Menneisyys
12-25-2006, 05:15 PM
SKTools (http://s-k-tools.com/index.html?sktools/m_feat.html) is, in my opinion, by far the best all-in-one system tool for the Pocket PC. You will definitely want to give it a try - it's an indispensable tool.
I’ve often posted on earlier versions of SKTools; see for example this (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1359&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1) – make sure you follow the links in the post to earlier reviews!
The new, 3.1.1 version boasts the following new capabilities (excerpt from the blurb):
"Registry Explorer" (registry viewer/editor/new/export/import/backup) option added.
"Buttons" section of TuneUP! option improved. Added standard macros.
Added some new devices to benchmark database
Improved "Notification queue" option work for WM5 devices
added Dutch language UI
http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdMainMenu.bmp.png
As can be seen, it’s the registry editor feature that is the most important new feature. Therefore, I’ve given it a very thorough test. Please also read my Registry Editor Bible (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/menneisyys/UltimateRoundupOfRegistryEditors.asp) for a more thorough elaboration on the meanings of the test results below; in here, I won’t explain what they stand for.
The registry editor is NOT using the usual tree control other (except for Total Commander 2.0/2.5’s file system-like user interface) registry editors utilize and, therefore, it’s requires a bit more effort to go up/down a registry tree. For example, when you want to step into a subkey, you need to highlight it, bring up either the context and / or the Action menu and select Open (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdOpenSubkey.bmp.png). Going back to the parent key is doing the same on the .. symbol. You can also use the six predefined keys in the Goto menu (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdQuickGoTo.bmp.png) to quickly switch to the six most important positions in the registry tree. Finally, you can double-click a subkey for faster navigation - then, you won't need to bring up the menu and select Open.
Importing (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdImport.bmp.png) RegEd 5-format files works (Unicode only – as with Resco Registry Editor, the best registry editor, it doesn’t import non-Unicode files and doesn’t display an error message either).
Exporting also works (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdExport.bmp.png); it exports to (Unicode) RegEd 5 files. Exporting is considerably faster than with Resco – this may be advantageous when you frequently export the entire registry.
It also has registry searching capabilities (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdSearch1.bmp.png). The search GUI has fine-tuning capabilities: you can ask for case-sensitive, data-only etc. searching) in Registry Search / Tools / Settings as can be seen in here (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKTools311RegSearchOptions1.bmp.png) and here (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKTools311RegSearchOptions2.bmp.png). The results are, by default, found in both key / value names and data (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdSearch3.bmp.png). Unfortunately, it doesn’t search Unicode binary data (for example, mail server names in [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Inbox\LdapInfo]) – in this respect, Resco is definitely superior. However, the S-K folks have told me they’ll implement the latter.
As far as editing capabilities are concerned, it’s able to correctly (as opposed to, for example, PHM, Total Commander and Merlin) edit multiline strings (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdEditMultiline.bmp.png). Upon editing DWORD values, you can only use decimal numbers (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdEditDWORD.bmp.png) (no hex/ binary / octal input possible). The binary editor (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdEditBinary.bmp.png) isn’t very sophisticated either, compared to Resco, Vidya or Merlin – but at least works.
All in all, as far as strictly the new registry editor / export / import / backup / restore functionality of SKTools is concerned, it’s certainly welcome, usable, reliable (!) and makes the entire suite more than a must for all serious Pocket PC users. However, don’t throw your Resco Registry Editor away – for some tasks, it’s still unrivalled and is (still) considerably better than the regededitor functionality of SKTools.
However, don't think SKTools is bad - it is definitely the Number One all-in-one system tool around. It's just that its registry editor (and backup / restore module - please see the Backup Bible (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1270&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)) isn't so strong as those of some other commercial applications. However, don't forget there are a lot of other, top-notch modules in the entire suite, which do make SKTools, price/performnce-wise, the best all-in-one utility suite.
I’ve often posted on earlier versions of SKTools; see for example this (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1359&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1) – make sure you follow the links in the post to earlier reviews!
The new, 3.1.1 version boasts the following new capabilities (excerpt from the blurb):
"Registry Explorer" (registry viewer/editor/new/export/import/backup) option added.
"Buttons" section of TuneUP! option improved. Added standard macros.
Added some new devices to benchmark database
Improved "Notification queue" option work for WM5 devices
added Dutch language UI
http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdMainMenu.bmp.png
As can be seen, it’s the registry editor feature that is the most important new feature. Therefore, I’ve given it a very thorough test. Please also read my Registry Editor Bible (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/menneisyys/UltimateRoundupOfRegistryEditors.asp) for a more thorough elaboration on the meanings of the test results below; in here, I won’t explain what they stand for.
The registry editor is NOT using the usual tree control other (except for Total Commander 2.0/2.5’s file system-like user interface) registry editors utilize and, therefore, it’s requires a bit more effort to go up/down a registry tree. For example, when you want to step into a subkey, you need to highlight it, bring up either the context and / or the Action menu and select Open (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdOpenSubkey.bmp.png). Going back to the parent key is doing the same on the .. symbol. You can also use the six predefined keys in the Goto menu (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdQuickGoTo.bmp.png) to quickly switch to the six most important positions in the registry tree. Finally, you can double-click a subkey for faster navigation - then, you won't need to bring up the menu and select Open.
Importing (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdImport.bmp.png) RegEd 5-format files works (Unicode only – as with Resco Registry Editor, the best registry editor, it doesn’t import non-Unicode files and doesn’t display an error message either).
Exporting also works (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdExport.bmp.png); it exports to (Unicode) RegEd 5 files. Exporting is considerably faster than with Resco – this may be advantageous when you frequently export the entire registry.
It also has registry searching capabilities (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdSearch1.bmp.png). The search GUI has fine-tuning capabilities: you can ask for case-sensitive, data-only etc. searching) in Registry Search / Tools / Settings as can be seen in here (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKTools311RegSearchOptions1.bmp.png) and here (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKTools311RegSearchOptions2.bmp.png). The results are, by default, found in both key / value names and data (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdSearch3.bmp.png). Unfortunately, it doesn’t search Unicode binary data (for example, mail server names in [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Inbox\LdapInfo]) – in this respect, Resco is definitely superior. However, the S-K folks have told me they’ll implement the latter.
As far as editing capabilities are concerned, it’s able to correctly (as opposed to, for example, PHM, Total Commander and Merlin) edit multiline strings (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdEditMultiline.bmp.png). Upon editing DWORD values, you can only use decimal numbers (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdEditDWORD.bmp.png) (no hex/ binary / octal input possible). The binary editor (http://www.winmobiletech.com/122006SKTools311/SKToolsRegEdEditBinary.bmp.png) isn’t very sophisticated either, compared to Resco, Vidya or Merlin – but at least works.
All in all, as far as strictly the new registry editor / export / import / backup / restore functionality of SKTools is concerned, it’s certainly welcome, usable, reliable (!) and makes the entire suite more than a must for all serious Pocket PC users. However, don’t throw your Resco Registry Editor away – for some tasks, it’s still unrivalled and is (still) considerably better than the regededitor functionality of SKTools.
However, don't think SKTools is bad - it is definitely the Number One all-in-one system tool around. It's just that its registry editor (and backup / restore module - please see the Backup Bible (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1270&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)) isn't so strong as those of some other commercial applications. However, don't forget there are a lot of other, top-notch modules in the entire suite, which do make SKTools, price/performnce-wise, the best all-in-one utility suite.