode to override pMasterTool's global "Low-Case ListNav Fix" setting.
    • Use the Set StartUp Mode... menu command to pick the initial action when starting up pLaunchTool.
    • Combining the above two, you can have a 1-tap activation mechanism for applications.
    • "ESC b" = the upButtonSlided Run button = Launch Prev[ious] Appl menu command.
  • NOTE. Please check out the closely related pScriptorial "/&launch [...]" application launcher pFunction. Please see pedit's manual [see here online] for details on pScripting. In particular, "/&launch [...]" is explained here.
  • Use pLaunchTool's Create pScript menu command to generate a "/&launch [...]" pScript from the current text in pLaunchTool. The pScript is placed into the Clipboard which then you can paste into pScriptPad.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pLaunchTool [see here].

• pDeskAccList [desk accessory or DA] is a component of the pLaunchTool collection.
  • pDeskAccList is a plain vanilla launcher for starting up your desk accessories [aka DAs] residing in the main memory of your Palm Powered handheld.
  • Use the "pDeskAccTool" item to switch to pDeskAccTool.
  • Use the "Favorite DAs" item to switch to the favorite list.
  • If you use a keyboard, then the list navigation rules will help you in picking your DA.
  • Even if you are not using a keyboard, some of the list navigation rules will come handy.

• pDeskAccTool [desk accessory or DA] is a component of the pLaunchTool collection.
  • pDeskAccTool is a fancy-shmancy launcher for starting up your desk accessories [aka DAs] residing in the main memory of your Palm Powered handheld.
  • pDeskAccTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pDeskAccTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pDeskAccTool's menu commands.
  • Use the "pDeskAccList" button to switch to pDeskAccList.
  • pDeskAccTool incorporates numerous "tap minimizing" features. In particular...
    • The Edit: label is, in fact, a button. It is the same as the Item pEditor menu command.
    • Use the Instant Mode on|off menu command to set the instant mode. If it is "on", then one tap in the recent, favorite, and Desk Accessories lists launches DAs.
    • Use the Set StartUp Mode... menu command to pick the initial action when starting up pDeskAccTool.
    • Combining the above two, you can have a 1-tap activation mechanism for DAs.
  • NOTE. Please check out the closely related pScriptorial "/&daLaunch [...]" desk accessory [DA] launcher pFunction. Please see pedit's manual [see here online] for details on pScripting. In particular, "/&daLaunch [...]" is explained here.
  • Use pDeskAccTool's Create pScript menu command to generate a "/&daLaunch [...]" pScript from the current text in pDeskAccTool. The pScript is placed into the Clipboard which then you can paste into pScriptPad.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pDeskAccTool [see here].
• pLaunchEngine1 is a shared library component of the pLaunchTool collection.
  • pLaunchEngine1 is used by pLaunchList and pLaunchTool to launch expansion card based Palm applications.
  • pLaunchEngine1 is used by the "/&launch [...]" pScriptorial pFunction.
  • Please see pedit's manual [see here online] for details on "/&launch [...]".
  • A simple example is "{pedit::/&launch [@@/x/pedit@@]}" which launches pedit from the root level directory "x" on the first expansion card. However, if pedit already exists in the main meory, then the latter is launched.
  • Another simple example is "{pedit::/&launch [@@pedit@@]}" which launches pedit from the default directory "/Palm/Launcher" on the first expansion card. However, if pedit already exists in the main meory, then the latter is launched.
  • pScriptPad's Insert pScript command allows to automate the creation of such pScripts.
  • pLaunchEngine1 can be installed, used, and deleted independently of pToolSet.
  • If you installed pLaunchEngine1 as part of pToolSet, then use pToolZapper to delete it.
  • If you installed pLaunchEngine1 independently of pToolSet, then use the usual Palm deletion mechanism to delete it.
  • pedit and LapTopHack can use pLaunchEngine1 even if no other component of pToolSet is installed.
• pLaunchEngine2 is a shared library component of the pLaunchTool collection.
  • pLaunchEngine2 is a library that houses pLaunchTool's and pDeskAccTool's "recent" and "favorite" application and desk accessory list manager tools.
  • In pLaunchTool, the downButtonSlided "favorite" button = "Manage Favorites" menu command.
  • In pLaunchTool, the downButtonSlided "recent" button = "Manage Recent" menu command.
  • If you want to remove the nagger from pLaunchTool's application manager, then please upgrade your registered pToolSet to pToolSetPro via www.paulcomputing.com.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pLaunchTool's application manager [see here].

• pMemoTool is a pToolSet module which which can create Memo items in Palm's built-in "Memo Pad" application without quitting your current application.
• If your Palm Powered handheld has a native 32K memo mode such as the Tungsten T3, or if you have peditPro or pedit32 installed, then you can also create memos with length up to 32K.
  • You can use pMemoTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1.
  • You can activate pMemoTool as an Operating System Extension via pMasterTool if your Palm OS is at least 3.5.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • The following start up rule applies. If the current text field is has current text selection then the selected text, but no more than 4K/32K, gets copied into the "New Memo Vitals" dialog's text field.
  • pMemoTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pMemoTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pMemoTool's menu commands.
  • Use the 32K Memos on|off menu command to switch between memos with maximum length 4K and 32K, respectively.
  • The Toggle AddMode menu command allows you to switch between the "Add New Item and Stay in pMemoTool" and "Add New Item and Exit" modes. pMemoTool remembers the settings of the current AddMode.
  • If you are in the "Add New Item and Stay..." mode, after you successfully added a new item, the item field becomes focused and the current text gets highlighted. This facilitates creating another item.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pMemoTool [see here].
  • pMemoTool uses the same ESC key concept as pedit and LapTopHack except that pMemoTool's ESC key can be configured on the fly and there is a visual feedback mechanism.
  • pMemoTool may not be used if the current application has already opened up the "Memo Pad" database with write access. Examples of such applications include "DateBk", "Memo PLUS", different varieties of pedits, and even the built-in "Memo Pad". However, should this happen, then pMemoTool gives you the option of switching memo databases temporarily.
  • pMemoTool may be deleted without running pToolOff first.
  • pMemoTool must reside in your regular RAM or flash ROM. If you choose the latter, then please do not forget to delete it prior to installing a fresh copy of pMemoTool. Hence, the safest bet is to keep pMemoTool in the regular RAM.

• You can use pPointerTool to manipulate a Palm cursor via keyboard and Graffiti input.
• You can use pGraffitiTool to enter taps and strokes with your stylus. This is useful if your Palm Powered handheld does not have a Graffiti area and then you can use pGraffitiTool to invoke special actions attached to taps/strokes which you can define in pToolSet's preferences. Run pMasterTool, that is, pToolPrefs, as an application and you will see how to set these preferences.
• For instance, I assign "pGraffitiTool P" [with previous position of the cursor] to a tap in the bottom left corner of the screen on my Tungsten C. This way I can use the entire stroke/tap power of pToolSet.
• Please type "?" for onboard help when in pPointerTool and in pGraffitiTool.

  NOTE. To some extent pPointerTool and to a larger degree pGraffitiTool stopped working properly in certain versions of Palm OS5+. For instance, they work perfectly on my Tungsten T and Tungsten C, but they some of their features are a hit and miss on my Palm TX. The reason is that newer versions of Palm OS5+ stopped allowing the use of some system functions which lie at the heart of these tools; google, for instance, "PenScreenToRaw trap" and "PenRawToScreen trap".

• Following a recommendation of JoachimS, pRotatorTool was originally introduced in LapTopHack in November, 2000, years before the makers of the Palm OS came up with the idea of object navigation [the "halo" thing]. Then, after having been perfected in pToolSet from March 2003, it became part of pedit in April, 2005.
• You can use pRotatorTool to activate "objects", that is, dialog titles [menus], controls such as buttons, push buttons, check boxes, and repeating buttons, and also focus text fields either by using the 5-way button, or via keyboard and Graffiti input.
• The concept of pRotatorTool is very simple. First, identify your object structure, and then activate it.
• Please either tap in a 5 pixel wide strip at the top of the screen or type "?" for onboard help when in pRotatorTool. In particular...
  • pRotatorTool can buttonSlide.
  • hard button #1 = cancel the operation
  • hard button #2 = move the rotator to the home [first] position
  • hard button #3 = move the rotator to the end [last] position
  • hard button #4 = activate the "OK", or "Done", or "Find", or "Get" or "1: via..." or "Add", or "Run", or ";Go", or "Exit", or "Close", or "Cancel", or the first button starting with ".", in this order or priority
• In all primary pToolSet modules, pRotatorTool can be invoked directly via 5-way select, or by typing "ESC ~" or "~", depending whether the given dialog uses ESC keys. These modules include pDateTool, pDeskAccTool, pEditTool, pFindTool, pInfoTool, pLaunchTool, pMemoTool, pScriptTool, pSearchTool, pTipsTool, pToDoTool, and so forth; see the "i-Tips" help files of the individual modules.
• Similarly, pedit has direct pRotatorTool support in some of its primary dialogs such as EditView, ListView [via "ESC ~" only], and in the "F" [find], "J" [jump], and "S" [select] dialogs.
• In addition, in certain text editing pToolSet modules and pedit dialogs, pRotatorTool might be automatically invoked via 5-way up if the cursor as at the beginning of the text, and via 5-way down if the cursor is at the very end.
• In many but not all Palm Powered handhelds, pressing the power button for more than 1 second and less than 2 seconds puts the Palm in the pRotatorTool mode [if this option has been enabled via pMasterTool's "Opt" menu; see the "pRotator Power Btn on|off" menu command].
  NOTE. Some Palms, such as the Tungsten T3 and Tungsten T5 do not allow to use the power button feature since the OS hijacks long presses of the power button and uses them for some device specific features.

• pScriptTool allows you to organize and to launch your pScripts.
• pScriptTool has full 5-way navigator support.
• pScriptTool has full pRotatorTool support.
• Don't forget to explore pScriptTool's menu commands.
• pScriptEngines are invisible components [libraries] of pToolSet which actually process your pScripts.
• Do not forget to experiment with the special action run pScript_XX which can be assigned to various buttons and/or strokes and/or taps and which is explained here".
• pScriptTool incorporates numerous "tap minimizing" features. In particular...
  • The Run: label is, in fact, a button. It is the same as the Item pEditor menu command.
  • Similarly, the script label is also a button. It is the same as the Switch Favorites menu command.
  • When using the Switch Favorites menu command, the picked new favorite list will pop up immediately.
  • Use the Instant Mode on|off menu command to set the instant mode. If it is "on", then one tap in the recent and favorite lists runs pScripts.
  • Use the Set StartUp Mode... menu command to pick the initial action when starting up pScriptTool.
  • Combining the above two, you can have a 1-tap activation mechanism for pScripts.
  • Use the Set ListNav Mode... menu command to pick the default list navigation [search] mode in various pScriptTool lists.
  • The Force ListNav Mode on|off menu command allows pLaunchTool's list navigation mode to override pMasterTool's global "Low-Case ListNav Fix" setting.
• In addition...
  • ESC t = the upButtonSlided "recent" selection trigger = the "Run Top Recent via PTS" [pToolSet or LapTophack] menu command
  • ESC T = the downButtonSlided "recent" selection trigger = the "Run Top Recent via PED" [pedit] menu command
    NOTE.These two commands run your previously launched pScript unless you have changed the "recent" list since then.
  • ESC u = the upButtonSlided "favorite" selection trigger = the "Run Top Favorite via PTS" [pToolSet or LapTophack] menu command
  • ESC U = the downButtonSlided "favorite" selection trigger = the "Run Top Favorite via PED" [pedit] menu command
• pScriptEngine3 is a shared library component of the pScriptTool collection.
  • pScriptEngine3 is a library that houses pScriptTool's "recent" and "favorite" list manager tools.
  • In pScriptTool, the leftButtonSlided "favorite" button = "Manage Favorites" menu command.
  • In pScriptTool, the leftButtonSlided "recent" button = "Manage Recent" menu command.
  • If you want to remove the nagger from pScriptTool's list manager, then please upgrade your registered pToolSet to pToolSetPro via www.paulcomputing.com.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pScriptTool's list manager [see here].
• If you have Palm OS4- and LapTopHack is installed, then pScriptTool automatically uses LapTopHack's pScripting engine since the former is a little more powerful with Palm OS4-.
• The "0: via pedit" button is functional only if you are currently in pedit. In the latter case pScriptTool serves as a front-end to peditorial pScripting.
  NOTE. As of version 6.65, you can edit and run pScripts via pToolSet even if you don't have a pedit installed. However, running pScripts via LapTopHack requires a pedit. The reason for the double-standard is that LapTopHack relies on resources from pedit, whereas pToolSet's pScriptEngines contain those resources.
  NOTE. As of version 7.12, you can run pScripts via LapTopHack even if pedit is not installed.
• You can define up to 16 different favorite lists. If you wish to give customized names to those lists, you can do so with the "Rename Favorites" menu command. Renaming these lists is purely optional.
• The "Switch Favorites" menu command displays only those pScriptTool favorite lists whose name does not start with "." [period]. This allows you to hide unused favorite lists.
• Switching favorites is a sticky operation, that is, pScriptTool always starts up with the last used favorite list loaded. Except that...
  • The pScriptTool #X special actions allow to start up pScriptTool using buttons/strokes/taps with favorite list #X loaded.
• The pScriptTool special action allows to start up pScriptTool using buttons/strokes/taps with the last used favorite list loaded.
• Do not forget to experiment with pScriptTool's "Rotate Start Mode" menu command. It allows to start up pScriptTool either in normal [default] mode or with the recent or favorite lists opened up or with the "switch favorite list" list opened up. This is a time saving convenience.
• Do not forget to experiment with pScriptTool's "Toggle Instant Mode" menu command. It allows to run a pScript by tapping a pScript directly in either the recent or favorite lists. This is also meant as a time saving convenience.
  NOTE. If "Instant Mode" is on and pScripts are initiated directly from either the recent or favorite lists, then all pScripts are run automatically by pToolSet as opposed to pedit and/or LapTopHack.
• Please see pedit's manual [see here online] for details on pScripting.
• For the quick pScript activation mechanism see pedit's manual or here for the details [look for the words "high-ASCII"].
  • The quick pScript activation mechanism works in pMasterTool and in every pToolSet module which has its own "ESC" key such as pAddressTool, pDateTool, pEditTool, pFindTool, pMemoTool, pScriptTool, pSearchTool, pToDoTool, and so forth.
• Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pScriptTool [see here].

• pScriptButtons is an advanced and improved version of LapTopHack's "customizable pScriptButtons".

  Up-to 9,990 customizable pScriptButtons are available each of which can run a pScript of your choice.

  This is a pToolSet [and LapTopHack] feature which cannot run categoryBoundScripts of the form "{categoryName::pScriptName::pScriptText}" since the latter is a strictly pedit feature. However, it does handle pScripts of the form "{pScriptName::pScriptText}" and "{GLOBAL_script::pScriptName::pScriptText}".

  You need to prepare your pScriptButtons prior to using your customized buttons by taking the following steps.

  • Go to pScriptPad either via pedit or pToolSet. Since pedit's editorial features are more powerful than those of pToolSet, you may want to do the initial setup via pedit, and then subsequent maintenance and updates can be done either way.
  • Put the [optional] case sensitive expression custBtnPageTotal=X anywhere in pScriptPad where "X" is any number between 1 and 999 [without leading zeros].

    It may be a good idea to do this as close to the beginning of pScriptPad as possible although it is not at all necessary. The underlying principle can be summed up by "the closer the faster".

    Then you will be able to have exactly "X" pages of ten custom buttons each in pScriptButtons.

    If "X" is equal to 0 [zero], or it is greater than 999, or the expression is missing, then the default value 1 [one] is used.

  • Put the [optional] case sensitive anchor labels custBtn.XXX.1, ... , custBtn.XXX.9 or custBtn.XXX.0 anywhere in pScriptPad.

    Here "XXX" refers to the page number of the given pScriptButtons page, and it is any three digit number between 001 [one] and 999, and it must include leading zeros so that each "XXX" consists of three digits such as "007" or "056".

    The number "Y" in "XXX.Y" refers to the button position in the pScriptButtons page, and it is any one digit number between 1 and 9 or 0 [zero].

    As above, it may be a good idea to do this as close to the beginning of pScriptPad as possible although it is not at all necessary. The underlying principle can be summed up by "the closer the faster".

    All the above labels can be in any order whatsoever. In particular, they can even be next to each other as in custBtn.001.7custBtn.001.1 custBtn.999.1custBtn.007.19custBtn.001.1.

    HOMEWORK. What does custBtn.007.19 mean? Is it a legitimate expression?

  • Each page can also have an optional title via custBtn.XXX.T{title} where, as above, "XXX" is the page number of the given pScriptButtons page and "title" is a string consisting of at most 12 characters, preferably without tabs and newlines. This can also be positioned anywhere in pScriptPad. Actually, the "title" can be as long as you want it, but only the first 12 characters of it will be used.

    NOTE. It may not be prudent to set "WWWWWWWWWWWW" as the title since this string occupies a lots of real estate and portions of it may be covered up by the "Jump" button.

  • Having prepared your pScriptPad, once you invoke the pScriptButtons, the pScriptName of the first pScript [if any] following the given label will appear in the appropriate button label.
  • It is not necessary that the pScript be right after the label. You can have any text not containing "{" between the label and the pScript.
  • I repeat one more time that the closer your labels are to the beginning of pScriptPad, the faster pScriptButtons operates. However, I must admit that in all recent Palm Powered handhelds which I have experimented with, the speed was instantaneous no matter how much I tried to slow it down by arranging the labels at the end of very large pScriptPads.

  There is a full range of navigational commands in pScriptButtons. They are all listed here. In particular, you can use Roman numerals to jump fast in each direction from page to page. In the standard PaulComputing tradition, lower case Roman numerals take you forward, whereas upper cased ones take you backward.

  pScriptButtons can remember the last page you visited. You can control this behavior by entering r ["remember current page" ON] or R ["remember current page" OFF] while in pScriptButtons.

  In addition,

  • "1 ... 9 0" play the pScript assigned to the button "1 ... 9 0", respectively.
  • "j" = "J" = the "Jump" button = jump directly to any page
  • "." = RETURN = 5-way navigator select = the ".Cancel" button
  • "p" = "P" = "s" = "S" = the "scriptPad" button = go to scriptPad
  • "?" = "h" = "H" = onboard help

  EXAMPLE. Put custBtn.001.5 before a pScript in scriptPad. Then "5" [unless you are not on the first page] or "f 5" will play your pScript.

  EXAMPLE. Put custBtnPageTotal=2 and custBtn.002.8 before a pScript in scriptPad. Then "f t 8" or "j 2 j 8" will play your pScript.

  EXAMPLE. Put custBtnPageTotal=900 and custBtn.101.6 before a pScript in scriptPad. Then "f c o 6" or "j 101 j 6" will play your pScript.

  NOTE. pScriptorial pAliases allow you to fully customize your pScriptButtons.

  Please use the Help button for additional advice on using pScriptButtons [see here].

• The pScriptRunner mini-applications are combined into a package which consists of 59 mini-applications to be run on your Palm. Each of them is made to run [trigger, play] a different pScript.

  Each pScriptRunner can be assigned to all four hard buttons, to the "CALC" SilkScreen button of your Palm Powered handheld, or to any other button/stroke/tap which can launch applications, and even to the modem and cradle buttons.

  In addition, each pScriptRunner can also be used by numerous HackMaster extensions, OS extensions, and other utilities which allow invoking applications in a variety of ways such as button presses, stroking, tapping, and so forth. Such utilities include AppHack, PopFavorites, pToolSet, TealLaunch, just to name a few.

  Get the pScriptRunner package from here, including full documentation.

• pSearchTool is a pToolSet module which is an advanced version of superFinderHack's "search current text" command which allows you to search text in the currently focused text field. pReplaceTool is a special mode of pSearchTool.
  NOTE. Unlike superFinderHack, pSearchTool is not a substitute for Palm's built-in SilkScreen "FIND" command. You need pFindTool for the latter. If your Palm Powered handheld's OS version is older than 5.0, than I recommend that you use both pSearchTool [local search] and superFinderHack [global search].
  • You can use pSearchTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1 but then it is completely useless and it is good for explorational purposes only.
  • You can activate pSearchTool as an Operating System Extension via pMasterTool if your Palm OS is at least 3.5.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • pSearchTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pSearchTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pSearchTool's menu commands. In particular...
    • Use the Set ListNav Mode... menu command to pick the default list navigation [search] mode in various pSearchTool lists.
    • The Force ListNav Mode on|off menu command allows pLaunchTool's list navigation mode to override pMasterTool's global "Low-Case ListNav Fix" setting.
  • pSearchTool has pScript friendly checkboxes. Use "ESC I", "ESC M", "ESC S", "ESC U", and "ESC W to force them to be checked.
  • Text search/replacement can be interrupted by tapping, or by typing ".", or by a page up/down or 5-way up/down press.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pSearchTool [see here].
  • The Find: and Repl: labels are, in fact, a buttons. Try them out and see the i-Tips button for an explanation.
  • A few words about saving search strings...
    • pSearchTool automatically saves 128 [only 2 in the demo version] of your most recent search and replace strings [a total of 256] which you can recall instantaneously by tapping on the recent [ESC R] selection trigger.
    • In addition, you can manually save another 128 [only 2 in the demo version] of your search and replace strings favorite strings [a total of 256] and the current search profile of each search strings by tapping on the AddFav [ESC a, Add Favorite] button. You can recall the latter by tapping on the favorite [ESC F] selection trigger.
    • A profile consists of a combination of the search string, then a space character, and then some additional information enclosed in brackets " [01L:ISUWM]". The first three letters in the brackets contain the "line" information, whereas the last 5 letters are the first letters of the check boxes in upper or lower case depending whether they are checked or unchecked.
      EXAMPLE. "This is a profile [ALL:isuwm]" where the search string is "This is a profile" to be searched in all lines ["ALL"] with all check boxes unchecked.
      EXAMPLE. "This is a profile [05L:ISuwm]" differs from the previous example in that this time you will do a case-blind ["I"] search in the top 5 lines ["05L" and "S"].
      EXAMPLE. "This is a profile [05L:Isuwm]" differs from the previous example in that this time you will do a case-blind ["I"] search in the 5 lines ["05L"] following the current cursor location ["s"].
    • You may save the same favorite string with two or more different profiles.
    • Since the entire search profile is recreated when you use the favorite selection trigger, you may see a lots of action in the pSearchTool dialog.
    • Both string saving methods work on a FIFO basis, that is, "first in first out". Hence, if you ever accumulate 128 [only 2 in the demo version] favorite search strings, then adding another one will destroy the very first one [more precisely, the one which is currently in the last position which is the same as the very first one only if you have not sorted the strings yet]. However, you will be given a chance to reconsider your actions.
    • If you want to delete any of your saved recent search strings, then just use the Delete Recent command in the Options menu, and then click on the string which you want to delete.
    • Similarly, if you want to delete any of your saved favorite search strings, then just use the Delete Favorites command in the Options menu, and then click on the string which you want to delete.
    • The Sort Recent and Sort Favorites commands in the Options menu do exactly what you would expect from them. The sorting process is case-blind.
  • If you want to delete text, then simply leave the "Repl" text field blank and then hit the "F/R" button. This behavior is different from pedit where the "\x" string represents the delete command.
  • Both pSearchTool and pReplaceTool wrap around, that is, all text search and/or replace operations continue at the beginning [top] once they reached the end [bottom] with the exception of the "All R" [Replace All] command which stops at the end.
  • Please see pedit's manual [see here online ] for the peditorial implementation of REGEXP, including text capturing via "(@:...)" and "(@x:...)" which is fully supported by pSearchTool and pReplaceTool.
    Do you wan to learn more about REGEXP? I recommend Jeffrey E. F. Friedl's Mastering Regular Expressions [see also here] as an excellent place to start [and to finish]. If you just want a plain vanilla quickie overview, then GNU's grep may help you. This is also excellent, and so is BBEdit's manual.
  • pSearchTool uses the same ESC key concept as pedit and LapTopHack except that pSearchTool's ESC key can be configured on the fly and there is a visual feedback mechanism.
  • pEditTool's Find menu command and "F" button both bring up pSearchTool.
  • pSearchTool may be deleted without running pToolOff first.
  • pSearchTool must reside in your regular RAM or flash ROM. If you choose the latter, then please do not forget to delete it prior to installing a fresh copy of pSearchTool. Hence, the safest bet is to keep pSearchTool in the regular RAM.

• pSharedEngines are just invisible and transparently working modules which can be installed and/or deleted without running pToolOn and/or pToolOff. They serve as a shared library of various functions and procedures used by PaulComputing's Palm applications, hacks, and other tools.

• pTipsTool is an advanced version of the Palm "i-Tips" help dialog. It is based on a similar tool in LapTopHack although the latter is much less sophisticated. Among its many features, it allows incremental, forward, and backward case-blind search for strings typed into the search field.
  • You can use pTipsTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1 but then it is completely useless and it is good for explorational purposes only.
  • You can activate pTipsTool as an Operating System Extension via pMasterTool if your Palm OS is at least 3.5.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • pTipsTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pTipsTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pTipsTool's menu commands.
  • Please use the "?" button for additional advice on using pTipsTool [see here].
  • In particular...
    • The LEFT/RIGHT arrows, PAGE UP/DOWN, and the and 5-way navigator keys provide navigational aid in browsing the text in the help dialogs.
    • All command letters must be entered in upper case.
    • Type your search strings in lower cased letters.
    • The auto-search is case-blind and forward-incremental.
    • Use the "F" button or enter "F" [upper cased "F"] or press 5-way navigator down to forward-search the "i-Tips" text for the string typed into the search field.
    • Use the "B" button or enter "B" [upper cased "B"] or press 5-way navigator up to backward-search the "i-Tips" text for the string typed into the search field.
    • Enter "O" [upper case "Oh"] or RETURN or 5-way navigator SELECT to activate the "OK" button.
    • Entering TAB or "R" rotates the display fonts.
    • Entering "C" copies the current selection (if any) or the entire "i-Tips" text to the ClipBoard.
    • Entering "M" is the same as tapping the "MENU" SilkScreen button. Both bring up the pTipsTool menu.
    • Entering "S" selects the entire "i-Tips" text.
    • Entering "?" or "H" is the same as the "Help" menu command.
  • pTipsTool may be deleted without running pToolOff first.
  • pTipsTool must reside in your regular RAM or flash ROM. If you choose the latter, then please do not forget to delete it prior to installing a fresh copy of pTipsTool. Hence, the safest bet is to keep pTipsTool in the regular RAM.

• pToDoTool is a pToolSet module which is an advanced version of LapTopHack's "To Do List" companion hack which can create ToDo items in Palm's built-in "To Do List" application without quitting your current application. In addition, pToDoTool provides many more options than the "To Do List" application.
  • You can use pToDoTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1.
  • You can activate pToDoTool as an Operating System Extension via pMasterTool if your Palm OS is at least 3.5.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • pToDoTool has full 5-way navigator support.
  • pToDoTool has full pRotatorTool support.
  • Don't forget to explore pToDoTool's menu commands.
  • The Toggle AddMode menu command allows you to switch between the "Add New Item and Stay in pToDoTool" and "Add New Item and Exit" modes. pToDoTool remembers the settings of the current AddMode.
  • If you are in the "Add New Item and Stay" mode, after you successfully added a new item, the item field becomes focused and the current text gets highlighted. This facilitates creating another item.
  • Please use the i-Tips button for additional advice on using pToDoTool [see here].
  • The Due Date: label is, in fact, a button. Try it out and see the i-Tips button for an explanation.
  • pToDoTool uses the same ESC key concept as pedit and LapTopHack except that pToDoTool's ESC key can be configured on the fly and there is a visual feedback mechanism.
  • pToDoTool cannot be used if the current application has already opened up the "To Do List" database with write access. Examples of such applications include "DateBk", "ToDo PLUS", and even the built-in "To Do List".
  • pToDoTool may be deleted without running pToolOff first.
  • pToDoTool must reside in your regular RAM or flash ROM. If you choose the latter, then please do not forget to delete it prior to installing a fresh copy of pToDoTool. Hence, the safest bet is to keep pToDoTool in the regular RAM.

• pTextTool is a pToolSet module which is an advanced version of LapTopHack's "peditHack".
• pTextEngine1 is separate invisible module. It serves as a shared library of text related functions for various pToolSet modules. It can be installed and/or deleted without running pToolOn and/or pToolOff.
• pTextEngine2 is separate invisible module. It serves as a shared library for pTextTool. It can be installed and/or deleted without running pToolOn and/or pToolOff.

• pEditTool is part of pTextTool. It is an advanced version of LapTopHack's "[p]editPad". They provide a number of sophisticated text manipulation operations similar to what their big sister pedit does. We will discuss pTextTool and pEditTool together.
  • You can use pTextTool as a regular application if your Palm OS is at least 3.1 but then it is completely useless and it is good for explorational purposes only.
  • You can activate pTextTool and pEditTool as an Operating System Extension via pMasterTool if your Palm OS is at least 3.5 and there is a currently focused text field in your form.
    • You can bring up the command toolbar by a Graffiti stroke which is similar to a forward slash "/" starting at the bottom of "/".
    • The button in the command toolbar with a "P" and a "house" [home] symbol on it is the pMasterTool activator button. It is usually located at the very right position of the command toolbar.
  • pTextTool can be called up by LapTopHack via "ESC T" [upper case "T"] as long as the Palm OS is at least 3.1 and pTextTool is installed [it does not need to be turned on via pToolOn]. This is especially useful when the command toolbar is not available such as the "Prefs" [Preferences] application.
  • pTextTool works with all focused text fields even if they are not editable such as some warning dialogs, i-Tips help files, or DOC files.
  • All text copying and cutting operations automatically extend the ClipBoard from the built in 1,000 characters to 32,767 [32K] characters.
  • Please use the i-Tips button [if visible], or the ?: help in pTextTool command or enter "?" for more advice on using pTextTool, pEditTool, and their companion modules [see here, here, here, here, and here]. In particular...
    • Each pTextTool command item, including every push button, can be activated either by pressing it or by entering the first letter of its label [see here for exceptions]. All command letters are case sensitive.
    • Use the space, delete [back space], tab, arrow, and page up/down keys to navigate the command lists and to switch between them.
    • Tap the "ABC" and "123" SilkScreen buttons to scroll the list up/down.
    • The RETURN key activates the currently selected command in the current command list.
    • You can cancel pTextTool by tapping on the screen outside the dialog or by entering "." [period].
    • See here for more ways to cancel.
    • If you are in "verbose mode", then pTextTool gives you some visual feedback in the form of short messages on the screen regarding certain operations. If you turn on "expert mode", then "verbose mode" gets automagically turned off.
    • If you are in "expert mode", then pTextTool becomes invisible although it functions exactly as if it were visible except that you can't use your stylus to activate buttons and commands. If there are 3 seconds of inactivity while in "expert mode", then you will automatically get back to "normal mode". If you quit pTextTool while in "expert mode", then you will be in "expert mode" again when your start up pTextTool the next time.
    • If you turn on "continue mode", then pTextTool automatically restarts after every text related operation unless you choose "cancel" or turn "continue mode" off. This is useful for performing a sequence of editorial tasks efficiently. If you quit pTextTool while in "continue mode", then you will be in "continue mode" again when your start up pTextTool the next time.
    • Using "expert mode" and "continue mode" together significantly increases the power of pTextTool.
    • Smart selection means that trailing white spaces such as spaces and tabs are included in the selection.
    • A "screen line" is a line what you see on the screen whereas a regular "line" must end with a RETURN [linefeed] character unless it is at the very end of your text [see here online and here online for a detailed discussion].
    • Paragraphs are separated by at least two RETURN [linefeed] characters plus possibly any number of white spaces between them [see here online for more details].
    • pEditTool is so intuitive that in all likelihood you will have no problems using it whatsoever.
    • Here are some details...
      • pEditTool uses the same ESC key concept as pedit and LapTopHack except that pEditTool's ESC key can be configured on the fly and there is a visual feedback mechanism.
      • pEditTool gives equal opportunity treatment to both lefties and righties.
      • The original text is automatically saved when you enter pEditTool so that you never have to use the Save Text command in the Act2 menu. In addition, you can always save the current text by using Save Text, and you can always restore the last saved text by using Restore Text.
      • Use the ESC key in conjunction with the arrow keys, the page up/down keys, and the previous/next field characters to navigate your text.
      • You can call up pTextTool from within pEditTool in a variety of ways.
      • pEditTool has full 5-way navigator support.
      • pEditTool has full pRotatorTool support.
      • Don't forget to explore pEditTool's menu commands.
        Hint. If you see "Ex", such as "Auto Indent... Ei", after a menu command, then you can activate that command by "ESC x".
        Enter versus Switch. If "entering", then the current pMagiPad/pScriptPad stays under the new daughter pad. If "switching", then the current pMagiPad/pScriptPad is replaced by the new sister pad. If you are pEditTool but not in pMagiPad/pScriptPad, then "entering" takes you to the current pad whereas "switching" allows you to pick another pad.
        NOTE. The pMagiPad #X and pMagiPad #X special action allow to start up pMagiPad/pScriptPad using buttons/strokes/taps with favorite list #X loaded.
        NOTE. The "M" [Memo Pad] menu is functional only if (i) you entered pEditTool from within the built-in Memo Pad which is also called "Memos" in some Palm Powered handhelds such as the Tungsten T3, and (ii) pEditTool was initiated by the "Auto pEditMemo On" option which you can enable in ListView or via the "pEditMemo" button in EditView.
      • In particular...

• • • • • The extraordinarily powerful and useful concept of automatic text indenting is not exactly trivial. If you are familiar with it, then I don't think you need any additional explanation. Otherwise, I recommend that you read about the peditorial auto indent commands in pedit's manual [see here online]. The implementation in pTextTool is more straightforward and more flexible than either in pedit or in LapTopHack.
          • You can select [highlight] commands in the auto indent list by using the up/down arrows, the previous/next field characters, and by entering space or delete [back space].
          • You can also select [highlight] commands in the auto indent list by entering the first letter [which is a number] of their labels.
          • You can cancel the auto indent list by tapping outside the list or by entering "." [period].
          • See here for more ways to cancel.
          • You can activate a command in the auto indent list either by tapping on the label of the command or by selecting the command and entering "RETURN".

• • • • • The similarly powerful and useful concept of text block shifting is not exactly trivial either. If you are familiar with it, then I don't think you need any additional explanation. Otherwise, I recommend that you read about the peditorial shift selection commands in pedit's manual [see here online (auto indent), here online (shift right), and here online (shift left]. The implementation in pTextTool is more straightforward and more flexible than either in pedit or in LapTopHack.
          • You can select [highlight] commands in the shift selection list by using the up/down arrows, the previous/next field characters, and by entering space or delete [back space].
          • You can also select [highlight] commands in the shift selection list by entering the first letter [which is a number or a letter] of their labels.
          • You can cancel the shift selection list by tapping outside the list or by entering "." [period].
          • See here for more ways to cancel.
          • You can activate a command in the shift selection list either by tapping on the label of the command or by selecting the command and entering "RETURN".