Downloading a file

• Downloading from the web
  Copying from the desktop to a handheld

Using each type of file

• Nokia Communicator users
  Series 3a/3c/3mx users
  Psion Revo and Series 5/5mx (and compatible) users
  Symbian smartphone users
  Othern users (Palm OS, PocketPC, Windows)

Downloading a file

Downloading from the web

Depending on which web browser you're using, you may be wondering how to successfully download the goodies available on PocketInfo. Psion and Nokia Web users should have no problems whatsoever, as it notices that each file type you tap on isn't one it recognises and helpfully offers to save the file to your hard disk. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) you may also experience this helpful behaviour. If not, and the file requested starts to load in your main browser windows, go 'Back' and 'right-click' instead on the appropriate file link and choose 'Save as' from the pop-up menu. Macintosh users should 'click and hold' to get the same options.

Copying from the desktop to a Psion or Nokia communicator

If you're downloading Symbian-format files to a desktop machine, it only remains to copy the files across to your palmtop using PsiWin/PC Suite.

Note for Psion users: Make absolutely sure that you don't let PsiWin 'convert' them (PsiWin v1.x users can hold the Control key down during the drag-and-drop, PsiWin 2.x and PC Suite users (with your communicator showing in Windows Explorer) can drag using the right mouse button and choose 'Copy' from the pop-up menu).

Using each type of file

Nokia Communicator (9210/9300/9500) users

Although Symbian files don't need file extensions, we've used .sheet, .word, etc. for each one to help make things obvious (just rename the files if the extensions put you off!). Any of the files can be copied to any folder and should appear with the appropriate icon beside the file name. The Calendar files should usually be checked out and then merged into your personal Calendar so that all your dates are in the one place. eText files will usually have a file name ending in .TCR or .PDB/PRC (for compatibility with Series 3 and Palm OS software respectively) and should be opened in the EBook utility (this is now free, register it with code 15438888). Finally, Mobipocket files also usually end in .prc but contain compressed XML. Read them with the free version of Mobipocket Reader. WAV sound files can be used as-is and SmallBase databases can be viewed in SmallBase, obviously.

Psion Series 3 users

You'll already have noticed that the Series 3 files on offer on PocketInfo all have the familiar .AGN, .DBF, .SPR and .WRD etc. file extensions (i.e. the 3 characters after the 'point'). Just copy them into the appropriate directories (see the list below) on your 3a or 3c. They should then appear on your system screen under the Agenda, Data and Sheet (etc) icons respectively. The Agenda files should usually be checked out and then merged into your personal Agenda so that all your dates are in the one place.

• .AGN file - put in an \AGN\ directory
• .DBF file - put in a \DAT\ directory
• .SPR file - put in a \SPR\ directory
• .WRD file - put in a \WRD\ directory
• .WVE file - put in a \WVE\ directory
• .TCR file - put in a \TXT\ directory (you'll also need the free third party program eTxtRead) .PRC format eTexts cannot be read on a Series 3 at this time.
• .PIC file - put in a \PIC\ directory and use Draw or a similar utility to view it

Psion Revo and Series 5/5mx (and compatible) users

Although EPOC (Series 5/5mx and compatible) files don't need file extensions, we've used .S5 for each one to help make things obvious (apologies to Revo and other EPOC owners, the Series 5 was the 'classic' first EPOC palmtop ever made, just rename the files if the extensions put you off!). Any of the files can be copied to any folder and should appear with the appropriate icon beside the file name. The Agenda files should usually be checked out and then merged into your personal Agenda so that all your dates are in the one place. If you want to use sound files as alarms, put them in any \system\alarms folder. eText files will usually have a file name ending in .TCR or .PDB/PRC (for compatibility with Series 3 and Palm OS software respectively) and should be opened in the free EBook utility. Finally, Mobipocket files also usually end in .prc but contain compressed XML. Read them with the free version of Mobipocket Reader.

The Psion Revo is largely compatible with the files herein, although you'll almost certainly need to download and install the free Sketch application, otherwise some embedded objects won't work, displaying a "?" icon instead.

Symbian smartphone users (Sony Ericsson P800/P900/P910, Nokia Series 60 devices)

Content for P800 users is far more limited. etexts and Mobipocket documents can be read in the free Mobipocket Reader, of course. SymbianWare's EBook is another good application for these. WAV and MP3 audio samples can be played as-is in the built-in players, and the .3gpp and MP4 video clips should play on most devices. The P900's supplied Viewer application (you may need to install this from the P900 CD) can show the generic Excel and Word documents on PocketInfo, though with no editing or interactivity.

Other users

Where possible, we've tried to make all this useful information available in generic computer formats, so that non-Symbian owners can also get a look in.

• "Delimited" files are quite common, and are usually either comma or tab-delimited text files which can be imported into any database or spreadsheet program (such as Access or Excel), or else Rich Text Format or plain text which can be opened in a word processor such as Works, Word or WordPad.
  Palm OS users will find that applications such as HanDBase and WordSmith work very well for importing these files (depending on whether the item is essentially a database or a straight document).
• "dBase" files are usually in dBase III or dBase IV format, which every database application can read in.
• "Works" means Works for Windows v4, a popular PC Word/Data/Sheet format that can be read by most machines 'out of the box'.
• "WK1" files are old spreadsheets in Lotus 1-2-3 WK1 format, which can be opened in any mainstream spreadsheet program. Ditto, "Excel" format, which is fairly ubiquitous now.
• Access database files are obviously opened in Microsoft Access (if you have it), although it's a complex application and what you do with the information then will depend on your expertise etc.
• PDB databases are usually in HanDBase format and be installed directly onto any Palm OS handheld.
• .doc files with the "W" logo are saved in Word for Windows 6.0 format, which can be read by any modern word processor, including the free WordPad.
• eText files can usually be read on the Windows CE platform with a DOC Viewer or Reader
• "BMP" is a simple Windows bitmap graphic and can be viewed in Paintbrush, PaintShop Pro etc.
• .3GP and .MP4 movies can be viewed in most multimedia applications, especially QuickTime Player.
• Finally, Mobipocket files also usually end in .prc but contain compressed XML. Read them with the free version of Mobipocket Reader.