Request: Added functionality of CE-plugin

AlleyKat · Post by *AlleyKat » 2003-06-18, 23:20 UTC

The WinCE Device plug in is very cool! As I'm still testing out a range of stuff on my device, I use it quite a lot - and I only found it a week ago...

But I've got a request for added functionality - namely that of assigning it a 'virtual driveletter' just like for ordinary FTP connections.

I'm no big user of the forward/back-buttons, so when I leave the device to work in another directory, I often find myself browsing back thru Network -> WinCE Device -> (all the way to whatever folder I was in) or using the shortcut menu to the nearest folder (I have shortcuts to the root of the device, My Docs folder and SD-card root).

I hope this isn't too much trouble

I'm just not sure it's a good idea that I begin fumbling around with the source myself

piranha · Post by *piranha » 2003-06-19, 01:00 UTC

That was discussed earlier and Christian said it's not really task of TC.
From me, I would love to have space available information, when using this addon.
When I go to main I want to see main memory space available, going to Storage Card - it would be nice to see it's own space, Storage Card2 - would show separate space used/available.

AlleyKat · Post by *AlleyKat » 2003-06-22, 00:44 UTC

I'm sorry to hear that, I think it's an extremely important plugin. The standard PocketPC file interface su.. ... as it is Explorer. And I think the change is pretty small in the plugin - it already utilizes the FTP interface; actually I wonder why it ISN'T assigned a ( 0: - 9: ) drive letter. Oh well. I've never programmed anything in C, but this is important enough to look into... Who dares wins and all that.

And yes, I also agree on the free space issue - that's as important as anything on a PocketPC. All the press hype about a 'waning PDA market' is BS - they're becoming increasingly popular. Well, let's see from monday and a few weeks ahead how it goes...

Ghisler >> If you're still looking for the unlocking method for Orange SPV SmartPhone take a peek HERE - seems it is freely available at Orange, actually.

I guess you already run the PPC2003 SDK so people buying new devices from monday can enjoy PocketTC?

AlleyKat · Post by *AlleyKat » 2003-07-01, 20:15 UTC

Am I right to think that there's no method for assigning a 'virtual device' in the File System plugin sdk? I had a friend take a look at the example plugin - he couldn't find it. I'm not sure how good he is, however...
I'm very slowly progressing in learning a bit of C

it mostly reminds me of a mad mix of ASM and Basic.

piranha · Post by *piranha » 2003-07-02, 05:02 UTC

AlleyKat wrote:Am I right to think that there's no method for assigning a 'virtual device' in the File System plugin sdk?

AFAIK no, the way you want it.
Christian says (and I agree) that assigning a 'virtual device' is a task for operating system or specialised software that uses device drivers.
It's pretty low level programming, and I'm not surprised that TC is not going to include it.

AlleyKat · Post by *AlleyKat » 2003-07-02, 14:53 UTC

piranha wrote:(...)
AFAIK no, the way you want it.
Christian says (and I agree) that assigning a 'virtual device' is a task for operating system or specialised software that uses device drivers.
It's pretty low level programming, and I'm not surprised that TC is not going to include it.

I must be unusually stupid or something... TC already does this for FTP-connections?

Well thanks for the answer anyway, on the other hand... anyone know of programs that does this already, connecting to pocketpc? My only alternatives so far are Explorer and the explorer lookalike built into Pocket Controller Pro. And both suffers the problem that they won't transfer to the SD-card directly; it has to go over the pocketpc RAM and freezes up (or just drops the transfer) when memory is full. That's why I'm so darn keen on getting it to work.

Post by *ghisler(Author) » 2003-07-03, 12:21 UTC

I must be unusually stupid or something... TC already does this for FTP-connections?

No it doesn't - the numerical 'drives' used for FTP are not visible outside of Total Commander.

The main reason why I put the file system plugins in nethood is that I didn't want to have one 'connect' dialog for each plugin. With most plugins this would be overkill. You can still add a button to the buttonbar which goes directly to a plugin. The syntax to use is
cd \\\pluginname

Note the THREE backslashes.

AlleyKat · Post by *AlleyKat » 2003-07-03, 20:34 UTC

It's exactly what I'm looking for - I think the problem it that I'm not making myself clear. What I'd like was for it to work exactly like the FTP in TC does; that's what I keep calling a 'virtual drive'. It's only a 'virtual drive' inside TC.

Example: I'm transfering a bunch of files to the pocketpc in TC, then notices that some of the files are RAR'ed. PocketTC can handle zips, no problem, but RAR is better done on the desktopmachine. So, pressing Alt-F1/F2 I change from the pocketpc to a local folder, unpack... and have to go for the mouse again to get back to the PocketPC, and browse to whatever directory I was working on, or go to network neighborhood, to the CE-plugin, and browse the entire way in through the root folder again. With FTP, I can get back directly to whatever folder I was working on by selecting that numerical drive. That's the function I'm asking for.

But great tip - now I can make a button for it. So maybe I'll make a buttonpanel with the 5-6 most often used folders on the device.