Button Manager©
1.2e Beta
Button Manager is here to super-charge your buttons! With Button
Manager you can assign two applications to each hardware button, the calculator
silkscreen button, and the clock silkscreen button (if one is available). The first or second button press may also be
used to return to the previous application, which is especially useful for the
calculator and clock buttons.
Some applications (such as datebook) change views with additional
button presses, so if you prefer that Button Manager not interfere with the
second press, then assign "(none)" as the second application.
You are welcome to share this app with other palm users. Both color and black and white versions are
rolled into one prc file, so if you have a color palm and beam this app to a
black and white palm (or vice-versa) it will still work.
Version 1.2e:
·
Fixed some instabilities caused by supporting expansion cards. If
your device crashed before then this fix may help you. See the Known Bugs section for more info.
Version 1.2d:
·
More forgiving if you forget to remove a previous version of Button
Manager before installing. See installation below for more
details.
Version 1.2c:
·
Expansion cards are now supported. BUT see Known
Bugs below!
·
The clock spot now works for all devices. See configuration below.
·
If “none” is assigned as the first button press, Button Manager
will now jump to the second application, if one is assigned. This allows for the first button press to
act as the ON power button. See user comments
below.
·
Various bug fixes throughout.
Version 1.2b:
·
Fixed calculator difficulties with handspring devices.
·
The second button press assignment was ignored if Prefs was
assigned as the first application.
Version 1.2a:
·
Fixed crashes and registration difficulties with Tealmaster.
Version 1.2:
·
System preferences can now be assigned to a button; essential if
your digitizer loses its mind often.
·
Pressing the button image will give you more options. Tapping the top-half of the icon will
configure the first button press, the bottom half will configure the second
press. (You'll see the corresponding trigger highlight to remind you of which
one you're changing.)
·
"prev app" is now available as the first button press. This
frees up the second press for other things.
·
Added incremental search for the app/pref lists. You can navigate
the list by entering up to five characters. The list will scroll to present the
first item that matches the entered characters.
·
Cohabitates peacefully with all hack-management programs.
·
Several minor bug fixes.
Version 1.1a:
·
Fixed a bug where some app assignments would disappear.
Version 1.1:
·
Initial Release
Simply install the .prc file of choice (see below)
using the Palm Install Tool. Both the color and black & white versions are
included in the same prc file. But see below:
NOTE: If you are upgrading from a previous version, it is a good
idea to first remove your current version Button Manager before installing this
new one. If this isn’t done first, then one of three things will happen to you:
1.
Nothing at all, or
2.
Your hack master program will get confused. If that happens, then you’ll
probably see both versions in the PalmOS info dialog, and all you’ll have to do
is delete the old one. Or
3.
Your palm will crash.
If you are a registered user, then be sure to note your
registration code before removing, for you will need to re-enter it. If you
lose your registration code then send an email to buttonmgr.support@verizon.net
and I'll be happy to resend your code.
·
ButtonMgrHack.prc - A pure hack. Requires any hack-management
program.
·
ButtonMgrXM.prc
- (Recommended) Acts like a normal application, but cooperates with
X-Master. This version has several advantages over the hack version, namely it
has higher visibility, so Button Manager can be assigned to a button press.
It's also more efficient. Note that this version does not show up in X-Master's
list of hacks. Requires X-Master (included).
If you do not already have a hack-management program installed on
your palm, then I suggest that you use X-Master. It's superior to hackmaster, it's free, and it's distributed with
this program.
If you are installing X-Master for the first time and you are
installing the app version of Button Manager, then you must launch X-Master at
least once before running Button Manager. Button Manager will remind you in
case you forget.
After installation, if you decide to install the other prc file,
then be sure to delete Button Manager before switching. The PalmOS doesn't like
to have the two versions installed at the same time.
Also, be sure to tap the "Enabled" check box to enable
the application.
Button Manager is the only palm app that allows you to reconfigure
the behavior of the clock button. In order for this feature to work properly
with all devices, Button Manager must know where your clock button is, since
the location varies from device to device. When you launch Button Manager for
the first time, the configuration screen will appear automatically, asking you
to tap your clock button. Button Manager will remember the location (or more
precisely, the ID) of your clock thereafter.
If, for some reason, you would like to re-record the clock-spot, you can
reach the configuration screen from the menu.
Because some fine third party launchers (such as SilverScreen) do
not properly remove applications, I recommend that you remove Button Manager
only with the built-in PalmOS Launcher.
Otherwise, some application data may not be removed properly. Also, be
sure to disable Button Manager before removing it.
Button Manager is shareware.
Registration is a modest $5.99, and will allow us to continue to provide
innovative palm products at reasonable prices.
Registered users will receive free support and will be notified of
new and improved versions and get them for free.
Registration is available at Handango. You will need to provide your user name
exactly as shown on the registration screen. To go to the registration screen,
open the "options" menu in the Button Manager application, then
select "Register". You will
receive a password that will unlock the demo version and turn it into the full
version.
Some expansion cards may crash your palm when launching Button
Manager! At this point, it looks like certain memory cards are troublesome,
especially SD cards. We are working to fix this problem, so please be patient.
The latest version may have fixed this issue for you, but if not, then please
read the support section below. In the meantime, if you are
experiencing crashes, try removing your card and see if the app works more
smoothly. Another workaround is to downgrade to version 1.2b.
This software will work on any device with a PalmOS version of 3.3
and above. If you have an older OS version, then you are encouraged to
upgrade. Upgrading is free in most
cases.
Make sure that you have the latest
version of Button Manager before reporting a bug. If you still have questions or problems then fire an email to:
silhouette.software@verizon.net
When sending bug reports, be sure to mention:
·
what your PalmOS version is,
·
which device you are using,
·
which version of Button Manager you are using (the version number
and mode: stand-alone, or hack), and
·
which hack management program you are using (X-Master, Tealmaster,
hackmaster, etc.)
I often receive email from users of Button Manager and here is
what some have said:
“I just got Button Manager
a day or so ago, and I _love_ it.”
“I just registered button
manager…. Great program. The only thing that disappointed me about the new i705
was that there were not enough buttons. Your utility makes the device a lot
more convenient.”
“Great little app. It's
exactly what I need.”
“Your product is a godsend
for me since it really reduces the time to bring up my common
apps!”
“I spent hours on the web
looking for a program that would let me program the little clock icon and was
delighted when i found buttonmgr.”
“…you have a ‘must have’ app!”
"I like the customization potential,
especially the ability to turn one of the hard buttons into an ON button that
starts in the program the PDA was running when shut off (by assigning none to
the first push). This saves wear and
tear on the regular ON-OFF switch which isn't as durable as the industrial
micro switches of the hard buttons."
Cheers!
Silhouette Software, Inc.