RUNTIME
V2.1 7.6.2001
(c) Uwe Klimmek
uwe.klimmek@web.de


Runtime is a powerful tool for your Palm organiser to get a lot of statistic data when you using your Palm.
Available features :

INSTALLATION
Install "Runtime.prc" for the English version. Install "Laufzeit.prc" for the German version. Do NOT install both files on one Palm!
You can install Runtime Version 2.1 over Runtime 2.0,1.5.2 or older version. The program converts the existent database to the new format. You do not loss any change of batterie or stored values of voltage. The runtime (not recorded in the old version) is set to zero.
USAGE
You may switch between the four main program screens by tapping the buttons at the upper-right corner of either screen, or by tapping your MENU button and selecting the first Option item ( "Runtime", "Voltage", "Battery", "Statistic"). Here is the description of the various screens:
BAT. VOLTAGE SCREEN
On the left side of this screen, the date of the last battery change is shown. Beside it is the time elapsed since this date.
On the right, you will see the runtime of your Palm with its current batteries. If 2 or more changes of battery have been recorded, the average of the runtimes is displayed above the bottom line. ("Avg" or "Mtl" in the German version).
On the bottom line, you will see the runtime since the last reset of your Palm. The format "12d 13:24" means 12 days 13 hours and 24 minutes.
RECORDING A CHANGE OF BATTERY
Tap your MENU button and select the item, "New Battery" to register a change of battery.
In the displayed dialog box, you have three choices:
Yes: This records the change of battery with the current date and time.
Hand: This allows you to select a date and time for recording a change of battery.
No: This aborts the procedure.
You can edit or delete the values of date and time of all stored battery changes by tapping on the date (displayed in the left column). This action also allows you to enter a note of up to 100 characters in length.
RUNTIME GRAPH
Time is displayed on the x-axis. Runtime of time intervals are displayed on the y-axis. The current battery voltage is shown at the centre of the x-axis, between the two dates. The range of the runtime graph is calculated according the selected period of time. Tap the graph to get detailed information about the tapped interval: Select previous or next time intervall with the arrows buttons, leave with OK button.
STATISTIC
The stored information is shown in statistical manner.
  • Overall period of time: Period of time wich is covered over all storage units
  • Overall runtime: Runtime over all storage units
  • stored intervals: number of storage units in use
  • Intervals for statistic: number of recalculated storage units according the "Intervall"-Option on the Display configuration
  • Min, Avg. and Max periods of time: minimal, average and maximal periods of time according the "Intervall"-Option on the Display configuration
  • Min, Avg. and Max runtime: minimal, average and maximal runtime according the "Intervall"-Option on the Display configuration
BATTERY VOLTAGE GRAPH
Time is displayed on the x-axis. Voltages are displayed on the y-axis. The current battery voltage is shown at the centre of the x-axis, between the two dates. The range of the voltage graph is calculated according the selected period of time. Tap the graph to get detailed information about the tapped interval: Select previous or next time intervall with the arrows buttons, leave with OK button.
SETUP
The option "Number of storage units" determines the number of storage cells. Every storage cells stores the information over the selected period of time at the internal option.
The option "Period of time of storage unit" determines the period of time, which will be stored in one storage cells. For this period of time Runtime stores start time, end time, runtime (the time the palm is used), maximal and minimal voltage.
At every end/beginning of a period of time this values are stored. If a reset occures then only the runtime from the reset time to the end of period of time is recorded. This might be sometimes inaccurate, but so the program does not need any hack and works as a "normal" palm program.
The option "Auto. Store" will cause the program to automatically record the battery voltage and runtime once the selected interval, without having to call the program from the launch pad. If you do not select this option, it is a good idea to call the program once the selected interval, to make sure that it regularly records battery voltage and the runtime. In this setting, the program will only store voltage values and runtime values when the program is called.
The option "Backup" toggles on/off the Backup-Flag of the database. This enablesyou to make backups of the Battery database each time you perform a hotsync. With this option selected, you are able to restore your Battery database after a hard reset, by installing the file "runtimeDB.pdb" from the backup directory on your PC. With this option selected, your Battery data is "reset" resistant (stored in database "runtimeDB.pdb"). Also you can convert the file to a csv-File with the pdb2csv-utility.
If option "Auto-Off" is set then the program does switch off the Palm automaticlly after every measurement (means after every period of time). This avoids that the Palm is switched on from the program for the system auto-off time. If Option is not set, then the Palm switches of after the system-auto-off time.
PREFERENCES
The option "Auto scale" shows the selected numbers of last stored data. If selected, "Start time" and "End time" will be ignored.
The option "Start time" is triggered by tapping the date/time to select the starting date and time of the x-axis. Also do this for "End time". If you set this date before the first stored value it starts with the first day stored. (If you select a day after the last stored day, you see nothing!)
The option "Interval" determines the period of time, which will be used as basis for calculation the statistics and runtime-screen. This is a vital parameter to get informations for various periods of time. Example: The value for period of time for storage unit is set to 4 hours. You can recalculat the statistic and runtime-screen for values greater than 4 hours to get information of other periods of time: Set this value to 1 day and you see the information summarized to 1 day.
The option "Lines" connects the points between each day's voltage with a line. This option is for voltage graph only.
The option "Bars" draws a vertical line for every day. These lines represent the minimum and maximum range of the detected battery voltage for each day. This option is for voltage graph only.
COMPRESSION
Small time intervals can linked together to one time interval with this function. So the same number of intervals can store larger periods of time. Example: intervals of 8h are stored. If you compress with 1 day, then the information of 3 intervals will accumulated in one interval of 1 day.
This function works the same way like the "Intervall"-Option on the Display configuration. But this works on the original stored data! CAUTION: The Compression can not take back!
SAMPLE CONFIGURATIONS
Sample 1:
Store number: 356
Interval: 1day
Auto Scale: 31
Stores data over 1year. The last month will shown in the graph. This is a "normal" setup for a user with no big desire for statistical facts.

Sample 2:
Store number: 300
Interval: 8h
Auto Scale: 42
Stores data over 100 days. The last two weeks will shown in the graph. See the runtime for 3 periods of time: 0-8 8-16 and 16-24.

Sample 3:
Store number: 576
Interval: 5min
Auto Scale: 48
Stores data over 2 days. The last 4h will shown in the graph. Use this setup to detect significant battery drop down by intensive use of the Palm.


PC-Tool pdb2csv
The program pdb2csv converts a RuntimeDB.PDB File from the Palm program Runtime/Laufzeit in a csv-File. This file-format can be read from Excel or any text editor.
The tool has a command line interface only. It is available for Windows and Linux.

Usage:
-i inputfile -o outputfile [-g] [-dc]

-g: Switch to german as program language. Set colon as decimal sign. If not selected default language is english.
-dc: Select decimal sign. Place for c the character you want.

Examples:
German language and colon as decima sign:
pdb2csv -g -i runtimeDB.pdb -o runtime.csv

English language and dot as decimal sign:
pdb2csv -i runtimeDB.pdb -o runtime.csv

English language and colon as decimal sign:
pdb2csv -i runtimeDB.pdb -o runtime.csv -d,

German language and dot as decimal sign:
pdb2csv -i runtimeDB.pdb -o runtime.csv -g -d.
(Attention: select -d after -g !)

Linux: pdb2csv is compiled for using library libc.so.6.

FILES INCLUDED
Runtime.prc: The english version of the application
Laufzeit.prc: The german version of the application
pdb2csv.exe: Windows-Executable to convert runtimedb.pdb to csv-format
pdb2csv: Linux-Executable to convert runtimedb.pdb to csv-format
readme.html and *.gif: Documentation files

HOW TO CONTACT ME
Got a suggestion? Find a bug? Send e-mail to uwe.klimmek@web.de
Thanks for all comments and suggestions, which have been sent to me.

LEGAL STUFF
Runtime and Laufzeit are "freeware", meaning it's copyrighted software and Uwe Klimmek retains all rights to it.
THIS SOFTWARE AND THE ACCOMPANYING FILES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM.

© Uwe Klimmek, last change: 7.6.2001