.FLYINGHEAD GRAPHICS TUTORIAL
.TITLE Capturing PalmPilot screenshots
.AUTHOR Calvin O. Parker
.SUMMARY If you write about the PalmPilot, whether it’s for publication or for internal corporate use, you’ll need to capture images of the PalmPilot’s screen. You’d be amazed at the hoops some authors jump through to capture Graffiti scratchings and PalmPilot screens. But once you read this article, you won’t have to jump through any flaming rings of fire because easy screenshots will always be a few taps away.
.FEATURE
Every now and then, especially if you do any type of web page or writing about the PalmPilot, you need to get a screenshot of a PalmPilot application. Or, perhaps you’d like to put together a quick tutorial for coworkers about Graffiti. While obtaining screenshots can be fairly straightforward using CoPilot, there are some circumstances that you might not be aware of. Also, obtaining Graffiti examples is quite easy if you have a copy of the Graffiti TrueType font, however there are also circumstances where this might not fit the needs of your project. This article will go over the basics of getting a PalmPilot screenshot and Graffiti image, and then talk about some of the alternatives that may have to be used.
.H1 Using CoPilot
CoPilot is a program that emulates the PalmPilot on your PC (there are also versions for Macintosh, BeOS, Linux, OS/2 and even one in progress for Windows CE). In order for CoPilot to work, you need to upload the contents of your PalmPilot’s ROM to the PC (a task described on the CoPilot web site). Another PalmPilot emulator, based on the CoPilot source code, but for the Power Macintosh, is called Zilot.
Most folks when they think of getting a screenshot, think of using CoPilot, the desktop emulator for the PalmPilot. Getting a screenshot with CoPilot is easy: bring up the screen you need and do a screen capture, crop the image and save. Make sure you have your version of CoPilot running in black and white mode as shown in Figure A, if you’re like me and prefer to see screenshots in black and white. Although it is possible to convert these later, you’ll quickly discover its just easier to have CoPilot set up in this mode.
.FIGPAIR A Running CoPilot in black and white mode allows for easier to read and publish on the web screenshots.
CoPilot works well, but there are a couple of circumstances that it doesn’t. For instance, some applications require a username in their registered version. Unless you’ve managed to get your username set in your CoPilot, then these applications won’t work. Also, some applications are too big and CoPilot won’t load them. Finally, you might want to get a screen shot of the actual application data that you use in your PalmPilot. So, basically, we need a way to capture and save screenshots directly from the PalmPilot.
.H1 Using TealPaint
Before TealPaint came along, I’d heard of folks scanning their PalmPilot and even taking a picture and scanning that to get screenshots directly off of the device. TealPaint eliminates the need of doing any of that, as it has a nifty screen capture function that is easy to use and works quite well.
To capture a screen off of any PalmPilot application, simply go to TealPaint and select Grab Screen from the Dbase menu (or Command-Stroke G). On the resultant window, select a button corresponding to how long you’d like the program to delay before doing a screen capture. I’ve found that with SwitchHack installed, its very easy to get the application in question set up, go to TealPaint and select the shortest time delay (10 Sec), then switch back. There are only a few applications that require some form of setup that I’d have to pick one of the other delay options.
After you’ve selected the delay time, go to the other application and (if applicable) get it ready to be "captured". Once the time has elapsed, you will see a window called "TealPaint" that says "Screen Grabbed". Return to TealPaint to save grabbed screen". Tap the Ok button and return to TealPaint where you’ll find a new image called "Grabbed Image". The above message is actually little misleading, the grabbed image is saved by default, it just needs to be renamed.
Once the image is renamed (or not, it can be accessed as "Grabbed Image" and multiple images with that name can also exist), you’ll need to HotSync to transfer that image into the .pdb file in your backup directory on the desktop. The latest version of TealPaint, v2.01 supports multiple databases, saving each database to its own backup .pdb file (previous versions of TealPaint would save to a file named TealPics.PDB).
Once the images have been transferred to your backup directory, you’re then ready to do something with them. This is accomplished by using the supplied TealPaint Image Manager (which, unfortunately, is not available for Macintosh users). This program, new with version 2.01, allows you to view, print, and import/export images to your TealPaint .pdb file. To use the Image Manager application, simply point it to your backup directory (for Windows 95 users, I recommend setting up a shortcut to the application, and setting the "Start in" directory to your backup directory) and load in the database you wish to view. As shown in Figure B, you will then see the first image stored in your backup .pdb file.
.FIGPAIR B When you load a file into the Image Manager, you’ll see the first image stored in that database.
From the Image Manager application, saving graphics is a snap. Simply choose Export Image from database to BMP from the "Process" menu, select the name of the file to save and hit enter. It will then prompt you if you want to "Force Black and White colors?", which gives you the option to save the image as black and white or as it is displayed in the Image Manager (which displays as a backlit-appearing screen).
.H1 Graffiti illustrated
Using the Graffiti TrueType font, it is easy to make and print examples and tutorials on using and drawing Graffiti. The illustration in Figure C took me all of one minute to put together using this font.
.FIGPAIR C Producing example Graffiti is quick and easy using the Graffiti TrueType font.
However, there are also times when you might need to show some graffiti strokes that aren’t included in this font. When this happens, its time to break out your artistic talent, and hand-draw them. Drawing Graffiti is easy, you just have to take your time, and remember to put the large "dot" that shows where to begin the stroke. Figure D shows an example of some hand drawn alternatives to doing a letter "X".
.FIG D Some examples of how to draw an "X". The first is taken from the Graffiti font, the other two are hand drawn.
.H1 Conclusion
As you can see, obtaining PalmPilot graphics, even when you’ve got to pull them off of the unit itself, is quite easily accomplished using CoPilot and even using TealPaint. Using the techniques I’ve just discussed, you should be able to easily put together that presentation or web page concerning the PalmPilot!
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability
TealPaint, $17.95, TealPoint Software, http://www.tealpoint.com
CoPilot, http://www.hewgill.com/pilot/copilot/index.html
Zilot, http://w3.teaser.fr/~mpollet/Zilot/
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO
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