Blackberry
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Contents |
Introduction
BlackBerry is a line of smartphones produced by Research in Motion (RIM). With the progress of the Barry Project, the use of a BlackBerry with Linux has become well supported.
Installation
MEPIS 8.0 and above
- Enable the Community repos.
- Install
Opensync-plugin-kdepim opensyncutils opensync-plugin-file opensync-plugin-syncml libopensync0 kitchensync libusb-0.1-4 libmultisync-plugin-all libmultisync-plugin-backup multisync multisync0.90 multisync-tools barrybakcup-gui barrybackup-gui-dbg barry-util barry-util-dbg libbarry0 libbarry0-dbg libbarry-dev opensync-plugin-barry opensync-plugin-barry-dbg
If any of the barry packages are not available in synaptic, you can check the barry project at sourceforge.net
Use
btool -t
This should return a list of files it found on the BlackBerry. Then you can open barrybackup: look for Mobile Devices in the menu or just type Alt-F2 and enter barrybakup into Krunner.
BarryBackUp should be configured. Look for the Config button on the right side of the box. It will allow you to choose what data you want it to back up. You can also configure the data fields you want to restore, should you need to do so. Then click "back up". Every time you back up your BlackBerry, the file will be saved in the .barry folder in /home. If you need to restore your BlackBerry, you will need to choose the .tar.gz file for the date you want to go back to, or just your most recent back up.
Synchronize your BlackBerry with KDE-PIM, Kontact
You can either configure Kitchensync, the gui interface, or enter commands in konsole.
- To use Kitchensync, just open Kitchensync and click the "add group" button. The will open a new box asking for a name for the group. You might choose BlackBerry, or BB. Once you have entered a name, it will pop up a box allowing you to configure the group by choosing it's members. You click the "add member" button at the bottom of the group box. Choose "Barry OpenSync Plugin" and then "KDE Desktop". On the right side you will see the types of date you can sync. Only select contacts and events, otherwise there may be errors. After you have added the two members to the group, you will need to configure the "Barry OpenSync Plugin" The "KDE-Desktop Plugin" does not require configuration. To configure the barry plugin, just click on the barry plugin, and scroll down in the text until you see the pin number. Backspace out the pin number filled in, and type in your own. There should be two ones after the pin number telling it to synchronize contacts and calender. The bottom part of the file will look something like this.
# sync calendar - 1 to sync calendar, 0 to skip # sync contacts - 1 to sync contacts, 0 to skip # # Password secret - If present, specifies the device's password in plaintext # #DebugMode Device ''123a45bc'' 1 1
The italicized part is what you need to replace with your phones PIN number. Once both members of your group are ready, click the "ok" button, then click the Synchronize button on the top left side. Your data will be "auto-magically" transported.
- To synchronize via konsole and command line, you type
msynctool --addgroup Blackberry msynctool --addmember Blackberry barry-sync msynctool --addmember Blackberry kdepim-sync
Then you will need to configure barry-sync, as kde-pim needs no configuration. So then type
msynctool --showgroup Blackberry
Look to see which member number "barry-sync" is. Member number 1 or number 2. Assuming you named your group "BlackBerry, and barry-sync is member number two, then type in konsole
msynctool --configure BlackBerry 2
This pops you into a text editor where you can change the pin number to that of your phone. Save the changes and exit. You are then ready to synchronize your BlackBerry and Kontact with your calender and contact data.
Before you do this make sure Kontact, your KDE-PIM is closed
Into your konsole enter
msynctool –sync BlackBerry
Your data will be "auto-magically" transported.
Mepis 11
Synchronization in Mepis 11 is a bit more challenging, but only because it requires a bit more configuring. You will need the following, which can be obtained through synaptic. Make sure you have the community repositories enabled in synaptic.
barrybackup-gui-dbg
barrybackup-gui
barry-util-dbg
barry-util
libbarry-dev
libbarry0-dbg
libbarry0
opensync-plugin-barry-dbg
opensync-plugin-barry
multisync-plugin-all
multisync
libusb-0.1-4-dev
Libusb-0.1-4
opensyncutils
multisync-tools
multisync0.90
libopensync0-dev
opensync-plugin-file
libopensynopensync-plugin-kdepim
kdepim
kdepimlibs5-dev
kdepimlibs5
After the list is installed, reboot.
Open Kontact, the KDE Personal Information Manager (PIM). Click on the calender button on the left side of the organizer, then at the lower left you will see a bar that says "Default Calender", double click on that to open it's properties box. Make sure the path filled in is something like
/home/your_home_name/.kde/share/apps/korganizer/std.ics
Then click on the contacts button, click on the "Default Address Book" and then right click and from the pop out, choose folder properties. Makes sure the path filled in for the address book to point towards is something like
/home/your_home_name/.kde/share/apps/kabc/std.vcf
Then go into "System Settings" to "Personal Information" and make sure you have a calender and contacts book with the same path as those given above. Make sure they are default.
Last, go into Akonadi console and click the "Default Calender" then click the "configure" button on the bottom. Click the little file on the right side of the blank line and fill it in with
/home/your_home_name/.kde/share/apps/korganizer/std.ics
Do the same for "Default Address Book" and use the path
/home/your_home_name/.kde/share/apps/kabc/std.vcf
Once this bit of configuring is done, follow the instructions given above for command line creation of a multisync group of BlackBerry, and the instructions for syncing. Your data will be "auto-magically" transported.
Tips and tricks
- Always make sure Kontact, your KDE Personal Information Manager program is closed before you attempt to sync.
- Make sure you plug your sync cable into your computer, and not a usb hub.
- The above instructions work for BlackBerry OS 5 and BlackBerry OS6.
- You can use BarryBackUp to transfer the data from your old phone to your new phone, even if your old phone was OS 5 and your new one is OS 6. It will also transfer custom ringtone settings you may have set on your old phone making changing to a new phone a few minute procedure, and transferring more of your data than a store transfer might.
