Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Summary:

Just updated to Centro & have played a bit w/other 3d party apps & saw room for some added Treo based functionality for Apt & thought I'd ask others to chime in - naturally, I'm starting w/my suggestion...

Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

technical1 11 Jul 2008 16:46

Pent,

I hope you are successfully charging your batteries after that pre-summer rush of 1.0 release to 1.2 (not to mention all the beta versions)

Just upgraded to a Treo Centro to replace my dying Palm (new digi needed, again) & failing cell phone… & I noticed that Apt does nicely implement using the little white Option key- oHrd1 etc; but a good number of other applications are using combinations of Opt + whatever Hard Key, not leaving as much flexibility for Apt users.

I was inspired to write this based on the options I saw in the popup calculator app Snapcalc5 which uses 'oHardKey' & 'oHardkey press & hold', much like Apt which uses 1 Hard2…. or 2Hrd2 etc.

So I would hope to see in the future that Apt uses something like this, the snapcalc5 'oHrd2 press & hold' as well as '1 oHrd2 - where the Opt key is held down while the selected Hrd key is also held for 1, 2, or 3 seconds. Also, it would be nice to do Opt+Letter Key & Opt+LetterKey Hold for 1, 2, or 3 seconds. I don't know if it would be feasible to implement this based on how Treo's OS is coded, but it is worth a try to ask…

BTW, I noticed that Apt needs to be set to the VHigh mark in Apt->Settings->Apt Priority, at least for my device & set of apps/config, to recognize the 1, 2, or 3 second press & hold…. & some apps (Butler, Phone Technician, & Power Hero, very popular Treo-specific apps, & for good reason!) like to have the Prefs+ setting of 'Triggers off' implemented via the checkbox to allow the app to close, b/c if not, I can access the app, & make changes, but when I tap on the Close button - it doesn't…. otherwise I have no probs w/the VHigh

Any long time Treo/Apt users have tips to share for a Treo newbie?

Last edited on 11 Jul 2008 16:49 by technical1 Show more

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Pent 12 Jul 2008 10:42

Ah I understand what you mean with the held keys now.

Unfortunately, I have to say that I am unlikely to do much more Apt coding since the registrations are too low too justify the time anymore.

If I my Tx dies and I end up with a Treo one day, it's conceivable I would do some extra coding for the Treo then.

I would like to fix this disable bug when I get a chance however, and will release 1.3 as it is later in the year.

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

technical1 13 Jul 2008 02:50

It seems that the Palm S/W buying world has missed the boat. If the registrations don't justify more coding, then they don't know what they are missing.

The site here has steadily improved in its content & the application itself is great!

On a different approach, addressing my comments to you, Pent. Please consider that adding the features I mentioned could help bring in more registrations, as the existing treo s/w is already using so much of the available key combos w/the Option key, it could encourage more to buy & help Apt to stand out more as a Treo-oriented enabler; especially since the pda world is increasingly heading towards smartphones & away fm standalone pda's & 1million people have bought Centros & possibly another million considering the pricing….

In any case, along w/everyone else who uses Apt, I owe you a hearty round of thanks for coming out w/such an effective, robust, & useful app.

Maybe it wouldn't be too much work to add… haven't finished that book yet, so I can't say… & I have to defer to the AptMaster ;-)

Other current Apt / Treo users should chime in here, to share their ideas, so that they can make a positive impression on future users as well as other current users who could benefit, & that Pent can see there is a future in targeting the Treo community for more Treo-oriented features to improve sales…
he has put in a lot of work, helped users left & right in an almost self-less fashion, and produced a great piece of software.

So let's hear from all of you Treo users who are Apt-enabled.

technical1

Last edited on 13 Jul 2008 02:56 by technical1 Show more

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (195.137.114.x) 14 Jul 2008 16:16

Hi,
On my T680 I was finding that my macro to return me to Applications after a hotsync did not work 100%, however having set Priority to VHigh it now seems to work OK, so perhaps the T680 needs this setting ?

Chastreo, from 1scr

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (172.169.126.x) 14 Jul 2008 16:40

Chastreo,

The VHigh setting is what I'm using on my Centro….

technical1

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

ScottL 15 Jul 2008 05:10

I just got a Treo 755p, but can't really do much since I'm stuck using Apt Lite (Grr!) for the time being. Once I'm back into the full version, I'll see what I can add here. I thought I could never leave my TX, but I'm quite comfortable on this thing - and I can even do data entry about as fast as I could back with Graffiti 1!

Anyway, I had become quite settled into my configuration on the TX, but will once again be tweaking Apt to make this Treo act the way I want it to.

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (70.216.198.x) 16 Jul 2008 15:25

Hi, another Treo user here. I concur with technical1 - Apt is very promising for Treo users. I was just introduced to Apt this week, and now that I'm using it, I will definitely register BUT only if I can be sure that further development for the Treo is soon coming.

Case in point: I'm currently using the Lite version, and I have an event set to enable KeyCaps600 when I launch Memos. KeyCaps600 enables as expected, but if I exit Memos and come back into Memos, the Treo resets.

Currently, my only reason for even trying Apt is for this ability - if I can't get beyond the resets, I have no reason to buy.

My 2 cents.

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (192.168.0.x) 17 Jul 2008 19:45

Mr/Mrs anonymous,

perhaps you could show the relevant bits of your configuration ?

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (70.218.60.x) 17 Jul 2008 21:04

-lnch/app/keycaps
&/cntrl/tap/1001
&/app/memos

Works as expected the first time. but subsequent launches of Memos crashes. Treo error log was empty, so no error code to report.

Later, all preferences got hosed, and I had to load from a good backup.

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (192.168.0.x) 18 Jul 2008 09:02

I tried this on both Tx and Treo 650 but couldn't get any sort of problem to occur.

Perhaps you have other related triggers.

You could try backing up AptDB, then delete it and add in just the three lines you quoted to see if something
else is interfering.

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (70.196.32.x) 18 Jul 2008 16:35

I'll try that…I'm pretty sure I didn't have any other triggers, but I'll reinstall and try again.

while I have your ear, is there a way to make Apt disable KeyCaps upon exit of Memos?

I want KeyCaps to enable when I launch Memos, and then disable once I exit Memos.

How would I set the triggers to do this?

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (192.168.0.x) 18 Jul 2008 19:53

Should just be an Exit trigger in the Memos profile.

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (70.196.32.x) 18 Jul 2008 21:06

I reinstalled, and have had no crashes:) this is encouraging.

"Exit trigger in profile" but where?

Scenario:

I launch Memos, Apt then launches KeyCaps, enables it, then takes me to Memos. When I exit Memos, I press the Home button which takes me back to TreoLnchr (my default launcher).

Where would I put the Exit trigger to launch KeyCaps and then disable it with a Ctrl tap 1002?

If I put what I think should be the proper triggers under the TreoLnchr profile, I end up in a never ending loop.

Under TreoLnch profile I have:

-Lnch > App > KeyCaps600
& > Ctrl > Tap > 1002
& > App > TreoLnchr

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (192.168.0.x) 21 Jul 2008 08:59

-Lnch/Exit:

http://apt-palm.wikidot.com/general-advanced#toc1

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (98.170.208.x) 18 Jul 2008 23:39

Me again -(I'll sign up soon)

What would really be nice and would really help me out is the ability to use the Option key as a trigger. If I could assign a macro to a single press of the Option key, I would buy it tonight.

Is this ability currently possible?

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Techaholic 19 Jul 2008 03:36

This is a good suggestion Anonymous - "Me Again", but would only be practical for everyone if there is the option for a delayed press. An option for using the "Alt" key as a trigger could also be useful.
Then we need options for press & hold of Home and Menu buttons.

Not always a good idea to make options specific to one make of PDA.
Goodness, people will be asking for an iPhone version of APT soon. ;-)

Last edited on 19 Jul 2008 03:39 by Techaholic Show more

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (98.170.208.x) 20 Jul 2008 13:19

I went forward and made the purchase, however, I still think a press and hold of the Option key would go a long way towards making it even more flexible.

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Pent 21 Jul 2008 09:05

OKOK, persistence pays, I promise to look at Option press and hold for next release :-) Don't promise it will work!

Pent

Last edited on 21 Jul 2008 09:05 by Pent Show more

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

(account deleted) 20 Jul 2008 13:55

Its nice to see that there is still activity on this forum! :)
I convinced my dad to buy Apt, and I will try to find even more buyers because I dont want Pent to stop working on this fantastic tool!

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (70.197.102.x) 21 Jul 2008 15:55

Hi all, I'm no longer Anonymous -

The Option button would be a nice addition, because I prefer to assign this particular macro to the Option button, but I have found my way around it - for anyone else that may be wondering, here is my solution to enable/disabling KeyCaps for use in Memos:

-
-Lnch > App > KeyCaps
& > Ctrl > Tap 1001
& > App > Memos
Exit > App > KeyCaps
& > Ctrl > Tap 1002
& > App > {your preferred launcher or application}

I really want to engage KeyCaps on an "as needed" basis in Messaging, Blazer, Calendar, etc, and for me, the Option key just logically fits. So until that time, I'll just do long presses of Hardkeys.

ALSO, The resets were caused when I exited Memos while in edit mode. To prevent resets, I click Done before closing Memos and no more resets at launch.

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

nepacsman 21 Jul 2008 15:59

FYI - my login timed out, hence the "Anonymous" still remains on my last posting.

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (192.168.0.x) 21 Jul 2008 16:26

Interesting on the resets.

You could try adding a tap on Done as part of the Exit.

If you're really clever, you could set a variable when you enter the Edit mode form, and only tap on done on Exit if the variable
is set [exercise for the reader].

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

nepacsman 21 Jul 2008 16:40

I wish I were that clever - I will probably add the tap on exit, but I am completely ignorant on setting the variables. I'm taking baby steps, but I am interested in learning.

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

cmlx 22 Jul 2008 14:40

The todo list of apt is so big…

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

technical1 22 Jul 2008 20:30

cmlx,

Obvious observation, but when I created this thread, I asked for suggestions for using Apt w/Treo…..

If you like it, & have chance to influence users in China, then you should… the more the registrations, the more chance Pent will be working on that todo list…

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Pent 01 Aug 2008 18:35

@nepacsman

There's a tutorial on variables, see the link in the left bar on this site.

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

jibanes 02 Aug 2008 03:04

What's the best way to prevent APT from disabling itself and/or restart it (from an alarm?) every day at a certain time?

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Pent 03 Aug 2008 11:31

I changed oHrd1-4 to have a repeat argument for next version.

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (172.164.99.x) 03 Aug 2008 18:53

Oh, Peeennt!

Does this mean you've snuck in another upgraded feature - just when it doesn't seem like there will be one in this area?!!! :D

BTW, I didn't see this when I sent you my latest email…. you sly devil you & what is a repeat argument for oHrd1-4?

Whatever it is, I trust it has to be a good thing, I've been around Apt long enuf to know…… thanks in advance, technical1

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Pent 03 Aug 2008 19:26

The repeat argument is just how many seconds you hold the buttons for (like the normal hard button triggers).

Pent

Re: Suggestions for using Apt w/Treo

Anonymous (172.164.99.x) 04 Aug 2008 00:35

Pent,

This is exactly what I was hoping & what I thought it was! This is excellent, superb, & you have to sell the he__ out of it!

Others besides me have already requested something like this & it will certainly add a lot of functionality to Apt in the Centro / Treo world & all I can hope now is to find a way to get the word out in the appropriate forums in an appropriate way.

Why not send me an email, at my reg code email to discuss the strategies & how you would want this handled; it IS your app after all & I wouldn't want you to be dissatisfied w/the way it'd be handled. I could mention it in PalmAddicts…

Thanks so much for this improvement. I truly beleive that it will be a powerful inducement for more Treo oriented sales. I'm already running low on the number of favorites &/or 3d party pref asignments for keys that I'm using & the number of triggers I'd like to have … this improvement ROCKS!!!

I can't wait for the ability to use 2 oHrd2 et. al. as triggers…. Great work Pent. I'm trying to find Centro owners who could help out w/the Khroma color theme thing, even if it is just one choice among many that do work fine… &/or w/the Lock trigger releases. I know you've put a lot of work into locking. Maybe the locking thing that I mentioned in prev email could be the underlying issue & would solve more than one prob….

All the best,

technical1

technical1