Installing Projects  

Once design of a project is completed using Pocket PC Creations on a desktop PC, the project or application can then be installed on a Pocket PC. The project files are only small in size, most being less than 30KB, so many projects can be loaded onto a  Pocket PC. For example, a project with the descriptions and costs of 1000 products in a sales catalogue would hardly impact on the memory of the Pocket PC.  These are the simple steps to install a project:

1. Connect the Pocket PC to the desktop or laptop PC, following the instructions provided by the manufacturer, probably using either a USB or Serial cable.
2. Verify that the Pocket PC has been recognised by the desktop PC. If necessary, locate the Microsoft ActiveSync program on the start menu and follow its procedures for connecting the mobile device.
3. Double click the Install icon in the project window.

Pocket PC Creations will attempt to install the project and main software on the mobile device. Follow prompts to install to Default location main RAM, not to CF or SD card.

If there any problems at this point, it is likely there is a problem with the communications between the Pocket PC and desktop PC.  Troubleshooting help is available with Microsoft ActiveSync.

Installing the Project - Unit ID

After Pocket PC Creations software has been installed for the first time (when the first project is installed), a dialogue box will appear requesting assignment of a name or Unit ID to the particular Pocket PC to which the project has been installed. This name is attached to any project sessions on that Pocket PC, and can be used to identify where each set of project sessions came from if multiple Pocket PCs are used from a single desktop PC. There is flexibility for using any Unit ID, for example - numbers (eg 1), a name (eg JillSmith), business (eg CreativityCorp), business unit (eg Engineering); however the must be 'nospace'.

Using the Project on Pocket PC

(quickly scan images below before reading steps 1 to 9)

Now that the project application has been installed on the Pocket PC, it can be used in the field. These are the simple steps to use a project:

1. The Pocket PC Creations program icon is selected from the Start menu on the Pocket PC.
2. Pocket PC Creations will appear on-screen, with a list of installed Projects (see Project screen below).  Single-tap a project with the stylus to select and launch it. Single-tap and hold will bring up Open, Synchronise (see below) and Delete.
3. A list of Sessions performed with the  project will appear, which will most likely be empty first up (see Session screen below). Tap the New button at the bottom of the screen to commence a session. 
4. The first page of the project will appear on-screen, exactly as it did in the design window on the desktop PC. 
5. Tap points to enter observations, and the keyboard or character recognition icon on the lower right corner of the screen, which will display the Windows CE input panel for entry of text and  numbers.
6. On completion of the session tap the Finish button at the bottom of the screen. The project session will be saved and the program will return to the project list screen showing the date of the session and time it was commenced. To display a name for a session, select Session List Columns via via Project>Properties>Options in design.
7. Another important session management tool is to tap and hold one or more of the session icons listed down the screen, displaying Open, Submit (for wireless dispatch, see Wireless below), Delete and Mark for Send (for wireless dispatch, see Wireless below). A number of sessions can be selected by dragging the stylus through the white space to the right on the Pocket PC window.
8. Sessions arriving on a Pocket PC from a desktop PC or server, either via ActiveSync or wirelessly, are identified by a red project icon and a bell (see Project screen below), and red session icons (see Session screen below).
9. To Sort sessions in the Session screen/window, tap the column header.  The width of columns can be adjusted by dragging the frame, it is preserved when leaving the Session list to go to the Projects display screen (preservation process, not by opening a New session). 

               Pocket PC Project screen                      Pocket PC Session screen

When deleting project sessions from the project session display using the Delete button, a cautionary prompt will appear. Deleted sessions cannot be recovered.

Tips for Using Projects on the Pocket PC       Gain maximum value from use of Pocket PC Creations projects in the field by: practicing use of the keyboard or character recognition for entry of text or numbers; referring to point guidance notes if uncertain about a project point; transferring session results to desktop PC regularly for safe storage; use Session List Columns for identification (Properties/Options); and using a Contents page and links to it from each page.

Synchronising Pocket PC with desktop PC  

Having completed project sessions on the Pocket PC, the results can then be synchronised with a desktop PC for storage and analysis, either by standard cable connection or wireless communication. These are the simple steps to synchronise a project:

Synchronising by Cable (USB or Serial using Microsoft ActiveSync)

1. Open Pocket PC Creations on the desktop or laptop PC, and the relevant project for receipt of the results.
2. Connect the Pocket PC to the desktop or laptop PC, following the instructions provided by the manufacturer, probably using either a USB or Serial cable.
3. Verify that the device has been recognised by your PC. If necessary, locate the Microsoft ActiveSync program on the start menu and follow its procedures for connecting the mobile device.
4. Double click the Synchronise icon in the project window.

Synchronising by Wireless (Pocket PC Creations software interface with TCP/IP)

Any Pocket PC Creations project can be wireless enabled via Project / Properties / Options, by default all projects are enabled.

Pocket PC Creations enables sessions and data to be synchronised via any transmission medium that supports the common TCP/IP standard, also used by the Internet. This includes a number of wireless systems such as wireless LANs and WANs (Wide Area Networks, including mobile phones), as well as traditional fixed Ethernet adaptors.

Note that to make use of these features, a Pocket PC must be equipped (and possibly the desktop PC) with suitable wireless equipment, such as wireless LAN cards or a mobile phone card/sleeve or Bluetooth. This equipment must be configured according to the hardware vendor's specifications.

To configure Pocket PC Creations for wireless synchronisation:

1. Select the Enable Wireless Sync... option from the Tools menu.
2. Check the "Enable Wireless sync with this PC" option.
3. Enter a password of your choice in the "Password" field. If the server is protected by a firewall, then the password may need to be the same as for the firewall.

Then, on each Pocket PC to be used (with Pocket PC Creations already installed):

1. Start Pocket PC Creations and click the Options button on the command bar.
2. Wireless Options will present, Check the "Enable" option.
3. Enter the IP address of the PC in the "Server" field. [To identify IP go to Windows Start > Run and via either Open or Command enter 'ipconfig' (Windows XP/2000/NT) or 'winipcfg' (Windows 98/ME).]
4. Enter the same password as above in the "Password" field.

The system is then ready to go. For each project to synchronise wirelessly:

1. Open the project in Pocket PC Creations on the desktop. For security, wireless synchronisation will only be allowed with projects that are actually open on the PC.
2. Open the Properties icon in the Project window, and select the Options tab.
3. Ensure the "Enable Wireless" option is selected (it is by default).
4. Click OK to confirm, and then save the project.

Once these steps are complete, synchronise session data using the wireless link. 

Within the Options/Wireless Options dialog box on the Pocket PC there is an option to Auto submit (synchronise) data after each project session is completed. When selected, Pocket PC Creations will Auto submit data as soon as a session is closed. 

Synchronising involves transmitting all Marked sessions within one or more projects to the PC.

To Mark a session or sessions, select and hold the session in the Pocket PC's session list screen, and select Mark to Send from the menu, a marked session will appear green. This menu can also be accessed via the command bar after selecting a session.

To send a marked session or sessions, select and hold the project in the main project screen and a menu will appear, select Synchronise to transmit to the server. This menu can also be accessed via the command bar after selecting a project. The remaining unmarked sessions will not be transmitted, and will remain on the Pocket PC. Sessions, can also be sent to server via the Submit control in the session list.

An option on the Tools menu on the desktop PC titled "Show Activity Monitor" displays a wireless activity monitor window (see below). The activity monitor window allows easy monitoring of wireless events such as incoming connections and synchronisation success or failures. It can also be helpful to resolve problems if they occur. The monitor also shows the Pocket PCs that are available to communicate with.

Sending information to Pocket PCs Wirelessly

Pocket PC Creations has additional powerful wireless features to send information to Pocket PCs in the field. Both text and images can be dispatched to Pocket PCs, providing many opportunities for field applications:

1. send new sessions onto Pocket PCs in the field, for example client information, product stocks, maintenance records. Sessions can be Marked for Send and be queued in the Data Window awaiting dialogue with Pocket PCs. Marking of sessions can be done when saving a Local Session with a specified Unit ID (see page 2), from within the Data Window and with control of Incoming XML (see page 5).

2. update projects on Pocket PCs, for example new data collection points, new guidance information, images ('wanted', maps, plans)

3. install projects on Pocket PCs in the field (if not already installed), supports a full project installation remotely, even in another country!

Send new sessions functions are accessed by selecting a Pocket PC or Pocket PCs in the Wireless Activity window above or the Dispatch Sessions window below (accessed from the Results Window, see page 5). Use the right click functions of the mouse to update or install a project/s, after selection of Pocket PC/s in the Wireless Activity window. 

Tips for Wireless Synchronisation     If wireless synchronisation is not successful, an error message describing the situation will be displayed on the Pocket PC. The following points may help to resolve the problem: Check that wireless sync is enabled on both desktop PC and Pocket PC. Check that wireless sync is enabled in the project's properties, and that the latest version of the project has been installed on the Pocket PC. Check that the password entered into the PC and the Pocket PC is the same. Check that the IP address in the "Host" field on the Pocket PC is the correct IP address for the desktop PC or network. Verify that the underlying connection equipment, such as wireless LAN or WAN cards, are functioning properly. This is by far the most common cause of problems.

Synchronisation removes from the Pocket PC particular project sessions accumulated and Marked for Send. Thereafter, the project session data are managed from Pocket PC Creations on the desktop or laptop PC.

Communicating via the Internet without 'wireless' hardware

The same procedures described above for 'wireless' communication, can be used for 'wired' communication with the Pocket PC in the ActiveSync cradle but communicating via the Internet or network (version 3.5 of ActiveSync is necessary).  A distributed team can communicate cost-effectively via an office or home computer to the Pocket PC Creations server (with server IP address known), and vice versa.  Perfect for the modern distributed workforce, no need for expensive web interfaces, and eliminating entry of paper forms at the end of a busy day. 

Similarly, the flexible wireless functions of Pocket PC Creations can be used to communicate between the Pocket PC in an ActiveSync cradle and the desktop PC to which it is connected, simply by identifying the desktop PC IP address and entering it in the Wireless Options menu on the Pocket PC. The wireless functions are more flexible than ActiveSync, particularly because they enable selective retention of sessions on the Pocket PC.