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Series 5 Page

This is my main starting page to my collection of Series 5 information.

Other Series 5 pages on my web site:

What is on this Series 5 Page:

Getting the Messging Suite to work

I've started to collate the info that I see on the Usenet...

OPL32 to OPL16 Source Code Converter

Converts native OPL32 source code files (ie: files copied from the Series 5 to the PC) to OPL16 plain text format. Runs under MS-DOS. Written in QuickBasic v4.5. Freeware.

Using an Ericcson SH888 dualband GSM phone with a EPOC palmtop

The Ericcson SH888 phone can communicate with an EPOC palmtop via the infrared port (fitted as standard to both units).
To set up the Series 5, it is best to make a new modem setting for the SH888 as follows...
IrDA bug: (4 September 1998:)
There is a bug in the EPOC implementation of the IrDA protocol which causes problems when using an EPOC device with the SH888. The bug is fixed in Message Suite version 1.52 (6 October 1998) and higher. If you do not have version 1.52 installed, get it now from Psions web site.

To set up your EPOC mpalmtop for use with the SH888, make a new Modem setting, and fill in the lines as follows:

Contributed by Steven Butterworth
 
 

When a Simple Technologie CF card doesn't work

(From Simple Technology Europe, Wed, 26 Nov 1997 20:04:01 -0800)

Simple Technology has been made aware recently of some compatibility problems with the Compact Flash Cards in the Series 5. Simple Technology can assure everyone that these problems have been resolved and localised to a particular batch of products. To see if your product is affected please check the 90000 number on the QC label on the reverse of the card. The affected product is as follows:

Please note that all other cards are unaffected by this problem and are 100% compatible with the Psion 5. Due to some excellent feedback from comp.sys.psion.misc user group members, Simple Technology was able to catch the problem and limit the number of cards in circulation to approx 100 or so. Rest assured that Simple Technology have taken every measure possible to ensure compatibility including testing by Psion and various independent experts, such as Palmtop Magazine etc.

Please contact your place of purchase for a replacement. Alternatively please feel free to contact Stephen Patton to arrange for replacement. Simple Technology prides itself as being a customer driven company and our aim is always to please. Simple Technology can only apologise for any inconvience caused.

(From Stephen Patton Memory Product Manager, Simple Technology)

Other CF Cards that work with a Series 5

CF (Compact Flash) cards can support ATA, IDE, or both ATA and IDE. The Psion Series 5 requires IDE. Make sure the CF card you buy supports IDE, or choose one from the following list:

GSM phones with built-in Modems that work with the Series 5 (and 3c, 3a, etc, etc)

These phones are reported to work well with the Series 5 Messaging Suite and the Series 3a/3cPsiMail Internet. All of the phones have 'built in' modems, and just need to be connected to the Psion (or the serial port of any computer) with a simple serial cable. You'll have to make the cable (or adaptors) yourself.

Using Templates in Word

Word uses a Word file called Normal in \System\Apps\Word\ as a template for all new files. If the template file does not exist, then Word opens a new file with default settings or settings based on the last file you opened in Word (this all depends on how you open a new file).
Thus you can customise Word to meet your requirements by creating a master (empty) Word file called Normal. After you are satisfied with the way the file looks, go to the System screen, and copy your Normal file to \System\Apps\Word\ .

 SIS File Format

Here is what I have discovered about the SIS file format (plain text file). This is certainly enough information to get a programmer started on writing an app to read the file, and it may help other people to understand other Series 5 file formats.

Cheating in Bombs

When you are playing Bombs, pressing Zoom-, Zoom+, Infrared, Cut, Menu (the symbols on the left of the display) in that order (bottom to top) results in Cheat mode on being displayed.
When cheat mode is active, and you die (by revealing a bomb) you can undo your last move by clicking on the "Time" square at the bottom of the screen.

Using Web as a local File Browser

Try this:
  1. Start Web
  2. Open the page file:///C:/ to see a listing of files in disk C:.
You can navigate around the directory, and even save the displayed text as an HTML file by using File - More - Save as...
This is a great feature, and allows you to use Web as a local file browser.

Inserting Special Characters Directly

Instead of using Shift-Ctrl-C to get the Insert special character dialog, and then laboriously navigating to the key you desire, try these special modifiers first:

Press Fn-Z and then release the keys. Then type a, e, o, or u. The resultant character has an Umlaut applied.

Fn-Z then character: German Umlauts (ä, ö, ü), diaereses
Fn-X then character: French grave accents (è)
Fn-C then character: French acute accents (é)
Fn-V then character: tilde (~)
Fn-Q then character: many other special characters including German scharf-S (ß)

See also the Psion Help topic Accented characters (do a search for accent or umlaut)

Fixing Printing Problems

Make sure you have the latest printer drivers (released 5 Jan 99) available for free from Psions web site.
 
 



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