This program works around two bugs in Atelier's current version (1.1.4) of its MacConnect backup software for Psion's Series 5, 5mx, and other EPOC PDAs. These bugs got on my nerves quite a lot, and since apparently neither Atelier nor Psion can be bothered to fix them, I wrote this software. I hope you find it as useful as I do.
MacConnector is mainly aimed at Macintosh-based Psion users, but others may also find this tool useful, as it creates a textual listing of all files and directories of an entire drive on an EPOC machine (see below).
First, MacConnect generally loses correct capitalization of file and folder names when restoring from a backup. Restored files and folders (in fact, any file copied from the Mac to the Psion using MacConnect) will always have the first letter of their name in capitals, and the rest in lower case, no matter what the capitalization was before.
So, for example, "LetterToDad" becomes "Lettertodad".
Mostly, this is only a cosmetic problem. Some software, though, actually depends on exact capitalization of file and folder names. One such example is the Java compiler for the 5mx.
MacConnector fixes this bug by creating a "names database" of the correct file names when you run it right before your backup. When you run it again after restoring from your backup, it uses this names database to rename the wrongly capitalized file names back to their correct form.
This is especially useful if you have to completely erase and later restore your machine (for example, because it has to go back to Psion for repair). But you should run MacConnector before every backup you do, so you always have an up-to-date names database.
Second, and more seriously, MacConnect will abort any backup, restore, or copying of files/folders to or from the Psion if any of the file or folder names contains special characters such as a German "Umlaut", or even just the British Pound currency sign! This has been confirmed for German 5mx Pro machines, but may also affect other models.
I have hunted down file and folder names with funny characters on my Psion by hand myself several times, and I can tell you it's not a lot of fun.
MacConnector helps you with this bug by warning you about any file or folder names containing such special characters (above ASCII code 127) when you run its Option (1) to create the names database before your backup.
The current version is available here as an 8KB StuffIt archive.
Run MacConnector and select Option (1) before each backup. After each restore, run it again and select Option (2). This corrects file name capitalization, and warns you of file names that would break MacConnect. Please register at Kagi.
This program is shareware. You may try it out for 30 days. Afterwards, if you continue to use it, you must register it at Kagi <http://order.kagi.com/?XPW>.
The price for registration is US$ 8.
Registering will not only make you feel better, it will also remove the shareware reminder and delays from the program, and will expand its functionality to also fix file and folder names on the 'D' drive (flash card). Updates will be free to registered users.
Use this software at your own risk. I do not take any liability for data loss, machine damage, warp core breaches, or any other problems in connection with using this software. (It works for me, though!)
Unzip MacConnector10.zip, and put the resulting files anywhere you like. I recommend putting them into \System\Apps\MacConnector\, although the program will not appear on the Extras bar. You start MacConnector simply by double-tapping the program file, "MacConnector.opo".
Run MacConnector immediately before your backup. Select Option (1) to save the entire directory of file names on drive C (and D if you registered MacConnector). It will create the name database "C:\Dirtree". To show you what is going on, the directories are listed on-screen as they are scanned, with a dot for each file in that directory. When it finishes with "(Done)", press any key to exit MacConnector.
If any file or folder names contain characters that might break MacConnect's backup, you will be warned about them. Make a note of them, and continue MacConnector until it finishes. Then rename the offending files or folders to remove the special characters, and run MacConnector again with Option (1). This time, no more warnings should appear.
Immediately after restoring your backup, close all applications. Run MacConnector again and select Option (2) to automagically correct the capitalization of all files and folders. Files that could not be renamed because they are open are reported. Close them and run Option (2) again. (The only obvious exception will be MacConnector.opo itself. You can fix its capitalization manually after ending the program).
If you only restored an individual file, your machine's directory contents will probably have changed a little since your last backup. In this case, you can still run MacConnector's Option (2), and it will correct capitalization of all files and folders that are still in the same place as at the last backup. Nothing bad happens if a file has been moved; it is simply left as it is.
As a bonus, however, Option (1) also creates a readable text file "C:\Dirtree.txt" with the complete directory structure of your drive(s). You can open this with Web, import it into Word, or open it on your Mac to see the correct capitalization of all file and folder names, for example to fix the name of an individual file that has been moved to a different directory.
You can remove the files "C:\Dirtree" and "C:\Dirtree.txt" after running Option (2), or leave them where they are. They will be replaced by fresh versions the next time you run Option (1).
To see how MacConnector works, create a Word file somewhere on the C drive with a mixed-caps file name such as "LetterToDad". Run MacConnector with Option (1), then change the capitalization of the file to "Lettertodad". This is what a MacConnect restore would do to the file name. Now, run MacConnector again with Option (2). The correct capitalization will be restored.
Now, change the file name to contain a special character, e.g., a Pound sign or an 'a umlaut' (you can use the special characters table, invoked on english machines via Ctrl-Shift-C). Run MacConnector's Option (1) again, and it will warn you about this file name.
'C:\Dirtree.txt' contains a complete text listing of your directories and files.
Selecting Option (1) deletes any existing file "C:\Dirtree" and "C:\Dirtree.txt"! So make sure you do not have any important own files under these names at this location.
Check this MacConnector home page (see URL above) for new versions and up-to-date information. If you have further questions or comments, just send me an email (address see above).
Think Different! :-)
First public release, after several months of personal use.
If you want to connect your Psion to the Internet via your Apple Macintosh, check out my Psionara page!
Jan Borchers <borchers@stanford.edu> • Last modified Dec 6, 2002