Sprint Internet Card

If you are using a sprint card for internet AND you want to send via Repgen on your computer, then you will have to make sure the acceleration (compression) setting on the card is turned off.

To disable compression on sprint wireless card

1.       open sprint connection manager click on icon near clock.

2.       Go to tools --> settings

3.       Go to acceleration ……Set acceleration to manual & lowest

DO NOT CLICK ON STOP –this disables internet, ooops!

I'm not sure if this setting stays or if sprint turns acceleration back on, but i'm sure you users will let me know via comment to this post or an email.

Getting Report Data Out of Phone: The Last Resort

Here are the steps for getting your report data out of the phone when other methods (sync with visual ce, send to server) are not working.  This is the last "electronic" version. The true last resort is for you to copy or retype all the info you see in your handheld into the periodic form in your Repgen.

Click the set of screen dumps to see them in a larger view.

Windows Mobile 6.5 OS

We are all using Windows Mobile 6.5 now. One thing I've mentioned to some of you is that some menus (or pages) look static, when really you can flick and see more info. A good example is the sound & display settings page. Look at the image here. I've already flicked down and it reveals a  few more settings. I think these are on by default, but you might want to have a look. They are pretty much the converse of each other. 1) Get quieter if I pick you up or move you, 2) Get louder if you are stuck in my pocket.

Also note that I like Chuck Prophet, I can't help it with songs like "Let's do something wrong (and stupid), Summertime Thing, Kmart Family Portrait." Anyway, if you like some music and want to make it your ringtone, you can do it here. If you want to edit the music 1st, you can do it on the phone with the MP3 Trimmer (pretty simple interface). But that's not really work related and since I'm getting paid to write this. I better stop writing here.

WMWiFiRouter Software Use Phone as wireless router

This post is being written via a new network that I am connected to. It's the wireless internet that my Touch Pro 2 is providing. I'm trying out WMWiFiRouter software, it costs $30, I'm using the trial version.  But right now it gets 5 out of 5 stars. Works easily, works as I would expect.  Ideally this could replace any "internet cards" or Brian's cricket card. If there are good enough work-related reasons to have this software, i'm sure silver/cims can pay for it. I wonder how long the phone battery lasts when serving up wi-fi. Oh, i see an electrical outlet other there....

Periodics that are 2 pages instead of 1

In the last few days we've had some periodics sent via phone that are 2 pages long. I believe this happens when you get an error when sending, then you send again to make sure it goes. So....if you get an error when sending, especially the "not supported" error, then let me know via text or phone call, i'll research then. One way to reduce the 2 page/2 record issue might be to do the following:

1. After the error, go to the WEB page, if the report is in "pending macros" then...
2. Manually move the record(s) to Archive  (move to arch button)
3. If you have more reports to send, then send those.

My thought on this process is move the ones that made it to archive first, so they don't get duplicated. In the past I've told surveyors to "just resend". This new procedure is a bit different:

SEND-->CHECK WEB-->MOVE THOSE THAT MADE IT, TO ARCHIVE ON PHONE--->SEND OTHERS IN YOUR BATCH OF REPORTS.

System checks every 15 mins

We have had the system check for new phone reports every 30 mins, every 5 mins, right now I've set it to 15 mins.  If the db doesn't grow too much then we'll leave it at 15 mins.

Errors When Sending From Phone---(this is the abbreviated version, see "users guide for more details")

·   Error AFTER syncing occurs: [syware, inc menable/sqlceenable client] Not supported

Fix: First, check the WEB button--see if report is in "pending macros"-- if needed click on send again. If it is on server, then click the "move to archive" button.

·   Unable to resolve host name given

Fix:  Start Internet Explorer, Opera or other web software so you can give your phone an internet connection. 

·   [Syware inc menable sqlceenable client isam] unable to find menable server. please verify that menable is running on the server.

Fix: Do a soft reset of the HTC phone

·   Record deleted (I don’t have exact message)

Fix: You should check that data was sent, use the WEB button. I think this error message is due to some temporary records that happen on the database, but I’ve not verified it yet.

·   Could not update, currently locked by user ‘admin’ on machine SILVER

     Fix: click on send again. Another user is sending at the exact same time as you. This may happen on
     occasion, but not frequently.

Send Data via Wi-Fi--When Phone Internet Isn't Available

If you find yourself needing to send Periodic reports to the server but your phone internet isn't working, you have an option. Another if....If you have wi-fi access to a network (depot, hotel, etc), you can connect to the wi-fi network, then send data to the server. NOTE: you do have to change the "sending method" for the Menable/VisualCE form.  To do that. you need the "Change_Sending_Method" form that I created today.

CAPS LOCK NOW Thing of the Past

With new append query in Repgen, you no longer need to use caps locks on the phone. Unit number, serial numbers, regulations can all be lower case. They will be converted to upper case when you move data using the "move data" button in Repgen. Check the email I sent today.

CAPS LOCK NO LONGER NEEDED IF YOU SEND BY PHONE

CAP LOCKS IS NOW A THING OF THE PAST IF YOU SEND PERIODIC REPORTS VIA THE PHONE.

I also have new query that when you put it into your Repgen on your home computer, you won't need caps locks there either. Contact me when you are ready for that.

As mentioned in previous post: periodic first, then next step is onhire reports.

CAPS LOCK Nearly Thing of the Past

With a little more testing, the need to use caps lock on periodic reports on the phone will be a thing of the past. See all the CAPS letters in the attached image? After this, we can then focus on the onhire form. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. That is, if you need something fixed, work with me and I'll help get it done. (Times may vary.)

MORE CAPS LOCK

I'm going to search a few more times over the next week for an answer to the caps lock issue on the phone. Right now I think the problem is independent of the software we use to make the envelope key the tab key. What I mean by this, is that if you have caps lock on (without the tab key software installed) and then you go to another field on the form, the caps lock resets itself.

See how this is really a problem regardless of the software we are using for the tab key?

So, if nothing works with the phone, one logical step would be to put a "make this all caps" function directly on all the fields on the reports in repgen (well, the ones that need capital letters always). One possible disadvantage is that info on the phone will be lower case...but maybe that doesn't matter to you the surveyor when viewing the info on the phone.

CAP LOCKS WORKAROUND #2

I think this is workaround #2. Anyway, I mentioned in the past that you can press FN+caps to turn off and on caps-lock. The idea is to use caps in a field on a VCE form, then turn it off so you can use the "envelope" key to tab. That's a few too many finger presses.

You may already know this, but pressing Caps/Shift two times is the same thing as FN+caps/shift. So, when you need info on a periodic or onhire form to be all caps, you press the Caps/Shift key twice, type your letters, then press Caps/Shift once again to turn it off, so that then you can use the "envelope" key to tab.

I'm still searching around for a more complete fix, but it hasn't happened yet.

Lock The Phone's Screen

This is a general setting for the phone. You can "lock" the screen so that you can't accidentally dial or press keys. Here are the steps:

Last updated: Oct 07, 2009

To lock the keys and screen of your HTC Touch Pro2:

1. Tap Start > Settings > All Settings
2. Then tap the Personal tab, Buttons and then tap the End Key tab
3. Tap to select Lock device, and then tap OK
4. Press and hold the End key to lock the keys and screen

To unlock, you click on the "unlock" menu at the bottom left of the screen, then press the unlock button that appears on the next screen.

This is optional to set up. You might like it, you might not. Did I say it was optional?

Online Periodic Form via The Phone

Just in case you needed to enter periodic data and your Visual CE Periodic 9.1 form wasn't working, you could go to the online periodic form. It's been around forever for contract surveyors. While the form on your phone is easier to use, it's nice to know there is another tool for you, if you need it.

www.tankcontainer.com/onlineforms/login.asp

New Periodic 9.1 Form Now Available

The new Periodic 9.1 form is available. It fixes the arrow key up and down issue. So now when you use arrow up or arrow down on the keyboard, it goes from record to record, instead of occasionally changing the value in a drop down list (e.g., customer). As of this post, only Roy has the current arrow key fixed version.

Flick Your Finger

Today I noticed on the "WEB" screen, that you don't have to use the tiny scroll bar to scroll through the page. You can just press your finger on the screen and flick up or down. You probably won't make the text smear like in my sample here, but you'll be able to scroll up and down without being tied to the tiny weeny scroll bar.

NOW FIXED: Arrow Down Can Change Customer By Accident

After a number of hours and going down one long dead end, I finally tracked down the cause of the arrow key issue with the Periodic 9.1 form. Turns out the nifty new "web page" screen showing pending macros and other reports sent was the cause of the arrow key problem. Definitely strange. I was able to fix the arrow key problem and retain the web page function. So now the Periodic 9.1 form will work the same, but the WEB button will take you to a separate form. As a surveyor you may not even notice a difference.

So, come on and get the newest Periodic 9.1 form. It's available for free!

Emails notifications are back

Email notifications to let you know PDFs were built are now working. For the past few weeks they were not working. This is the email with PDF attachments. It let's you know data was received and PDFs created. This is prior to the reports being approved (auto or manual approval).

With the new "web" button, I wonder how much we really need this notification email. What are your thoughts?

Pending Macros Count

There is now a little counter next to the heading "1. Pending Macros" when you use the "WEB" button on the periodic form. Just something to help you quickly count records.

Arrow Down Can Change Customer By Accident

Roy first reported this and Tony confirmed today that sometimes when you are using arrow up and arrow down on the keyboard to go thru records, that the customer code can accidentally change.

If/when you need to scroll thru records, you might want to move the cursor to another field. A non-drop down field like CSC.

The latest form fixes this problem by changing the first field on the M and V screens--be sure to ask for it from me. For the M screen the first field is the AAR600 box, instead of customer. The idea is that when you switch to that screen, AAR600 will "have focus", it will have the cursor, so if you then use arrow keys, customer won't be affected. The same goes for "surveyor name" field on the V screen. This will add an extra tab stop to your routine, but you'll adjust pretty easily. It is surely better than accidentally changing customer info.

Note, the switching values problem will (likely) still occur if your cursor is on another drop down, (e.g., location). My proposed fix is to reduce the chances of customer and valve mfg from changing when all you really want to do is cycle thru records.

Of course, if I find a better solution, I'll let you know. And you, should do the same.

Web button shows last 7 days

Note that the new WEB button (as showcased in Friday's Bigger is Better post) will show 1) Reports that are pending macros and in Part 2, it shows reports you sent from your phone for the last 7 days. Sorted by date, then unit number.

Errors When Sending, New Move To Archive Button

Surveyors that are using the phones to send to the server are still getting too many errors when sending. But most of the time the data has made it to the server, but the error message makes the sender uncertain. That is a problem I'll continue to work on. In the mean time, surveyors can use the new WEB button and the new, just now introduced, "Move To Archive" button. Here's the situation. 95% of the time when you click on the SEND button and you see the synchronizing message...(1) records... (2) records, etc, the data ends up going to the server. But since you get an error (e.g. "not supported" error), you aren't sure if the data made it and sometimes the data stays in the periodic form instead of moving to the archive form. Here's an example of how you can use these two buttons "WEB" and "MoveToArchive" buttons.

1. Click on the web button. If you see your report record in the list, then you know the data is on the server.

2. After you see that the record is on the server, you can manually move the record from periodic to the archive form using the "MoveToArchive" button

After you click on this button, your data will be moved to the archive table. Note that only records with X in the send column will be moved.

As I see it, using the WEB button and then using the MoveToArch button will help reduce a lot of uncertainty when you send data via the phone. And they will help you keep data organized on your phone. If you don't see it that way, give me a call or email and I'll try to profess the major benefits that I see from my vantage point.

New Periodic 9.1 Form Bigger is Better

The newest periodic form is out (roy and tony have it as of friday noon). And here's what she has:

• Fields and buttons are about as large as we can get them
• Drop downs now list up to 8 items instead of just 4
• GLH = Get Last Hydro date button will grab hydro info from our web site for the unit number you have listed in your form
• Hydro early calculation: If the survey is a 5yr and EWW is customer, the form will calc if the survey you are doing is early. We are still tweaking this, but it should help.
• Now easily see what your phone has sent to the web site. When you click on the new WEB button on the report management page, you'll get quick access to what you just sent. The real example below shows 1) reports sent, but macros pending. In this example, that is none and 2) that Roy has sent 5 reports for the 29th and 9 reports for the 28th, the last one has not been approved, the line below the unit number shows the reason why.

1. Pending Macros
Unit Number	Report Date

None.

2. Processed and Approved Date
Rpt. Date	Unit Number	T	Appr. On
29/1	EXFU 054083-7	5	29/1
29/1	EXFU 054260-8	5	29/1
29/1	CCRU 191469-0	2	29/1
29/1	ETNU 140783-8	2	29/1
29/1	ETNU 140689-4	5	29/1
28/1	TAIU 585040-6	2	28/1
28/1	EXFU 056389-5	2	28/1
28/1	EXFU 054327-1	2	29/1
28/1	EXFU 054541-7	5	28/1
28/1	EXFU 054240-2	5	28/1
28/1	USPU 121302-6	2	28/1
28/1	USPU 121214-3	5	28/1
28/1	TIFU 121810-9	5	28/1
28/1	ROYP 111111-1	5	/
Ck#6: Bill customer not owner, if cust is already OK, make sure owner is in as second viewer

Calendars

If you need to change the year on the calendar, you can use the arrow keys or click right on the year to edit, then type the numbers. For instance, it might be quicker to type "1987" instead of click the left arrow 23 times.

List View

The new Periodic form as of Jan 25 or so now has list view with

• date
• unit number
• survey type
• location
• customer

No more scrolling and guessing way right...."where is that date field?"

Caps Lock

We now use the envelope key as the TAB key, that is great, but the side effect is that if you use caps-lock, that will cancel out the envelope key as TAB key. One work around instead of holding down the shift key to get caps letters, is to press FN then Caps, this will keep caps-lock on. Type your letters they will be CAPS NOW.... but then before tabbing, turn caps-locks off, FN, then caps/shift key. This may be easier than holding down the shift key while typing letters.