Converter

Converter is a free unit conversion tool for the Palm, supporting over 200 unit types in 23 different categories. The easy to use interface allows you to specify the types you use frequently and access them easily. Convert from miles to kilometers, from pounds to kilograms and many, many other different conversions with ease.

Converter is freeware so you are free to use and distribute this software without restriction as long as it is not modified in any way and the copyright notices remain in place.

Converter can currently convert 215 different types in 23 different categories. For a full list of these see the 'Categories and Types' section later on this page.

Download

Click on one of the links below to download an archive containing the files. Both archives contain the same files so you just need to download the one easiest for you to unpack (probably the zip file for windows users).

• converter-2_2.zip
• converter-2_2.tar.gz

Installation

Once you have downloaded and unpacked the archive you should have a file called Converter.prc in your directory. Install this file onto your Palm device in the usual way using the 'Install Tool' or similar which comes with the Palm device. Once installed an icon with the label 'Converter' should appear in your application list.

Using Converter

The application is simple and intuitive to use following the same basic style as many Palm applications. Pull down the box in the top right corner to choose which category to use, then select the unit type to convert from and to in the boxes on the main form. Finally enter the value you wish to convert from into the value field.

Entering Values

Values can be entered in a number of different ways. In most categories you can enter numbers as either:

• Integers - e.g. 16
• Decimals - e.g. 16.0
• Scientific Notation - e.g. 1.6e01

A few categories require special treatment for the entering of values as detailed below:

• Shoes - Values in the Shoes category must be whole numbers only and must be valid for the country selected in the 'From' list.
• Clothing - Like the Shoes category, values in the Clothing category also must be whole numbers and must be valid for the country selected in the 'From' list.
• Numbers - In the Numbers category, the valid entries for the value field will be dependant on what is selected in the 'From' list. Numbers must always be whole and valid for the particular number system when Binary, Octal, Decimal or Hexidecimal are selected. When Roman is selected, the entry must be a valid Roman number using Roman notation such as 'XXIV' (to represent 24).

Switching Modes

Converter can operate in two modes: shortlist mode and full mode. You can switch between the modes by tapping on the 'F' and 'S' buttons on the bottom left of the screen, the 'F' button putting you in full mode and the 'S' button putting you in shortlist mode. In full mode you have access to all the conversion types and categories in the Converter app, in shortlist mode you are presented with a user-definable shortened list.

Defining Shortlist Types

By defining the types available in shortlist mode you can configure Converter so that the conversion types which you frequently use are readily available and easy to navigate between.

Selecting 'Edit Shortlist...' from the 'Options' menu presents you with a dialog box from which you can configure your shortlist. You can use the 'Category' pulldown to select which category you want to configure then you can see two lists: the one on the left contains the full list of types within the category and the one on the right shows the types which are currently available in that category when in shortlist mode. To add a type to shortlist mode, select the type in the full list on the left and hit the 'Add' button. To remove a type from the shortlist mode, select the type from the shortlist on the right and hit the remove button.

If you remove all the types from the shortlist of a particular category, that category will no longer show up when using the shortlist mode. Of course it will still be available in full mode.

Bug Reports

This is the first program which I've written for the Palm Pilot so there could well be plenty of bugs hiding in there somewhere... If you find any faults in either the application itself or its documentation then I would be grateful if you could report them to me by email at matt@mattmarsh.net. If you could include the version number of the program you are running (this can be found from the 'About' dialog box) then that would also be helpful. 

Distribution and Usage Policy

You are permitted to use this program free of charge. You may also distribute it in any way and may even charge for it's distribution if you wish, however you must not modify the software and all copyright notices must remain in tact. You must obtain written permission for use or distribution other than detailed here.

BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY 
FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN 
OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES 
PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER 
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED 
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE 
ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH 
YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL 
NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING 
WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR 
REDISTRIBUTE THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR 
DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL 
DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM 
(INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED 
INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF 
THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR 
OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Categories and Types

History