Windows Mobile/TyTn II: Synchronisation (notes/files)?? - Tilt, TyTN II, MDA Vario III General

Fairly new to the latest incarnation of WM and am just getting to grips with a TyTn II which I've bought that overall I'm quite impressed with. There are a couple of issues that I'm having with it that probably stem from a lack of familiarity with WM and also from drawing comparison with Palm and Nokia devices which I have used previously as PDAs. Any comments to avoid me wasting hours trying to find out how to achieve the potentially unachievable would thus be much appreciated:
1) Synchronising - files/folders: My previous Palm handled this QUITE well where MS Office type docs were concerned (Documents To Go) and even the Nokia Phones seem to do what I want to achieve better than I can manage with the TyTn just now. Essentially, I want to be able to synchronise the TyTn with a folder on the PC that contains JUST a number of Office type documents which I want to synchronise. Currently, no matter what settings I opt for I cannot do this. I know I can drag and drop from the File Manager part of Windows Mobile Device Centre (Vista PC) but that will not achieve automated synch for changed versions etc. Currently I select Synch Files (which is not selected by default on WMDC) and then move the files I want copied into the device into that folder. OK so far. Yet, when I hit Synch it then seems to insist on copying EVERYTHING on the phone into that folder on the PC too!!!! That makes a snych quite a long process and essentially all I want to synch is the 8-10 Office docs I want. Is this beyond WM? I would have thought this a relatively basic requirement which even Nokia with its Briefcase folder seems to be capable of doing. I have tried deleting all the non-Office files out of the PC file synch folder that WMDC created and then uses but then of course that just result in them being taken off the phone when I Synch!!! I've scoured Help, the Manual and numerous sites trying to find away round this but so far I do not seem to be able to synch files unless I synch everything
2) Notes (Categories v Folders): I use Notes on a PC a lot and because I use so many I tend to have them bundled in categories. Despite what I try though I do not seem to be able to get any semblance of order to them when they come across to the TyTn which just shoves them all in 'My Documents' (this makes it a real pain when using Explorer on the device too as there are 200 or so notes to scroll through when looking). I've tried moving the notes on the TyTn to Folders on the device after they are copied over but that just seems to cause a second copy on the PC to be created with the 'note title/folder' format upon the next synch?? Outlook clearly uses categories in a way that does not seem to be replicated on WM/TyTn and as such it seems you can only achieve a long unorganised list of notes on the target device. Using folders on the device does not then read across well to Outlook.
I am conscious that there are apps out there that might allow better management of the Notes problem (Phat Notes) and there may be better folder/file synch options with software like Documents To Go but I am wondering if I'm missing something with the basics here that mean I should be able to do what I want. It does seem odd that selecting Synch Files should result in such an arbitrary copying of the whole content of the device when on may devices it is there merely to ensure you can create a Briefcase type folder to synch just what YOU want.
I have not yet upgraded to the new WM 6.1 either so not sure if that provides any solutions. I plan to do that shortly (and am assuming that if I do the WM 6.1 I won't ALSO need the ROM upgrade that was put up by HTC before that?). Any help much appreciated

Use GoodSync (Link). It allows Bi-directional sync, allows you to select folders to synchronize and has a host of other features. There is a free and pro verion of goodsync so check it out and decide which one you want.
IMO it can take care of almost all the things that you mentioned ...

Whats wrong with Outlook? It does Notes/Favs/Tasks/Calender/Contacts/E-mail...I mean theres not much it doesn't do besides SMS and Calling from computer. These are really easy to use and customize files to push back and forth when connected to Activesync.

Empgamer: I've got the same issues with WM6,1 as you described. I'm genuinely amazed that Windows Mobile syncing to windows (Vista, so no active sync for us) doesn't work out of the box when managing edited documents on your PC & PPC. The PalmOS, with Documents To Go, always did an excellent job of this. As for the notes, I can't even get Mobile Office OneNote to sync with OneNote on my PC! What's the point of that?
Anyway, I'd be very curious as to how you solved your issues; I'm currently spending countless hours trying to get the functionality on my Windows Mobile device that I took for granted on PalmOS. (BTW, DocsToGo doesn't support syncing on Windows Mobile! Seriously, that's one of the main things DTG had going for it. I'll never understand what developers think when they come out with these products.

Related

mac tweaking

since going off my wizard to a blackjack a year ago, i converted from pc to mac for personal computing. now i'm getting a tilt in a few days and wonder if any mac users can advise on tweaking and upgrading my new gadget. the smartphone i was syncing through The Missing Sync For Windows Mobile. i guess i'm needing a reg hack utility and app installer and such.
please advise. thanks in advance.
I use Missing Sync and it does a great job of transferring data - contacts, calendar, tasks, etc - from the mac to the Tilt. The real challenge is making sure you have CABs to install instead of EXE files. One program I bought was File Juicer (I think by echoone.com) that can extract some CABS but not all. Every so often, I have to borrow a friends PC. Once on the pc, I double click it and it extracts the CAB and puts it in a folder. Then, I just take it out and put it on a USB disk and transfer it over to the mac...and then just upload it to my phone via bluetooth.
Good luck!

Can I sync files over the Internet?

Hi,
Anyone know if there is an app that lets me synchronize files or folders between my PC and the memory card on my Tilt?
I want to be able to sync when I am away from home, over the Internet.
I know there are a few apps that do this while the phone is connected to the PC, like Easy Sync.
Hamachi mobile has been working for me to access my home computer - but haven't set up any automatic syncing. I guess it depends on how automatic you need it versus being able to browse to the computer and copy what you need.
It does require Hamachi to be installed on the home computer as well.
Came across this a while ago:
Folder Share
It's not something I need, so never could be bothered to set it up. Might be what your after though?
ACTUALLY scratch this plan. I just had a further look over the site, and realised its for PC's, not PDA's. That was the reason I never bothered.
Good hunting!
There is a service called Soonr, that doesn't really Sync the files persay, but you can access files on your PC from your phone. As I recall Orb does a similar thing.
It's funny, actually I use FolderShare on my work/home PCs and it works great to keep folders in sync. I really just want to find something similar that works on a PDA/phone.
I also have Orb and it works great, but I want to be able to keep Word files and such in sync so I don't always have to make an Internet connection whenever I want to open the files. I'd also like to be able to keep mp3s in sync so that I don't have to stream to listen to them.
I did a lot of Google searching and the closest thing I can find is Nokia's Intellisync which seems to have this Internet-synching capability, but it seems like a big business implementation. I can't believe there isn't a simple solution for this.

brutal combo of scenarios

So I've been diligently managing a pretty pristine outlook contact list that im pretty satisfied with. I've been syncing back and forth via bluetooth (usb port went bad about a year ago).
Recently i reformatted and reinstalled windows 7 on my computer. I did not back up my contacts on the computer because they are on the phone and figuring i'd get them on the re-sync (which I've done before). Unfortunately In that short time period I managed to smash my phone touch screen up pretty good, making things more difficult (and a lack of tap and hold). I cannot for the life of me get the two to sync up to each other via active sync. They pair together fine and send files back and forth to each other, but cannot get them to sync to each other. In the past i've just gone on the phone active sync > connect via bluetooth and then it starts doing its thing in windows mobile device center... Whenever I do it now I get the message
"cannot connect using bluetooth to a pc that supports active sync. you may be out of range. it then asks if i would like to create a different partnership with a pc."
I've obviously created a new pair, turned on visibility and discovery on both pc and phone. Each time it gives me that error message about creating a new pair.
A couple of side notes.
-I have some thoughts that it might be a conflict with the new and old bluetooth pairing but i cannot delete the old one due to the lack of touch screen for the tap and hold. (perhaps there is a way to do this on the hard keyboard)
-I could give a crap about the phone, I've already got a new one. I just want to preserve my contacts.
-I've made a pim backup and a sprite backup of pertinent info but its my understanding that both of these only work with my phone and not outlook, not to mention only my specific rom version.
What is the easiest way to proceed to salvage my contacts?
Sorry for the rather long post on a familiar and oft rehashed question but I couldn't find the answering in any other posts and wanted to be pretty clear with my post.
first of all, since you have made a pimbackup of contacts, your data is SAFE no matter what ROM or which windows mobile device you have! the sprite backup, on the other hand, CAN be specific to your ROM/device depending on exactly what you chose to back up.
so you can always restore the pimbackup archive to a good working windows mobile device (borrow a friends?) and sync up that device with your desktop.
with that out of the way...lets see...you've got a bad screen? i would suggest using a "remoting" tool (like mymobiler)...but i think mymobiler requires a working activesync over usb...but you say your usb port is screwed?
if you can use the screen just enough to install "wifi remote access 1.7" and configure it and enable WIFI, then you can remote control your device using the relevant functionality of "wifi remote access 1.7" from the browser on your desktop, assuming you have a WIFI network at home.
with the screen hurdle out of the way, i suppose it would make your ability to configure things on the device a bit more possible. for starters, even though you have used pimbackup, also install microsoft myphone and upload your contacts there as well. while you're at it, you can mess around with activesync on your device some more to try to get it to sync.
BUT! i think the problem might be on your recently refreshed desktop. i hear windows mobile device center should be upgraded because an update is available.
if all else fails, you can use pimbackup to create a "non-binary" archive (the style is configurable during the backup wizard use case). this non-binary archive is actually a zip file containing a csv file (comma separated values). so you can rename the archive to "something.zip", extract the zip on your desktop and use microsoft excel to open the extracted csv file. here, you will get an easy to edit file with your contacts laid out over rows/columns.

Gone frm an HD2 mass media storage to HD7...

This is probably by far my biggest drawback to the HD7. I used to use my HD2 as a mass media storage device, instead of carrying a flash drive and a phone that could do the same. I LOVED being able to plug my phone in and having access to all my pictures, files, music ect. My biggest use was an excel spreadsheet that I updates daily with bills paid, confirmation numbers events ect. I plugged my phone in, opened it, made changes, and then saved right on my phone, quick and easy. I use this on the go a lot to look up certain things, which is why I preferred having it in my phone to use Office Mobile on the go when needed.
Now this is a huge pain. My work uses MAC's which we can't download anythign on (only iTunes is on there at least) I usually update this at work ) The only thing I can think of is maybe uploading it to the skydrive, and going online to get it anytime I need it or sending it to my e-mail daily after every change (which could be various times in one day). Instead of opening my excel and opening right up. It will be easier once Excel can open skydrive files directly. But this is still the issue of saving it on my desktop and then uploading it to my skydrive.
This is the only drawback in my eyes for a non removable storage card!!! I didn't think I'd care but being unable to just "open" my memory card to transfer all my pictures, music, videos, files ect that I had my my HD2's card is not making me a happy HD7 user. I don't have a home computer to just use Zune to do all this either.
Does anyone have a simple solution? Do you think that xda developers would ever come up with a CAB to be able to access the phone as a mass media storage device? I realize if they do it will probably be a long wait if they do, but I hope that they can... (I would most definitely "buy that person a beer" with a PayPal donation!)
it seems you may be able to use a OneNote table for that, OneNote already has support for SkyDrive built in, let me know what you think there.
ckacey said:
it seems you may be able to use a OneNote table for that, OneNote already has support for SkyDrive built in, let me know what you think there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will check it out and see. I've only had the phone since lats night so I'm still finding my way around the whole thing little by little.
the way to make the tables on the web and desktop versions is to press tab while on a line.
on the phone don't forget to check the option for online sync of oneNote, from within the program I think, if not, it's under applications > office under the main system settings

[Q] WP8, Phone>Documents & Text files

Hi all, just a quick question regarding the functionality of Wp8 that I am fighting with, that I need to resolve or another WP phone is going back to the supplier [I did the same with WP7].
First off, apologies if there's an answer that I haven't managed to find.
I currently have an HTC HD2 running very nicely on WM6.5, however, it's been creaking a bit recently & I'd decided with a favourable review of WP8 that I read the other day suggesting that finally the device can be plugged into a PC & seen as a USB drive, that the time was right to move forwards.
Now that I have the Nokia Lumia 820 & WP8 however, I still don't think I can get it to do what I need it to do.
ALL I would like to do, is be able to copy text files from PC to WP8, & then display them on the phone with text wrap switched off.
Easy hey? Well if so, I haven't worked out how to do it yet!
I plug the phone into my PC, & an Explorer window fires up on the PC [XP] showing 'SD card' & 'Phone'. Drilling down one level on the latter gives Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos etc.
The only way I can get to see the Documents folder on my Phone appears to be via Office Mobile, under 'places' > phone. It appears to be very fussy about what it allows to be displayed there - I can see .PDF, .DOC, .XLS & .TXT files [but not .LOG. .ONE, .ZIP etc (which remain 'hidden')].
When I tap a .TXT file, I have no choice of how to open it, Office Mobile pounces & that's that. Having got this far, all I would now like to do is switch off text wrap [so that it'll view in a usable manner] because there doesn't appear to be such an option.
I have scoured the Store, & the best I've found is 'Text Reader', though this requires that I load it via email [upload a file to Hotmail or wherever with a .LOG (or similar) suffix & away you go, which it then downloads & stores in its own sandbox]. Ok, but faffy.
I believe that other progs might enable transfer via the cloud [Skydrive or whatever], but because of the nature of the data [& the fact that I don't want my data in anyone else's hands], this is out too.
I've spotted a couple of other quirks.
Office Mobile also does not allow you to display the folder hierarchy that may exist in Phone>Documents, just giving a flat filesystem, which makes finding a file in thousands, say, horrible. All I'd like to do is exactly duplicate the hierarchy that exists on the PC [& then I am always looking for things in the same place on either device].
I have also noticed that Office Mobile Word sometime hangs part way through a file. e.g. on loading a 1mb file, & searching for a text sequence I know to be on the last line, it hangs on a line part way through the file [say a 1/3 of the way in]. Not great, & I have the odd file that's c.10mb so I dread to think with that.
Words fail me, & once again I am hugely disappointed with MS. Please, please get the odd decision right & maybe WP will be at the top of the pile again as it was with [the sometimes awful, but very functional] WM.
I am hoping that someone will explain an easy way to do this, & that I can finally move forwards from WM6.5. Android concerns me re privacy & I don't like iPhones, so not much choice really! Stuck waiting for MS to provide basic functionality or [worse] a potential need for a future jailbreak to make the thing work properly!
Here's hoping. Many thanks for reading.
First of all, nobody who knew what the hell they were talking about said that WP8 displays as a USB drive (properly called USB Mass Storage). It's an MTP device, like most media players (or indeed WP7, though that had an extra layer of encryption around it). MTP doesn't display the actual filesystem; although the hierarchical display that it presents *may* mirror a real filesystem, it's under no obligation to do so.
The dearth of supported file types in WP7 was a real pain, but it could be fixed by tweaking the registry. In WP8 it's still a pain, but now third-party apps can (officially) register to handle file types. However, as you point out, there's no real way to browse the phone, and the Office hub only shows the filetypes it recognizes. We *might* be able to fix that, if we could get registry write permission, but that's not possible right now. With that said, I don't know if it would be possible for another app to register the (for example) .txt extension; the phone does offer the ability to choose what app opens a given file type.
For what it's worth, Bluetooth file transfer to the phone works fine, and the files will open in whatever app is registered to the file's extension. You can then save them into the app's storage (Documents, for Office apps). This may be a better way to transfer your data.
In WP8 you can build Apps that associate themselves with certain filetypes (identified by the ending). If your App is associated with a certain file type the App can also open files of that type from anywhere on the SD Card.
So for example if you put a *.log file onto the SD Card any App that is associated with the ".log" ending can read it (the Explorer functionality for the SD Card would have to be implemented by the App itself but it is supported). This does not work with the integrated storage though. With integrated storage you would still have to receive it via E-Mail, SkyDrive, etc.
Now for the caveats:
- Apps can't be dynamically associated with File Types. If you want to open "*.log" files the App developer has to associate his App with the filetype in it's manifest. If several Apps exist for a given filetype the user will be asked which one to use.
- There is a quite extensive list of file types that are reserved for the OS or built in Apps. Any file type that is reserved in that way can't be associated with third Party Apps. This contains Office documents (except PDF, TXT files and lots of media file types). The complete list can be seen here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/jj207065(v=vs.105).aspx
- Apps can only read from the SD Card but they can't Change data there.
Now as for your Problem: someone could build an App that supports e.g. Log-Files and you could use your Lumia 820 with an SD Card to pretty much work the way you intend to with those files. It's not really trivial though, given that 10 MB big plain Text-Files regularly lead to Trouble even on PC text Editors (the developer has to be smart on how to handle These "huge" files, so just some midnight hack job won't do).
What are your further requirements? Search pretty obviously. But what are all the filetypes you would need? Would you need editing capability?
Just trying to understand the compelete picture of your requirements. Perhaps you can tell us what kinds of files you use and for what purposes.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
@GoodDayToDie
Re 'seen as a USB drive' - That's me being careless with words, what I meant to say was the ability to local sync over a USB cable, & then access the copied files on the device. I didn't think that you could do this with WP7 [without frigs], & had high[er] hopes for WP8.
I might have a look at Bluetooth FT as a method for getting the [bulk] data over locally, as I won't be doing it via the cloud [email or Skydrive]. Thanks for the advice.
@StevieBallz
Thanks for the MSDN reference - Very interesting.
Ok, so the apps can potentially access the data on the SD card but not write to it - As an aside, I thought I read something the other day that said data on the SD card was limited to Pictures, Videos, Music etc, as a security measure. That's interesting too then, though anything I want to be 'secure' I'd keep in the internal storage anyway.
Re the comment re 'Trouble even on PC text Editors'. Yes, I tried way back on WM2003 to get a file displayer going, but immediately hit problems with [I think] a 32KB limit on the textbox display. I've just made do with WM6.5's Word displayer since, which offers basic functionality.I keep meaning to go back to the coding, but haven't managed it yet [I think Visual Basic was missing for a while with WP, if indeed it's there yet (I thought I'd read it was with VS2012?)].
Re my 'requirements'. Just to be able to search [large-ish] text files & have the o/p displayed in a manner that's readable [no word-wrapping]. I realise editing is a whole new ball game, so read-only would be good enough. Longer term, I'd like the ability to have many text files open at once - On the desktop I use "Programmer's File Editor", & something like that [if only as a viewer] I'd find invaluable on the smartphone/PDA. I also have many thousands of files on my desktop [PDF, DOC, RTF, HTM, TXT etc] & ideally I'd like access to those on the go as & when needed, via a hierarchical file system on the mobile device, with the structure exactly mirroring the PC's file system, so that I'd search for & find data in the same places regardless of which device I was using [Why thousands? Might be 100s+ actually, & these could be electricity bills, sales receipts, insurance documents - anything - the stuff of life really].
I'll continue with my testing of Office Mobile Word's displaying & searching of text files. I've found it patchy & not consistent so far, but am going to have to move from WM6.5 eventually [more's the pity], & don't really want the hassle of sending the device back again.
Many thanks for your advice so far.
Device returned, many thanks for your help. Maybe WP9 then?
5v17 said:
Device returned, many thanks for your help. Maybe WP9 then?
Click to expand...
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Judging by the ideas picked up for review on dev user voice, situation may drastically improve with the next SDK update.

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