Technical Notes

No Mouse in PalmConnect?

How to use PalmConnect if there is only one serial port normally used by the mouse:

This condition arises on many older laptop machines which have only one serial port. This port is normally used by the mouse, but is needed by the serial cable for file linking between the Zoomer and the PC. There may also be a second Com port assigned to an internal modem which has a non-standard connector making it unusuable for other purposes. GEOS provides an "arrow mouse" option which is workable for file linking.

*This only works if you have function and cursor keys implemented.

How to free the Com Port for communications: Change Directory to the Palmconn directory. Run Setup (even though you may have done this before). Select the appropriate settings until you get to mouse choices. Scroll down the list of mice until you reach the "Arrow key mouse - use Insert, Delete, F4" option (3rd item down in the mouse list). Select. Your mouse will now track by using the cursor keys. This will both select the Arrow Mouse and free the original Com port.

Complete the PalmConnect Setup -- PalmConnet will start up automatically after Setup.

To invoke the arrow mouse press the < F4 > key. The cursor keys (not the numbers keypad) will now direct the mouse. The < Insert > key acts as the < Enter > key and as left-mouse click. Once you've maneuvered your cursor to the correct location you may click or type from the keyboard. After pressing any key other than the cursors or < Insert > you will need to press < F4 > to recover cursor control.

This feature also allows you to draw in the ink layer of applications. Move your cursor with the cursor keys to select the ink layer of the desired application. You can then use the cursor keys in combination with the < Insert > key to make lines reminiscent of using an Etch-a-Sketch(tm). The Arrow Mouse is NOT supported by Palm, but various users have ued it with success.

Setting up for communications: Once you have your Arrow Mouse working, select Preferences for Connect. Select File Linking. No matter what Com port is offered in the choice box, pull down the menu and check the highlighted options. Select the appropriate choice. If the appropriate choice was already selected, and re-selecting it does not cause an < OK > button to appear, change the baud rate to another setting then set it back again to the desired setting (usually 9600 buad) in order to get an < OK > button. Select < OK >.

Do the same for Page Send/Receive preferences.

You should now be able to exchange files and pages between your desktop machine and the Zoomer.

Return to home page