Writing Software.

     If you've thought that you would like to write software for you handheld, you've come to the right page. Palm is a relatively easy operating system to write for and Pocket PC tends to be a bit harder. In either case you can take one of several approaches. I have divided the approaches into databases, R.A.D (rapid application development), and hardcore (C etc). Click on the buttons, below, to see a more in depth discussion of each approach.
     If you came to this page because you wanted to find someone to write software for you I would direct you to PalmGear's developers page www.PalmGear.com where they list people who make their living writing custom software. If you like my software and you wanted to see if I would write a program for you, you can email me Tim@FPpda.com



Keep track of patients, research, etc. Text and graphics files. Rapid Application Development Hardcore Programing Back to Main Page


Click here to visit HanDBase's Website

HanDBase is a very powerful user friendly database which allows you to make your own forms for data entry, synchroize that information with your desk top, and then export data to other programs on your computer. It is a great reference if you want to develope your own database for patient tracking, research, or billing. It works for either Palm or Pocket PC and allows you to design forms on your pda. It has limited math, no logic functions, and if you want to use the databases within a group of people everyone needs to buy a copy of HanDBase for their handheld.



This is a screen shot from a sales database, there are many free patient tracking and other medical databases available on the HanDBase site, Handango , or PalmGear.


If you would like to create a document file (with or without hyperlinks) iSilo.com can provide you with a free program to turn HTML documents into iSilo documents. Just write what you want on notepad, save in HTML format and convert with iSilo's free conversion software (iSilo X). I wrote St. Luke's Map a program to help our interns find their way around our hospital this way.

The FPpda pda simulator
click on beam

 The FPpda pda simulator
click on beam



Links are easily made by writing <HREF="#link name">text you want to use as a link</A> then put <NAME="link name">the first word of where you want to go</A> everything between the < and > does not show up in your doucument. You can also incorporate pictures in your document if you put them in GIF format. In the above example the names of locations are between the <HREF="#link name"> and </A>. when you click on the text it takes you to correct map. (The name of the map is surrounded by the <NAME="link name"> and </A>).



R.A.D. Rapid Application Development allows to write programs quickly with little to no programing knowlege. If you want to try a good R.A.D. you can try PDA Toolbox it lets you write freestanding programs by dragging and dropping objects on to forms (without writing any code). PDA Toolbox has many nice features including a $25 pricetag. If you are interested in writing software, but are leary of making a big financial investment, PDA Toolbox may be right for you. The desktop is shown below.



     The biggest limitation of PDA ToolBox is it's lack of logic functions. If you want to use logic functions you should look into a more advanced RAD like NS Basic or CASL.
     NS Basic is the best RAD for Pocket PC and at $150 it is reasonably priced. NS Basic is available for palm as well ($100), but it creates programs that run very slowly (Med Rules is written in NS Basic). NS Basic does not currently support Palm Os 5, but plans to this summer.
     If you want a full-featured Palm Os RAD for Palm Os that generates reasonably fast applications you might like to try CASL. It costs $85 for the limited version and $300 for the full Palm Os version. A Pocket PC version is planned for this Spring $50 (on top of the $300 for the full Palm Os version). I used CASL to write OB Wheel, OB Patients, and Journal Club. CASL plans support for Palm Os 5 this summer.


     If you want to be more adventurous yet you can write programs using C or C++. This is the most advanced way to write software, but it takes a large investment of both time and money. Code Warrior is the gold standard for C programming. If you would like to try your hand at C programming go to palm's developer page to learn more.(They have many links to programs they recomend). You should also check out Microsoft's developer page.