This program is freeware. It may be distributed, but only free of charge. I created this program with my best knowledge. But I do not give any guarantee for the correct function. Please contact me, if you find any defect or mistake.

Didcon is a small Perl-script to convert the backup-files of the following Palm applications to Bitmap-files:

• Diddle (Scratch and Index)
• DiddleBug

To run it, you need a Perl-interpreter installed on your computer. If you don't have Perl installed or you have any other difficulties to get didcon running, try didcon-online under http://home.vr-web.de/lilalu/didconline.htm)

Start Didcon with the following parameters:

didcon.pl [-w] input output [name]

In DOS this might look like:

C:\>perl didcon.pl -w c:\palm\my\backup\diddledb.pdb c:\mypics picasso

If the option -w is set, you will get a warning, if a file with the same name exists already in the output folder. You can either prompt with a single return, then the file will be overwritten by the new one - or you can enter a different filename for the new file.

The input path and filename shows which Diddle-file will be converted. Those files are created after you made a HotSync. It gets updated after any change of one of the sketches and a following HotSync. Usual this files are named as follows:

But the filename does not matter. You may rename them as well. Validity and type of file are checked on base of the contents.

With the output path you determine where you want to put the bmp-files. Every sketch will be a file of its own.

With the optional name you can determine a prefix for the filename. If you set i.e. picasso, then your pictures will be named picasso1.bmp, picasso2.bmp .... If you don't enter a prefix the default names will be:

Hint: If you hate entering options and filenames by hand on and on again, write a small Perl-skript as I did, with all parameters, i.e.:

system ('perl didcon.pl -w c:\palm\jens\backup\diddleidb.pdb c:\sketch');
system ('perl didcon.pl -w c:\palm\jens\backup\diddledb.pdb c:\sketch');

Put it in the same folder as didcon and then copy a link on the desktop. From now on - one click does it all....

Release 2.0:

• converts Diddle-Scratch, Diddle-Index and DiddleBug
• bmp-header internal - no need for header.bin any more
• define input file, not path; output folder selected with chdir - good for other operating systems
• filename-prefix selectable, default scratch, didbug or name in Diddle-Index
• picture base addresses all taken from input file - needed for diddlebug
• optional warning if outputfile exists already

Didcon 2.0 was tested with Perl 5.6 under Linux and Windows 98/NT.

Mitch Blevins
- for Diddle and DiddleBug - two great Palm applications and testing

Andy Rabagliati
- for good ideas and testing