GNOME PilotSync applet 0.3.0pre (PRERELEASE VERSION)
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Applet for the 3Com Pilot devices.

This is a mixture of the fish_applet and pilot-xfer. Its purpose is to
be able to sync the pilot simply by pressing the sync button on the cradle.

Version 0.1.0 was put together quite fast while studying for exams,
and wasn't that usefull. Version 0.2.0 has more features, but we can
still argue about the interface.

The sync icons were "borrowed" from KPilot, the KDE pilot package.

The webpage for the thingie is http://www.dbc.dk/~deity/pilot_applet.html

I'd like to avoid too many "neat features" that people wouldn't use
anyway, eg. removal of files to install, since it'll only increase the
applet size and isn't that usefull.

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"Manualwritteninfiveminutes" :

See the INSTALL file for installation. When thats done, you should be
able to launch the applet from the panel menu (panel->add applet->
utility->PilotSync). 

First time you start it, it might say that it can't open the pilot
device. Right-click on the panel icon, choose properties and the
everything to your liking. 

The option "display cryptic messages" will turn on some logging to
/dev/console, but first the next time you start the applet.

To restore the files from the backdir, select "Restore" in the menu
and press the sync button. The abort, select "Abort restore" (no
shit!).

To use other programs that communicate with the pilot, select
"Pause". The tooltip now changes to indicate the applet isn't
monitoring the device anymore. Select "Resume" to resume monitoring.

REMEMBER: If you choose "Remove from panel", you loose the properties.
(void in version 0.3.0pre)

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Features of version 0.3.0pre :
  o launch a program on right click, by default gpilot-fileman,
    the applet pauses listening for the pilot until the child
    terminates
  o now stores configuration i ~/.gnome/gnome-pilot instead of
    within the panel cfg file, thus the cfg is no longer lost
    when the applet is removed

Features of version 0.2.0 :
  o Can restore the pilot (pilot-xfer -r)
  o Installs files, files installed by dragging them onto the panel icon
    (pilot-xfer -i). Multiple files can be dragged.
  o Can stop listening so other programs can talk with the pilot
  o Writes status messages to /dev/console, can be switched off
  o Supports file exclusion

Features of version 0.1.0 :
  o Currently acts as a pilot-xfer -u
  o Configurable comm port
  o Configurable destination dir

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Upcoming:
  o Install feature, so the applet can also be used for installing apps.
  o A "don't listen"  feature, so you can used pilot-xfer without quitting
    the applet.
  o Autorun programs after completed sync (to convert db's to local
    file format), a conduit system.
  o Use a child program (modified pilot-xfer) to handle pilot
    communications. This should decrease the memory requirements of 
    the appelt when idle.
  o Selectable icon for to satisfy peoples various tastes, for now, 
    modify the icon and recompile, a milestone in userfriendliness.
  o Instead of writing to /dev/console, maybe popup a small window
    with the status messages

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Todo:
  o Improve error handling when eg. the device is unavailble.

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Futuristic:
  o A more complete desktop suite, eg. import datebook to GnomeCal etc.

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Things:
  o during sync, the applet won't respond to mouseclicks. When the
    applets uses a child process for pilot communications, this 
    won't be the case.

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Eskil Olsen, June 1998
