Recording Palm OS Applications

If you should ever need to record a Palm OS application, it’s actually pretty straightforward to do so. All the software you ever need (other than the application you’re recording) comes directly from ACCESS (formerly PalmSource). You have a choice between two applications:

• The Palm OS Emulator (POSE). This application takes the ROM image from a Palm device and emulates the Palm environment on your Windows desktop. There are even skins to make your desktop “Palm” look like an actual Palm device, rather than just a Palm environment in a window. However, this emulator is only for emulating older versions of the Palm OS (v 4.x and lower). For newer versions of the operating system and the applications that support it, you need…

• The Palm OS Simulator (POSS). This is the Palm operating system compiled natively for Intel machines. It doesn’t just emulate the Palm OS like the POSE does - it is the Palm OS. Different OS versions are available for download.

Both of these environments include the native PIM (personal information management) applications like Datebook, Address, etc. If you want to record a specific third-party Palm application, you can install it just as you would on a regular Palm.

So how do we get these useful tools? Unfortunately, Palm doesn’t just give them away without asking for some information in return. They make you join the ACCESS Developer Network. Don’t worry, you don’t have to have a computer science degree or work for a software company to join, and it’s completely cost-free. Simply go to the web page

http://www.access-company.com/developers/

to read up a bit on the program, and when you’re ready, click the Join AND Today link to join. It’s nothing too serious, just some basic web form information and a few screens of legalese. Once you’re all legal, you can go to the following link to access all Palm-related content, including the download of Palm OS developer tools:

http://www.developerpavilion.com/palmos

The Palm OS Emulator has some corollary files that are necessary in order for it to work, such as:

• ROM images. These are the “guts” of the OS. An appropriate ROM file can be imported from any older Palm device you happen to have handy. ACCESS also offers a couple of older basic ones for download.

• Skins. These are used to present the image of an actual handheld on the screen, making your recordings a tad more realistic. Unlike a valid ROM image, it is not necessary to install skins in order to run the emulator.

Here’s the process for recording a Palm application with Camtasia Recorder:

1. Launch POSE or POSS. If starting the application for the first time, you may need to specify the ROM image as well as go through the operating system’s introductory screens (time zone settings, etc.).

2. If recording an application other than the built-in PIM applications, you’ll need to install it first. To do so, right-click anywhere on the Palm’s window and then choose Install > Database…. Select any needed PRC (application) and accompanying PDB (data) files, and then click Open.

   

   Let’s go ahead and install some programs onto our virtual Palm device.

3. Launch your application, and then open Camtasia Recorder.

4. If desired, you can change the default mouse cursor to simulate a stylus. In the Camtasia Recorder, open the Effects menu and choose Options…. From the Cursor menu, click the Cursor Setup… button. Choose Use cursor from file, and then click the Open button.

   

   Of the many cursors available, there are several that look like PDA styli. Select one and then click Open. Click OK twice.

5. Choose either Window or Region as your capture input. (Region capture works best if you’re capturing a skinned interface and you want to include it in your capture.)

6. Start recording, and then work as you normally would. End and save the capture per usual.

These applications work extremely well. I’ve recorded countless Palm applications in the past; they’re a snap to make, and they always look great.