pilot-link - a suite of tools for communicating with Palm handhelds, such as those made from Palm, Handspring, Handera, TRGPro, Sony or other Palm Compatible Handheld PDA device.

The pilot-link suite of tools contains a series of conduits, libraries, and language bindings for moving information to and from your Palm device and your desktop or server/workstation system, as well as across the network.

All of the pilot-link programs will default to /dev/pilot as the default device used to communicate with a Palm. In general, if the environment variable $PILOTPORT is set in your shell, its value will override this default. A serial device specified on the command-line will be used regardless of any $PILOTPORT setting. If $PILOTPORT is not set, and -p is not supplied, any of the conduits in pilot-link will default to /dev/pilot.

The default connection rate is 9600 baud. You are welcome to try higher baud rates (19200, 38400, 57600 or higher) by setting the $PILOTRATE environment variable, but various machines have various limitations. (Be careful about values higher than 115200 on older Linux boxes if you've been using setserial to change the multiplier).

Here is a list of programs available from within the pilot-link package as of the date of this manpage.

addresses

dump the Palm Address book into a generic text-output format.

debugsh

commandline interface to a Palm debug monitor (deprecated).

dlpsh

commandline interface to Palm DLP HotSync protocol. This is very useful for debugging potential problems with your serial port. Query the RAM/ROM, list databases, change your UserID or Username, and many other useful functions. This is the "Swiss Army Knife" of any of pilot-link's tools.

getrom

program to fetch ROM using getrom.prc or getrom2.prc.

getrom.prc

Palm program to help dump a 512K ROM. This must be installed on your Palm handheld.

getrom2.prc

Palm program to help dump a 1024K ROM (used for PalmOS 2.x devices only).

ietf2datebook

convert an IETF calendar to format used by install-datebook.

install-datebook

import datebook records from a text file onto the Palm handheld.

install-memo

import Memo records from a text format into the Palm.

install-netsync

modify the "Network Preference" settings and report additional intormation about the Palm, such as the IP, hostname, and other information as they are set on the Palm.

install-todos

import ToDo records from a text format into the Palm.

install-user

modify the "User Preference" settings and report additional intormation about the Palm, such as the Username and UserID as they are set on the Palm.

memos

export memos from the Palm in mailbox format into one file, or one of two formats: one-file-per-record or one-directory-per-category.

pi-csd

this must be running to accept Network HotSync(tm) connects.

pi-getram

program that retrieves the RAM image from Palm.

pi-getrom

program that retrieves a ROM image from Palm (without using getrom.prc).

pi-getromtoken

program that retrieves the ROM tokens from the Palm, such as the serial number of the device, if available. Does not work on OS5 devices, currently.

pi-nredir

program that accepts connections and redirects them via the Network HotSync(tm) protocol.

pi-port

experimental program to abstract the serial layer from pilot-link.

pilot-addresses

import and export records from the Address Book (AddressDB.pdb) on your Palm.

pilot-clip

experimental program to import and export data from Palm clipboard.

pilot-debug

graphical and command-line program to interface with Palm debug monitor.

pilot-dedupe

strips duplicate records from Palm databases.

pilot-file

dissect .prc and .pdb files to view header, app_info, and record information.

pilot-mail

import mail from POP3 mailbox into Palm's default Mail application, and send mail via sendmail. This has been replaced by pilot-mailsync from Hollis Blanchard <hollis@amulet.co.jp>. Please see the CREDITS file for additional information on how to obtain this package.

pilot-schlep

stores a single file of any data type (such as .zip or .mp3) on the Palm or retrieves one from the Palm.

pilot-undelete

turn previously archived records into normal (non-archived) records by resetting the "dirty" bit.

pilot-xfer

backup, restore, install and delete Palm databases. The most-used pilot-link conduit.

read-expenses

export Palm expense database into a simple text format.

read-ical

export Palm Datebook and ToDo databases (DatebookDB.pdb and ToDoDB.pdb respectively) into an Ical calendar (the ical application must be installed and working on your system first. This is NOT the same thing as the iCal Calendar format, however).

read-notepad

reads record information and images created with the Palm OS4 and later NotePad application.

read-palmpix

reads images created with the Kodak PalmPix "snap-on" camera.

read-todos

export Palm ToDo database into generic text format.

reminders

export Palm Datebook into a 'remind' data file.

sync-plan

completely synchronize the Palm datebook with the "plan" calendar via netplan, including authenticating to the netplan server itself.

Some of these programs are not intended for general end-users. More detailed documentation on their usage can be obtained by reading the source of the application itself.

ccexample

test program demonstrating C++ interface.

iambicexample

test program demonstrating C++ interface.

validate

experimental program to test C++ features.

The most current version of the pilot-link suite of tools can be found at the pilot link homepage:

http://www.pilot-link.org/

The original pilot-unix mailing list has been taken offline, and is now being hosted and maintained by David A. Desrosiers <desrod@gnu-designs.com>. The original pilot-unix mailing list was maintained by Matthew Cravit. Its mandate was:

The pilot-unix mailing list is for discussion and "idea-sharing" for those interested in using your Palm handheld with UNIX systems. This includes people who are interested in helping to develop tools to allow the Palm to operate with UNIX and other POSIX systems, and possibly to develop an SDK (Software Development Kit) for the Palm for Unix.

For more information, including how to subscribe to the pilot-link mailing lists, please visit the pilot-link mailing list subscription page:

http://lists.pilot-link.org/

pilot-link specific mailing lists are also available for Development, General, and Announce topics, at the following:

http://lists.pilot-link.org/mailman/listinfo/pilot-link-devel

http://lists.pilot-link.org/mailman/listinfo/pilot-link-general

http://lists.pilot-link.org/mailman/listinfo/pilot-link-announce

Most of the pilot-link tools were written by Kenneth Albanowski. This manual page was written by David H. Silber <pilot@orbits.com>, and updated for this version of pilot-link by David A. Desrosiers <desrod@gnu-designs.com>.

Current maintainer of pilot-link as of the authoring of this manpage is David A. Desrosiers <desrod@gnu-designs.com>.

Any questions or problems with pilot-link should be directed at the various fBpilot-link mailing lists or to the irc channel dedicated to supporting pilot-link at irc.pilot-link.org in your irc application (not a web browser).

All patches you wish to submit should be sent to <patches@pilot-link.org> directly, with a brief explanation of what the patch adds or fixes. Please make sure to send your patched in unified diff format (diff -u).

addresses(1), dlpsh(1), hinotes(1), ietf2datebook(1), install-datebook(1), install-expenses(1), install-hinote(1), install-memo(1), install-netsync(1), install-user(1), pi-getrom(1), pi-getram(1), pilot-addresses(1), pilot-xfer(1), read-ical(1), read-notepad(1), read-palmpix(1)

David Silber <pilot@orbits.com> has written a Pilot HOWTO, which you can find at http://www.sgmltools.org/HOWTO/Pilot-HOWTO/t1.html