 hp48 Explorer Help Index

General Information

About hp48 Explorer

Registration

Version History

Known Bugs

How To...

Connect to the hp48

List the files on the hp48

Upload a file to the hp48

Download a file from the hp48

Commands

File menu

Edit menu

View menu

Help menu


File menu commands

The File menu offers the following commands:

New Directory	Creates a new document directory.
Upload	Uploads an existing file to the hp48.
Download	Downloads the selected file(s) and or directory(s) from the hp48.
Delete	Deletes the selected file(s) and or directory(s) from the hp48.
Rename	Renames the selected file or directory on the hp48.
Properties	Displays properties for the selected item.
Exit	Exits hp48 Explorer.


Edit menu commands

The Edit menu offers the following commands:

Undo	Reverse previous editing operation.
Cut	Deletes data from the document and moves it to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies data from the document to the clipboard.
Paste	Pastes data from the clipboard into the document.
Options	Displays a dialog to set application properties.


View menu commands

The View menu offers the following commands:

Toolbar	Shows or hides the toolbar.
Status Bar	Shows or hides the status bar.
Large Icons	Displays the files with large icons.
Small Icons	Displays the files with small icons.
List	Displays the files in a list.
Details	Display all file details.
Refresh	Refresh the contents of the current directory.
Arrange Icons	Arrange the icons in the file view.


Help menu commands

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application:

Help Topics	Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help.
About	Displays the version number of this application.


File New command
New Directory command (File menu)

Use this command to create a new directory on the hp48.  A new directory entry will be added to the current directory in the window and the name will be selected and editable. The actual directory on the hp48 is created after the directory has been named.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+N


File Open command
Upload command (File menu)

Use this command to upload files to the hp48. Multiple files may be selected, and will be uploaded to the hp48 in the order in which they are listed in the dialog box.

The selected file(s) will be uploaded to the currently selected directory in the directory view.

The uploaded file type is not known until the hp48 Explorer is restarted, or until the directory is refreshed with the Refresh command.

The name of the uploaded object is the same as the name of the file without the file extension. For example if the file “object.txt” s uploaded to the hp48, the object name on the hp48 will be “object”.

You can also upload a file by using the Upload icon on the explorer window, as shown below:


File Open command
Download command (File menu)

Use this command to download the currently selected file(s) and or directory(s) in the file view.

The selected items will be downloaded to the current download directory as specified in the Program Options.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+S


File Open command
Delete command (File menu)

Use this command to delete the currently selected file(s) and/or directory(s) in the file view.


File Open command
Rename command (File menu)

Use this command to rename the selected file or directory. This command is only available when one item is selected. When selected the item name will become editable and the name can be entered. Pressing Enter, or selecting another file will cause the commands to be sent to the hp48.

The task of renaming a file or directory results in a copy of that item being copied to the stack before it can be saved to the new variable. Because of this, enough free memory must exist in order to make the copy. If not enough memory exists the rename operation will fail.


Properties command (File menu)

Use this command to display properties about the selected file or directory.


Exit command (File menu)

Use this command to end your hp48 Explorer session.  You can also use the Close command on the application Control menu.  hp48 Explorer prompts you to save documents with unsaved changes.

Shortcuts

Mouse:	Double-click the application's Control menu button.

Keys:	ALT+F4


Undo/Can't Undo command (Edit menu)

<< Your application's user interface for Undo may differ from the one described below.  Modify this help text accordingly. >>

Use this command to reverse the last editing action, if possible.   The name of the command changes, depending on what the last action was.  The Undo command changes to Can't Undo on the menu if you cannot reverse your last action.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+Z or

ALT-BACKSPACE


Redo command (Edit menu)

<< Write application-specific help here. >>


Cut command (Edit menu)

Use this command to remove the currently selected data from the document and put it on the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Cutting data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+X


Copy command (Edit menu)

Use this command to copy selected data onto the clipboard.  This command is unavailable if there is no data currently selected.

Copying data to the clipboard replaces the contents previously stored there.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+C


Paste command (Edit menu)

Use this command to insert a copy of the clipboard contents at the insertion point.  This command is unavailable if the clipboard is empty.

Shortcuts

Toolbar:

Keys:	CTRL+V


Options command (Edit menu)

Use this command to set program options. This dialog has two pages, one for setting the file extensions for downloading objects, and the other for miscellaneous program settings.


File Extension Options

This page allows the setting of object file extensions.

Use this to customize the file extensions that will be added to your downloaded objects.


Miscellaneous Options

This page allows the setting of miscellaneous program options.

At the moment it is used to set the download directory. This is the directory where downloaded files will be put.


View Toolbar command
Toolbar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common commands in hp48 Explorer, such as File Open.  A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar is displayed.

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar.


Toolbar

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar.  The toolbar provides quick mouse access to many tools used in hp48 Explorer,

To hide or display the Toolbar, choose Toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T).

Click	To

Open a new document.

Remove selected data from the document and stores it on the clipboard.

Copy the selection to the clipboard.

Insert the contents of the clipboard at the insertion point.

Delete the selected file(s) and/or directory(s).

Display properties for the selected file or directory.

Upload file(s) and/or directory(s) to the hp48.

Download the selected file(s) and/or directorie(s) from the hp48.

Display files using large icons.

Display files using small icons.

Display files in a list.

Display all file details.


View Status Bar Command
Status Bar command (View menu)

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the selected menu item or depressed toolbar button. Additionally the status bar displays information about the selected files and directories.

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar.


Status Bar

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the hp48 Explorer window.  To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through menus.  This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, before releasing them.  If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button.

When a menu item is not selected, the left area of the status bar will display information about the selected directory in the directory view.

The middle area of the status bar will display information about the selected file(s) and/or directory(s) in the file view. If no item is selected then the status of the hp48 memory is displayed.

The right area of the status bar indicates the status of the current communications operation. If operation is in progress then the word “Idle” is displayed.


Large Icons command (View menu)

Use this command to display the items in the file view using large icons.


Small Icons command (View menu)

Use this command to display the items in the file view using small icons.


List command (View menu)

Use this command to display the items in the file view in a list.


Details command (View menu)

Use this command to display the items in the file view showing file details.


Refresh command (View menu)

Use this command to refresh the files in the file view. hp48 Explorer will do a listing on the hp48 for the current directory and re-display the contents of the file view.


Arrange Icons command (View menu)

Use this command to arrange the icons in the file view.


Index command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help.  From the opening screen, you can jump to step-by-step instructions for using hp48 Explorer and various types of reference information.

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen.


Using Help command (Help menu)

Use this command for instructions about using Help.


About command (Help menu)

Use this command to display the copyright notice and version number of your copy of hp48 Explorer.


Help Using Help Command
Context Help command

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of hp48 Explorer.  When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and question mark.  Then click somewhere in the hp48 Explorer window, such as another Toolbar button.  The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+F1


Title Bar

<< Show your application's title bar here. >>

The title bar is located along the top of a window.  It contains the name of the application and document.

To move the window, drag the title bar.  Note: You can also move dialog boxes by dragging their title bars.

A title bar may contain the following elements:

Application Control-menu button

Document Control-menu button

Maximize button

Minimize button

Name of the application

Name of the document

Restore button


Scroll bars

Displayed at the right and bottom edges of the document window.  The scroll boxes inside the scroll bars indicate your vertical and horizontal location in the document.  You can use the mouse to scroll to other parts of the document.

<< Describe the actions of the various parts of the scrollbar, according to how they behave in your application. >>


Size command (System menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can size the active window with the arrow keys.

After the pointer changes to the four-headed arrow:

1.	Press one of the DIRECTION keys (left, right, up, or down arrow key) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2.	Press a DIRECTION key to move the border.

3.	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Drag the size bars at the corners or edges of the window.


Move command (Control menu)

Use this command to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F7


System Minimize Command
Minimize command (application Control menu)

Use this command to reduce the hp48 Explorer window to an icon.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the minimize icon [image] on the title bar.

Keys:	ALT+F9


Maximize command (System menu)

Use this command to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.

Shortcut

Mouse:	Click the maximize icon [image] on the title bar; or double-click the title bar.

Keys:	CTRL+F10 enlarges a document window.


Next Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the next open document window.  hp48 Explorer determines which window is next according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+F6


Previous Window command (document Control menu)

Use this command to switch to the previous open document window.  hp48 Explorer determines which window is previous according to the order in which you opened the windows.

Shortcut

Keys:	SHIFT+CTRL+F6


Switch to command (application Control menu)

Use this command to display a list of all open applications.  Use this "Task List" to switch to or close an application on the list.

Shortcut

Keys:	CTRL+ESC

Dialog Box Options

When you choose the Switch To command, you will be presented with a dialog box with the following options:

Task List

Select the application you want to switch to or close.

Switch To

Makes the selected application active.

End Task

Closes the selected application.

Cancel

Closes the Task List box.

Cascade

Arranges open applications so they overlap and you can see each title bar.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Tile

Arranges open applications into windows that do not overlap.  This option does not affect applications reduced to icons.

Arrange Icons

Arranges the icons of all minimized applications across the bottom of the screen.


Version History

Version 1.0 - 12 Jan 97

•	First Release


About hp48 Explorer

hp48 Explorer is a program for listing the contents of, and transferring file to and from the Hewlett Packard hp48s(x) and hp48g(x) calculators. The interface was designed to mimic the Explorer application which is part of the Windows 95 operating system. If you are familiar with it, then you should be able to figure out the hp48 Explorer.

This program was written by me, Chris Mumford. I am interested in your suggestions, comments, and yes bug reports. Please email them to cmumford@airmail.net.

I make no warranty for hp48 Explorer of any kind. Use this program at your own risk. Although I have made every effort to eliminate bugs, I’m not perfect. Until you are comfortable with this program I recommend making backups of your calculators to avoid losing any critical data.

You are free to download and evaluate hp48 Explorer for a period of 30 days, after which I ask that you register the program, or remove it from your system.

I would also like to thank the beta testers who provided invaluable feedback on necessary features and bugs. They are:

• Pat Weitzel (CMAGOLDC@aol.com)

• Bret W. Hull (BWHull@pacbell.net)

• Emiliano Ariel Lesende (interset@impsat1.com.ar)


hp48 Explorer Registration

hp48 Explorer is shareware. It costs $5 US. It is not keyed, and does not expire. It is completely up to you to pay the $5 shareware fee. Your payment of $5 gives you the right to use the current version of hp48 Explorer, and all future releases.

Please send your payments to:

Chris Mumford

8744 Westfield Dr.

Dallas, TX 75243

cmumford@airmail.net

Please enclose your email address if you wish to be informed of future releases.

I hope that you enjoy hp48 Explorer and find it a useful program.


Listing Files on the hp48

After initial connection hp48 Explorer will automatically display the contents of the current directory on the hp48. It will look something like this:

Note that a yellow directory icon [image] indicates a directory which has been listed, while a gray directory icon [image] indicates a directory that has not been listed.

A directory can be listed by pressing the mouse on it, or by using the up and down keyboard arrows to navigate the directory view to the desired directory. Note that listing a directory can be a time consuming operation (approx. 6 seconds).


Connect to the hp48

When hp48 Explorer is first started it will prompt you to put your hp48 in server mode. This, of course, assumes that you have your hp48 connected to your computer via a compatible serial cable. You must also select the appropriate serial port.

The serial port that was used last when running hp48 Explorer will be selected by default.

After dismissing the first dialog a second will appear allowing you to choose the communication settings to talk to your hp48. Here are the settings that I used in developing this program:

Theoretically any settings that match those of your hp48 will work, but my testing has been limited to those above.

After dismissing this dialog the hp48 Explorer will automatically list the current directory on the hp48, and determine it’s location.


Uploading a file to the hp48

There are two ways to upload a file to the hp48. After Connecting to the hp48 you may:

•	Use the upload command to choose the file(s) to upload.

•	Drag a file or files to the hp48 Explorer file or directory view.

If the upload command is used, the selected items will be uploaded to the currently selected directory in hp48 Explorer. The current directory is the one which is highlighted in the directory view.

All file suffixes will be removed from file names during upload. For example a library named "mylib.lib" will appear on the hp48 as mylib.

More than one file or directory may be selected for upload. If more than one item selected for uploading, they will be uploaded in the order that they were selected.

Furthermore a mixture of files and directories can be uploaded, and hp48 Explorer will do the right thing.

Note: It is hard to determine by examining a file, what type of object it is. The current version of hp48 Explorer doesn’t attempt to guess the object type, and considers it unknown after uploading. Furthermore the size that an object takes up on the hp48 is always different than the size that it consumed on disk. Hp48 Explorer attempts to guess the object size, but this is only approximate.

When uploading an item, a progress dialog will be displayed.

Due to the reasons indicated above in the note, the progress is only approximate, but it is usually pretty good. Pressing the cancel button will terminate the current upload. After canceling the current upload you should either interrupt the hp48 kermit server, or restart it.


Downloading a file from the hp48

To download a file from the hp48 connect to the hp48 and display the directory containing the file(s) and or directories that you want to download to the PC. Select the items you want to download. They can be a mixture of files and directories. Choose the Download command from the file menu. The download will begin, and the status window will display the word “Idle” when the download is complete.

Downloaded items are always put in the current download directory as specified in the Options dialog.

While the download is taking place you can continue to do things with hp48 Explorer as long as those things do not require communication with the hp48. These things might be displaying the contents of a directory which has already been listed.

When downloading an item, a progress dialog will be displayed.

The progress meter is only approximate, but it is usually pretty good. Pressing the cancel button will terminate the current download. After canceling the current download you should either interrupt the hp48 kermit server, or restart it.


Known Bugs

Known Bugs

Special characters in the file name are not properly converted. They usually come up as invisible characters both as a file name and in the contents of the file.

When copying a directory that contains files to the hp48, and the directory is successfully created, and an error takes place when copying one of the files in the directory, the entire directory will not be displayed in the Explorer. The workaround is to refresh the parent directory.

Some hp48 file types are currently not recognized. These include:

•	Local names

•	Tagged objects

•	XLIB’s

•	Backup objects

•	Built-in functions

•	Built-in commands

These file types should be displayed as unknown types, but might cause an error.

Features not yet Implemented

Drag and drop has not been fully implemented. Files can be dragged into the file or directory views. Nothing can yet be dragged out of any view. To download a file or directory select the item(s) and press the download button. Dragging is also not yet supported between views. Icons can be dragged within the same view, but the dragging does nothing.

All uploads and downloads are hard coded to text mode. Binary is not supported.

The browse button in the miscellaneous page of the options dialog does not bring up a directory selection dialog.

New Directory has not been implemented.

There is no installer to install and remove the application from a system.

The progress bar is only an approximate indicator of upload/download progress.

There is no Download To. . . menu item.

Future Features (Possibly)

Convert graphic objects (GROB’s) to Windows bitmap files (*.bmp) when downloading, and also to convert from .bmp to GROB’s when uploading.

Support backing up, and restoring of entire memory of the hp48.


No Help Available

No help is available for this area of the window.


No Help Available

No help is available for this message box.

<< If you wish to author help specific to each message box prompt, then remove the AFX_HIDP_xxx values from the [ALIAS] section of your .HPJ file, and author a topic for each AFX_HIDP_xxx value.  For example, AFX_HIDP_INVALID_FILENAME is the help topic for the Invalid Filename message box. >>