Palm Syncing With Linux
Connect your HotSync cradle to an available communications port. In most Linux distributions (such as Red Hat 6.0) the first two serial COM ports are mapped to /dev/cua0 and /dev/cua1, but it might be /dev/ttys0 or /dev/ttys1.
By default, most Linux synchronization software looks for the HotSync port on /dev/pilot, so the first thing you'll want to do is make a hard link to your serial port.
ln /dev/stty0 /dev/pilot
Get Pilot-link software for Linux. You can download the latest version from ftp://ryeham.ee.ryerson.ca/pub/PalmOS/ Compile and/or install the software.
Edit .bashrc to export the environment variable PILOTRATE to a high number like 115,200. This sets the baud rate at which Linux talks to the Palm.
PILOTRATE=115200 export PILOTRATE
Pilot-link comes with a lot of command-line utilities.
- addresses: dump Palm Address Book into generic format;
- ccexample: test program demonstrating C++ interface;
- debugsh: command-line interface to Palm debug monitor;
- dlpsh: command-line interface to Palm HotSync protocol;
- getrom: program to fetch ROM using getrom.prc or getrom2.prc;
- getrom.prc: Palm device program to help dump a 512K ROM;
- getrom2.prc: Palm device program to help dump a 1024K ROM (used for OS 2.x or 3.x);
- iambicexample: test program demonstrating C++ interface;
- ietf2datebook: convert IETF calendar to format used by install-datebook;
- install-datebook: import Date Book records from a text format into Palm device;
- install-memo: import Memo Pad records from a text format into Palm device;
- install-todos: import To Do records from a text format into Palm device;
- install-user: modify user name settings (and report lots of into) about Palm device;
- memos: export memos from Palm device in mailbox format;
- pi-csd: must be running to accept Network HotSync connects;
- pi-getram: program that retrieves RAM from Palm device;
- pi-getrom: program that retrieves ROM from Palm device (without getrom.prc);
- pi-nredir: program that accepts connections and redirects them via the Network HotSync protocol;
- pi-port: experimental program to separate serial layer from Pilot-link;
- pilot-addresses: import and export Address Book;
- pilot-clip: experimental program to import and export data from Palm device clipboard;
- pilot-debug: graphical and command-line program to interface with Pilot debug monitor;
- pilot-dedupe: strips duplicate records from Palm device databases;
- pilot-file: disect .prc and .pdb files;
- pilot-mail: import mail from POP3 mailbox into Palm organizer's Mail application, and send mail via sendmail;
- pilot-schlep: store a single file on the Palm device;
- pilot-undelete: turn archived records into normal records;
- pilot-xfer: back up, restore, install and delete Palm databases (this is a very useful program);
- read-expenses: export Expense application database into text format;
- read-ical: export Palm Date Book and To Do databases into an ical calendar (ical is required);
- read-todos: export Palm To Do database into generic text format;
- reminders: export Palm Date Book into a 'remind' data file;
- sync-plan: completely synchronize the Palm Date Book with the Plan calendar via netplan;
- validate: experimental program to test C++ features.
Pilot-xfer allows you to install programs on your Palm device, make a backup, and restore that backup.
pilot-xfer /dev/pilot -i program.prc pilot-xfer /dev/pilot -b backup-directory
pilot-xfer /dev/pilot -r backup-directory
List the programs on your Palm
pilot-xfer /dev/pilot -l
Red Hat Linux 6.0 comes with KDE 1.1 and KPilot pre-installed. Like J-pilot, you synchronize, view and modify Address Book and Memo entries on your Linux desktop, and export Address Book and Memo entries to text files. It also is good for synchronizing with POP3 email.
This is a brief guide of highlights from Jason Perlow's full story, "Using your Palm device with Linux."
