Need to assign dim/light display to another button

[srvctec]

Just wondering if there is a way to do this. I have iLauncher installed and thought I could just assign one of the quick launches to one of the buttons, but can't find the file in the Windows folder that dims/lights the backlight. I want to be able to dim/light the display using a button other than the power button, since I have it as full power off. Any ideas on which file does this or is it hard wired in? I tried backlight.cpl and backlight.exe which open settings for the backlight, but doesn't actually turn it on or off. I tried PowerExe.exe and powerg.cpl which open the settings for power.

[srvctec]

Nobody has any ideas on this?

As you know the main power button is full on full off with a quick press by default. But it is easy to miss that it also has a secondary function. Press and hold to toggle the backlight on and off.

[srvctec]

As you know the main power button is full on full off with a quick press by default. But it is easy to miss that it also has a secondary function. Press and hold to toggle the backlight on and off.

Actually the default action of the power button with a quick press is not full on or off, it's kind of like a sleep mode. Power is still being drained from the battery. This is why I set mine to be "Full power off" when the power button is pressed and held. Which is what my entire first post was about (guess I wasn't clear enough). Since I have mine set this way, I can no longer just press and hold to "Dim/light the display".

What I need to know is how to dim/light the display given the fact I can't do it by pressing and holding the power button. In other words, does anyone know which program to run in the Windows folder (or anywhere else on the Axim) to accomplish this?

[JakeRich]

Why not set it to dim automatically? Start/settings/system/brighness set it to dim after whatever time you want on battery and external power, then let it do it's thing. A screen tap will bring it back. Not instantaneous off, but you can set the time to as little as 15 seconds.

[purcy]

I use iLauncher too and here is what I did: using iLauncher I re-assigned the left and right softkeys at the bottom of the screen, I switched the left softkey from Calendar to Power Off and the right softkey from Contacts to Soft Reset. You do this in iLauncher by going into Options-Shortcuts and then click on Left Softkey Tab and Right Softkey Tab and choosing which app you want to assign them to.

I then went into my Power options and checked the option for the main Power button to dim the backlight if you press and hold it. That way I never have to touch that power button to turn off the Axim, just click on the lower softkey. I love iLauncher for all those options.

[Mokubai]

Well, I don't know if it's much help, but I actually switch the screen off when playing mp3s and things like that. I use psshutxp and after you first run it it will create a shrotcut called Display Switch which turns off the screen to save power and can be assigned to a button. Don't know about just dimming the screen though, sorry.

Utility for Pocket PC - psShutXP - turn off, display off and restart your PocketPC, PPCSoft

[srvctec]

Why not set it to dim automatically? Start/settings/system/brighness set it to dim after whatever time you want on battery and external power, then let it do it's thing. A screen tap will bring it back. Not instantaneous off, but you can set the time to as little as 15 seconds.

Thanks, but I already have it set that way. My problem is I want to be able to completely shut off the backlight when in bright sunlight and still use the screen by tapping without the backlight coming back on.

[srvctec]

I use iLauncher too and here is what I did: using iLauncher I re-assigned the left and right softkeys at the bottom of the screen, I switched the left softkey from Calendar to Power Off and the right softkey from Contacts to Soft Reset. You do this in iLauncher by going into Options-Shortcuts and then click on Left Softkey Tab and Right Softkey Tab and choosing which app you want to assign them to.

I then went into my Power options and checked the option for the main Power button to dim the backlight if you press and hold it. That way I never have to touch that power button to turn off the Axim, just click on the lower softkey. I love iLauncher for all those options.

Eureka! This sounds like exactly what I was looking for. It never even crossed my mind to set it up that way.

P.S.
Is the power off for the left softkey full power off or just the sleep mode off?

edit: I just tested it and that's not full power off unless there is a file to choose in the Windows folder for full power off, which I couldn't find. So it's close to what I need, but not quite. :(

Thanks!!:approve:

[solara]

Thanks, but I already have it set that way. My problem is I want to be able to completely shut off the backlight when in bright sunlight and still use the screen by tapping without the backlight coming back on.

I'm not aware of any program that can do either a full power off, or dim the backlight. Though I'm surprised the major utility programs do not have this feature since it would seem to be available if the Axim itself can do it with the power button. I know AE Button Plus can turn OFF the screen completely, but you can't use the screen unless you turn the screen back on again. And it can also turn off the device - but that's to stand-by, not a full power off.

[purcy]

Eureka! This sounds like exactly what I was looking for. It never even crossed my mind to set it up that way.

P.S.
Is the power off for the left softkey full power off or just the sleep mode off?

edit: I just tested it and that's not full power off unless there is a file to choose in the Windows folder for full power off, which I couldn't find. So it's close to what I need, but not quite. :(

Thanks!!:approve:

Well on mine it is FULL Power Off, I used the icon link that comes in the iLauncher Task Manager, they offer Power Off & Soft ReSet. Go under iLauncher Options - Shortcuts - Task Manager Tab and you will see the icon links. If you notice the Power Off is a little red button that looks just like the power button on the Axim. When I tap that left softkey now that says Power Off, mine is OFF; if you click the screen there is no recovery, it remains OFF. Good luck

[solara]

Full power off means when you turn it off, all programs still in memory are lost - like turning off a computer completely. When you turn it back on, it's like doing a reset. Regular power off is just to Standby. When you turn it back on, all the programs you had running will still be in memory.

[srvctec]

Mokubai,

Does psShutXP actually shut the entire screen down or just turn off the light? According to their web page, it shows "light off" as one of the features. I might just have to try it and see what happens. I have to admit, I didn't even check the link before because it sounded like it wouldn't do what I wanted. Now I'm not so sure what it does exactly- light off or screen off.

i use the same method (pshutxp), and yes it does create the shortcut called Display Switch. i assign it to a button and boom there we go. i use this for playback of mp3s and they still play. it turns off the whole screen while keeping the pda on.

[Mokubai]

psShutXP has three options when you run it.

"Display off" leaves the device on but the display is off. Useful for playing mp3s.
"Turn off" for when you want to waste clicks on tapping the screen rather than pressing the silver button on the top of your device.
"Reset" for the times when you don't want to poke your stylus in the hole. (but who doesn't want to do that, eh? ;) )

It also, on first run, creates a shortcut in your programs folder called "Display Switch" which does option 1 above and can be assigned to a hard button.