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Palm OS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you don't find the answer to your question in the FAQs below, you may request technical support here.

Installation

1. How does the trial version differ from the regular version?
2. How do I install SplashPhoto?
3. What is the current version of SplashPhoto and what has changed?
4. How do I update my software?
5. How do I revert back to SplashPhoto 3.6 if I do not wish to upgrade to SplashPhoto 4 after trialing it?
6. How do I delete SplashPhoto?
7. How much memory does SplashPhoto require on my handheld?
8. How do I install the localized version (French, German, Italian, or Spanish)?

Registration

1. I just purchased SplashPhoto and need a registration code. Where do I find it?
2. I installed SplashPhoto on a new desktop computer and it's asking me for my registration code. Where can I find it?
3. SplashPhoto won't accept my registration code. Why not?
4. How much do upgrades cost?
5. Can I use SplashPhoto on multiple handhelds and/or desktops?

General Technical

1. Does SplashPhoto support VFS external memory cards?
2. Images will not synchronize to my handheld SplashPhoto. Why not?
3. How do I install images on a Memory Card?
4. Can I install images directly to an external memory card without using SplashPhoto Desktop?
5. When I try to view an image with SplashPhoto, I get a message that say's "this image cannot be displayed on this device". Why not?
6. When performing a HotSync, I get an error that there was an error copying an image file to the external card. SplashPhoto synchronization failed. Why?
7. How do I get my images to look as good as the sample images?
8. Can I sync SplashPhoto with multiple computers (e.g. at work and at home)?
9. I just bought a new handheld. How do I copy my SplashPhoto images from the old handheld to the new handheld?
10. The SplashPhoto Desktop keeps telling me "You must first run SplashPhoto on the handheld and perform a HotSync." and I have already.
11. How do I use the Zoom feature in SplashPhoto?
12. Will SplashPhoto work with the Tungsten T3?
13. SplashPhoto is synchronizing all of the images on every sync, even though there were no changes since the last sync. Why?
14. SplashPhoto Desktop crashes immediately on launch.
15. How do I set a password to protect my photos?

How does the trial version differ from the regular version?
The trial version and regular version are identical. The software will run for 30-days in trial mode without requiring a registration code. Once the 30-day trial expires, you must purchase a registration code to continue using the product. Once you purchase a registration code, you do not need to re-install the software. Simply enter the registration code to continue using the software and all of your data will remain intact.

How do I install SplashPhoto?
You must download and run the SplashPhoto Installer on your desktop, as follows:

1. Go to the download page, and click the Download button for SplashPhoto for your operating system (Mac or Windows).
2. When prompted with the "File Download" dialog box, select "Save this program to disk" and save it in a place you are sure to remember, like your Desktop.
3. After the file has finished downloading, launch the Installer from your desktop and follow the onscreen instructions.
4. After the installation is complete, you will need to perform a HotSync to install the software on your Palm.
5. For further instructions on how to use the software, double-click the User Guide that was installed on your desktop.

What is the current version of SplashPhoto and what has changed?
SplashPhoto 5.03 is the current version for Palm and Windows. 4.4 is the current version for Mac OS desktop, but this will sync with version 5.03 on the Palm, which is included in the Mac installer.

For an overview of changes, see the release notes.

How do I update my software?
Simply download and run the latest SplashPhoto Installer found on the download page. If you have an earlier version of the software installed, you may update to the current version by downloading and running the latest installer. If you are upgrading to version 5 from an earlier version of SplashPhoto, the upgrade costs $9.95. You can try it free for 30 days, and if you decide to purchase the upgrade, you can order the upgrade here.

How do I revert back to SplashPhoto 3.63 if I do not wish to upgrade to SplashPhoto 4 after trialing it?
You may downgrade from SplashPhoto to SplashPhoto 3.63, but you will lose any categories or notes that were attached to the images in SplashPhoto 4. Also, you will have to move any SplashPhoto 4 PDBs stored on internal memory to a card to convert them to JPG format, since SplashPhoto 3.6 cannot read the SplashPhoto 4 PDB format. Here are the steps you must follow to downgrade from SplashPhoto 4 to SplashPhoto 3.63:

1. a. If there are any images stored on internal memory you must use SplashPhoto 4 to move the images (Move All command) to a card so they are converted to JPG format. This will allow you to view the images with SplashPhoto 3.6. Any images stored on internal memory will be deleted in the next step.
   b. If you don't have external memory, you will have to restore the images from your Palm Backup folder after reinstalling SplashPhoto 3.63. Proceed to step 2, and see step 5.
2. Delete SplashPhoto 4 from your Handheld and Desktop (see instructions for deleting below).
3. Install SplashPhoto 3.63: Windows • Mac
4. Launch SplashPhoto 3.63. It will scan the card and find the JPG files and they
   will appear sans categories and notes.
5. If you do not have external memory, find your backup images in the Palm Backup folder:C:\Program Files\Palm\<your username>\Backup . Double-click your old images files to add them to the Palm Install tool. They will be named "imagename.pdb." Then HotSync.

How do I delete SplashPhoto?
To delete SplashPhoto from your desktop:

Windows:

1. Open the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel.
2. Select SplashPhoto and click Change/Remove.

Mac:

1. Delete the SplashPhoto folder from your Applications folder
2. Delete the SplashPhoto Conduit from the folder Hard Disk/Library/Application Support/Palm HotSync/Conduits

To delete SplashPhoto from your handheld:

1. Tap the Home icon on your handheld to go to the Application launcher.
2. Tap the Menu icon that appears below the Home icon to the left of the Graffiti area to display the App Menu.
3. Select Delete from the App Menu.
4. Select SplashPhoto and tap Delete.

How much memory does SplashPhoto require on my handheld?
SplashPhoto requires 230k of free memory for the application and about 35k per image.

How do I install the localized version (French, German, Italian, or Spanish)?
You must uninstall any previous versions on your desktop in order to install the new localized version because the new installer will automatically detect that you've already installed the English version and assume that you want to install the English version again.

In the Control Panel on your desktop computer, choose Add/Remove programs, select the application you are updating and choose Remove.

You only need to remove the Desktop application (not the handheld). After removal is complete, run the new installer and it will allow you to select a language.

If you need to download the installer, download it here.

I just purchased SplashPhoto and need a registration code. Where do I find it?
When you purchase the software online, an order confirmation email is immediately sent to you containing your registration code. The registration code will begin with the letters SPXU or SWXU. Enter it exactly as it appears, and the trial software will be converted into a registered version.

I installed SplashPhoto on a new desktop and it's asking me for my registration code. Where can I find it?
If you installed SplashPhoto on a new handheld or desktop computer, you can find your existing registration code on the old desktop, as follows: Launch SplashPhoto Desktop on the old desktop, then click the About button. Your registration code will be displayed in the dialog.

If the above doesn't work, contact us and we'll respond with your registration code.

SplashPhoto won't accept my registration code. Why not?
Make sure you are entering the correct registration code, and not your order number. The registration code should begin with the letters SPXU or SWXU. Also, the registration code won't be accepted if it is for a previous version of SplashPhoto (or a version of SplashWallet that included an earlier version of SplashPhoto), in which case you may purchase a registration code upgrade for $9.95 here.

How much do upgrades cost?
If you are a registered user of a previous version of SplashPhoto, you can purchase the upgrade to version 5 for $9.95.

Product Upgrades
Updates within a version (e.g., 2.0 to 2.1) are free to all registered users. Major upgrades (e.g., 2.x to 3.x) are available at a substantial discount to registered users. If you purchase within 30-days of a major upgrade you will receive the upgrade for free.

SplashWallet Suite Upgrades
The SplashWallet Suite is a bundle of SplashID, SplashMoney, SplashPhoto, and SplashShopper sold together at a discount. If you purchased an earlier version of SplashID as part of the SplashWallet Suite, you may each application individually. Click here to use the SplashPhoto Upgrade Form.

Can I use SplashPhoto on multiple handheld and/or desktops?
You may use SplashPhoto on multiple computers/handhelds. The registration code is not tied to a specific device. The license is per user, so you may install it on all of the computers/handhelds that you use.

Does SplashPhoto support VFS external memory cards?
SplashPhoto supports storing images on external memory, but the application (PRC) must be stored on internal memory in order for the HotSync Conduit to run and synchronize with the desktop.

How do I install images on a Memory Card?
SplashPhoto supports the Memory Stick, Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMediaCard (MMC) external memory cards on Palm OS handhelds. You may install images directly to the external memory card from SplashPhoto Desktop during a HotSync operation, as follows:

1. Run SplashPhoto Desktop, and select "<Memory Card Name>" from the Location pull-down menu, for any images you wish to install to the handheld external memory card.
2. Do a HotSync to install the images on the handheld external memory card.
3. Launch SplashPhoto on the handheld and the images installed on the card will be displayed.
4. You can also move previously installed images to a memory card by simply changing the location in the pull-down menu on the handheld or desktop catalog.

Images will not synchronize to my handheld SplashPhoto. Why not?
Please check the HotSync log by clicking the HotSync icon in your system tray on your desktop and selecting View Log to see if SplashPhoto is reporting an error. There are 5 primary reasons why SplashPhoto won't sync:

1. Wrong User name -- The handheld User name may not match the SplashPhoto Desktop User. Check the User name of your handheld by going to the app launcher and tapping the HotSync icon. Your User name will appear on the top right. Then check the User name from the User Menu that appears on the top right of SplashPhoto Desktop. Make sure the User name that appears there matches the User name on your handheld.
2. SplashPhoto not on internal memory -- If SplashPhoto is stored on external memory (e.g., SD/MiniSD memory card) the conduit won't run. The Conduit requires that SplashPhoto application be installed on internal memory. If this is the case, simply move SplashPhoto to internal memory and try HotSyncing again.
3. SplashPhoto Conduit not loaded -- Click the HotSync icon in the system tray on the lower right hand side of your windows desktop, and select Custom. A list of Conduits will appear. If SplashPhoto is not showing up in the Conduit list you may need to re-install it by downloading and running the SplashPhoto Installer from the download page. If you just installed the software and it's still not showing up, you may need to restart the HotSync Manager. When you install a Conduit (like SplashPhoto) it requires HotSync Manager to be restarted in order for the Conduit to load and show up in the list. The SplashPhoto Installer automatically restarts the HotSync Manager after a successful installation process, but sometimes it doesn't work. Therefore, you have to manually restart HotSync, by restarting your computer, in order for the SplashPhoto Conduit to load. After the initial restart, the Conduit will always load.
4. SplashPhoto Conduit not set to Synchronize -- The SplashPhoto conduit should not be set to desktop overwrites handheld or handheld overwrites desktop. This will usually result in a failure to sync. Make sure the SplashPhoto conduit is set to Synchronize, and make that setting default.
5. Backup Conduit set to Restore -- The Backup Conduit (aka System Conduit) should be set to "Backup" (System conduit should be set to "handheld overwrites desktop"). This is the factory default setting. If it is set improperly to "Restore" it will not allow the SplashPhoto Conduit to run. To check the System Conduit setting, click the HotSync icon in the system tray on the lower right hand side of your windows desktop, and select Custom. A list of Conduits will appear. Scroll to the bottom of the list and double-click the "Backup" Conduit. Select "Backup", check the "Set as default" checkbox, click OK and Done.

Can I install images directly to an external memory card without using the SplashPhoto Desktop and Conduit?
You can view images on an external memory card with SplashPhoto if the images are located in one of the following directories on the card:

• Palm/Programs/SplashPhoto
• DCIM - this is where digital cameras typically store images on a memory card. This is also where a Palm device will install images if you install them using the Palm Install tool.
• PALM/Images - the Sony Clie will install images to this directory if you install them using the Palm Install tool.

Note: SplashPhoto will scan the subdirectories in these locations as well. Images will be placed in the SplashPhoto directory automatically by the SplashPhoto conduit when
adding images and that it is not recommended that images in the SplashPhoto directory should be modified on the handheld manually. If they are, you should do a Refresh on the handheld. If you wish to add/remove images manually you should to it in the DCIM or Palm/Images directory.

When I try to view an image with SplashPhoto, I get a message that say's "this image cannot be displayed on this device". Why not?
You need a 16-bit color capable device (12-bit devices such as the Treo can handle this) in order to use SplashPhoto 4. If you have upgraded to version 4 and your device does not support 16-bit color, you will have to revert to version 3.63.

When performing a HotSync, I get an error that there was an error copying an image file to the external card. SplashPhoto synchronization failed. Why?
This means that the SplashPhoto Conduit is trying to install an image to your external memory card but it is write protected. You need to unprotect the card on the handheld and then sync again to install images on it.

How do I get my images to look as good as the sample images?
The sample images included with SplashPhoto are professional stock photography images, so they looked great to begin with, but you can get your images looking great too with the following tips:

• Source images should be as high quality as possible -- higher resolution, higher bit-depth, and high quality JPG compression is best. An image that starts out as a 800x600, 24-bit, High Quality JPG compressed image will convert better than an image with lower resolution, bit-depth or JPG compression settings.
• Each image is different and therefore requires different types of optimization (contrast, brightness, saturation, sharpness, etc.). If you're not a professional image editor (and not many of us are) we've found a great Photoshop plug-in for automatically optimizing images, called Intellihance. You can download a trial version or purchase Intellihance from Extensis. 

Can I sync SplashPhoto with multiple computers (e.g. at work and at home)?
You may synchronize your handheld with multiple desktops (e.g., one at work and one at home). You just need to install the desktop software on both desktops. You may install the software by downloading and running the latest installer found on the download page. You may install images to your handheld from multiple desktops using SplashPhoto Desktop. No special setup is necessary.

I just bought a new handheld. How do I copy my SplashPhoto images from the old handheld to the new handheld?
There are two ways you can transfer images from the old handheld to the new handheld:

Beaming
You can beam the images from the old handheld to the new one, if you have the same version of SplashPhoto installed on both. Launch SplashPhoto on the old handheld, tap an image to view it full screen, then select Send image from the Options menu to beam the image to the new handheld. You will need to repeat this process for each image you wish to transfer.

Memory Card
If your images are stored on a memory card and the new handheld uses an external memory card that is the same type as your old device, you can simply remove the card from the old device and insert it in the new device and all of your pictures will go with it.

Install the Backup PDBs
If the images were stored on internal memory on the old handheld, then the SplashPhoto database files (PDBs) on the handheld will be backed up in the Palm Backup folder on your desktop, C:\Palm\<username>\Backup\ (Mac: /Home/Document/Palm/Users/<user>/Backup). Each image is stored in a separate database file (PDB). For example, if you have an image called Mary, it will be stored as Mary.PDB in the Backup folder. Locate each of these files in the Backup folder of the old handheld, double-click it to launch the Palm Install Tool, select the new username and click OK. Now perform a HotSync, and the SplashPhoto backup files from the old handheld will be installed on the new handheld.

The SplashPhoto Desktop keeps telling me "You must first run SplashPhoto on the handheld and perform a HotSync." and I have already.

There are 6 possible reasons for this:

1. You do not have SplashPhoto installed on internal memory. It must be on internal memory in order to sync.
2. You have the incorrect user selected in the SplashPhoto Desktop user menu. Switch to the correct user name that matches the handheld.
3. The version of your SplashPhoto Desktop application does not match the handheld application version. Reinstall SplashPhoto and then HotSync again: /splashphoto/download.htm
4. You do not have the SplashPhoto conduit installed. Reinstall SplashPhoto and then HotSync again: /splashphoto/download.htm
5. You have the SplashPhoto conduit set to desktop overwrites handheld. Change the SplashPhoto conduit setting to Synchronize, and set this as Default.
6. Your HotSync Manager is not up to date and therefore incompatible with SplashPhoto 4. Determine if you have version 4.0 or higher of the HotSync Manager by clicking on the HotSync icon in your System Tray and choosing About. Solution: Update the Palm Desktop software

How do I use the Zoom feature in SplashPhoto?

To use the Zoom feature you have to be viewing an image that is larger than the screen. For example, if the image is 400 X 600 pixels, and your screen is only 320 X 320, then you can enter Zoom mode (by tapping the top left of the screen and choosing Zoom from the Options Menu) and zoom in and out and pan around. When you tap Fit, it fits the image to your screen, which is how it appears normally. If you tap 100%, it zooms in to reveal all pixels and you can pan around to see the rest of the image, or zoom out using the + and - buttons.

Note: If you do not have enough memory available to expand an image to 100%, SplashPhoto will open it to 50% and tell you approximately how much memory would be needed to expand it fully. If you have about 5 MB free memory on your device, you should be able to open images up to 1 Megapixel in size.

Will SplashPhoto work with the Tungsten T3?

Yes, but you will need teh Palm DIA Compatibility files to show/hide the toolbar correctly.

DIA Compatibility PRC Files

To Install, unzip the downloaded file and drag the files contained within to your desktop. Then double click the files to add them to the Palm Install tool. HotSync to transfer them to your device.

SplashPhoto is synchronizing all of the images on every sync, even though there were no changes since the last sync. Why?

We have discovered a problem having to do with Daylight Saving Time. With the clock automatically correcting for Daylight Saving on the desktop, SplashPhoto gets confused about the relative time of the image files. We will be fixing this in a future version, but the workaround for now is to turn off the DST preference. Here's how:

1. Open the Date and Time preferences from the Control Panel on your desktop computer.
2. Click the Time Zone tab and unchecked "Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving changes."
3. Click apply.
4. Manually adjust the time forward 1 hour in the Date & Time tab.
5. Click apply and Close the window

That should sort out the synching issue while we work on the problem.

SplashPhoto Desktop crashes immediately on launch.
If your handheld version of SplashPhoto is working OK and has your images, try this:

1. Make sure your SplashPhoto conduit is set to synchronize.
2. Delete the SplashPhoto image directory:
   • Windows XP: C:\Program Files\Palm\<your user name>\SplashPhoto\
   • Windows Vista: c:\Users\<user>\Documents\Palm OS Desktop\<username>\SplashPhoto\
   • Mac: ~\Documents\Palm\<username>\SplashPhoto
3. Launch the SplashPhoto Desktop and find it empty. Then quit.
4. HotSync. This will restore the image database from the handheld.
5. Open SplashPhoto Desktop and see if it’s better.

How do I set a password to protect my photos?
We do have an option that allows you to "hide" certain photos. From the SplashPhoto menu you can choose Security, and this will open the Palm Security Preferences. Then, if security is set to Hide records, any Photos marked as private will be hidden.

You can then mark photos as private in image details, and they will be hidden.

You also have to set the Security preferences for the system in order to take advantage of the password feature. Set the security preference either in Prefs or Security depending on your device. Mask and hide have the same effect on SplashPhoto records, and you can set a password as well to protect your private records.

You can also set a password on the SplashPhoto Desktop in File > Set Password.

*Note -- The security in SplashPhoto is nominal. The password only protects the images from being viewed from within SplashPhoto, and the images are not encrypted. That means that another photo viewing application could easily view the JPG image files if they are stored on a memory card for example.