is there a better way for address book application

[shobhit garg]

hi all

i am developing an application using j2me that would allow a user to tranfer the contents of his address book from mobile device to the pc for backup.
it would also allow the user to trnfer the address book records from pc
to the mobile device in case he updates his address book on the pc.

i am planning to use servlets and a j2ee sever for this application
and ms access as the database on users machine.
but i feel that to use j2ee server for this application
is far too unecessary
could anybody please suggest a simpler design for
this application or is this design just fine

hoping a prompt reply
shobhit garg



" rats are more intelligent than humans
they keep things simple
if they loose their cheese they look for it somwhere else
instead of brooding on lost cheese
learn from them "

[Mark Spritzler]

Well, actually you would only need a web container like Tomcat.

But I don't think you will be able to access the address book through J2ME. Unless the device has a device specific API that allows access to the address book.

In J2ME only a TextField can sort of access the address book, and that is just as a lookup to enter data into the field, still no direct access.

Mark

[shobhit garg]

Originally posted by Mark Spritzler:

But I don't think you will be able to access the address book through J2ME. Unless the device has a device specific API that allows access to the address book.

In J2ME only a TextField can sort of access the address book, and that is just as a lookup to enter data into the field, still no direct access.

Mark

hi Mark

i didn't get this point could u please elaborate a bit more on this
isn't address book supposed to be just a record sort of thing (with fields
name and address etc)
i'll have to make and store in the mobile device's persistent storage
or are u saying that the mobilt phone already has its own pre-implemented
address book


plz guide
shobhit



" rats are more intelligent than humans
they keep things simple
if they loose their cheese they look for it somwhere else
instead of brooding on lost cheese
learn from them "

[Mark Spritzler]

All cell phones have an address book to store names and phone numbers. I assumed that that is what you were trying to access. This address book cannot be accessed through J2ME.

Now if you make your own RecordStore for the user to input data, then you can defintely read that data.

Although I don't know of anyone that would want to enter their data twice on the device. Once for the phone's phonebook, and another for an different application.

Anyway, good luck.

Mark

[Arnab Sen]

I would just like to add.....

if youo are making it a multiple user application.. which means that the databasae is stored on a networked server.... you probably will require some j2ee container... to take care of any persistence and other security issues involved...

otherwise i guess..Mark's suggestion is quite appropriate...

hope it helps...

[shobhit garg]

Originally posted by Mark Spritzler:
In J2ME only a TextField can sort of access the address book, and that is just as a lookup to enter data into the field, still no direct access.

now that addressbook cant be accessed directly
can it some how be accessed indirectly as u had pointed out

thanks for ur help and guidance
shobhit

[Mark Spritzler]

Originally posted by shobhit garg:


now that addressbook cant be accessed directly
can it some how be accessed indirectly as u had pointed out

thanks for ur help and guidance
shobhit

The only way would be if the manufacturer of the mobile device has created a device specific API that you can download and use.

You will need to go to the manufacturer's website and look for a developer link of some sort to find out, or you can try calling them.

Unfortunately, I haven't had this need, so I don't know any specifics about specific devices.

Someone else here might though.

Which device are you developing for?

Good Luck.

Mark

[Roland Auckenthaler]

Originally posted by Mark Spritzler:


The only way would be if the manufacturer of the mobile device has created a device specific API that you can download and use.

Mark

Hi All,

I'm new to J2ME as well and at the moment investigate into APIs and what's around. In future i may also need to access the address book and may come into similar problems.

At the moment I'm playing with the thought of generating a C++ application with a server socket that i could access in J2ME with a client connection. The C++ application would allow me to access the phone book and other info that i need. The J2ME app can then get this info via the client connection. Another advantage is that i could also configure the J2Me client connection to point somewhere else to access contact data (instead of my local address book).

Do some people in here have some experience with local socket connections? Does the described scneario work? what do people think here?

[shobhit garg]

i don't have any particular platform in mind
i am using the emulators provided by wtk
i also have found a package pim (jsr075 ri) (personal information manager)
that might solve the problem (i haven't tried installing and studying it)
can this package help...

heres the link
https://www6.software.ibm.com/dl/jsr075/jsr075-t?S_PKG=dl&S_TACT=104AHW02&S_CMP=

thanks for ur support

shobhit