I've actually considered the same issue myself in the past. Theoretically, you could do something similiar to what you suggest, but you'd have the following problems:
1) I don't know of any way to programmatically launch HotSync on the Palm, even if your serial detection program running on the Palm did detect it was time to start a HotSync
2) Running a serial monitoring program constantly is very draining on the Palm's batteries, and you couldn't run any other program whilst it was running - seems to somewhat defeat the purpose of the ease of desktop initiated synchronisation
In short, I seriously doubt you'll be able to succeed in getting the PC to initiate a synchronisation. If it was an absolute requirement, you might be able to get away with writing your own serial-based synchronisation system with a monitoring program on the Palm and a controller on the desktop. The only trouble is, of course, that it would be a lot of work for little benefit, and again, a program constantly monitoring the serial port on the Palm would drain it's batteries quickly. Plus, it wouldn't work on USB based Palms.
Sorry to disappoint you, but in this case Palm Inc. seems to be correct.
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Hi Guys,
I must first say a big thank you! The software is awesome and is working a treat, all my initial bugs are sorted (or worked around).
My client has come up with a new request which according to PalmSource is "impossible". I love that challenge! I need to to a PC initiated HotSync.
My question is this: Through the conduit do you have access to the serial port which is in use by HotSync?
All I want to do is send some arbitrary command down the serial port to a serial capture app on the Palm which will initiate a HotSync.
I've actually considered the same issue myself in the past. Theoretically, you could do something similiar to what you suggest, but you'd have the following problems:
1) I don't know of any way to programmatically launch HotSync on the Palm, even if your serial detection program running on the Palm did detect it was time to start a HotSync
2) Running a serial monitoring program constantly is very draining on the Palm's batteries, and you couldn't run any other program whilst it was running - seems to somewhat defeat the purpose of the ease of desktop initiated synchronisation
In short, I seriously doubt you'll be able to succeed in getting the PC to initiate a synchronisation. If it was an absolute requirement, you might be able to get away with writing your own serial-based synchronisation system with a monitoring program on the Palm and a controller on the desktop. The only trouble is, of course, that it would be a lot of work for little benefit, and again, a program constantly monitoring the serial port on the Palm would drain it's batteries quickly. Plus, it wouldn't work on USB based Palms.
Sorry to disappoint you, but in this case Palm Inc. seems to be correct.