Re: [coldsync-hackers] file upload/download

["David A. Desrosiers" <hacker at gnu-designs dot com>]

> Palm OS has no files per se - it has databases (PDB) and programs (PRC) -
> so question is fundamentaly wrong.

	The proper terminology should be "Resource Databases" and "Record
Databases".

> Answer is quite clear - if we will have PDF reader on PDA, we should be
> able to view PDF file, and may be many of them.

	Palm-based PDF readers do not read "native" PDF files (well, not
officially). They go through a conversion process which makes them more
suited for viewing on smaller (screen and resource) devices. OS6 will have
native PDF viewers onboard, which will deprecate the use of tools like
Adobe's reader and Repligo (which, IMHO,is *MUCH* better than Adobe's reader
in quality and capabilities).

> Each PDF file should be a collection of  records in PDB.

	So now the question is, how do you convert the desktop PDF file to a
stream database that can be read by Adobe's reader, with non-Windows
conduits and tools?

> In practice our good friends at Adobe did this trick, of course. They are
> smart guys. http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readerforpalm.html

	...and more importantly, how can you do this in Linux/Unix, whilst
not pissing off Adobe to the point where they slap you with the DMCA for
reverse-engineering their "proprietary" document format to write a conduit
for Linux, without their consent?

	As you know, Adobe is well-versed in the use of the DMCA as a new
litigation platform for them to suit their own dirty deeds.

> So ColdSync can used for sure ...

	To do what? Transfer a .pdf file to the Palm? Then what? How do you
convert it and read it with Adobe's reader or Repligo? Coldsync can't do
this right now (and iirc, nothing else can in non-Windows environments).

d.

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