WorkPDA Download

Download To PDA (menu option)

This program works very much like the print work orders option within ProServe II. But instead of printing a certain time frame and route of work orders, this downloads work order records to later be synchronized with your PDA device.

The download allows you to build two PDA Sync files for downloading to PDA devices.

One Work Orders, this holds open work orders and allows processing by the PDA user, this information is synchronized back into ProServe II.
Two Contacts, this holds Service and Billing contact information and is only for reference and is not synchronized back into ProServe II.
Each is sectioned off with there own parameters and options with both sharing the common parameters.

Purpose:

Build and load open work order records to each users PC WorkPDA Sync File.
Build and load service/billing contact information to each users PC WorkPDA Sync File.
Empty PC WorkPDA Sync files for any user. (both Work Orders and Contacts)

Build and Load Sync Files

Select the PDA Device Username to be downloaded by clicking that Username.

Work Orders (section)

Include Work Orders File, check ON to include for this run. Turn OFF to skip.
Enter the TIME FRAME
Enter the DEPARTMENT CODE
...PDA Write Options (If option above is ON) more info
...Append records to PDA (default)... to add work orders to PDA Sync file.
...Overwrite records on PDA... to remove work orders then add to PDA Sync file.
...Delete records on PDA... to remove all work order records from PDA Sync file.

Contacts (section)

Include Contacts File, check ON to include for this run, Turn OFF to skip.
Record Limit, use this to control number of contact records that are downloaded.
...PDA Write Options (If option above is ON) more info
...Append records to PDA (default)... to add contacts to PDA Sync file.
...Overwrite records on PDA... to remove contacts then add to PDA Sync file.
...Delete records on PDA... to remove all contact records from PDA Sync file.

Common Parameters for both Sync files

Enter the ROUTE (blank for all)
Enter the SERVICE CODE (blank for all)
Enter the TECHNICIAN CODE (blank for all)
Enter the COUNTY CODE (blank for all)
Enter the ZIP CODE (blank for all)
Enter the MAP CODE (blank for all)

Select Build, when ready to download records to PC WorkPDA Sync files.

Select Quit, to quit without downloading records to PC WorkPDA Sync files.

Select View Last PDA, to view the last PC WorkPDA (Work Orders) Sync file. Use this to verify the current work order records that are loaded. After synchronization, the PDA device should have the same records.

Select Log File, to view the Activity Log History File.

General Rules of Thumb

1st Time Download to PDA Device, you may need to Synchronize twice before you see both Work Orders and Contacts forms on the WorkPDA Menu on your PDA device. This is because the 1st synchronization will only install the forms, the 2nd and there after will synchronize your data.
This Utility can handle multiple PDA devices; for that reason, work orders cannot be duplicated across multiple PDA devices (Usernames). Example: if work order number 00123 is downloaded to PDA Username "EasyBee", then it cannot be downloaded to PDA Username "Billy".
The Contacts can be shared across multiple PDA devices because it's used as a reference only.
It's important to synchronize with your PDA device when prompted to by this process. Unless you plan to append (download) another time frame and type of work orders to the same PDA device. In that case you can skip synchronization until the last download is completed.
The idea is to download as many different types of work orders as needed for each username. By selecting the Append PDA Write option.
The default Work Orders data storage limit is set to 1mb of memory. This means that no more than approximately 500 work order records can be downloaded to a single PDA device. Please see Setup if you need to increase storage limits.
You should always run the Upload process before downloading. Although this download procedure will warn you that completed work orders exist and need to be uploaded, it will give you the option to continue. (We suggest that you upload before downloading)

PDA Write Option (In Detail)

The PDA Write Option for each section are quite different, so I thought I should document a more detailed explanation. Also keep in mind that; even though the options includes the wording "to PDA", "on PDA" the download procedure is not commutating directly with your PDA device. It's commutating with a file located on your PC referred to as WorkPDA Sync File or Sync File. The Synchronization software uses these files to commutate with the PDA device, but this Download procedure controls what records are loaded to be synchronized.

PDA Write Option Work Orders Section

Append records to PDA, this adds new records to the existing sync file and leaves current records as is. Existing records are not overwritten or refreshed. This allows PDA changes priority over PC changes.
Overwrite records on PDA, this removes all records from the existing sync file and replaces them with new records. This allows PC changes priority over PDA changes. Existing records are essentially refreshed but the download determines those records. Ex: records 1,2 and 3 are existing records, the download includes records 1 and 3. records 1 and 3 would be refreshed but record 2 is removed.
Delete records on PDA, this option simply removes all records form the sync file.

PDA Write Option Contacts Section

Append records to PDA, this adds new records to the existing sync file and unlike the Work Orders section, this refreshes existing records. This allows PC changes priority over the PDA device since the Contacts cannot be changed on PDA.
Overwrite records on PDA, this removes all records from the existing sync file and replaces them with new records. This allows PC changes priority over PDA changes. Existing records are essentially refreshed but the download determines those records. Ex: records 1,2 and 3 are existing records, the download includes records 1 and 3. records 1 and 3 would be refreshed but record 2 is removed.
Delete records on PDA, this option simply removes all records form the sync file.

07/20/2006