On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 23:37:05 +0100, "Dott. Ing. Andrea NOTARI"
<anotari.RemoveThis@libero.it> wrote:
>Hi everyone,
>personally I am not a programmer, nevertheless I'd like to post the
>following questions:
>
>1) AnexTek SP-230 produced by AnexTek Global Inc. features 64MB SDRAM and
>64MB Flash Ram. This pocket PC utilizes Windows Mobile 2003 as OS. I wonder
>how much space in flash the OS takes to get installed;
>
>2) for a spare time project, I wish someone can help me implementing a
>database to manage a huge inventory of items (a sort of domestic store),
>hence I am looking for a DB development tool that perfectly matches with Win
>Mobile 2003. Any suggestion?
Several companies make and sell inventory programs. We make and sell a
program that is primarily aimed at inspections, but can definitely be
used for inventories. Buying is often less expensive than writing your
own; depends on your skill and the value of your time. If you are
really going to be the only user, than you won't need to worry quite
so much about all the problems that crop up when dealing with real
users, and thus could get away with less programming time.
If you really want to write your own program, I recommend using google
(http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search) to look up
newbie
in microsoft.public.pocketpc.developer. You will see many messages
from me with similar advice. You will also see many messages with real
advice for beginners.
>
>3) in case the pocket pc battery expires, I expect not to loose the item
>inventory, neither partly nor entirely. So I would desire to map it into
>Flash as well as the OS does. But is it doable, or just the OS is supposed
>to take place in the Flash?
Others have partly answered this set of questions, but I'll add a bit.
The OS is stored in ROM; some of it gets copied to RAM as needed when
running. ROM retains everything even after a cold boot and/or complete
batter drain. Files stored in ROM can be changed only by special
procedures.
On many/most Windows CE/Pocket PC/Windows Mobile devices, all
installed programs, program data, and the registry are in RAM. RAM
loses everything during a cold boot and/or complete battery drain.
Some devices have some persistent memory that is not quite ROM or RAM.
It retains its info even after a cold boot and/or complete battery
drain. It _may_ (depending on the device) be easily changed using
"normal" procedures. For Pocket PC 2003 it is probably in a folder
called IPSM (Intel Persistent Memory Storage), but that folder name
will be changed to Storage. The industrial devices I've seen with
persistent memory use it to store semi-specialized installation stuff,
so important programs get reinstalled after a cold boot and/or
complete loss of battery. One device I've seen seems to store the
registry in persistent memory. This memory is likely to be too small
for full programs and data.
At least one of my customers tried running our program off a CF Card,
but that was very slow. Running the program, per se, wasn't too bad
(it is loaded only once), but data access was. CF Cards have gotten
faster, but are probably still slower than main memory.
I've pretty much just finished a backup/restore utility for our
program. It can be used to copy data to some persistent storage
(perhaps a CF or SD card), and can be set up to automatically restore
the program _and_ data after a cold boot and/or battery loss. I don't
bother with the registry, but my program's installation restores
everything my program uses in the registry. This won't completely
prevent data loss, but seems like a good compromise.
>
>Thanks in advance for you time and replies.
>
>ANdrea
>
-----------------------------------------
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Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
500 Harrison Ave., Suite 3R
Boston, MA 02118
www.penfact.com
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