Step by step instructions for using Pocket Access files with Data On The Run:

Don't forget to back up your data before you start, and keep regular backups!!!

 

READ THIS FIRST:  If you are using version 5 of Data On The Run, these steps do not apply to you!  These instructions are only for versions 4 and earlier of Data On The Run.  Version 5 users should visit the user guide.

These instructions require ActiveSync 4.2 or earlier.  They will not work with ActiveSync 4.5 or later.  So you should either use ActiveSync 4.2 or earlier, or upgrade to Data On The Run 5, which does not require you to follow these steps.

1.  Create a database in Access on your desktop computer, and add at least one record.  Or, you can use an existing database.  (Remember, your data tables must have a single column primary key or they will not be synchronized correctly!   You can add a primary key by inserting a field in Design view of desktop Access.  Insert a field as the first field, call it "ID", and choose "AutoNumber" for the data type.  Then, right click on that field and choose "Primary Key".  Then copy the database to the Pocket PC as shown below.)

2.  Click the "Options" button on ActiveSync®.

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3.  Enable Pocket Access synchronization if you wish to keep your data synchronized with the desktop.

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4.  Click OK to exit the "Settings" (if needed) and return to the main ActiveSync® screen and choose "Explore" (see first screenshot above).  Then drag and drop your Access database to the Pocket PC window (anywhere in the white area will be fine).

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5.  After you drop the file to the Pocket PC, a dialog box will appear.

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Tip:  Just placing the database in the "Pocket PC My Documents" folder on the desktop will NOT copy the database to the Pocket PC on the next sync.  You MUST drag and drop it to the Pocket PC.

Please note:  No matter what folder you drag and drop to on the Pocket PC, it will try to put the database in the "My Documents" folder of the main memory on the Pocket PC.  If you want to place the database on the storage card, you must change the path from "\My Documents" to "\Storage Card\My Documents".  The database must be in a folder called "My Documents" on either the storage card or in main memory for Data On The Run to see it.

6.  If you wish, you may select which fields you want to synchronize, and you can mark the data tables as read only, by clicking the plus sign beside the table name.  If you want to keep your data synchronized with the desktop, make sure the "keep tables synchronized" box is checked.

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7.  After clicking OK, your database will be transferred to the Pocket PC, and will be ready to use in Data On The Run!

Here are some additional notes for those who wish to start with a database that was created on the device, and move it to the desktop:

The instructions are similar to what is listed above, except you are dragging from device to desktop, rather than from desktop to device as is shown in those instructions. When you drag from device to desktop, ActiveSync seems to ignore where you are dragging your file to, and creates the desktop .mdb file in an odd location. You will see a box that pops up during the transfer (there's a screenshot of the box shown above, under step #5) - you will probably want to change that path to something easier to find, like perhaps on your desktop. In addition, sometimes ActiveSync does not like to sync to a file that was created by dragging from the device to desktop, but this is generally easily overcome by dragging the desktop .mdb file right back to the device using the instructions as outlined above.

If you have additional difficulty, please contact us.   Thanks!

               

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