Backdrop GC Documentation
Software Version 1.1
Released September 5, 2001
Written by Josh Freeman
©1998-2001, Twilight Edge Software
All Rights Reserved
About Backdrop GC
System Requirements
Archive Distribution
Disclaimer
BackdropGC.zip Archive Contents
Download
Quickstart
Selecting A Background
Adjusting The Foreground Color
Adjusting The Background Brightness
Backdrop GC Settings
Choosing Applications
Where To Find Background Images
Creating Your Own Backgrounds
Deleting Images
Registering Backdrop GC
Known Incompatibilities/Bugs
Version History
Twilight Edge Software Contact Info
About Backdrop GC
Take full advantage of your color Palm OS device's screen! Backdrop GC
allows you use images as backgrounds which will stay in place when other applications run! (You
may control which apps will display the background). Backdrop GC reads images in the FireViewer format,
which has several utilities for converting from popular formats such as BMP, GIF & JPEG.
System Requirements
Backdrop GC requires a color Palm OS device with a 160x160 screen. (Sony Clie PEG-N600 &
PEG-N700 families are not supported). If you have a
greyscale device, you can use Backdrop EZ (current models)
or Backdrop (Palm III or earlier).
TrapWeaver is also required to install Backdrop
GC; TrapWeaver is a utility which prevents conflicts between
applications that patch the OS. For more information on TrapWeaver,
see the TrapWeaver documentation.
Backdrop GC uses 160K of memory. (This includes the
Backdrop GC and TrapWeaver applications, as well as the memory Backdrop
GC uses when it installs its system patches). Running Backdrop GC with less
free memory may cause instability.
Archive Distribution
Backdrop GC and TrapWeaver are shareware. The 'backdropgc.zip'
archive may be freely distributed, provided its contents are not changed
in any way. If you distribute the archive on a website or with a software
collection, please notify the
author. Any form of distribution that charges the user a fee, such
as a commercial software collection, must clearly state that the user is
purchasing unregistered copies which will require additional payments to
register.
Disclaimer
All Twilight Edge software titles are provided
as is, and are not guaranteed to be free of bugs. The author assumes no
responsibility for problems resulting from the use of these products. Installing
and/or executing this software means you agree to the above terms.
If you find a bug, please
report it, along with the following info:
- Device type
- Palm OS system version
- Amount of free memory
- List of apps installed (if possible)
- Special options (Springboard module, memory upgrade, etc.)
BackdropGC.zip Archive Contents
BackdropGC.prc - Backdrop GC application
TWeaver.prc - TrapWeaver application (required to run Backdrop GC)
earth-color.pdb - sample color image
bdgc_docs.html - Backdrop GC Documentation
Download
Backdrop GC, Version 1.1
Quickstart
If you have previous versions of Backdrop GC or TrapWeaver on your Palm
device, please uninstall & delete them before installing the new versions.
To Install Backdrop GC:
1. Download 'BackdropGC.prc' and 'TWeaver.prc' to
your Palm device.
2. Run TrapWeaver
3. Press the 'Install' button
The following step will reset your Palm device:
4. Press the 'OK' button on the 'Engage TrapWeaving'
dialog
5. After reset, run Backdrop GC
6. Press the 'Install' button
To Uninstall Backdrop GC:
1. Run Backdrop GC
2. Press the 'Uninstall' button
If you wish to delete Backdrop GC or TrapWeaver from your device, please uninstall them first. Deleting
the apps without uninstalling them will leave their system patches and functionality in place until the
device is reset.
Selecting A Background
Tap the 'Background' tab if it is not already in
the foreground. When the 'Background' tab is selected, a list of available images on your device will be
displayed. Select an image's name from the list to install it in the background.
Backdrop GC reads images in the FireViewer format.
You can find image files in this format online, or
create your own. The preferred image size is 160x160; Backdrop GC
won't read images smaller than this, and if they are much larger, they
may take up too much memory to load.
If the selected background image is bigger than 160x160,
an 'Align' button will appear on the right side of the form. Pressing this
button will bring you to the alignment screen, where you may drag the image
with your stylus to center it. Once you are done aligning, tap the graffiti
area or press any of the hardware buttons to return to the main form.
Adjusting The Foreground Color
The foreground color can be changed by pressing the 'Foreground...' button;
This will bring up a Palette or RGB Color Picker, depending on the Default Color Picker
setting.
Backdrop GC will remember the foreground color setting for each image;
If an image's foreground color has not yet been set, it will use the same foreground color as
the default background.
Adjusting The Background Brightness
The background brightness can be adjusted to make the
foreground more legible: Press the 'Brightness' button to bring up the 'Adjust Background Brightness'
slider.
Backdrop GC will remember the brightness setting for each image;
If an image's brightness has not yet been set, it will use the same brightness setting as
the default background.
Backdrop GC Settings
Tap the 'Settings' tab if it is not already in the foreground.
When the 'Settings' tab is selected,
a list of customizable settings will be displayed:
- Reinstall On Reset
When this box is checked, Backdrop GC will automatically
reinstall itself when the device is reset; Otherwise you will have to reinstall Backdrop GC manually.
- Display As Startup Screen
This option will delay drawing the foreground when
the device gets turned on, displaying the background image as a startup screen. The
startup screen will only be shown when the device has been turned on from
the power button, not from any of the other buttons. If the Use Original Colors box
is checked, Backdrop GC will display the image without the brightness adjustment that is used
when the foreground is shown.
The user can choose
how long to display the startup screen by selecting from the Delay: drop-down
menu. To instantly bring up the foreground while the startup screen is
being displayed, tap the screen or press a button.
- Default Color Picker
This menu allows you to select between 'RGB' and 'Palette' as the initial
color picker mode when you press the 'Foreground...' button to adjust the foreground color.
- Force Enabled Apps To B&W
Backdrop GC currently only displays a background when the system is in
black & white (1-bit) mode. If an application switches the system to a deeper mode, Backdrop GC will detect it and
hide the background while the app runs.
When this box is checked, Backdrop GC will prevent enabled apps (apps that have the
boxes checked next to their name in the 'Apps' tab) from switching to a deeper color mode. This allows some
apps which would previously run with the background hidden to now run with the background image visible.
Please note that using this option will cause some greyscale & color apps to crash. The
workaround is to uncheck the boxes next to their names in the 'Apps' tab, or to disable this setting.
Choosing Applications
Backdrop GC allows you to choose the applications for which a background
image will be displayed. This allows you to remove the background for
incompatible apps or to improve legibility.
Tap the 'Apps' tab if it is not already in the foreground.
When the 'Apps' tab is selected, a list of all the applications installed on your device will be
displayed. To hide the background when a certain app runs, simply uncheck
its checkbox. You may notice that some app names have no checkboxes next to them - this
is because Backdrop GC has a default list of incompatible apps, and it
won't give you the option of turning on the background when one of them runs.
Where To Find Background Images
You can find sample images for backgrounds at the
Sample Color Images Page or the
Sample Greyscale Images Page.
If you have custom images or a link you would like
to see displayed on the images page, please send
in a file or URL.
Creating Your Own Backgrounds
If you have a Mac: You can use the
shareware program, Graphic
Converter, to convert images to FireViewer format.
To convert, select 'FireViewer PDB (*.PDB)' as the format
from the 'Save As...' dialog. Verify that you're saving to the correct depth
by pressing the 'Save As...' dialog's 'Options' button.
If you have a PC: You can use the
shareware program, FireConverter
v3.71, to convert images to FireViewer format.
NOTE: Due to changes in the FireViewer format, Backdrop GC will only read
images converted with FireConverter version 3.71 or earlier.
The preferred size for a background
is 160x160; Backdrop GC won't read anything smaller or too much larger than this. If you've
created a custom background you'd like to share, please send
in the image or its URL for posting on sample images page.
Deleting Images
If there are images you want to delete, select 'Delete
Images...' from the 'Options' menu to go to the 'Delete Images' form. Click
on an image's name in the list to delete it. (You will be given a chance
to confirm this).
Registering Backdrop GC
Backdrop GC is shareware. If you decide to keep
it, please register it. Registration will remove the 'UNREGISTERED' message
in the background and also entitles you to future versions of Backdrop
GC, free of charge.
Registration is $18, and is available from
Handango
(phone: 1-866 426-3264) or
PalmGear
H.Q. (phone: 1-800 741-9070). Please make sure you include your correct, case-sensitive
HotSync username (this will be used to generate the registration code), and
your email address.
Once your registration has been processed, you should
receive your code by email within a few days. Enter the code in the registration
window by selecting 'Register...' from Backdrop GC's 'Options' menu. Please
save your code, as you will need it for future versions, or if you have
to reinstall Backdrop GC after a hard reset.
Known Incompatibilities/Bugs
Backdrop GC does not support a foreground depth greater than 1-bit.
Applications that switch the device into a deeper grey or color mode will
temporarily disable the background until the 1-bit foreground mode is restored.
(The Force Enabled Apps To B&W setting will allow the
background to display behind some of these apps by preventing them from changing the
screen mode).
If an application or hack draws directly to the screen instead
of using the Palm OS drawing APIs, Backdrop GC will not properly update the foreground;
Please notify support, as well as the author of the app or hack.
If you find a bug, please report it,
along with the following info:
- Device type
- Palm OS system version
- Amount of free memory
- List of apps installed (if possible)
- Special options (Springboard module, memory upgrade, etc.)
Version History
1.1 (09/05/01)
- Added option to lock foreground to B&W mode for compatibility with some greyscale & color apps
- Compatible with OS 4.0
1.0 (03/07/01)
- Initial release
Twilight Edge Software Contact Info
Twilight Edge
Software Home Page
Software
Support