Develop Bugs

Cannot open or save attachments

When I download e-mail in Pocket Outlook, I can see the attachments but I cannot open or save them. I think I'm doing everything as I should: after a "send/receive" the message arrives in my inbox; I hit "mark for download" to get the full version including attachment, and I click send/receive again. But after that, when I click the attachment or tap-&-hold it and click "save as", nothing happens.
Strangely, the attachments do get downloaded to the Windows/Messaging/Attachments folder, where they reside in the form of ".att"-files with long codenames. I can even open them by changing the extension (for instance to ".doc" for word files), but this is a pain as I have to copy them to another folder and try every single file since there's no way of recognizing them by their file names.
I have restored from a Sprite Backup once or twice, and since I understand these mailboxes are pretty complicated structures to recreate, I'm wondering if this could have caused the problem.
I have the following mail boxes in Pocket Outlook:
Text messages and MMS (standard)
ActiveSync, with a LOT of synchronized messages, all without attachments though (to save space)
Two e-mail accounts, one POP3 and one hotmail (with Adriansoft's HTTPmail plugin). This is where I sometimes need to download attachments. These messages usually get deleted pretty quickly, as I store everything in Desktop Outlook and keep my online mailboxes empty. However, I've noticed that even attachments from deleted messages are kept in the Windows/Messaging/Attachments folder.
Operating system is Pocket PC 2003 SE.
Has anyone had this problem before? As I don't have any attachments I need to keep (none in ActiveSync folder, and the POP3 and hotmail accounts are emptied into Desktop Outlook regularly), do you think it's safe to delete all the files in the Windows/Messaging/Attachments folder? Would this perhaps help (by forcing Pocket Outlook into a "clean start" organizing attachments)? Hard resetting and rebuilding from scratch is not an option, I'm afraid, as I use my device intensively and don't have the time to do this.
Thanks in advance for any help!

Hi Robrecht
I have been having the same issue.
Have you mannaged to fix yours yet?
What you can try if you have restored using SpriteSoftware before is using there cleaning software. It will basicly clear and reset all your mail folders, attachment databases..etc..etc.
http://www.spritesoftware.com/downloads/CleanMail.zip
Please let me know how you go and if you have found a way of fixing your problem if you have already done so... This file did not fix my issue but is has fixed others with attachment issues.
FB

Same Problem here.
Anyone find a solution yet??
Thanks!

Change registry keys that points to attachments location
Got the same problem on my iPAQ 5550.
Don't know which application setup caused the problem, but I found a solution changing some registry keys that points to attachments location.
First of all I suggest to backup your pocket pc data.
Open windows notepad or other text editor
Copy and paste the following lines:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Inbox\Attachments]
"BottomDir"="Attachments"
"MiddleDir"="Messaging"
"TopDir"="Windows"
"AttsDir"="\\Windows\\Messaging\\Attachments\\"
"Moving"=dword:00000000
Save the file as FixAttach.reg (or choose a different name mantaining the .reg extension).
Copy the file on your pocket pc, and tap on it.
Let me know if it works.
.:Matrix:.

Change registry keys that points to attachments location
Got the same problem on my iPAQ 5550.
Don't know which application setup caused the problem, but I found a solution changing some registry keys that points to attachments location.
First of all I suggest to backup your pocket pc data.
Open windows notepad or other text editor
Copy and paste the following lines:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Inbox\Attachments]
"BottomDir"="Attachments"
"MiddleDir"="Messaging"
"TopDir"="Windows"
"AttsDir"="\\Windows\\Messaging\\Attachments\\"
"Moving"=dword:00000000
Save the file as FixAttach.reg (or choose a different name mantaining the .reg extension).
Copy the file on your pocket pc, and tap on it.
Let me know if it works.
.:Matrix:.

How to save email attachments

I emailed myself a cab file that I would like to install on my device. I have Outlook configured to storage attachment on my storage card. I find an inbox.mst folder on my storage card, but every file has a .att attachment. I found the file that it must be, because of date and size, and copied to another folder and then renamed it. Once i launched it, it was the .cab that I wanted. But is there a better way to save email attachments?

thebrenda said:
is there a better way to save email attachments?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you open an e-mail you should see the attachment listed, just as you would on a desktop Outlook (even though you've set it to be stored in the bundle on the storage card). If it hasn't actually been downloaded from the server yet (because of how "attachment-size" restriction has been set) you'll need to have it do that first. Then do a long press on the name of the attachment and a little dialog-window should pop up/open with "save as" as an option. Select it.

Text Editor

is there a text editor built into the phone somewhere? It would be real nice to be able to read files while in the phone itself , or do you have to be tied to the pc?

You have word in the office hub. You may create new files but syncing with pc is not supported as far as I know. You have to send files from your pc to your phone via email.

Advanced Explorer and TouchXplorer both offer full filesystem access and the ability to open any file for reading/editing in Word (although some files will be write-protected). This generally works fine for plain-text files.

Kindle - Sideload eBooks

As some of you might have noticed, the Amazon Kindle App is quite good.
Unfortunately you have to pay for ebooks which are usually available for free on the Internet (e.g.: Programming Windows Phone 7, sold for 22.53$ , available for free on: http://www.charlespetzold.com/phone/).
So I tried to convert it to the used prc format, et voilà it's working.
So here's what you have to do:
Download http://www.mobipocket.com/en/downloadsoft/productdetailscreator.asp or any other Program, capable of converting pdf to prc.
When the conversion is done, apply the registry hack, so that your phone will show up in Windows Explorer. (http://www.mobiletechworld.com/2010/11/18/use-your-windows-phone-7-device-as-a-portable-usb-drive/) Remember to close Zune. Otherwise it won't work.
Copy the newly created *.prc file to your phone. If not already done, install TouchXplorer and go to My Documents\Zune\Content\0400\03 and cut the newly created file (It will be renamed to*.z)
Paste it to Applications\Data\48195FB4-EE0E-9264...\Data\IsolatedStore\kindle
Now rename the file so you will remember the it (e.g. programming.prc).
Start up Kindle and the newly added book should be available.
Let me know if it works for you too.

Works perfectly.... thanks!

Works fine, thanks. However, would be nice if you linked the USB hack in your post. Also, (this confused me at first) the storage doesn't show up if you use WPConnect or have Zune running.

It works fine but the book (i tried the Programming WP7 one too) isn't really readable. The text is all over the place and it's also alot larger than the other books (despite my settings being smallest font possible).
Is there a way to make it more "Phone Friendly"?

does it only support prc format?
edit: nevermind, it supports mobi too apparently

worked ... flawlessly
thanks Bro..

Instead of TouchXplorer, you can use Advanced Explorer - it supports doing this automatically. It can both copy files to your phone from the PC (without the PC registry hack) and can sideload .mobi files for you (or you can use the copy-paste functionality just like in TouchXplorer).

Advanced Explorer for mobile or pc? where i get it? is it work with samsung focus?

It's a homebrew phone app. You can find the link right here on this forum. You ned developer unlock of course, as with all these other options.
Samsung suppport is in progress, but I don't know how far along it is.

Why can't you just email the PDF to your @kindle.com account? That's the standard way of getting free books in PDF format to your Kindle, and then it's available to all your Kindle devices as well. I mean I get following this hack if you want to convert non-PDF files, but for MSWord, PDF and MOBI files it's automatic.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_k2land_trans?nodeId=200505520
[EDIT] - Following the instructions from Amazon above, I see they give you a download link to the converted file. You still need to copy the file to your Kindle or Phone, so this hack is still valid. However, if you do mail to your @free.kindle.com email address, you can get it in native (.azw) format.
M

mlekas said:
Why can't you just email the PDF to your @kindle.com account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is it possible to have a kindle account without owning a kindle device? because my amazon account is asking a 16-digit serial number

Extract SMS on WP7

Hello there,
just for your info - maybe it helps somebody:
after some days of trying i found the shortmessages (with tel-number etc.) and some other stuff in a file:
1. Explore your phone with Windows Phone Device Manager
2. goto \Application Data\
3. Add "\Microsoft" to the path (under the file-explorer logo)
4. goto Outlook\Stores\DeviceStore
5. Rename "store.vol" to something like "store.vol.txt" (it is mandatory to rename this file - without this step the file is in use by outlook)
6. extract it (drag n drop)
7. run perl script (#perl test.pl store.vol.txt)
8. See output
Maybe one of you could build a backup application or something like that!
Link to perl script:
http://uploaded.to/file/he26q0d2
Original source of script:
http://www.pocketpcjunkies.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/pocketpc-dev/21040/Reading-pim-vol-EDB-File-on-a-PC
Edit:
Don't know if you've seen it:
\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Stores\DeviceStore\data
ALL emails and other messages + contact-pictures + signature (three sizes) (just edit the file extension to .html or .jpeg - hex edit helps to find what is right )
\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
-> TabsStorage.bin: Opened tabs from internet explorer (where are the cookies?! )
\Applications\Data\82A23635-5BD9-DF11-A844-00237DE2DB9E\Data\IsolatedStore
ALL Facebook-Information (if app is installed), including messages, pictures, notifications etc. etc.
\Application Data\Location\Cache
Wifi & GSM Data when features is enabled in WP7-preferences (encrypted?! don't know..)
Much more to come...
greets
endeffekt

Thanks! Looks interesting, I might try that!
Hey just wondering but does syncing with outlook have the option to sync texts? Only reason I wonder is because you said that file was in use by outlook....

WP7SuperFan said:
Thanks! Looks interesting, I might try that!
Hey just wondering but does syncing with outlook have the option to sync texts? Only reason I wonder is because you said that file was in use by outlook....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey,
i just THINK it's in use
If you look at this file without renaming it's at 0,00 KB and you can't extract it. Maybe the contacts-tile or something else is using it

Hi Endeffekt,
thank you for this great hint!
But one more question before I try. Is it possible, to rename the file after the procedure back to "store.vol" without losing the messages on the phone?

schluff1 said:
Hi Endeffekt,
thank you for this great hint!
But one more question before I try. Is it possible, to rename the file after the procedure back to "store.vol" without losing the messages on the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WP7 creates a copy of this file (automatic), so no problemo sir

Great! Alle messages are there. But the script doesnt work for me.
Now we need a smart developer who can make a viewer for it.
Is there a way to copy the vol file back to the phone? Or is the file always locked? For restore reasons...

I think this is very interesting (possibility to backup/restore SMS), so probably we should keep it on the front page so the devs could notice it.

Has anybody tried to restore that store.vol into the device after a reset? I mean rename the current store.vol to any filename, then copy the backed up store.vol to the phone and restart.
I'd like to try but i need to get hold all my current sms!

Pixa1 said:
I think this is very interesting (possibility to backup/restore SMS), so probably we should keep it on the front page so the devs could notice it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree
thanks a lot Endeffekt for sharing such important information
i sent the file to my pc but still couldn't edit it,
if anyone know other way than perl script please share,
i'm trying to edit the file and insert old sms from my old phone
thanks

Gray.Fox said:
i agree
thanks a lot Endeffekt for sharing such important information
i sent the file to my pc but still couldn't edit it,
if anyone know other way than perl script please share,
i'm trying to edit the file and insert old sms from my old phone
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hint: it's an EBD database (like other files too)

Don't know if you've seen it:
\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Stores\DeviceStore\data
ALL emails and other messages + contact-pictures + signature (three sizes) (just edit the file extension to .html or .jpeg - hex edit helps to find what is right )
\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
-> TabsStorage.bin: Opened tabs from internet explorer (where are the cookies?! )
\Applications\Data\82A23635-5BD9-DF11-A844-00237DE2DB9E\Data\IsolatedStore
ALL Facebook-Information (if app is installed), including messages, pictures, notifications etc. etc.
\Application Data\Location\Cache
Wifi & GSM Data when features is enabled in WP7-preferences (encrypted?! don't know..)

da_mayhem said:
Has anybody tried to restore that store.vol into the device after a reset? I mean rename the current store.vol to any filename, then copy the backed up store.vol to the phone and restart.
I'd like to try but i need to get hold all my current sms!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will try this today

endeffekt said:
I will try this today
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How was it?

endeffekt said:
Hint: it's an EBD database (like other files too)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks endeffekt for the hint i'll look into it thanks alot
endeffekt said:
I will try this today
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i hope you or anyone can try and confirm i have only one device i can't risk it
also couldn't try it on my emulator i think i misconfigured something
if i find anything i will post here

SMS retreival on Windows phone 7 using device manager
Hey all.
I have an Samsung Omnia phone 7. Dev unlocked. Running 7.0.7004.0
Anyone any idea how to view the file in question? I need to download this file, and save the SMS entries to my PC.
When I use device manager, I cant see a folder called
\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Stores\DeviceStore
I mean, when I copy and paste the above text into the path, its just beeps and doesnt show anything.
On the root under file explorer, I have
My Documents (which is empty)
Windows (lots of files in it)
-ActiveSync
-Application Data
--KeyStorage
-AppMgr
-ColdInit
-eventlog
and a few others
When I open the Application Data folder, I only have a 'Key Storage' (certainly no Microsoft folder, and I tried typing it incase it was hidden or something , but just a ping sound and no refresh of the file list)
and when I open Key Storage, I have no files.
Any help working out why I cant see these folders / store.vol file would be very much appreciated
Does Windows Phone Device Manager not support this functionality on the Omnia?
Thanks

this should be a sticky, and testers needed

Using the diagnosis code 5**6244*3
I was able to open the Apps Launcher and Shortcuts Menu and can confirm that the path \Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Stores\DeviceStore exists on my Focus.
In that folder, I have:
temp
0
4
6
3
19
8
Each of these folders has a list of single alpha named folders (a, b, c, d, e, etc...)
Each of these alpha folders has a single .dat file
I haven't tried to extract those files to try to play with them. I don't know how I would with the Focus... But just confirming the path exists on my Focus and has the .dat files

thank you munkeyphyst, still waiting for endeffekt

endeffekt said:
Hint: it's an EBD database (like other files too)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx for your hard work... Any success???? i'm intrested in the extraction of sms in the form which can b read on computer. i tried as you said renamed and copied to computer but i can not read that in computer... is it encrypted ?? Any help in that is appreciated.......

I've checked out all the EDB recovery/readers on teh net and cannot open one of these "edb" files from the phone.
if anyone knows the architecture of the file, I can parse it and have a program ready quickly.
some talk about EDB