REX 6000 software updates

Intellisync 1.01

REX Tools Beta

REX BIN Firmware File

DS2 BIN Firmware File

In brief: A very solid upgrade, and recommended strongly for all REX 6000 users. A small number of users have reported some problems with this upgrade, but the overwhelming response has been very positive.

Release date: March 7, 2001

Location: REX NET - Support/Downloads/REX 6000.

In case Xircom doesn't offer a software downloads location when REX.NET is taken off-line on September 1, 2001, you can also get the 1.01 software from us here.

Also, here is the README.TXT file that comes with the upgrade file. This is not install instructions, just information about the upgrade and some machine-specific notes. (See below in Installation Tips for the installation instructions.)

Size: about an 8MB download

Fixes & updates included:

• Provides faster sync times via sync cradles and PCCARD slot, with the most improvement in the PCCARD sync times (which had been atrocious, and are now very fast - less than 4 minutes for several who have reported for REX NET and PIM sync!)
  
  
• Corrects handling of recurring events
  • "Recurring events work great now, including exceptions. I can delete an event, which is part of a series, and the same event gets deleted too on the rex, but not the other members of the series, which is what is correct. I can even add notes to particular events of a series, and these get onto the right event on the rex as well. Justin"
    
    
• Turns off that stupid blinking light on the USB cradle (Yaaaay!!!)
  
  
• Adds formal support for Windows ME (Win 95/95B only remaining "modern" Windows OS not officially supported. The Mac is also not supported. However, see our Operating Systems page instructions for using the REX with all of these "unsupported" operating systems, including the Mac.)
  
  One caveat on Windows ME From Xircom:
  
  
  • "In order to use the PC Card slot with Windows ME, some manual configuration is required. Instructions will be included in the support section of REX NET"
    
    
• Simplifies configuration of Outlook in Intellisync for REX. Users who don't use subfolders in Outlook will not need to do any configuration - everything is set up automatically. If you are using subfolders in Contacts and Notes that you want to sync, you'll still need to see our New User Setup page and review the section on Outlook Folders and Categories.
  
  Intellisync 1.01 also reduces the number of setup selections in Configuration. There is only one item to set up for calendar events - they have merged "Anniversary," "Event," and "Planner" into one category called Planner.
  
  
  
  
• Unexpected Bonus #1: Provides support for REX NET sync under Windows NT4. This was not an announced upgrade/fix, but it has been reported by more than one NT user. So it's a gift, and we're glad to get it!
  
  
  • "Thanks for mentioning that NT now synchs with rex.net, Dave. I tried it and you were right. Contrary to your difficulties with installing the s/w on NT, though, I experienced no problems with either the original or the updated s/w installing in NT. Went in easily."
    
    
• Unexpected Bonus #2: It may help with REX NET syncing if you've had problems getting through a proxy server at work. From Mossman:
  
  
  • "It ... allowed me to synch to rex.net which I had not been able to do (some foul interaction with our proxy, resolved after installing this release)."
    
    
• Unexpected Bonus #3: (Maybe.) Some have reported that their REX seems to be operating a bit faster since the upgrade. This has not been confirmed by timing activites before/after, and could well be resulting from "upgrade myopia." Here are some speed statistics from one user's "before/after" tests of 1.00 vs. 1.01..

Things that didn't change:

• PIM support is still limited to Outlook 97/98/2000 and Intelisync Mobile Desktop
• Events spanning more than one day still won't sync properly - they get truncated to a single day.
  
  However . . . from Tubalips:

  "People are asking about multiple-day events. I had several of them that synced-up just fine. But to be more specific, they were all multi-day ALL-DAY events, not with begin and end date/times. So this probably does not address your problems with syncing cross-day events."

• See our Known Issues page for a more detailed list of remaining known issues and an upgrade wish-list. See our Sync Options page for ways to expand your sync options beyond Outlook.

Something new:

At the end of PIM sync Intellisync pauses to save synchronization history. This can take from 15 to 30 seconds to as long as 2 minutes with syncs of large amounts of information. The length of the save process seems to be consistent from sync to sync. Even with this save step, the sync times are lower overall with the 1.01 version of Intellisync.

Installation tips:

• For some reason the detailed install instructions are on the Xircom download page, but they are not included in the README.TXT file in the download. Not sure why - maybe Xircom wants to be able to update them on the fly if issues arise. (Next time, Xircom, put a pointer in the README.TXT in the download reminding users where the install instructions are!) So print out the Intellisync for REX 1.01 release install instructions from the REX NET web site before you start your upgrade. If REX.NET is down, you can also find a copy of Xircom's install instructions here on our site. It's a good idea to print the instructions out before you start the installation process.
  
  
• Follow the Xircom install instructions on the USB cradle! You need to unplug the USB cadle during the install of the updated software. From Di:
  
  
  • "Crash during sync to web problem solved. Win2k, USB cradle. Intelesync crashes on web sync (only). I tried to install new update over - didn't help. Uninstall, install update - no luck. I removed old installation, unplug USB, install new update - it works! I can't really explain this, but unplugging USB during installation (per Xircom's upgrade instructions!) resolved the problem. Di"
    
    
• Back up your REXworldclock.csv file if you've modified it! The 1.01 update will replace your modified one! (Thanks, Preston.) See the REX World Clock section of our New User Setup page for more information on customizing the REX World Clock.
  
  
• Initialize your REX before you upgrade. This will set your world clock to your current CSV file, and clear off any "mess" left behind by syncs with the 1.00 version of Intellisync. (If you had any messy category issues left over, take care of them in Outlook before you intialize. See our New User Setup page for info on Outlook categories.) We've had a couple reports of problems with doubling of anniversary events from folks who didn't initialize their REX. Not everyone has had problems, but why take a chance - initializing just takes a few minutes.
  
  
• Windows 2000 users might have some difficulties with uninstalling the 1.00 software on their PCs. We've only heard from one Win 2K user on this, but here's what he said:
  
  
  • "The software did not uninstall cleanly under Win2K. The new install would not install over the mess that the old uninstall had left! I had to go through my system and delete all the REX files, and all related registry entries (Severs Time related COM entries and keys under Xircom, Citizen, REX6000, and Pumatech). (Caution: Playing in the registry is like playing Russian Roulette, Do not even think of attempting this stunt unless you know exactly what you are doing)."

In brief: Has some interesting features missing from the 1.00 and 1.01 REX Tools releases. It may also have some bugs not in the final release - this is definitely a "use at your own risk" download. Don't come whining to us if using it blows up something on your PC. (Although we always love to hear a great "Guess what happened?!" story if you have one you want to share nicely. <g>)

Release date: Exact Unknown - late 2000?

Location: Right here

Size: about an 122KB download

Fixes & updates included:

• No fixes or updates per se - remember, this is an old release, superseded by the REX Tools in the 1.01 release of the REX software (see above on this page).

Features only available in REX Tools Beta:

• Import Web Page (under the "Options" menu item) - specifiy a URL to download a page to your REX in memo format. REX Tools creates it as a memo (splits it into more than one memo depending upon size) and creates and places the memo in a "Web" category on your REX. View it as you would view any other memo/note on your REX. The memo tile is taken from the page title of the web page. Links are not active and graphics are not downloaded.
  
  Excellent tips for using the "Import Web Page" function under the Options tab in REX Tools Beta (thanks, AntMelNat):
  
  "Download pages with mainly text. Many news sites have "Text Only" or "Printer Friendly Version" options. Use these when available. Some decent pages I have found are:
  
  http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/pl/summary.html
  http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/ts/summary.html
  http://headlinenews.cnn.com/QUICKNEWS/print.html
  http://www.computeruser.com/news/index.html
  And of course: http://www.linkmagnet.com/rex/rextalk.html"
  

  Some more links for Dutch REX users from Marten.

  "Recently I downloaded the Beta Tools to use the Web option which is in it. Altough at your website you show a few web-addresses about newsinfo, I prefer Dutch ones:

  • http://www.leidschdagblad.nl/multimedia/multimedia_00.shtml
  • http://www.leidschdagblad.nl/anp/BIN/index.shtml
  • http://www.leidschdagblad.nl/anp/BUI/index.shtml
  • http://www.compuserve.nl/portal/nieuws/

  
  And for (F1) racingnews (not as HTML-clean as I like it, but..):

  • http://www.sportdreams.com/cgi-bin/vndb.cgi?sport=D&template=index.html
    
    
• Export database - (Some great info below from Thomas - Thanks!)
  
  "One of the new options in the menu reads "export database". By choosing this, a fileselector-box pops open. In the bottom of this box there are two numerical fields located. One says "Table ID" and "Index Number". You can leave the "Index number" at it's preset "1", because this marks only the starting-position in the database-table. The interesting point is the "Table-ID". By this number you can reference each type of data in the Rex, read them out and store them.
  
  Here are the table-IDs and what is behind them (as far I as I found out):
  
  150 - installed add-ins
  160 - owner information
  1000 - contacts, full information
  1002 - categories used in contacts
  1003 - contacts, name only
  2000 - calendar, appointments
  3000 - tasks
  4000 - memos, full text
  
  The methodical approach to the problem involved the analysis of the files in the folder C:\Program Files\REX6000\IntellisyncForRex\00a0c9some-cryptica l-numbers-here. In my case there is always one bigger file in there called "2.ish". In this file you soon recognize different keywords in conjunction with specific numbers. That was the new starting point for new round of 'trial and error.'
  
  I'm sure there are more tables than just this few. Because I haven't used all features of the Rex by now, some tables might be empty in my case (e.g. tasks)."

Installation tips:

• This program does not require an "install" procedure. It is a single file and runs standalone. Simply extract the "REXToolsBeta.exe" file from the zip file and place it in a folder of your choice (one user told me he just put it in his REX Tools directory), insert your REX in your cradle or PCCARD slot, and double-click on the executable. That's it.
  
  
• This just in - one instance of strange behavior depending on where the REX Tools Beta was installed:
  
  "When I download the file to my c:\Xircom directory and extract RexToolsBeta.exe and run it, it does not give the web page option (it was not in the menu). But when I download the file to my c:\temp directory and extract and run it, I can use the web page option. The file sizes are the same in both directories.
  
  I played around some more and when I put the file in my REX Tools directory and launch it from a shortcut (instead of double clicking on the file name), it seems to work fine. Tracy."
  

Let us know if you find out anything interesting about this program.

In brief: This is not a firmware "upgrade!" This is the exact same firmware that is on your REX right now (version 1.1.2.7).

DO NOT TRY TO APPLY THIS FIRMWARE TO YOUR REX UNLESS YOU HAVE A PROBLEM THAT YOU ARE SURE IS RELATED TO AN ISSUE WITH YOUR FIRMWARE, OR IF YOU ARE A DEVELOPER WHO HAS A REASON TO. MORE THAN ONE REX OWNER HAS TRIED TO USE THIS FILE AND EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS!!

To check your current firmware version:

1. Go to your REX main menu and select Controls
2. On the Controls menu select About

NOTE: There are two different REX 6000 models being sold - a 2 MB version (the most common, and the only one available in the US) and a 1 MB version (found in Europe and Asia, where the 2 MB version is also available). Their operation is identical, just the amount of memory available for data differs. HOWEVER: If you use the BIN file here to reload the firmware to your 1 MB REX, the memory display will then read 2 MB. This doesn't mean that your REX now has more memory, just that the firmware update changes the memory display to 2 MB. To determine the amount of memory on your REX, tap "Controls" and then tap "Memory." See here in our REX FAQ for more information. We have not heard of any problems related to running the firmware file here on a 1 MB REX.

You don't need this file unless you are doing things that may result in a desire to reset your firmware. (E.g., using REXkeys, see our Add-ins and Other REX Programs page for more information on REXkeys.)

Release date: Unknown - end of 2000?

Location: here

Size: about .5 MB

Fixes & updates included:

None.

Installation tips:

IMPORTANT: When using REX Tools to update the firmware or initialize the REX be sure to:

• Disable any screen savers
• Disable Power Management
• Close all other applications
• Leave the PC undisturbed during the process

1. Unzip REX.BIN.Zip to the C:\Program Files\REX6000\REXTools directory on your hard-drive.
2. Insert your REX unit into the cradle or PC-Card slot.
3. Go to Start>Programs>REX 6000 and click on REX tools.
   (REX tools will find the COM port and connect to your REX.)
4. In REX tools click on Tools>Firmware Upgrade.
5. Allow for a few minutes until the firmware update completes.
   A dialog box will appear when the update is complete.
6. Remove your REX and exit REX Tools. Your REX date will be set to Jan 1, 2000.
   
7. Complete a sync w/Intellisync for REX to reset your REX to today's date.

The install instructions in the README.TXT file included in the download include an instruction to use REX Tools to initialize the REX after the firmware update. This does not appear to be required - at least several users have reported completing the upgrade without initializing, and their REX appears to run as it should. It's up to you if you want to complete that additional step.

Note: "Flashing" (the standard term for this process) your firmware is NOT the same as the Initialize command in REX Tools. Flashing your firmware does not affect any data or add-ins on your REX - they will be unchanged.

"I just reloaded my firmware. ... loading the firmware does not erase any data. It did erase the first two columns of addins in Adder, however, and I had to reload those." (From Greg)

The Initialize command in REX tools is different - it removes all content on your REX (including Web content and add-ins), deletes your sync settings in Intellisync, and does NOT affect your firmware.

In brief: This is not a firmware "upgrade!" This is the exact same firmware that is on your DS2 right now.

You don't need this file unless you are doing things that may result in a desire to reset your firmware.

Release date: Unknown - sometime in 2000?

Location: here

Size: about .5 MB

Fixes & updates included:

None.

Installation tips:

IMPORTANT: When using the DS2 version of REX Tools to update the firmware or initialize the REX be sure to:

• Disable any screen savers
• Disable Power Management
• Close all other applications
• Leave the PC undisturbed during the process

1. Unzip DS2_BIN.Zip to the directory on your hard-drive where you have the DS2 version of REX Tools installed.
2. Insert your REX unit into the cradle or PC-Card slot.
3. Start the DS2 version of REX Tools
   (REX tools will find the COM port and connect to your REX.)
4. In the DS2 version of REX tools click on the menu choices to load firmware
5. Allow for a few minutes until the firmware update completes.
   A dialog box will appear when the update is complete.
6. Remove your REX and exit the DS2 version of REX Tools. Your DS2 date will be set to Jan 1, 2000.
   
7. Complete a sync to reset your DS2 to today's date.

Note: "Flashing" (the standard term for this process) your firmware is NOT the same as the Initialize command in REX Tools. Flashing your firmware does not affect any data or add-ins on your REX - they will be unchanged. The Initialize command in REX tools is different - it removes all content on your REX (including Web content and add-ins), deletes your sync settings in Intellisync, and does NOT affect your firmware.

<back to top>