HotPaw(tm) PrefViewer - README and quick reference

You can find the PrefViewer application, and information about
PrefViewer and other HotPaw applications, including SingleHander
and cbasPad Pro Basic interpreter, on the HotPaw web site at:

  <http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/hotpaw/>  
  
PrefViewer allows you to see how much memory each application is
using in your Saved Preferences and Unsaved Preferences databases.

Each preference resource has an index number, a 4 character
creator identifier (sometimes called a "signature"), and a size in
bytes listed.  Use the scroll buttons (or the "Next" button) to
step through the list of all preference resources.

If the 4 character creator ID matches that of an application,
Prefs control panel, or HackMaster add-in, the title of that
matching software is listed.  Some preferences belong to the
built-in PalmOS operating system itself.  All creator ID's with
all 4 lower case letter are reserved for the PalmOS and Palm
applications (however some 3rd party applications use
unregistered, illegal or simply incorrect creator ID's.)

The approved method of deleting unwanted preferences is to use the
"Delete..." menu selection in the built-in Palm Launcher
application to delete an application (or document) with *exactly*
the same creator ID as the preference you wish to remove.   The
PalmOS then deletes the application, and, to clean up after the
application, also deletes all data files and preferences with the
same creator ID as the application being deleted.  The creator ID
is stored in bytes 64 through 67 (0x40-0x43) of an applications
prc files; bytes 60 through 63 (0x3c-0x3f) contain the database
type (for an application it's the characters 'appl'; for a DOC
database, it's 'TEXt').  Since the Palm supplied Launcher can
delete any preference, this feature will NOT be added to
PrefViewer.

One should check the creator ID of all suspect applications before
installing them.  Installing two different applications with
the same creator ID can cause severe crashes and database
corruption.  3Com/Palm has a www registry to ensure all competent
developers use a unique creator ID for each unique application.
You can search this creator ID database on the web here:
  <http://www.palmos.com/dev/tech/palmos/creatorid/ >  

Always have good backups (HotSync or Penguin-Backup) of the
contents of your Palm handheld before playing with deleting
applications or preferences.  Multiple copies and off-line copies
of your backups are a very good practice.

--

Release notes:

1.0.6 	2000-01-31
	- added 'Back' button.
	- now recognizes 'DAcc' desk accessory prefs.
1.0.4 	1999-10-16
	- added hex view of ID for invisible creators.
	- added display of total count of prefs.
1.0.2 	1999-10-11
	- added menu option to view hex dump of each
	preference resource.
1.0.0 	1999-10-09
	- initial release.

--

PrefViewer is Copyright 2000,1999 by Ronald H. Nicholson, Jr.
All rights reserved.
  
DISTRIBUTION
  
  PrefViewer is free for non-commercial and educational use and
  distribution, and for all internet and on-line distribution.

WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER

  This Software is distributed in the hope that it might be useful,
  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND; not even the implied
  warranties of MERCHANTABILITY, fitness for ANY particular
  purpose, or for non-infringement.
  
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNDER NO LEGAL THEORY, TORT, CONTRACT,
  OR OTHERWISE, SHALL RONALD NICHOLSON, HOTPAW OR ITS SUPPLIERS OR
  RESELLERS BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR ANY INDIRECT,
  SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY CHARACTER
  INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF GOODWILL, WORK
  STOPPAGE, COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, OR ANY AND ALL OTHER
  COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES. IN NO EVENT WILL HOTPAW BE LIABLE
  FOR ANY DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT HOTPAW RECEIVED FROM YOU
  FOR A LICENSE TO THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF RONALD NICHOLSON OR HOTPAW
  SHALL HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, OR
  FOR ANY CLAIM BY ANY OTHER PARTY. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
  SHALL NOT APPLY TO LIABILITY FOR DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO THE
  EXTENT APPLICABLE LAW PROHIBITS SUCH LIMITATION. FURTHERMORE, SOME
  JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF
  INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THIS LIMITATION AND
  EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

--  
HotPaw and PrefViewer are Trademarks of the HotPaw company.
2000-01-31  rhn@nicholson.com   
--