Using a Pocket PC with CalAgenda
Contents
OverviewInstalling CorporateSync for Pocket PC
Overview
This document explains the things how to synchronize your Pocket PC with CalAgenda.
Note: Currently, the synchronization software is only available for the Windows operating system. However, the software can also be run on Virtual PC on a Macintosh.
About this document
We assume that you are already familiar with using your Pocket PC and therefore do not go into detail about the Pocket PC itself. We also assume that you are familiar with basic use of the CalAgenda service, that is, with using CorporateTime on your computer.
What you need
- CorporateSync for Pocket PC software. This software can be downloaded from our site.
- Peripheral hardware. In addition to your Pocket PC, you will also need a cradle, connected to your computer, through which the Pocket PC can communicate with the software installed on your system and (ultimately) the CalAgenda server. See your Pocket PC vendor for information on accessories for your Pocket PC.
- Network connection. Your computer must be connected to the network. The CorporateSync for Pocket PC software actually establishes a network connection between the Pocket PC and the CalAgenda server over which the synchronization occurs. In other words, the calendar, tasks, and address book on the Pocket PC are synchronized directly with the server and not with a local copy of this information that may exist on your computer.
- ActiveSync desktop software. You need to have installed and configured the ActiveSync desktop software package that comes with the Pocket PC.
Installing CorporateSync for Pocket PC
The CorporateSync for Pocket PC software from Steltor provides the conduit on Windows between the Pocket PC and the CalAgenda server. It consists of two components: A program that runs on Windows and a program, CorporateSync Settings, that gets installed on the Pocket PC. The Windows installer also installs CorporateSync Settings on the Pocket PC as an applet with an icon in the System tab, under the Start | Settings menu.
Be sure to have your Pocket PC placed in its cradle before proceeding with this installation.
- Make sure that your computer is running and connected to the Internet and that ActiveSync is running and shows that your Pocket PC is connected.
- Download the CorporateSync for Pocket PC software installer.
- Run the downloaded file to begin the installation process. Installing CorporateSync places files on both the local (desktop) computer and the Pocket PC. Both the desktop and Pocket PC components must be installed in their respective locations for the product to function correctly. After installing CorporateSync on your Pocket PC, you must perform a soft-reset to complete the installation procedure.
Configuring CorporateSync Settings
Setting your login information
- Locate and tap on the CorporateSync Settings applet icon in the Start | Settings window on the System tab (second row, third item in the example below):
- Select the Login tab from the CorporateSync Settings menu and enter your CalAgenda account information. Note: You won't be able to see the entire name of the server, e.g., "calagenda.berkeley.edu". Make sure you've entered it completely, however. The node alias for the main CalAgenda server is "calagenda".
Specifying a date range to synchronize
Tap on the Range tab and enter the range of dates you wish to synchronize. The example shown below configures the software to synchronize information from one month prior to the current date through one month into the future. The "current date" is the day on which you synchronize. There's no hard and fast rule on what is best--it depends on what you find convenient to have on your Pocket PC.
Setting event synchronization specifics
Tap on the Events tab to control what information is synchronized. Generally speaking, including attendee information will make the synchronization go a bit slower. Including details will, depending on how extensively you use this field in CorporateTime, take up more memory on your Pocket PC. Selecting Limit details to...KB will provide you with a field in which to specify the maximum size for the amount of detail information you wish to be transferred to your Pocket PC.
Setting tasks synchronization parameters
Tap on the Tasks tab to control how your CalAgenda tasks are synchronized with the tasks list on your Pocket PC. The default will not synchronize tasks flagged as completed and will always transfer details associated with a task. As with Events, you can limit the amount of detail information that gets transferred. Selecting Limit details to...KB will present you with a field to specify the amount of detail data.
Controlling address book synchronization
The CorporateSync for Pocket PC software synchronizes the address book on your Pocket PC with a CorporateTime address book that has been published on the CalAgenda server. In other words, you must already have an address book saved on the server in order for the synchronization to work.
If you already have an extensive address book on your Pocket PC and wish to save it on the CalAgenda server, you can create and publish an empty address book using the CorporateTime client on your computer. Then, the first time you perform a synchronization, you can configure the CorporateSync utility to cause the Pocket PC to overwrite the address book on the server. Subsequent sync operations can be configured to simply synchronize changes between your address book on the CalAgenda server and the one on the Pocket PC.
In any event, the name of the address book you specify in the CorporateSync Settings program must match identically the one saved on the server. If you do not wish to synchronize your address book, do not configure this feature in CorporateSync Settings utility.
Tap on the Contacts tab to specify the name of the published address book and to control the amount of detail information that is downloaded to your Pocket PC from your CalAgenda address book. The default will download everything; clicking on the Limit details to...KB option will present a field in which a maximum amount can be specified.
Performing a synchronization
Note: You must have installed the CorporateSync for Pocket PC software on your Windows (or Virtual PC) system and the CorporateSync Settings applet on your Pocket PC and configured both before you can synchronize your Pocket PC with CalAgenda. See above for information on how to do this.
- To control what actions are taken when your Pocket PC connects to your desktop computer via the cradle, select Properties from the popup menu for the CorporateSync application that appears when you right-click on its icon located in the Windows Task Bar's system tray. On the Action tab, the default action selected is to synchronize items from both locations, as shown below:
- To control what happens when there is a conflict because items have changed in both places, select the Conflict Resolution tab to control the behavior of the CorporateSync program:
- Make sure that you are connected to the Internet, either directly via an on-campus Ethernet connection or over a dial-up connection.
- Make sure that the ActiveSync program is running and that it shows your Pocket PC device as connected when you place it in the cradle.
- When the synchronization is complete, you can view the log of events that occurred by using the View log... CorporateSync menu item. The example below shows that the calendar events were successfully synchronized:
