It allows one to install certain files into the appropriate application or database, which can otherwise be a hassle.

The effect is much like beaming the file to the handheld, with the additional option of choosing which application imports the file.

Applications and data can be installed from desktop computers where you cannot (or don't want to) install HotSync.

Some applications can View as well as Import. Viewing will not save the file in the application's database. Web (Blazer) and Documents To Go are perhaps the best known of these.

Some examples:

• MIDI (.mid) and WAVE (.wav) files can be installed into the sound database, for use as ringtones, on some devices such as the Treo 600 and 650.
• Java Midlets in .jar files can be installed into IBM's Java environment.
• Applications (.prc) and databases (.pdb) can be installed from desktop machines where you can't or don't want to install HotSync, Palm Install Tool or Palm Quick Install, such as machines running Windows Vista. (This requires an SD card reader, Softick's Card Export, or Palm File Browser.)
• HTML (.html) files can be viewed in a web browser. This is useful if your web browser does not have a command to open files, or requires arcane URLs to do so.
• Any file that contains text can be imported into a memo or text editor.
• The first line of any file that contains text can be displayed, using the "Preview as Text" menu item.
• Documents To Go can view office documents or any file that contains text, without wanting to sync the file later.
• VFS Exchange can inform you of undocumented capabilities. Did you know that Media can display MPEG-1, AVI, ASF, TIFF, device-independant bitmap (.dib) and wireless bitmap (WBMP) files? That Resco Explorer lets you receive zip archives via Bluetooth? That SiEd lets you receive and edit .c, .html, and .php files?
• Data can be transferred from non-Palm OS devices that write SD cards (such as digital cameras), but don't support beaming or Bluetooth.
• VCard (.vcf) files can be imported into Address Book/Contacts.
• VCal (.vcs) files can be imported into Date Book/Calendar.
• Different versions of an application can be stored in VFS and installed to memory as needed.
• Seldom-used databases can be stored in a VFS directory other than /PALM/Launcher (so their application won't see them), and installed to memory when needed.
• When you don't know what application to use with a file, VFS Exchange might be able to help.

• The handheld must support VFS, which requires at least Palm OS 3.1. A VFS volume must be mounted, which may require media not sold with the handheld.
• Importing or viewing a file depends on another application accepting it via the Exchange Manager. Available applications and their capabilities (and bugs) vary from handheld to handheld.
• Applications stored on a VFS volume cannot import data using the Exchange Manager. VFS Exchange itself can be run from a VFS volume, however.
• One-handed navigation support is available on Treo 650, Treo 700p, Treo 680 and Tungsten T5 handhelds.
• VFS Exchange has been tested with a US-English Kyocera 7135, Tungsten T, Treo 650, Treo 700p and Treo 680 and a simulated German 700p. It should work, but has not been tested with, handhelds localized to other languages with single-byte character sets.
• VFS Exchange has no dependence on the operating system of the computer used to HotSync. However, destination applications may be sensitive to things such as the line termination character (carriage return vs. line feed).