This book describes a set of developer tools that you can use to create, edit, process, and compile Palm OS® resources--forms, menus, text strings, and controls--for Palm OS applications.

In this book, you learn how to use the following tools:

• GenerateXRD - This tool converts existing Palm OS PRC files and Macintosh RSRC files into an XML-based file format (called an XRD file). This book describes GenerateXRD version 1.3.
• Palm OS Resource Editor - With this tool, you can create and edit XML resource description (XRD) files.
• PalmRC - This tool compiles XML resource description (XRD) files. This book describes PalmRC version 1.3.
• PRCMerge - This tool links the output of PalmRC with your compiled source code to produce a Palm OS binary file (a PRC file). This book describes PRCMerge version 1.3.
• PRCCompare - This tool compares two Palm OS binary resource files and produces a report describing the differences between the files. This book describes PRCCompare version 1.3.
• hOverlay - This tool allows you to create localized versions of your Palm OS application. This book describes hOverlay version 1.3.
• PRCSign and PRCCert - These tools allow you to add security features to your Palm OS application. This book describes PRCSign and PRCCert version 1.0.

How This Book Is Organized ^TOP^

The first chapter of this book provides an overview of the resource tools.

• Chapter 1, "Introducing Palm OS Resource Tools," introduces you to a set of developer tools that you can use to create, edit, process, and compile Palm OS resources.

The remaining chapters each cover a tool in the resource toolset.

• Chapter 2, "Converting Existing Resources into XML Resource Files," explains how you can use the GenerateXRD tool to convert your existing Macintosh RSRC files into XML-based resource description files (XRD files).
• Chapter 3, "Compiling XML Resource Files," tells you how to use PalmRC to compile XRD files.
• Chapter 4, "Building a Palm OS Application," covers information on linking your compiled XRD file with your compiled source code to produce a Palm OS application (a PRC file).
• Chapter 5, "Comparing Palm OS Resource Database Files," describes how to use PRCCompare to identify the differences between two Palm OS binary resource files.
• Chapter 6, "Localizing a Palm OS Application," discusses how to create overlay resources for Palm OS applications using the hOverlay tool.
• Chapter 7, "Securing a Palm OS Application," explains how to use PalmSource's application security tools, PRCSign and PRCCert.

Palm OS Developer Suite Documentation ^TOP^

The following tools books are part of the Palm OS Developer Suite package:

Additional Resources ^TOP^

• Documentation

  PalmSource publishes its latest versions of this and other documents for Palm OS developers at

  http://www.palmos.com/dev/support/docs/

• Training

  PalmSource and its partners host training classes for Palm OS developers. For topics and schedules, check

  http://www.palmos.com/dev/training

• Knowledge Base

  The Knowledge Base is a fast, web-based database of technical information. Search for frequently asked questions (FAQs), sample code, white papers, and the development documentation at

  http://www.palmos.com/dev/support/kb/