Support says there is no way to salvage my backup

Thanks for the extensive effort, Ken.

So, the question is what in the ESI is it that allows an eDGe to recognize it as belonging to another eDGe?

If you can identify that, it should be possible to transplant that section from the target eDGe's backup file into the source backup file so that the target eDGe will accept the ESI as its own.

(HINT: It may be the Adobe registration XML file...)

As far as the DRM'd stuff, yes, I think the registration is a difficulty. The new device might need to be registered under the same account, or the orignal user/password information has to be put on the new device (however it's managed).

As far as everything else is concerned -- user-created Journals, unprotected PDF files, etc. it appears everything is unencrypted and just connected together with a series of sqllite database files. It shouldn't require (much) rocket science to get a journal created on one edge added to the library on a different edge.

Thanks for all the info; after school I will attempt to locate my journals.

That is what I thought. The things that matter can be saved (the journals). I wonder if documents annotations can be saved as well?

Amazing that support couldn't at least suggest this option.

Originally Posted by kenjennings

As far as the DRM'd stuff, yes, I think the registration is a difficulty. The new device might need to be registered under the same account, or the orignal user/password information has to be put on the new device (however it's managed).

As far as everything else is concerned -- user-created Journals, unprotected PDF files, etc. it appears everything is unencrypted and just connected together with a series of sqllite database files. It shouldn't require (much) rocket science to get a journal created on one edge added to the library on a different edge.

Originally Posted by fgruber

Amazing that support couldn't at least suggest this option.

Likely because there aren't any programmers left to answer questions like that...

Originally Posted by borisb

Likely because there aren't any programmers left to answer questions like that...

Likely you are correct.

In continuation: Been root'ing (pun intended) around some more in the database.

It looks like /fridge is everything important about the device. So far, I see one table that appears to have the serialno value that identifies the device. In theory, I think updating this value to the target eDGe's serialno may make the backup restorable to a different edge.

** DISCLAIMER ** Completely untested by me, since I do not have a second edge for the purposes of research or torture. I'm only reporting what the data suggests may be possible. Your mileage will vary. Make sure you have an entirely separate backup and are willing to do a factory reset. I apologize in advance for the mayhem that will probably ensue, but I did warn you, right???

Requirements:
Be able to move a backup file to another PC.
Be able to run zip and unzip to uncompress/recompress the backup on a PC.
Have and be able to run sqlite3.

1) Determine the device ID/serialno of the TARGET edge. This is the serialno with the barcode on the "binding" edge of the closed edge like this: F303082002AF (No, not my actual serialno).

2) Do a backup on the source edge.

3) Copy the backup to another PC, unpack the zip file.

4) go to /fridge/.edge/.esi-data/.databases

5) run sqlite3 library.db

6) in sqllite execute the command: update esimeta set device = 'F303082002AF' where _id = 1 ;

7) quit sqllite, and rezip the directories /fridge and /sdcard (or /extsdcard if that was unpacked.) Alternatively, you may be able to just freshen the zip archive with only the library.db file

8) move the backup file to the target edge.

9) try to restore, cross fingers, get ready for disappointment, etc.

Very interesting.
any idea what is in this library.db? Perhaps the highlighting and sticky notes for all annotated documents?

Originally Posted by kenjennings

In continuation: Been root'ing (pun intended) around some more in the database.

It looks like /fridge is everything important about the device. So far, I see one table that appears to have the serialno value that identifies the device. In theory, I think updating this value to the target eDGe's serialno may make the backup restorable to a different edge.

** DISCLAIMER ** Completely untested by me, since I do not have a second edge for the purposes of research or torture. I'm only reporting what the data suggests may be possible. Your mileage will vary. Make sure you have an entirely separate backup and are willing to do a factory reset. I apologize in advance for the mayhem that will probably ensue, but I did warn you, right???

Requirements:
Be able to move a backup file to another PC.
Be able to run zip and unzip to uncompress/recompress the backup on a PC.
Have and be able to run sqlite3.

1) Determine the device ID/serialno of the TARGET edge. This is the serialno with the barcode on the "binding" edge of the closed edge like this: F303082002AF (No, not my actual serialno).

2) Do a backup on the source edge.

3) Copy the backup to another PC, unpack the zip file.

4) go to /fridge/.edge/.esi-data/.databases

5) run sqlite3 library.db

6) in sqllite execute the command: update esimeta set device = 'F303082002AF' where _id = 1 ;

7) quit sqllite, and rezip the directories /fridge and /sdcard (or /extsdcard if that was unpacked.) Alternatively, you may be able to just freshen the zip archive with only the library.db file

8) move the backup file to the target edge.

9) try to restore, cross fingers, get ready for disappointment, etc.

Originally Posted by fgruber

Very interesting.
any idea what is in this library.db? Perhaps the highlighting and sticky notes for all annotated documents?

It has a bunch of tables all named esi*somethingorother. Yes, it looks like it points to books, annotations, attachments, etc. I'll post a list later.

now if we could just use this information to merge the annotations to the pdf....

OK - Step 1 accomplished 7zip extracted the contents.

kenjennings, I think I love you. Mission accomplished. I found all the esj files in the folder titled edge - esi content and copied to my dropbox. The PE opens them. Thank you so much. Some vital notes for my final weeks at school were being held hostage in there.

Awesome news! Great work, kenjennings!

A sad reminder of how much more could have been accomplished if enTourage had been more open with an SDK, and sharing info with developers in general...

Originally Posted by borisb

A sad reminder of how much more could have been accomplished if enTourage had been more open with an SDK, and sharing info with developers in general...

Boris, I feel your pain. I originally wanted a Notion Ink Adam. I bought the edge on hope, after being a member of the Google unofficial forum. All the members were so passionate about their edge. I had high hopes for a 2nd generation device.