Introduction

Do you always want to keep your installed Palm applications up-to-date? The newly released version has many newly added enhancements and may fix many bugs even if you are still using the old version. To make sure you have the latest version installed, you usually check the release information from either the vendors' web site or PalmGear/HandanGo. If you have experienced doing this job, you know that it takes time for you to check every installed Palm application.

TrackerDog is designed to help you to do that.

TrackerDog comprises two parts, TrackerDog client and TrackerDog server. TrackerDog client runs on Palm compatible devices. It collects all the applications that you installed on Palm. TrackerDog server is a data server. It collects many newly released Palm application versions and release date information. Whenever you perform a HotSync, TrackerDog client connects to the TrackerDog server via the Internet and tracks down any new version. You can also track the versions in TrackerDog client if the Palm can connect with the Internet via a modem, mobile phone or wireless device (802.11).

TrackerDog is free of charge but if you want to give donations, please send your checks to:

Features

• Tracks newest versions and release date information via the Internet whenever you perform a HotSync.
• Downloads the newest Palm software whenever you perform a HotSync.
• Notify you if TrackerDog has found any newly versions during the HotSync tracking.
• Lists all the installed Palm programs from either the main memory, flash or memory expansion card.
• Tracks versions directly from Palm via either modem, mobile phone or wireless device (e.g. Tungsten C, Clie UX50).
• Uses different colors to show you which application is up to date and which one has a newer version.
• Enables you to add a note for each application. You can keep the registration code, purchase date,...,etc. information in the note.
• Supports various sorting options for you to sort the applications for different purpose.
• Enables you to export application list to Memo Pad.
• Conduit supports proxy and authorization proxy. The proxy settings are retried from current IE's settings or you can configure them manually.
• Supports hires (320x320) and hires+ (320x480, 480x320).
• Supports small font.
• Supports Palm 5-way navigator.
• Supports Clie Jog Dial navigator.
• Uses fuzzy matching technology to find more version data.
• Last but not least, color is also supported by TrackerDog.

Minimum Requirements:

• Palm OS 3.2 or later

Resolutions Supported:

• 160x160
• 320x320
• 320x480
• 480x320

Installation

The following files are packed in the download zip file.

• README.txt - the readme file. Please read this file before installation.
• TrackerDogInstall.exe - TrackerDog conduit installation program. Please run this file on the HotSync desktop PC. This installation program will install TrackerDog conduit program on this PC so that TrackerDog can retrieve the related release version and date information from the Internet whenever you perform a HotSync. It's optional if you don't want to track the version data via HotSync. Please extract all files to PC local directory before you run this file.
• TrackerDog.prc - TrackerDog Palm program. Please refer to the steps below for installation procedure.
  1. Start the Palm Install Tool application in your Palm directory or folder.
  2. Choose the correct User Name.
  3. Choose TrackerDog.prc file that accompanies the downloaded ZIP file.
  4. HotSync.

TrackerDog is ready to go. Tap on the Applications button on your Palm and then tap on the TrackerDog icon.

Getting Started

When you run TrackerDog for the first time, it searches all of your installed applications. TrackerDog searches the applications from the main memory, memory expansion card and flash memory. For applications that are found, TrackerDog extracts the current version and date information and stores them in an application database and lists them on TrackerDog main window as shown below

There are two ways to track the version data via the Internet.

- HotSync: Every time you perform a HotSync. TrackerDog conduit software automatically retrieves the related release version and date information from the Internet. For this, you must install the conduit by running TrackerDogInstall.exe program that is included in the zip file.

- Directly from your Palm OS device: This can be achieved if you have either a modem, mobile phone or wireless device. Please refer to Palm handbook on how to set up the Connection and Network preferences and how to connect your Palm to these devices. After connecting to the Internet, you can tap the App DB->Tracking command to retrieve the newly release version and date information.

After an Internet update, you can see the newly release version and date information from TrackerDog main window as shown below

Main Window

Please see the diagram below for the function details.

After a version tracking, TrackerDog retrieves the new version, new release date and information string from TrackerDog server. If your Palm is color enabled, TrackerDog uses three different colors to show you the status of each application.

• BLACK: the new version number is the same as the current one. It means the current installed application is up to date.
• RED: there is a newer version released. A lightning symbol will also be shown on the 1st column.
• ForestGREEN: the tracked version is older than what you are using. You MUST read the FAQ page of http://trackerdog.a0soft.com for details.
• BLUE: TrackerDog didn't find related version number from TrackerDog server. You MUST read the FAQ page of http://trackerdog.a0soft.com for details.

You can uncheck the 1st column's check icon if you don't want TrackerDog to track the version number for this application. You can also hide such "don't track" applications from the list. Please refer to the "Preferences" command for details.

TrackerDog adds a "#" before the application's name for those applications that have newly updated version data. After you perform a HotSync tracking or on-line tracking, TrackerDog may find newly updated version data for some applications. For those applications, TrackerDog adds a "#" to let you know that this application had a new version released. The "#" symbol will be cleared on the next tracking, so you should export the application list to the Memo Pad if you would like to keep track of them. If you perform the HotSync tracking, TrackerDog will give you a notify alert if it finds any newly updated versions. You can turn off the alert setting. Please refer to the "Preferences" command for how to do it.

You can select an application by tapping it. For your convenience, TrackerDog shows the information string of selected application on the message area. The selection can also be changed by using the Page Up/Down keys.

There are five icon buttons may show on the main window.

: Same as the App -> Details menu command.
: Same as the App -> View Note menu command.
: Same as the App -> Set/Unset up-to-date menu command. It will be shown only if an application is selected.
: Same as the App -> Set/Unset download menu command. It will be shown only if an application is selected.
: Same as the Options -> Close the connection menu command. It will be shown only if the network connection is active.

Palm 5-way navigator

The Palm 5-way navigator is a newly added feature for Tungsten T/W model. TrackerDog already supports this for you to operate some functions without using the stylus.

• If there is no application selected,
  • [Select]: select the first application.
  • [Up]: page up.
  • [Down]: page down.
  • hold [Select]: close TrackerDog and then returns to the Application Launcher.
• If there is an application selected,
  • [Select]: invoke the Detail form.
  • [Up]: select the previous application.
  • [Down]: select the next application.
  • [Left]/[Right]: cancel the selection.
  • hold [Select]: close TrackerDog and then return to the Application Launcher.

Clie Jog Dial navigator

The Clie Jog Dial navigator is an unique feature for some Clie devices. TrackerDog already supports this for you to operate some functions without using the stylus.

• If there is no application selected,
  • [Press]: select the first application.
  • [Up]: page up.
  • [Down]: page down.
  • [Back]: close TrackerDog and then return to the Application Launcher.
• If there is an application selected,
  • [Press]: invoke the Detail form.
  • [Press] continuously: cancel the selection.
  • [Up]: select the previous application.
  • [Down]: select the next application.
  • [Back]: close TrackerDog and then return to the Application Launcher.

Menu Commands

• App DB
  • Tracking...
    If your Palm can directly connect with the Internet via modem, mobile phone or wireless device, this command will connect with TrackerDog server via the Internet to retrieve the newly released version and date information for each of the installed Palm applications. If an application row is selected, this command tracks the version data starting from this application; otherwise, it tracks from the first application.

  
  

  By default, TrackerDog won't close the connection immediately after finishing the tracking. The network connection will be automatically closed after a short of period of time if no application uses the connection. This allows you to quit TrackerDog application and launch another within a short period of time without having to wait through the process of closing down and then re-establishing the network connection. You can change the setting by turning on the "Disconnection after tracking" option in Preferences form. Please refer to the "Preferences" command for details.

  • Update list...
    This command searches all your installed applications and updates the results to the application database. TrackerDog searches the applications from the main memory, memory expansion card and flash memory. For the applications that are found, TrackerDog extracts the current version and date information and stores them in an application database and lists them on the TrackerDog main window. If you have any newly installed Palm applications, you can manually use this command to ask TrackerDog to re-scan your Palm for updating the application database. If TrackerDog finds an application that exists within the application database but it doesn't exist within the Palm, TrackerDog only marks this application as "Deleted" instead of deleting it from the application database. If you would like to delete such nonexistent applications from the application database, you can do that via the "Purge nonexistent apps" command.

    TrackerDog also provides you with an option to automatically refresh the database whenever you startup TrackerDog. Please refer to the "Preferences" command for details.

  • Purge all & update list
    This command first deletes the whole application database and then calls the "Update list..." command to create a new application database. This command only updates the TrackerDog's application database. It won't delete any applications from Palm.
     
  • Purge nonexistent apps
    This command deletes nonexistent applications from the application database. It also means the deleted applications won't be listed on the TrackerDog main window. Please also refer to the "Update list..." command for details.
     
  • Purge new version data
    After a version tracking, TrackerDog stores the newly found version, release date and the information string within the application database. You can use this command to delete all this data from the application database.
     
  • Send list to Memo
    You can export the current application list to the Memo Pad by using this command. This function provides lots of options for you to customize the data that you want to export.

    

    [Only export NEWER apps]: Only export applications that are marked in RED or have the flash icon.
    [Only export # apps]: Only export applications that have the newly updated version data.
    [Current version/date]: Export the version and release date of current application.
    [New version/date]: Export the newly found version and release date.
    [No date]: Don't to export the release date.
    [Type/Creator ID and DB name]: Export the type ID, creator ID and DB name.
    [Information]: Export the information of application.
    [Download URL]: Export the URL where you can download the application.
    [Home URL]: Export the web site URL of application.
    Due to the Memo Pad's 4K limits, TrackerDog creates multiple Memo Pad records if the exported list is too large.

• App
  • Details...
    You have to select an application before invoking this command. This command will invoke a form to display the detail information of the selected application. Please see the diagram below for details.
     

  

  For your convenience, TrackerDog also enables you to invoke this form by tapping the application row and holding for about 2 seconds. You can also tap the icon button on the main window to show this form for the selected application.

  The application icon will also be shown on this form. TrackerDog first shows a card icon for those applications that are stored in the memory expansion card because it takes time for TrackerDog to load the icon data from the memory expansion card. If you would like to see the original icon, you can tap the card icon again to ask TrackerDog to load the icon data from the memory expansion card.

  Besides tapping the left/right arrow icon, you can also press the [Page Up] key to show the detail information of the previous application and the [Page Down] key to show the detail information of the next application. If your Palm supports 5-way navigator, the [Left]/[Right] keys can also be used. If your Palm supports Clie Jog Dial navigator, the [Up]/[Down] keys can be used, too.

  • Set/Unset up-to-date
    If you have an application that is at version 1.0 and a new version 1.0.1 comes out, then it shows up in RED since you don't have the latest version. However you might want to wait until the major version of 1.1 comes out, so you still want the version number to be tracked and you could be acknowledged. When the version number changes next time (it might be 1.0.2, or just 1.1), then it would show up in RED again. To do that, you can manually mark such applications as being up-to-date by using this command. TrackerDog shows the up-to-date applications in BLACK and won't change the color until the mark flag is cleared. This mark flag will be cleared if TrackerDog finds a newly version for the application. You can also clear the mark flag by invoking this command again.

  For your convenience, You can also invoking this command by tapping the icon button on the main window for the selected application.

  This command is also useful for those applications that software authors didn't put the correct version information.

  • Set/Unset download
    For those applications that have the download URL information, you can schedule it to be downloaded during next HotSync tracking. To do that, you can select the application and invoke this menu command or tap on the icon button to set the selected application as "to-be-downloaded". TrackerDog will show the icon for the "to-be-downloaded" application. When you perform a HotSync tracking next time, TrackerDog will download the software from the Internet and put the downloaded software on the specified PC local directory. For how to specify the directory path, please refer to the TrackerDog conduit configuration section.

  You can clear the download flag by invoking this command again.

  • Set downloads
    In addition to use the "Set/Unset download" command to set the download flag for applications one by one, you can also use the "Set downloads" command to set or clear the download flags for applications.

    

    All Apps: Set the download flag for applications that have the download URL.
    NEWER Apps: Set the download flag for applications that have both the download URL and the newer version (applications that marked in red).
    Unset All: Clear the download flag for all applications.

  • View note...
    TrackerDog enables you to add a note for each application. You can keep the registration code, purchase date,...,etc. information in this note.

  

  You can tap the "New Note" button to add a note for the selected application. TrackerDog creates an initial note by copying the content of note template. You can also edit the note template by using the "Edit note template" command.

  The left/right arrow buttons enable you to view the note of the previous/next application without closing this form.

  For your convenience, You can also invoking this command by tapping the icon button on the main window for the selected application.

  • Edit note template
    When you add a new note for an application, TrackerDog uses the content of note template as the initial content for this new note. You can customize the note template by using this command.
     

• Options
  • Preferences...
    This command invokes a preferences form as shown below for you to customize the default behavior of TrackerDog.
     

  

  • Update applications on start
    If this option is on, TrackerDog automatically calls the "Update list" command when you invoke TrackerDog. This option is off by default.
  • Don't track if app. is nonexistent
    If this option is on, TrackerDog won't track the updated version and release date information for those deleted applications. This option is on by default.
  • Hide "don't track" applications
    If this option is on, the "Don't track" applications will be hidden from the main window application list. You can set an application as either "Track" or "Don't track" by tapping the check icon on the main window's first column. This option is off by default.
  • Disconnection after tracking
    When you invoke the "Tracking..." command, TrackerDog will activate the network connection for connecting your Palm with the Internet and won't close the connection immediately as soon as the tracking is finished. If you would like to close the network connection after TrackerDog finishes the tracking, you can turn on this option. This option is off by default.
  • Notify if new versions found
    If the option is on and Tracker finds any newly versions during the HotSync tracking, TrackerDog will show you a notify alert after finishing the HotSync tracking. You can customize the alert sound by setting the "Sound" option. This option is on by default.
    • Auto close form
      If you turn on this option, the notify form will be automatically closed after 30 seconds. This option is off by default.
  • Sort options for App Name column
    If you tap the App Name column (second column), TrackerDog sorts applications by application name. You can turn on the Download URL and Home URL options if you'd like to put applications, which have the URLs, together . Both options are off by default.
  • Clear download flags after done
    If this option is on, TrackerDog will automatically clear the download flag after it downloaded the software. This option is on by default.
  • Search the whole card for apps
    By default, TrackerDog only searches applications from both /PALM/Launcher and /PALM/Programs directories of the memory expansion card. If you store applications on the other directories, you can turn on this option to ask TrackerDog to search applications from the whole memory expansion card. This option is off by default. To specify the ignored directories, please refer to the settings on Preference Page 3.

  • Don't list apps that exist on the

  • Memory expansion card
    TrackerDog searches the applications from the main memory, memory expansion card and flash memory. If this option is off, the applications that exist on the memory expansion card won't be searched by TrackerDog.
  • Flash memory
    TrackerDog searches the applications from the main memory, memory expansion card and flash memory. If this option is off, the applications that exist in the flash memory won't be searched by TrackerDog.

  • List applications if type ID is
    By default, TrackerDog only searches the applications whose type ID is either 'appl' (application), 'panl' (preference panel plug-in programs), 'libf' (shared library), 'ssWC' (aClock plug-in programs), 'HACK' (Palm Hack programs) and 'DAcc' (Desk Accessory programs). You can change this search list by using either the "Add" or "Delete" button.

  • Add
    Specifies the type ID and adds it into the search list. Please note that a legal type ID is four ASCII characters.
  • Delete
    Deletes the selected type ID from the search list.

  • Small font
    If your Palm runs on OS v5.0 or later, you will see this option. It enables you to use a small font on the main window.

  • Don't search the following directories
    If you have installed the backup software, it may save a copy of the program on the card. It results in TrackerDog shows redundant programs on the list. To solve this problem, you can specify the "backup" directories here. TrackerDog won't search these ignored directories. You can specify either the partial path name or full path name.

  • List system applications
    TrackerDog won't list the system build-in applications (Memo Pad, Date Book,...,etc.) by default. TrackerDog recognizes them by the creator ID. The creator ID is a four characters string. Palm OS uses lower-case letter for its system files. You can turn on this option to list system build-in application as well. This option is off by default.

  • Proxy
    If your Palm is behind the proxy, you need to turn on this option. In addition to that, you have to specify the proxy server name to the Server: field and proxy port number to the Port: field.

  • Need authorization
    If your proxy server needs authorization, please turn on this option and specify your login name to the Username: field, and password to the Password: filed.

  • Close the connection
    If the network connection is active, you can use this command to close the connection immediately.
     

TrackerDog conduit configuration

If you have installed the TrackerDog conduit, you can invoke the configuration dialog by

1. choosing the [Custom...] menu item of HotSync manager, and then
2. Selecting TrackerDog and pressing the [Change...] button.

For saving the HotSync time, TrackerDog enables you to customize the tracking frequency. If you would like TrackerDog to track the newly released versions whenever you perform a HotSync, please select the every [time] option. If you just want TrackerDog to track the versions once a day, please select the every [day] option.

TrackerDog will automatically download the software to the specified PC local directory. When you perform a HotSync tracking, TrackerDog conduit will first perform the newly version tracking task, and then perform the software download task for those applications which have the download flag. To set the download flag for applications, you should use the "Set/Unset download" or "Set downloads" command on your Palm. You can disable the download task by turning on the [Disable Download] option. For the downloaded software, TrackerDog will put them under the [Download to] directory.

TrackerDog also supports the proxy or the proxy that needs authorization if your desktop PC is behind the firewall. To enable the proxy access, you should first turn on the [Proxy] option. If the [Use IE's settings] option is selected, TrackerDog gets the proxy settings from Windows registry. To set your default Internet access, double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, then the Control Panel, and then the Internet tool in the Control Panel. Choose the Connection tab, and complete the dialog box as desired for your setup. If you'd like to configure the proxy settings manually, please select the [Manually configuration] option and specify your proxy server name and port number on the TrackerDog conduit configuration dialog box.

If your proxy server needs authorization, please turn on the [Proxy server needs authorization] option and specify your login name and password on the TrackerDog conduit configuration dialog box.

TrackerDog conduit supports multiple HotSync users environment. If multiple users are using the same desktop PC to do the HotSync, TrackerDog conduit enables you to specify different configuration for each user.

Removing TrackerDog from Palm

If you find that you no longer need TrackerDog (or are trying to conserve memory), removing it from your Palm is quite simple.

From the Applications launcher :

1. Tap the Menu icon
2. Go to the App menu and choose Delete
3. Select TrackerDog and tap 'Delete...'
4. At this point you will be asked to confirm your request
5. To do so, tap 'Yes'. To return to the application launcher tap 'Done' and confirm that the TrackerDog application no longer appears.

Removing the TrackerDog conduit from your desktop PC

If you just want to stop TrackerDog from tracking when you perform a HotSync, you can stop tracking by

1. clicking the "Custom..." menu of HotSync Manager
2. selecting TrackerDog
3. clicking the [Change...] button
4. turning on the options of both "Do nothing" and "Set as default"
5. clicking the [OK] button

If you would like to remove the TrackerDog conduit from your desktop PC, please

1. look for the TrackerDog.dll file on the Palm desktop directory (usually, it's C:\Palm)
2. delete the TrackerDog.dll file from the disk
3. That's all

Term of Use

TrackerDog will accept no responsibility for the use or misuse of this software for any damage that may be caused by it or its possible lack of suitability.

All files content and ownership remain to the creator of that files. We are not in any way responsible for checking out the content or functionally of them, but are merely downloading them for your convenience.

Please direct any comments, questions and feedback to the author.

FAQ

Please visit the FAQ page of http://trackerdog.a0soft.com