Palm OS dot short-cuts

This text is adapted from a post to comp.sys.palm.pilot and includes updates.

There are several built-in undocumented short-cuts, accessed by issuing the shortcut command (in Graffiti, it looks like a script "S") and then a period, ".", followed by a number or letter. Issue these short-cuts in a newly created memo in the Memo Pad application.

THESE SHORTCUTS SHOULD BE USED WITH CAUTION, AS SOME CAN HAVE A DETRIMENTAL AFFECT ON YOUR Palm/Visor.

Dot Short-cut Result

.i Enable Beam-Receive for a brief time. You no longer have to toggle beam-receive in Prefs/General.

.s Toggle between serial and IR modes. In serial mode, data normally transmitted via the IR port is sent over the serial port.

.t Toggle loopback mode for the IR Exchange Manager.

.1 Open the serial port (debug mode). Soft reset to close. CAUTION: Serious battery drain if left open!

.2 Open the serial port (console mode). Soft reset to close.

.3 Turn Auto-Off off.

.4 Flash username and ID; the ID number represents the Windows Registry Key for the desktop software that sets the install flag, denoting whether there are files to be installed (thanks to Erwin Schomburg).

.5 Remove user configuration (username and 4 digit ID) and hotsync log. CAUTION: If you re-sync after doing this shortcut, duplicate entries will be created! Instead, perform a hard-reset and then sync with "PC Overwrites Palm".

.6 Display the ROM date.

.7 Cycle through battery type settings. The battery-types are: Alkaline/NiCad/Rechargeable Alkaline/NiMH. Selecting the proper type of battery displays the corresponding "fuel" gauge.
NOTE 1: NiMH setting only available in OS 3.3 and later.
NOTE 2: (courtesy Fred Maxwell): selecting NiMH, NiCad, or Rechargeable Alkaline batteries through the .7 shortcut results in the Visor Neo disabling beaming. If you attempt to beam a file after changing to a battery type other than Alkaline, you get the following message:

"Power Manager: Beaming has been temporarily disabled because the combination of features you are using requires more power than currently available. (Pwr 1E03)".
Suggested Workaround: When you need to beam data, change the battery-type to Alkaline, perform the beaming and then change it back to the appropriate type.

.8 Toggle the "inverse" backlighting on the Palm V or Palm IIIx. NOTE: If you upgrade from an older Palm device, this will not work unless you delete the Graffiti_ShortCuts.PRC from your backup directory BEFORE you do your first HotSync. If you've already performed a HotSync, you'll have to back everything up, delete the file mentioned above, hard reset your device, and then HotSync. (CESD, of DateBk3 fame, is working on writing this capability into dbScan).

Palm Dot Shortcuts / Visor Reflections

Luis Fernandes, elf@ee.ryerson.ca

Last modified: Wed Jan 08 13:48:56 2003

Dot Short-cut	Result
`.i`	Enable Beam-Receive for a brief time. You no longer have to toggle beam-receive in Prefs/General.
`.s`	Toggle between serial and IR modes. In serial mode, data normally transmitted via the IR port is sent over the serial port.
`.t`	Toggle loopback mode for the IR Exchange Manager.
`.1`	Open the serial port (debug mode). Soft reset to close. CAUTION: Serious battery drain if left open!
`.2`	Open the serial port (console mode). Soft reset to close.
`.3`	Turn Auto-Off off.
`.4`	Flash username and ID; the ID number represents the Windows Registry Key for the desktop software that sets the install flag, denoting whether there are files to be installed (thanks to Erwin Schomburg).
`.5`	Remove user configuration (username and 4 digit ID) and hotsync log. CAUTION: If you re-sync after doing this shortcut, duplicate entries will be created! Instead, perform a hard-reset and then sync with "PC Overwrites Palm".
`.6`	Display the ROM date.
`.7`	Cycle through battery type settings. The battery-types are: Alkaline/NiCad/Rechargeable Alkaline/NiMH. Selecting the proper type of battery displays the corresponding "fuel" gauge. NOTE 1: NiMH setting only available in OS 3.3 and later. NOTE 2: (courtesy Fred Maxwell): selecting NiMH, NiCad, or Rechargeable Alkaline batteries through the .7 shortcut results in the Visor Neo disabling beaming. If you attempt to beam a file after changing to a battery type other than Alkaline, you get the following message: "Power Manager: Beaming has been temporarily disabled because the combination of features you are using requires more power than currently available. (Pwr 1E03)". Suggested Workaround: When you need to beam data, change the battery-type to Alkaline, perform the beaming and then change it back to the appropriate type.
`.8`	Toggle the "inverse" backlighting on the Palm V or Palm IIIx. NOTE: If you upgrade from an older Palm device, this will not work unless you delete the `Graffiti_ShortCuts.PRC` from your backup directory BEFORE you do your first HotSync. If you've already performed a HotSync, you'll have to back everything up, delete the file mentioned above, hard reset your device, and then HotSync. (CESD, of DateBk3 fame, is working on writing this capability into dbScan).