Why use the companion software?

[HarryT]

Can anyone explain what the companion software is actually for? When I run it, it just looks like a not terribly good "File Manager", except that it's obviously doing something wierd with my internet connection, because I can't access any web sites while it's running .

Is there any reason not to copy files directly to the mounted drive in Windows Explorer, rather than use the companion software?

Apologies if I'm missing something blindingly obvious. I've only read the first few pages of the manual so far.

[smp_iliad]

The DR keeps scribbles in separate meta data file in a same directory. So when you copy or move a file, the metadata must be moved as well. That's why they have a file management functions in the companion software. Also there's a scribble-merge function, though its quality is less than desired.

[HarryT]

Thank you. If I'm just copying eBooks, though, with no "scribbles", etc, there's no reason not to copy directly to the drive, is there?

Any idea why my internet connection goes "strange" while it's running? That's slightly worrying!

[smp_iliad]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Thank you. If I'm just copying eBooks, though, with no "scribbles", etc, there's no reason not to copy directly to the drive, is there?

Any idea why my internet connection goes "strange" while it's running? That's slightly worrying!

Maybe my answer was half correct. You can copy your ebooks or pdfs from your PC to DR WITHOUT using companion s/w. However, when you copy or move files within DR, you must use companion s/w if you don't want to lose your scribbles or other metadata (like font size, etc).

In my setup, I have a directory in my PC that I keep every DR documents and use file sync. program (MS. SyncToy is very good) to synchronize the directory with DR.

[pthwaite]

Harry, I have no idea why your internet would act up when connected. However, during the initial connection the DR1000 will use the internet to check to see if any updates are available. Perhaps this is the problem ? I can run the companion software on PC and Mac running parallels with no issues.

As others have indicated, the only time you need teh companion software is for "merging" any scribbles you have made. The data for these is held in the metadata.db file in each directory and so there is a bit of care needed if you don't use the companion software. That said, I only use the Companion software for merging while in the office and tied to a Windows PC. The merging functionality within the software is poor to say the least. There are others within this forum that have developed alternative merging software which may be worth a look.

Otherwise, just drag and drop as you see fit. It works for me.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by smp_iliad

Maybe my answer was half correct. You can copy your ebooks or pdfs from your PC to DR WITHOUT using companion s/w. However, when you copy or move files within DR, you must use companion s/w if you don't want to lose your scribbles or other metadata (like font size, etc).

Or do the file management on the DR itself, presumably? I assume that correctly moves the metadata with the document?

[cbell]

You also use the Companion software to create (and uncreate) templates. This will determine whether a new file is created from a template when you open it. I also use the Companion software when I'm creating new folders, so the metadata.db file is created.

Otherwise, I do the file management on the DR's screen.

(OK, so uncreate isn't the correct word. Its how you can make a template stop being a template.)

[PhishStyx]

You'll also need the companion software anytime you create a new directory on the DR, so that it will create that metadata.db file.

[cbell]

*snap* PhishStyx!

[PhishStyx]

Originally Posted by cbell

*snap* PhishStyx!

DOH!!

[Grimulkan]

Originally Posted by PhishStyx

You'll also need the companion software anytime you create a new directory on the DR, so that it will create that metadata.db file.

I thought the DR did that on its own if you ever navigated to that folder, and you only need the companion software to mark up documents (like tag them as a template). You can avoid even that if you get a tiny SQLite database reader/editor.

[tribble]

the companion software is utterly crap. Sorry to say that, but its true. The only time i use it ist, when i really need to move a file to a different location and dont want to loose bookmarks, scribbles or other meta data.

Other than that i use the irex tools to merge scribbles into pdf files. works nicely (on a mac though, havent tested that on a windows machine yet).

I personally wished, they had only used one db file per medium and used hash values to identify names in addition to storage position, so they could recover metadata on a moved file. They should get rid of the companion software and have all that functionality on the DR itself.

[pthwaite]

I would agree that the ability to merger your scibbles from within the DR itself would be of enormous benefit and largely negate the need for the companion software.

[PhishStyx]

Originally Posted by Grimulkan

I thought the DR did that on its own if you ever navigated to that folder, and you only need the companion software to mark up documents (like tag them as a template). You can avoid even that if you get a tiny SQLite database reader/editor.

The few times that I've tried navigating to a folder on the DR created without that software, I don't think it produced that metadata file (although it's been a while, so I could be misremembering).

More recently since I updated to firmware 1.6, I have begun having a situation where a directory also creates a file called metadata.db-journal, which makes opening the directory on the DR impossible. Has anyone else run into this?

[tjdean256]

Originally Posted by PhishStyx

More recently since I updated to firmware 1.6, I have begun having a situation where a directory also creates a file called metadata.db-journal, which makes opening the directory on the DR impossible. Has anyone else run into this?

I ran into that problem last night. I was using Xournal working on a 4-page note, closed that, then opened a PDF file. When I tried to reopen the pdf file I couldn't get into the directory. I also could not save any Xournal files. Metadata.db-journal was in the pdf directory and deleting the metadata.db file in the directory I keep Xournal notes fixed both problems.

td