Getting Started

After installation, you start the program from the Windows Start menu, selecting Programs, and ThinkDB.

After the program is loaded, use the menu or the toolbar to select the desired feature.

For more details on each of the ThinkDB Desktop features, click here: Overview


ThinkDB Desktop
ThinkDB Desktop©

ThinkDB Desktop is  the desktop companion for  ThinkDB for Palm® Computing platform.

With this program you will be able to view and edit ThinkDB databases.  The program can also convert text-delimited files into ThinkDB databases.

This documentation describes only the ThinkDB Desktop use.  The desktop program has several features that work similar to the program ThinkDB for Palm.   For details on ThinkDB databases, field types and a complete description on the software please read the manual included in the ThinkDB for Palm download package.

To learn more about this program click here:  Getting Started


Import
Features - Overview

Using ThinkDB Desktop you will be able to:

1) Create new ThinkDB database to be transferred later to the device.  For more details read: Creating a new database

2) Open an existing ThinkDB database for viewing and editing.  For more details read: Opening an existing database

3) Add and modify records.  With the in-place editing capabilities, this program will help you to enter and change records very easily.   For more details read: Adding and modifying records

4) Convert field types:  unlike the program ThinkDB for Palm, the Desktop program has full capability of converting data types.    For more details read: Field Properties / Converting field types

5) Import and export data.   For more details read: Import/Export

6) Save your work and transfer data to the device.   For more read: Saving your work and transferring data to the device.


Creating a new database

You can create a new ThinkDB database by selecting "File" and "New".  A blank database will be presented in a grid.

The properties for each field can be changed by right-clicking on a column header.  For more details read Field Properties / Converting field types

After you create the fields, you can start entering records.  For more details on how to add and modify records, read: Adding and modifying records

back to Overview


Opening an existing database

If you created a new database and performed a HotSync after, there will be a copy of this database on your desktop computer.  This automatic backup is created by HotSync whenever you modify a database on the device.

ThinkDB Desktop reads the existing databases from these backup files.

You can open an existing ThinkDB database by selecting "File" and "Open" from the menu.

A dialog will be presented by asking you to select your username.

All existing ThinkDB databases for the selected username will be presented in a list.  In order to open a database, select its name and click on the "Open" button.

If you have a database that you copied to another place other than the default backup directory used by HotSync, you can use the "Browse" button to find it.

back to Overview


Adding and modifying records

After you open or create a database, you can edit the fields content shown in the grid.  All fields can be edited in-place, including pop-up lists.

Changing data works in a similar way than the Palm program, except that the fields are organized in a grid, instead of a form with tabs.

In order to add records, select "Record/Add Record" from the menu.

In order to delete records, click on the record row and select "Record/Delete Record" from the menu.

back to Overview


How to register
License

Purchase is available at http://www.thinkingbytes.com

Important:

A license gives you the right to use the program exclusively on the pilot unit identified during registration process. Registration does not allow you to distribute the program. Each registered version is licensed to use in only one machine.  Desktop program is available only for the registered username.

Upon purchase, you agree with the Terms Of Agreement included in the documentation. You also agree that you have downloaded the demo and tried the program previously, and are in full knowledge of the program functionality.

During registration you will be asked for your pilot username. An incorrect pilot username will create an invalid registration key. A new registration key may be issued however the process can take several weeks. No refunds will be issued for this matter. For your convenience, make sure you are providing the correct pilot username. Any questions please contact support@thinkingbytes.com before placing an order


Disclaimer

All ownership and Copyright of the software, including screens, belongs to Armando Neves and Thinking Bytes Technologies.  Thinking Bytes Technologies will not take responsibility for any form of damage or loss that may occur when using this program.  By using the program, you have agreed on all the conditions stated here.

HotSync, PalmPilot, and Palm are trademarks of 3Com Corporation and its subsidiaries.
IBM and WorkPad are trademarks of IBM Corporation.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective holders.

ThinkDB for Palm Computing platform  ©  Copyright 1999 Armando Neves /  Thinking Bytes Technologies.
ThinkDB Desktop © Copyright  1999  Armando Neves / Thinking Bytes Technologies.


Contact Information
Contacting us

Technical support:   support@thinkingbytes.com

General Information:   armando@thinkingbytes.com

Registration:   sales@thinkingbytes.com


Converting field types
MediaSync - Export changes to the palmpilot:

back to Overview


Field Properties / Converting field types

You open the field properties for one field by right-clicking on a column header.

On the field properties dialog, a list of field types is presented, with the currently assigned type selected.

This editor has a similar functionality than the program on the device.  For a selected field type, the according properties will be available for modification.

One difference using the Field Properties editor on the desktop program, is the presence of more than one set of databases, one for each username.  When defining external fields, make sure you are joining databases under your username.

Another difference is the fact that the desktop program has full ability to perform data type conversions.  If you change the field type and click "Ok", the program will convert the data into the new field type.

Note:  If  the conversion for a value is not possible, the program will assign zeros or blanks to the field.  For example, if a field is converted from text to integer, a record with the value "John" for this field will have a zero as a new value.

One great features of the ThinkDB desktop program is the ability to create lists automatically.  If you change a field type to "List", the program will build a list with the existing values and assign the list to each record.

Note: When creating a new list, if the number of unique items exceeds the limit 60, further items will be ignored.  If this happens you will receive an error message.  Change the field type back to "text", and click OK.  Reduce the number of unique items and then try again.   If you plan to have more than 40 unique items in a list, it is suggested that you use a text field or create an external database.

back to Overview


Saving your work and transferring data to the device

After you are done with the changes, you can save the database.

ThinkDB databases are saved in a .pdb file format, the standard Palm databases file type.

A ThinkDB pdb filename must start with "TDB_".  This will avoid conflicts with existing and future Palm applications you may have.  Databases must have a unique name.

The real name of your database can be entered after this prefix.  For example, if you want to name your database as "Customers", then you would save your pdb file as "TDB_Customers.pdb"

From the menu, you have three ways of saving your work:

a) "File/Save" - This option will save on your PC the currently open database.  A pdb file will be saved.  To install this database on your organizer, use the Palm Install Tool.

b) "File/Save as" - To save new databases or create a copy of the currently open database, you may choose this option.  The program will prompt you for the database name.

c) "File/Save & Install" - This option will save the database and automatically mark it to be installed on your device during next HotSync.

back to Overview


Troubleshooting

 1)  When I open an existing database I see an old version of it...

 A. Make sure you complete a HotSync before opening databases for modification.  When you are done with the changes, save the database and install it to the device.

 2) The external references are not displayed when I open the database.

 A. The databases may be in different directories.  The databases must exist in the same directory, and it should be the default HotSync backup directory for your username.

3) My device crashed and I lost my database.  What should I do?

The first recovery attempt would be to install the .pdb file that is located on your HotSync backup directory.

If for whatever reason this fails, you may try to install the backup file that ThinkDB Desktop program automatically create.  Everytime you open an existing database for editing, this desktop program creates a backup copy of the database.  If the saved database does not work correctly on the device, you may reinstall the previous version from this ThinkDB backup directory.  The files are located in the "Backup" folder under the ThinkDB Desktop installation directory. (default C:\Program Files\ThinkDB Desktop\Backup)


Contact
Technical Support

Before contacting us,  make sure your question is not answered in the ThinkDB manual downloaded from http://www.thinkingbytes.com

Technical support:   support@thinkingbytes.com


Import/Export

The Import/Export screen will allow you to transfer data between ThinkDB Databases and Access Databases or text-delimited files.

You can start this process by clicking on the "File", "Import/Export" menu.

A list with the existing "Conversion Specs" will be presented.

About Conversion Specs:

ThinkDB has the ability to create a document with all information necessary to perform a data exchange between two databases.  This document is called Conversion Specs.

Creating Conversion Specs:

Clicking on the "New" button on the "Import/Export" screen will present you the Conversion Specs Wizard.  The Wizard will guide you through the process of building a Conversion Specs document.

The first screen will allow you to enter name and location for the two databases.  For more information read Target Databases

The next screen will present you fields from both databases. Using drag-and-drop you can create a map between fields from the two databases.  For more information, read Field map

The last screen allows you to specify what happens with the database resulted from an import procedure.  For more information, read Save/Install options

Running Conversion Specs:

First you need to select if you want to import or export data, clicking on the option buttons.

After you select import or export, a list of Conversion Specs will be presented.  Note that depending on the external database, the specs can be used only for import, only for export or both.  Here are the rules:

External database / Possible operations:

Query - Import only

New text file - Export only

Others - Import or Export

After you select one or more Conversion Specs, click on run and the data will be imported or exported.  Note that all the existing records in the target database will be deleted.

Facts about ThinkDB Import / Export:

- All the existing records in the target database will be deleted

- Import into ThinkDB Databases will preserve views definitions, field definitions and forms design

- Some Access field types are obvioulsly not supported such as OLE.

- ThinkDB expressions are currently exported as text.  Next version will detect if the expression result is a number/date/time and export into this format.

- Lists are currently exported as text.

Importing list fields into a ThinkDB database

- If you import data into a field type "List", ThinkDB will automatically convert the text values imported into a list and assign the values to the records.  If there are more than 60 unique items the conversion wil not be possible, as a list cannot have more tha 60 items.

Importing keys / external joins into a ThinkDB database

It is possible to import existing keys and simple relationships into ThinkDB databases.

When you import numeric values into a ThinkDB field type "Key", the values are automatically converted into keys.

When you import numeric values into a ThinkDB field type "External Join", the values are automatically converted into external references for these key values.

This operation requires some user knowledge about keys and relationships, and how ThinkDB deals with external joins.

Tips:

- For users with Access Knowledge: if you have your Access table accessing an external table for a lookup, you can create a query and import this lookup as a list field.


Target Databases
Import/Export

Target Databases

On this screen, you will enter information about the two databases involved in the import/export process.

The external database can be a text delimited file or an Access table.  Select the respective tab.

For Access tables:

- Enter the Access database using the "Browse" button

- For existing data, select "Table/Query" and select the table or query from the pull-down list.  If you don't see any name listed, use the button "Retrieve"

- For new tables, select "New Table" and enter the name for the new table.

For text-delimited files:

- For existing files, enter the filename and path, using the "Browse" button.

- For export, select "New text file".  You will be prompted for a filename during export.

For ThinkDB databases:

Select the username and database or click on "New" for new databases.


Mapping Fields
Import/Export

Save/Install options

The last screen on the Conversion Specs Wizard will allow you to specify options for Import procedures.

The options are:

- Install the resulting ThinkDB Database to the original owner

- Install the resulting ThinkDB Database to all devices that sync with the desktop

- Save the resulting ThinkDB Database as a pdb file in the specified directory

The options are valid only when you run the conversion for Import


Field map
Import/Export

Field Map

ThinkDB Desktop allows you to create and save a field map between two databases for conversion purposes.

This will allow you to run the conversion in the future without having to define the field map again.

The Field Map screen presents you with two field lists.  The list on the left  contains the ThinkDB database fields and the list on the right contains the external database field list.

In order to map one field to another, simply drag the field from the list on the right and drop it on the correspondent field on the left.   You will see the fieldname appear besides the ThinkDB field, indicating that is assigned to the ThinkDB database field.

An option to "Move All" fields is available.  This option will prompt you if you want to use the first field as category. This option allows you to automatically create the category list during the import process.

For ThinkDB databases with no records you can also change the field order.

Double-clicking on a ThinkDB field or selecting the field and clicking on "Change" will open the "Field Properties" screen for that field.