As long as you generate a genuine PDB file (based on the PDB file format
as described in the document file formats from the Palm website) you can
do whatever you'd like.
You could, for example, write your own code hack, where you split a
general fiel into 32K records, and write a macro to read/write from the
Nth byte in your file.
Of course, this is what the new FILE I/O library is about - making a
Palm database appear as a continuous file.
Beyond all this, you have to accept that you have limitations in Palm
programming. I'm sure once OS 4 is out, you'll be able to write a
single record for your entire file.
Cheers!
- Jeff
BTW -> I'm dealing with similar issues, but database access on the Palm
isn't as inefficient as it would seem. It really is just using double
indirection (ppData), so you need two indirections to initially find
data and lock it down. Compared to normal systems (even the standard C
file system) that is actyually extremely efficient.
Chagla wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for the reply Tom.
>
> My need to retain the binary file as it is -Is because I don't want any
> other application on Palm device to read that file.
> The file is definitely not as simple as passing 2 integers & 2 bytes. It
> has lot of data that is proprietary - So I can't convert into one of the
> supported types & download it to the Palm device.
>
> I need to transfer the file AS IT IS !!!
> (By "AS IT IS" - I mean that the file format should be retained - Same file
> format on Desktop & Palm device)
>
> >Yes, but it would be cumber some and why would you want to.
>
> Can someone tell me how I do that ?
>
> And what is to be done to download files larger than 64K ?
>
> Thanks & Regards ,
>
> Chagla
>
> At 12:57 PM 7/27/00, you wrote:
> >On Thu, Jul 27, 2000 at 12:34:26PM +0530, Chagla wrote:
> > > Hi ,
> > >
> > > I need to transfer/download a binary file from the desktop to the Palm
> > > device AS IT IS , How do I do it ?
> > >
> > > For example, If my binary desktop file(test.ext) contains 2 integers & 2
> > > characters(Size of file = 2*4 +2*1 =10 Bytes)
> > > I need to download this file to the Palm device when the device is placed
> > > in the cradle.
> > > That is , A file should be created in the Palm device too with the
> > above 10
> > > bytes content.
> > >
> > > Do I have to write a conduit ?
> >
> >No, you can put something this small in a database and install it.
> >You have to hotsync no matter what as that is the method to transfer
> >any data between the Palm and the desktop.
> >
> >But your question is for the most part meaningless without any
> >context. You can put *anything* on the palm as long as it will fit,
> >in one of many formats. If you need a monolithic structure larger
> >than 64k it will be a problem but that and free space are the only
> >limits.
> >
> > > A first look at conduit programming gave me the impression that everything
> > > needs to be converted into a database on the Palm device, Can't I retain
> > > the binary file as it is ?
> >
> >This is a bit like asking "can I put test.ext on a floppy without
> >using a file"? Yes, but it would be cumber some and why would you
> >want to. Databases are the PalmOS's equivalent of files. This is
> >something that the new PalmOS programmer has to break through. There
> >are no disks on the Palm, only memory, so there are no files, only
> >databases, but they accomplish the same thing - storing and organizing
> >data.
> >
> >--
> >For information on using the Palm Developer Forums, or to unsubscribe,
> >please see http://www.palmos.com/dev/tech/support/forums/
>
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