A Keyboard Companion For The HP 100LX/200LX Palmtop Computers

Release 3.0 Documentation

Contents

• Highlights of Buddy
  • Versions 1 and 2
  • New features in version 3.0 (Summary)
• Terms Used in This Document

Introduction

Unlike the built-in macro capability provided by the HP 100LX/200LX system macros (which simply replay a series of preset keystrokes), Buddy is actively involved with the operation of the applications. For example, Buddy links the Filer to Memo, Lotus 1-2-3, Phone, and the other database applications, allowing easy "point-and-click" access to files and worksheets.

Buddy exhibits multiple personalities -- it works on the 100LX as well as the 200LX. If you load it on a 100LX, it's "100Buddy"; on a 200LX, it becomes "200Buddy."

This document is written for the new Buddy user. Information about the new features of version 3 is integrated into the text. Many new features are so marked in this document, but some are not.

Highlights of Buddy

Versions 1 and 2

• Filer to application links. To open a document, appointment file, phone book file, or Lotus worksheet, just highlight the file in Filer and push ENTER ENTER. You can specify certain filename extensions that will cause the highlighted file to be fed to a DOS application, such as an editor or compiler. You can inhibit the ".BAT" extension from being automatically executed. Buddy always prevents accidental execution of your "AUTOEXEC.BAT."

• Displays your power source, main battery voltage, battery usage timer, power-off timer values, and the serial port status on the Filer title bar (and on the Application Manager's icon screen). When the main battery voltage or usage timer reach particular values that you set, the values will flash. Also shows the current amount of available system RAM.

• Adds many features to Memo, including change case, swap characters, repeat previous edit, mark current line, return to marked line, and save/recall find string. When you start a new line, Buddy will autoindent, if desired.

• If you double-click a letter or a gray key, you can obtain the shifted key value (or any character you specify).

• Adds SmartCaps® which automatically produces upper-case letters as you type text and smartly converts the gray keys to their shifted symbols without you having to touch the shift key.

• Easy keystroke exit from the active application, or "MassExit" which closes all applications. If Memo or Lotus 123 is active with a modified file or worksheet, your file will be saved automatically.

• (Registered users only.) Adds a global password feature to prevent unauthorized access to your data. You can specify that a password be required whenever power is turned on or only if the machine has been off for longer than a specified period of time. This is most useful on the 100LX which does not have a built-in global password feature.

• WorldTime map overlay. Displays the day/night terminator plus any great circle route on the WorldTime map (registered copies only).

• Allows you to map certain blue keys so they can be disabled or used to start other applications.

• Lets you manually turn the serial port on and off, and lock the serial port off, if necessary.

• Lets you specify one of 24 preset pathnames for quick use when opening a file. This gives you instant access to your most-used files.

• Makes the CTRL and/or the ALT key "sticky," and changes the shift- lock function to work more like a standard typewriter.

• Makes all alarms visual by blinking the entire display. It won't wake you up at night, but the visual indication draws your attention to the alarm condition even if the sound level is turned way down or if you are in a noisy environment, such as an airplane.

• Removes the slash through the middle of the zero character in the small- and medium-sized fonts. This makes a "0" easier to distinguish from an "8".

• Lets you navigate in many common windows using the arrow keys. For example, the down-arrow key will move to the next lower field in the appointment edit window. This improves the feel of the machine by making those "natural" keystroke combinations valid.

• Separate macro files for each application. Buddy will automatically change macro files, if necessary, when you push a macro key. Also, you can designate that a certain macro be invoked automatically at startup. Adds user-specified labels to your function keys so you can easily remember which key invokes which macro. (This feature has been greatly expanded in version 3; see below.)

• Smartly inhibits certain keys that, when pushed by accident, produce long time delays in Filer or change the mode of your Memo file.

• AutoCalc. Buddy will automatically start CALC if you enter a numeral immediately after turning power on.

• Enlarges the cursor when in DOS.

• Operates with font-changing programs such as HELV100 and FCL.

New features in version 3.0 (Summary)

The major area of enhancement in this update is additional support for multiple macro files and macro chaining. In addition, dozens of minor changes and improvements have been made to the operation of the HP 100LX/200LX palmtop. For example:

• At any time, you can easily command Buddy to load and scan any one of 37 different macro files. This gives you instant access to 370 macros. As in version 2, you can also specify a different macro file for each built-in application and Buddy will automatically switch to the proper file when necessary.

• Three sets of macro labels are automatically saved (instead of just one) for three different macro files. When you push the Fn key, Buddy will display the macro labels corresponding to the active application, if they are known. When you push a macro key, the proper macro file will be loaded and the new labels saved.

• After executing a macro, Buddy will automatically chain to the next macro if the macro label ends with a plus sign.

• At startup, Buddy automatically loads a special macro file and runs a startup macro, if they exist.

• Buddy displays your power source, main battery voltage, battery usage timer, and the serial port status on the Application Manager's icon view screen (and on the Filer title bar).

• A much smaller, DOS-only version of Buddy is available to registered users. This version allows you to use the SmartCaps and d-click keyboard translation features in DOS programs without having to load the standard, larger Buddy.COM into system memory. The DOS-only version requires only about 12K of RAM.

• Buddy acquiesces to the extension settings in your FILER.INI file, if any (200LX only).

Note: Buddy only operates on machines with English displays.

Buddy loads at boot time. Part of it stays resident. Unless one of its special functions is triggered, it lingers unobtrusively in the background.

Buddy is a shareware program. Please read the shareware registration notice and register your copy by using the registration form (or REGISTER.TXT).

Terms Used in This Document

"EXM" refers to the system manager-compliant program, BUDDY.EXM. This program is used to configure Buddy according to your preferences.

"ENV" (environment) refers to the configuration file that is read at startup by the BUDDY.COM program and can be read, modified, and saved by BUDDY.EXM.

"HLP" refers to the Buddy help file, BUDDY.HLP.

"OWN" refers to the Buddy owner information file, BUDDY.OWN.

"gray" keys are the numeric keypad and the arithmetic keys. On the 200LX, they aren't exactly gray.

An application name that appears in all capital letters (e.g., "PHONE") represents the blue-key assigned to that application.