Going Back to the XV Because You Can Set Priority

marty_owen · 08-29-09, 09:32 AM

I want to go back to using the X5. Please can you all help with some key questions?

The I now have Office 2007. Can I use the X5 with Office & Outlook 2007?

What version of Active Sync do I need to use? Most importantly - - - as I recall, the older Active Sync + X5 allowed you to determine what was the conflict resolving machine. If you set the PDA to be the resolver & snoozed a reminder on the X5 when you re-synced, that snooze would carry over to the PC. Is this still true? PLEASE say yes! And, if so, how one gets this feature. Is it a specific version of Active Sync, or a feature of the X5?

Finally, is anyone using their X5 with the GTD Plug-in from David Allen?

MANY Thanks!!

Marty - returning to the X5 fold.

Gigi · 08-29-09, 11:58 AM

Hi Marty, I can't answer your questions specifically, but I can tell you that I am using ActiveSync 4.5 fine with Outlook 2007 with my X50v running WM2003SE. Just be aware that if you are running Vista, you will need the Windows Mobile Device Center (free from Microsoft) instead:

Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 | Windows Vista Support

Julie · 08-29-09, 01:11 PM

ActiveSync/WMDC recognize a conflict whenever the same record has been changed on both the computer and the pocket pc. As far as I know, ActiveSync & WMDC handle conflict resolution in similar ways. For both applications, you define how you want records synced when a conflict occurs:

Within ActiveSync, you can choose between three options: 1) Replace the record on the computer with the record from the pocket pc; 2) Replace the record on the pocket pc with the record from the computer; and 3) Do nothing (and then you will be prompted to resolve the conflict manually).

WMDC only allows for the first 2 options (the 3rd option - Do nothing is not available).

If there is no conflict, then the most updated records are synced to the computer and the pocket pc.

In your scenario of snoozing an alarm on the pocket pc and having that synced to your computer, the record on the pocket pc was changed and so that record would copy over the record on your computer when you sync. I don't use many notifications on either my computer or my pocket pc so I can not confirm if snoozing notifications are carried over during sync, but I can confirm that when I change a record on my pocket pc (complete a task, change a phone number, change an appointment time), that information is synced over to my computer.

Could you describe your current situation a little more? Are you using WMDC on a Vista computer? Or are you using ActiveSync on an XP computer? If you are using ActiveSync, what version of AS are you using? What pocket pc are you downgrading from?

If your computer is running Vista, then you have no choice over syncing software. The only Microsoft-based software you'll be able to use is WMDC (there are probably some 3rd party applications you could purchase and use).

If your computer is running XP, then you can use a couple different versions of ActiveSync. The most significant change to ActiveSync occurred from version 3.8 to 4.x, when the ability to sync via wifi connection was discontinued.

ActiveSync 4.x is a requirement when syncing WM5.0 devices to an XP computer;

ActiveSync 4.5 is a requirement when syncing WM6.x devices to an XP computer.

If you are syncing a windows mobile 2003 device to an XP computer, you can use just about any version of ActiveSync, but if you want to sync via wifi connection, you'd need to use ActiveSync 3.8 (or an earlier version of AS).

marty_owen · 08-30-09, 09:43 AM

Hello & ENORMOUS FANTASTIC Thanks to You BOTH!

I'm using Vista & WMDC right now with a Smartphone - Asus P750. Julie, if there's any way to set the priority of the dismissal I just can't figure it out. Here's what I've seen online:

I get about 15 reminders that i edit (dismiss/edit) and then I have to redo all of them on my desktop! the whole point of syncronization is that everything synchronize.....especially your reminders. After all we are using the mobile device because of portability and microsoft has provided the WMDC/Activesync to "synchronize". Everytime I go back to my laptop, i have to scratch my head trying to figure out each reminders new date and time that i had set on my mobile device

And:
If a reminder appears on your device and you dismiss, when you sync, in theory it will sync with the PC. However, I have often had the reminder appear on my PC as well as soon as I connect my device and start the sync.

Julie, you wrote
"Within ActiveSync, you can choose between three options: 1) Replace the record on the computer with the record from the pocket pc; 2) Replace the record on the pocket pc with the record from the computer..."
Please can you tell me where that setting is? It could resolve my problems, I think.

Gigi, GREAT to hear it CAN work. If I can get the syncing thing down I REALLY want to go back to my Axim. (crossing fingers)

Thanks x 1,000,000

Marty

Julie · 08-30-09, 02:08 PM

To set the priority when conflicts occur between data on the computer and data on the windows mobile device:

Open up Windows Mobile Device Center on the computer

Select Mobile Device Settings > Manage a Partnership

Select the down arrow to the right of "If there is a conflict" and choose either "replace items on device" or "replace items on desktop"

This option only comes into play when if a conflict exists in a specific record that is being synced. So if you are dismissing the notifications only on the pocket pc and not on the computer, those records on the pocket pc data should always take priority over the same records on the computer - no conflict exists and so WMDC does not need to execute based on the conflict resolution settings.

I have multiple windows mobile devices that I sync to my computer and over time I've stopped using notifications for all but the most important items because I got tired of multiple devices dinging all over the place. I do not think Outlook or ActiveSync/WMDC handle notifications very well and so it does not surprise me at all if your notification settings are not being handled properly when you sync.

I really don't need notifications firing all the time as long as I check my calendar regularly throughout the day. I review my calendar at the start of every day (including tasks). If there are any items that are urgent and that I don't want to forget, I may set an alarm (this is not done within my appointments application); of I may set notification on the appointment itself. If I set a notification, I'll do it that morning, on my mobile device. Then when it fires and I dismiss it on the mobile device, I don't have the issue of my computer sounding a notification later on.

marty_owen · 09-06-09, 08:08 AM

Hello Julie,

Thanks for your reply!

I guess it comes down to this - can anyone confirm if reminders snoozed on a Pocket PC can also make the PC stop reminding? I'm this close (holds thumb & forefinger a hair's width apart) to ditching my pocket PC world entirely and getting a tablet PC but... the LEARNING curve (and the price curve!).

It just seems a-synchronous to me right now. I'm using David Allen's Getting Things Done system, and it depends on reminders a lot.