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1INTRODUCTION 1INTRODUCTION
2============ 2============
3 3
4This package is meant to make the Psion 5 series of PDAs, as well as other 4This package is meant to make the Psion 5 series of PDAs, as well as other
5small computers running Epoc 32, more usable to non-Windows users. But even 5small computers running EPOC 32, more usable to non-Windows users. But even
6they may profit from the data I collected. 6they may profit from the data I collected.
7 7
8The package consists of several parts: 8The package consists of several parts:
9 * Documentation about Psion 5 data formats; 9 * Documentation about Psion 5 data formats;
10 * A library which can be linked against application that have to read 10 * A library which can be linked against application that have to read
11 (and in the future, perhaps write) Psion 5 files; 11 and write Psion 5 files;
12 * An example command-line program which reads Psion files and writes 12 * An example command-line program which reads Psion files and writes
13 more commonly used formats. 13 more commonly used formats.
14 14
15 15
16DATA FORMATS 16DATA FORMATS
18 18
19As far as I know, and have gathered from the newsgroups, Psion does not want 19As far as I know, and have gathered from the newsgroups, Psion does not want
20or is not able to release the data formats of the saved files of their 20or is not able to release the data formats of the saved files of their
21internal applications. I am trying to reverse engineer these data formats 21internal applications. I am trying to reverse engineer these data formats
22and to document them for general use. At this moment, I understand their 22and to document them for general use. At this moment, I understand their
23Word, TextEd, Sketch, MBM, Clipart and Record files. I want this information 23Word, Sheet, TextEd, Sketch, MBM, Clipart and Record files, as well as a
24to be available to everyone, in order to write better file conversion 24few other less important formats. I want this information to be available
25utilities for popular (non-)Windows programs. 25to everyone, in order to write better file conversion utilities for popular
26(non-)Windows programs.
26 27
27All documentation is written in Psion 5 Word. Fortunately, the utilities 28All documentation is written in Psion 5 Word. Fortunately, the utilities
28in this package can translate it to HTML and other formats. 29in this package can translate it to HTML and other formats.
29 30
30Unlike all other files in this package, the *.psi files in the directory 31Unlike all other files in this package, the *.psi files in the directory
38 39
39THE LIBRARY 40THE LIBRARY
40=========== 41===========
41 42
42libpsiconv is a library of routines that you can link against your own 43libpsiconv is a library of routines that you can link against your own
43application. It allows you to read Psion 5 files. Note that it comes 44application. It allows you to read and write Psion 5 files. Note that
44under the GNU General Public License; that means that you can only link 45it comes under the GNU General Public License; that means that you can
45it to programs which are also covered by that license. You can contact 46only link it to programs which are also covered by that license. You can
46me if you need other license terms. 47contact me if you need other license terms.
47 48
48The following formats can be read at this moment: 49The following formats are supported at this moment:
49 Word Word processor files 50 Word (R+W) Word processor files
50 TextEd OPL editor files 51 TextEd (R+W) OPL editor files
51 Sketch Picture files 52 Sketch (R+W) Picture files
52 MBM Alternate picture format; several pictures can be combined in it 53 MBM (R+W) Alternate picture format; can contain several pictures
53 ClipArt Internal picture format; several pictures can be combined in it 54 ClipArt (R+W) Internal picture format; can contain several pictures
54 55 Sheet (R) Spreadsheet files
55The parser is quite good at the moment. Page layout codes are not yet
56read, but almost everything that is described in the documents in the
57format directory is supported by it; but it can not yet cope with
58inserted objects (ie. documents in some other format).
59 56
60Documentation is scarce; please examine the source code or the example 57Documentation is scarce; please examine the source code or the example
61psiconv program. Some things may also be found in the doc subdirectory. 58psiconv program. Some things may also be found in the doc subdirectory.
62 59
63 60
68more commonly used formats. It is linked against libpsiconv, and can 65more commonly used formats. It is linked against libpsiconv, and can
69handle anything that it can. 66handle anything that it can.
70 67
71Please enter `psiconv --help' if you want to know about its syntax. 68Please enter `psiconv --help' if you want to know about its syntax.
72 69
73The current HTML3 target is not very ideal. HTML is just not made to 70The current HTML4 target is not very ideal. HTML is just not made to
74represent detailed layout considerations: it is a document description 71represent detailed layout considerations: it is a document description
75language. Still, the output is quite readable already. Of course, headers 72language. Still, the output is quite readable already. Of course, headers
76and footers are not displayed, because there is no notion of pages in 73and footers are not displayed, because there is no notion of pages in
77HTML. Tabs are also difficult; they are not supported yet. This can be 74HTML. Tabs are also difficult; they are not supported yet. This can be
78solved using tables, but it is quite hard to do it correctly. Some other 75solved using tables, but it is quite hard to do it correctly. Some other
79things are just approximated too. 76things are just approximated too.
80 77
81The HTML4 target uses style sheets. You need a not-too-old browser for 78The XHTML target uses cascading style sheets (CSS). You need a not-too-old
82this to display correctly. Generally, the output of this generator is 79browser for this to display correctly. Generally, the output of this
83of higher quality than the normal HTML generator's. 80generator is of higher quality than the normal HTML generator's.
84 81
85A plain TEXT target just grabs all text, without any futher conversions. 82A plain TEXT target just grabs all text, without any futher conversions.
86
87The RTF target is not finished yet; in fact, it is no usable at all
88right now.
89 83
90All ImageMagick graphic output formats are supported; depending on how 84All ImageMagick graphic output formats are supported; depending on how
91you compiled ImageMagick, this is betwee 20 and 50 different formats. 85you compiled ImageMagick, this is betwee 20 and 50 different formats.
92Your favorite one should be somewhere in there... 86Your favorite one should be somewhere in there...
93 87
94I would very much like to add other targets, like (La)TeX, RTF (Rich Text 88In the past, my focus was on extending the number of output targets for
95Format) and XML (for AbiWord). If other people want to work on this, please 89this program; at the moment, I belief more in import/export filters for
96let me know! Of course, you could also write your own conversion applications 90office applications like AbiWord, Gnumeric and the Gimp.
97just using my data format description. Native import/export filters for
98some word processors would be very welcome!
99 91
100Psiconv is licensed under the GPL. Please read the included file COPYING 92Psiconv is licensed under the GPL. Please read the included file COPYING
101for exact licensing information. Please contact me if you need some other 93for exact licensing information. Please contact me if you need some other
102licensing terms. 94licensing terms.
103 95
104 96
105NEWS AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS 97NEWS AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
106============================ 98============================
107 99
108Starting with version 0.2, psiconv should keep all namespaces unpoluted. 100Starting with version 0.2, psiconv should keep all namespaces unpolluted.
109Starting with version 0.4, the conversion routines are linked into a 101Starting with version 0.4, the conversion routines are linked into a
110(static or shared) library. Version 0.5 has autoconf and libtool support, 102(static or shared) library. Version 0.5 has autoconf and libtool support,
111and should run on many more platforms. Version 0.6 has support for 103and should run on many more platforms. Version 0.6 has support for
112graphics. 104graphics. Version 0.8 can generate files and add Sheet support. Version
1050.9 uses Unicode inside, add the psiconv.conf file and has many more
106enhancements.
113 107
114High on the TODO list are input routines for Record files. 108High on the TODO list are input routines for Record files. I am running into
115Sheet files will be next. I am running into some trouble understanding 109some trouble understanding Data and Agenda files, but with a little luck, I'll
116Data and Agenda files, but with a little luck, I'll figure it out after
117all. This is more long-term though. 110figure it out after all. This is more long-term though.
118On the output side, I hope RTF will soon be done. This will allow most
119office tools to read the Psion files.
120 111
121 112
122INSTALLATION 113INSTALLATION
123============ 114============
124 115

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