Using Sidekick 95 in Windows NT or XP 1

[jgwalsh]

I have a large Sidekick card file, created using Sidekick 95 and used on successive versions of Windows -- 95, 98, Me. I bought a new laptop loaded with Windows XP and it will not install Sidekick 95 which "requires Windows NT 3.41 or later". I have found that similar problems exist with Windows 2000 and NT. Apparently Sidekick 99 will load on NT platforms, so I am looking for an upgrade, patch or other route to salvage this program given that Starfish/Borland no longer produce or support Sidekick and Microsoft does not even provide tech support for XP yet.

Any ideas?

John Walsh

 

[james33]

Dear jgwalsh
I assume you first want the Data and are not bothered too much about retaining the programme if that is the case you can export the Data from sidekick95 in db3 or db4,.csv or TabDelimited/Text Format and then Import it into Excel or Lotus Organiser or whatever programme you want to use.
You don't need to back up as you are saving as.
The only thing I would suggest is that you try the different file types as db3 or db4 tends to swell the size a lot and does lose some things (ie it only supports shortish Fieldnames) Tab delimited does work quite well but make sure with all imports that the field sizes you are importing it into is big enough to accommodate your Data.
To stay on the safe side you could import it first into Access and make sure the Data Type is set as Text.
If you do need further help I have Sidekick98 & that does install on NT (a little slow in use though).
and I have no knowledge if it works on XP (does anyone else know?)
The install is only a few megabytes so as I have a couple of copies and it was a free prog I could mail it to you.
Regards Jim

 

[Guest_imported]

Help. I have a similar problem, or maybe I don't know enough to realize my problem is different. I have Sidekick 98 with about 7500 cards and about 100 large card logs. I was running it on a Windows NT platform and storing the data on a LAN server that was running Win 2K. Now I've replaced all of the LAN workstations with new computers running Win 2K and I can't get Sidekick to work. I'd be satisfied if I could export the Sidekick data to Outlook and I've been able to export an earlier and smaller version of my Sidekick database from a Sidekick 95 file, but I can't import the more recent and more relevant Sidkekick 98 data into the Outlook App. Does anyone have any ideas.

Thanks and best regards.

Ralph

 

[james33]

Dear Ralph P,
First the bad news,

You cannot EXPORT directly as far as I know anything that is in the cardfile Contact Logs.
One way & I know that it would be tedious, is to copy & paste each log INTO NOTEPAD and save them in a folder as text files with the name of the card as the filename, subsequently you could write something in Access to append them to the correct cards or use hyperlinks.

To the Good news:
If you can copy the files onto a Zip drive or compress them with WinZip and put them on a floppy you can then access them from any machine (i.e. A laptop) that runs Sidekick98 (probably on Win98se) open the cardfiles in it and File|Export Cardfile as and follow the instructions to save them as Tab delimited txt or .csv but as you will notice from the include fields dialog box you cannot include the contact log in the Export.
You can then resave them onto a floppy (compressed) and then import them into Outlook or Excel or whatever.

Good luck and if I can be of anymore help, come back!
Regards Jim

 

[Guest_imported]

Does any one know what program as PIM can be used to import files from Sidekick '98?
Thanks,

Dario
dario@mikohnlatin.com

 

[JQA3]

You can export Starfish files in comma format and then import them into the Windows Address Book. There is a bit of software interpolation. You lose a bit of your information. I just did this by compiling 6 different files into the book. Better than losing everything.

 

[james33]

I recently discovered:
If you can get hold of a copy of Internet Sidekick you can Export all of your cards PLUS your Card/Contact Log.
Go to File|Save As and then use ASCII text-delimited as the file format.
In Internet SidekickThis includes the Card Log as a normal Field...

You can then import your .txt file into Access and specify an Import profile that sets the Field Data type as Memo for those fields that you feel may have greater than 256 characters..
and the Data Type for the rest as Text as this retains any leading zeros in fields you have used for Numbers or Currency.

It is always advisable to check that your Data is complete as excessive Text in the Contact log (especially if it has been Copied/Cut from the Card and then pasted) can contain CR/LF's which may produce other fields in excess of the fields in your Cardfile.(You can go ahead and import the lot and then copy/paste or append those fields to the Field you designate as the Contact Log or as I said earlier in this Thread; save them as txt files and save the path to them in whatever program you end up using as your PIM)
Regards Jim ;-)

 

[james33]

Dear All,
Further to my previous post on Internet Sidekick's Export abilities:
I have now realised that when you have got your cardfile into Access and wish to Re-Export it back to .Txt You must add an Autonumber Field (a Primary Key Field) otherwise there is a possibility you may lose a few cards.
Don't ask me why this is so, I struggled with this for Hours yesterday and of 6903 cards exported I ended up with 6985 in the SDK cardfile every time; that is until I added an autonumber field in Access and then re-exported them.

Also on Export I find that using Tab-Delimited and adding " as the Text qualifier works best.
Good Luck
Jim

 

[Guest_imported]

I have been unable to install Sidekick 98 on my new XP Profesional machine.
I have also visited the Starfish Website and have looked at the Truesync Software that includes Truesync Desktop but when I try to purchase the software I am told that it is not available to the public. You have to purchase a device that has it loaded and use the device to "sync" your 98 data files with the palm or other software that is on the device. But.... they can't tell you which device has the truesync software preloaded.

Can anyone help! Please!

Charles Matthews

 

[james33]

Dear cmatthews,
See thread807-187719 about Sidekick99 and WinXP it may help you with loading Sidekick98.
What are you trying to sync with?
Sidekick98 on its own has the ability to synchronise with Palm devices.
Check FAQs for both Sidekick99 and 98 on the Starfish site too.
Also another post on this Forum suggested that to load Sidekick on WinXP you needed to be logged in as Admin!

Anyone else out there got any ideas for what Devices come with TruSync Installed?
HTH
Regards Jim

 

[Guest_imported]

I WANT TO INSTALL SIDEKICK 95 ON XP. I HAVE SIDEKICK 99 BUT PREFER 95. CAN IT BE DONE. I GET THE MESSAGE "requires Windows NT 3.41 or later". IS THERE A WAY TO RUN SIDEKICK95 ON XP?

 

[james33]

Dear Tomas95,
Post your question as a new one, as this thread is only marked by me and I have not got XP installed but there is a post in this forum (advanced search for Sidekick (+) XP) that refers to the need for you to be logged in as administrator when installing Sidekick on XP.
Regards Jim

 

[Guest_imported]

Does any one know where to find any sidekick (from 95 version i don´t mind wich) i lost my installation archives by formatting my hard disk. i really need it

Thanks Answer me at

gesuso@wanadoo.es

 

[james33]

Dear gesuso,

Go to faq807-1313 and see the part that refers to:
Sidekick99 registered users who need a replacement for
their original disc can go to:

Regards Jim