Move Root My Documents to SD Card

whiterabbit.90 · 01-16-08, 10:24 PM

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone could tell me how to move the My Documents folder to an external card in WM 2003 SE on a axim x50v. I want it so that every program will look at the new my documents folder (on a card) rather then old root one that is in the RAM, I don't want to have 2, i just want one on an external card.

Thanks for the help

Zaniax · 01-17-08, 07:26 AM

Congratulations on your first post, whiterabbit.90

'My documents' is an integral part of OS system and can't be moved.
But you can move all the contents to your SD memory as you already knows.
You'll still see 2 'My documents' folders - but one will be empty.

Should know that the access speed will somewhat lower though.

That's the best I can tell ....

Welcome to the AximSite - I'm sure you'll enjoy -

whiterabbit.90 · 01-17-08, 03:25 PM

thanks for clearing that up...

One more thing then if thats the case ... Can I make sure that programs don't put stuff on the RAM (rood) My Documents somehow? Also is it true that the BIS is the slowest compared to CF and SD cards?

Thanks again

spunker88 · 01-17-08, 07:08 PM

Install this File Dialog Changer it will make it so that every time you save a file you get a box where u can navigate to the memory card, instead of just seeing my documents. This is a must have and its free and small in size.

About the BIS, i never use it. I think cards are safer for data, b/c they are seperate from the device. Plus storage is so cheap. I mean if your a google checkout user, just use a new gmail address, you can get a 1gb sd card for free without any rebates from buy.com. Extra storage for the cheap.

whiterabbit.90 · 01-18-08, 03:04 PM

thanks for the program ... that is really useful!

Zaniax · 01-18-08, 06:17 PM

Thanks for the hint, Spunker

I downloaded the zip file to my ax but I was not able to install the .cpl file

Any clue ?

Btw: I used google translate on the japanese site - worked !

AKAJohnDoe · 01-18-08, 08:49 PM

When I ran WM2003SE I installed everything to BIS. It is wasted space if you don't use it; nothing else will use the space.

Mushinronjya · 02-17-08, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaniax

Congratulations on your first post, whiterabbit.90

'My documents' is an integral part of OS system and can't be moved.

Don't lie to these people.
It can too be moved.
If you want to sound like you know about pdas, then post that it CAN be moved, but that it's more complicated than just going to one menu (you have to download a regedit program, and then you have to move the files, etc etc, google says it all).
*THEN* you give them alternatives if you want.
But don't tell someone that something "can't" be done with a computer file system, which is ridiculous.

Quote:

But you can move all the contents to your SD memory as you already knows.
You'll still see 2 'My documents' folders - but one will be empty.

Yes, this is your alternative AFTER you're disclaimer of the need for caution on the main thing he asked for.

Quote:

Should know that the access speed will somewhat lower though.

This is true, although it's really only relevant insofar as the accessing of applications themselves that are installed on the storage card, not of just saving/loading files that are an intended product of the use of an application (e.g. word documents, etc).

*stevenator65* · 02-17-08, 05:36 PM

Well Mushroom, here are some notes from the Pocket PC master Menneisyys:

From Pocket PC Thoughts

Quote:

Unfortunately, some GPS/map/communication/mobile phone handler (for example, mPhone) apps put their logs/data files in either \My Documents or the root of the file system. Some kind of hack (direct .EXE hexediting) may help in these cases though, if the application creating the log file has the directory name \My Documents wired-in. Then, by just changing this directory name with a hex editor inside the EXE/DLL files of the app to, say, \SD Card, will do the trick. Which of your apps is creating log files in \My Documents ? I may succeed in 'hacking' it not to do so.

The following is a more generic overview of what is stored in \My Documents. It's not related to your problem any more; still, they may have some useful info for a lot of people, so I elaborate on them a bit more thoroughly.

First, install-time file creation.

A lot of applications copy their help/sample files to \My Documents during install. For example, most image viewer apps copy their example pictures upon installation into \My Documents. So does, say, Adobe Acrobat Reader and same stands for a lot of other apps (for example, WebToGo SMS). This can easily be combatted by checking \My Documents after each install. (The same needs to be done with \Windows to find too large .HTM help files and, especially, (hopefully) relocatable DLL's .) That is, you only need to relocate/delete these files (if you can - some apps, for example, the above-mentioned WebToGo SMS, just exit if you delete/move their stuff they place there.)

This is an one-time task (after every program install) to keep the main memory clean.

Instructing your apps to save their stuff you create with them on a memory card instead of the main memory is a different question.

First, a lot of, mostly built-in applications (for example, Pocket Word, Excel etc) can't even be told to save the documents you create (note that editing an already-existing file on a memory card is possible!) in them on a memory card instead of the main memory. You will always need to transfer their saved apps to a memory card after they are done saving them.

The built-in Notes is different. Going right to Tools/Options, you can change the default save directory in the Save to: drop-down list. Then, all recordings and notes you make are automatically saved at the specified destination.

You may also consider using the File Changer Dialog from Mad Programmer . It greatly enhances the options for saving with apps that have any kind of save dialog. (Pocket Word /Excel is not one of them, so, they will still save stuff in main memory.) See the linked thread on the app.

That would make it more painful than would be worth it. So even if you could move the folder, would it be worth it?

Spunker, thanks for the great tip on File Dialog Changer.

spud42 · 02-18-08, 06:52 AM

thanks for the file spunker88, but as the z man said where do we put the file??

*stevenator65* · 02-18-08, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaniax

Thanks for the hint, Spunker

I downloaded the zip file to my ax but I was not able to install the .cpl file

Any clue ?

Btw: I used google translate on the japanese site - worked !

Same with me. I really want to install this program.

DaLabrador · 02-18-08, 09:57 PM

Get gsgetfile.dll from the same download page.
copy both the .cpl file and the .dll file to \windows.

Press start-settings, choose the system tab, click file dialog changer.

Change away.

*stevenator65* · 02-19-08, 09:05 AM

Thanks DaLab, I'll give it a shot today.

*stevenator65* · 02-19-08, 09:44 AM

DaLab, it worked after a soft reset. Thanks! Now, how do I use this thing? It just has a box for Exceptional Applications and an Add button.

DaLabrador · 02-19-08, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenator65

DaLab, it worked after a soft reset. Thanks! Now, how do I use this thing? It just has a box for Exceptional Applications and an Add button.

If you check the box next to "Exchange file dialog" it changes the default "file save" and "file open" dialog. The original file dialog isn't that good (unless you only want to save/open files in the My Documents folder and a couple of others).

The exceptions list (which you can add programs to) excludes some programs from the change.