Transferring and Installing Files On Your Psion

I'm sorry this is a bit long winded but there's quite a lot to be said ! Instructions relate to transfering from Windows / DOS machines. I'll try to include some MAC / Arch / Linux specific instructions soon.

To transfer programs to your Psion you will need:

Transfering Hardware

You will need one of these:

• For the series 3 and 3a this is called a "3-Link". It is also known as a "soap on a rope" connector because of the small box of electronics partway down the lead. These are no longer sold (at least retail). You will probably have to track one down secondhand. TFortunately, at the moment, there seem to be a quite a few aound. Try the comp.sys.psion.marketplace newsgroup, Portal PDA Board,   another classifieds page,  or any of the online auction houses. It may also be possible to obtain one from Psion directly. Contact Psion or their distributor in your country or somewhere close to see what they have hidden away (It's at least worth a go!)

• For the series 3c and 3mx you will need a serial link. This either came with the machine or is available retail. It is the same lead as for the series 5 so is currently available retail.

• A cyclone drive. This allows your Psion to read files from a floppy.

• An SSD drive. This allows your PC to copy programs onto a Psion RAM or SSD disk which can then be inserted into your psion.

Transfering Software

You will need one of these:

• A copy of PsiWin to transfer files via a 3-Link or a serial link. You usually get the software with the transfer lead. I have always found version 1.1 the best for the 3/3a/3c/3mx series. It seems more stable on my desktop PC and can be downloaded from the Psion website. However version PsiWin 2.x is also OK and despite the impression you might get from the literature that accompanies it, it IS compatable with the series 3/3a/3c/3mx machines. All down to personal preference I'm afraid.

• Suitable software comes with the cyclone drive.

• RCom -a DOS transfer program. I always found this fast, stable and perfectly useable. Has a command line interface much like DOS itself - Easy-peasy.

• PsiWin 1.x and RCom are available for download from the Psion website.

Tips Relating To File Transfer

• Don't forget to turn on the link on the Psion (via the menus on the system screen). Once it is on you will see the "wiggly worm" display under the clock on the right side. Make sure you turn it off when you have finished - leaving it on drains battery power.

• When setting up your link remember that com ports on your PC share IRQs. Com1 shares with Com3. Com2 shares with Com4. If you are using Windows you can't have your Psion lead sharing an IRQ with your mouse. So, if your mouse is on Com1 your Psion lead can't go on Com3. Most of us have a modem connected as well just to add to the confusion. I find the best way is mouse on Com2, Modem (internal) on Com3 and Psion on Com1. You may need to alter some jumpers on the modem board - look at it's manual. Note - you won't be able to use your modem at the same time as PsiWin. Or else swap the Psion lead with an external modem when needed. Having a PS/2 mouse is a help here, you don't need to worry about it.

• When copying make sure you copy NOT copy and convert. In PsiWin2, the easiest way to be sure of what is going on is to right click and drag. You will then get a menu to choose the action you want as you let go of the dragged files. In PsiWin1 just make sure you select properly from the menus.

• The drag and drop makes life a lot easier in PsiWin2 IF you can stand the instability.

What To Do With ZIP files

Most of the programs in this archive come as ZIP files. These are compressed (zipped) and need to be uncompressed (unzipped) before using them. This may either be done with your PC (before copying the files over to your Psion) or with your psion (after copying the files over to your Psion).

If you haven't got a program on your PC for this you should go to nonags.com and download one of the many freeware or shareware programs that deal with ZIP files.

If you wish to do all the unzipping on your Psion (and in many ways this is easier) your best bet is to get a copy of  the shareware program RMRZip from RMRSoftware. There is a freeware alternative on my Bitty pages but, to be honest your better off paying for RMRZip - it's a lot easier to use.

Once unzipped you will almost always find a readme.txt file or a Psion word file explaining how to install the program. In outline, this will usually involve copying the program file (something.app or something.opa) to an \APP directory on one of the drives on your Psion. There will often be a need to create some other directories and copy various files into them. Some programs assume you will only install them to the internal drive of your psion and won't work if installed on a removeable drive.

The Final Step

Once copied onto your Psion there is still one more step before the installation is complete. Go to the the system screen- the one with all the icons and filenames on it (like agenda, word, data etc). Move the cursor to where you want the programs icon to appear and press <Psion>-<I>. You will then get a file selecting dialog. Navigate to the something.app or something.opa file you want installed and press <ENTER> and your done!