MobileDB-Excel User's Guide

Table of Contents

Introduction

Installation

Registration and Technical Support

Feature Overview

Exporting an Excel spreadsheet to a MobileDB database

Exporting selected cells to a MobileDB database

Importing a MobileDB database

MobileDB-Excel Database Preferences

Other MobileDB Tools and Converters

Where to Find existing MobileDB databases

Uninstalling MobileDB-Excel

Company Information

License Agreement

Introduction

MobileDB-Excel is the Microsoft Excel Plug-in used to export Excel data directly to a MobileDB database. The database can be saved to the hard drive or set for installation on a users Palm OS or Pocket PC device.

MobileDB for the Palm Computing and Pocket PC Platform is the award-winning database application that allows users to view and edit any table or spreadsheet-like information on their Palm or Pocket PC device. MobileDB was designed for the Palm or Pocket PC user that needs simple and efficient access to any size table or spreadsheet information. With the release of MobileDB v4.0, Handmark has added support for storing databases on Memory Stick and SD/MMC memory expansion cards, user-defined color for database headers and rows, and the ability to check and uncheck checkboxes from the database list view (when the Edit View preference is active). An intuitive list of field types including text, number, list, checkbox, time, date and sequence as well as flexible filters and sorting functionality help you keep your data organized and accessible. You can even export your MobileDB database to the date book!

Installation

Run the MobileDB Installer and follow the on screen instructions. You will be required to HotSync your handheld to complete the installation. The installer installs the following files:

  • MobileDB.PRC -- The Palm OS application installed on your handheld.
  • MobileDB-Excel User Guide -- This User Guide.
  • MobileDB-Excel Plug-in -- The Microsoft Excel plug-in.

After the HotSync operation is complete, go to the Applications Launcher on the handheld and tap the MobileDB icon.

Registration and Technical Support

When you launch MobileDB you will be prompted to enter a serial number or to run in Trial mode. You may run the software for 15-days in full-functioning Trial mode. The Trial software and Registered software are identical. Once the trial period ends you must purchase and enter a serial number to continue using the software. You do not need to re-install the software. Simply enter a serial number and your Trial version will be converted into a Registered version.

To purchase a product serial number, please visit our web site at www.handmark.com.

Registration

Once you purchase MobileDB, please register online at: www.handmark.com/register. Registering makes you eligible for free email technical support and for early notification when new product releases become available.

Technical Support

If you have a software problem you can't solve, please visit the Support section on our web site: www.handmark.com/support. If you need assistance from a technical support representative you can submit a request from this page.

Feature Overview

  • Export an entire worksheet or just selected cells to a MobileDB database.
  • Utilize the first row of data as the field names or enter custom field names
  • Save the export database to your hard drive or set it for installation on your Palm OS or Pocket PC device
  • Create, edit or password protect the "Database Info" text for the database
  • Choose from 7 different field types including text, numeric, date, time, and checkbox

Exporting an Excel Spreadsheet to a MobileDB database

To export an entire excel spreadsheet to MobileDB:

  1. Open the Excel spreadsheet.
  2. Select the menu item "Export Worksheet" from the "MobileDB" menu
  3. Click the "preferences" button and the "Field Parameters" tab to enter or select the field names, column widths, and data types.
  4. Select the "options" tab to enter the database name and select the export destination.
  5. Select the "Database About" tab to enter information about the database.
  6. Click the "OK" button.
  7. Click the "Export" button to complete the export process.

Exporting Selected Cells to a MobileDB database

To export selected cells to MobileDB:

  1. Open the Excel spreadsheet.
  2. Highlight the cells you would like to export to a MobileDB database.
  3. Select the menu item "Export Selection" from the "MobileDB" menu.
  4. Click the "preferences" button and the "Field Parameters" tab to enter or select the field names, column widths, and data types.
  5. Select the "options" tab to enter the database name and select the export destination.
  6. Select the "Database About" tab to enter information about the database.
  7. Click the "OK" button.
  8. Click the "Export" button to complete the export process.

Importing a MobileDB database

Importing a MobileDB database will pull all the data and preferences from the MobileDB database into an Excel worksheet. Once imported, you can make changes to the data then export the database back to MobileDB. To open the latest version of the MobileDB database from your Palm OS or Pocket PC device, open the MobileDB database from the palm\<username>\backup directory or the My Documents folder on your Pocket PC device.

To import a MobileDB database:

  1. Select the menu item "Import MobileDB Database" from the "MobileDB" menu
  2. Select the MobileDB Database to Import and click "Open"
  3. The entire database will be imported to a new Excel worksheet. If you are using the demo version of MobileDB-Excel then only 10 records will be imported.

MobileDB-Excel Database Preferences

The MobileDB Preferences screen presents several options for exporting your excel data to MobileDB.

Field Names - Select "Use First Row" to use the first row in the worksheet as the field names in MobileDB. Select "Use First Row/Selection" to use the first row of the selected cells (export selection only) as the field names. Select "Custom" to enter your own field names.

Column Widths - Enter the approximate number of characters to display in the MobileDB column. These are easily modified on the Palm OS Pocket PC device in MobileDB 3.0.

Field Types - Select the field type that best describes the data for each field. Selecting the correct type will ensure proper sort sequence in MobileDB Text - Plain text which may be sorted alphabetically Number - Any numeric values which may be sorted numerically (ascending or descending) Date - Any date value which may be sorted chronologically. Note that these cells must be defined as a "date" in Excel Time - Any time value which you may want to sort chronologically. Note that these cells must be defined as a "time" in Excel Checkbox - Any true, false value which you would like to appear as a checkbox in MobileDB.

Database Info - enter any text that you would like to appear in the "Database Info" screen in MobileDB. You may password protect this text to keep other Palm OS or Pocket PC users from editing the information.

Database Name - This is the name of the database as it will appear in MobileDB

Save a Copy of the Database - This will prompt you to save a copy of the exported MobileDB database file on your hard drive.

Palm User - Select the Palm user for which to install the MobileDB database. Alternately you can set it to save the database to the hard drive only and not set the database for installation.

Remove Empty Records - This removes all "blank" rows which will help clean up the MobileDB user interface.

Other MobileDB Tools and Converters

There are many MobileDB tools and converters available for both PC and Macintosh. You can find a list of all MobileDB tools at and detailed descriptions at http://www.handmark.com/products/mobiledb.html

Where to Find Existing MobileDB Databases

There are a growing number of pre-developed, generic-content MobileDB databases available for your use. Check out the Handmark database archive to find those of interest to you. The MobileDB database archive is available at http://www.handmark.com/databases. Remember - if you have created a database that other MobileDB users may be interested in, please send it to us so we can make it available for other users. The database submission instructions are available at http://www.handmark.com/databases.

Uninstalling MobileDB-Excel

Use the Uninstall MobileDB-Excel icon in the Handmark\MobileDB for Palm OS program icon folder to uninstall MobileDB-Excel from your PC. If you receive an error when starting up Excel you may need to remove the MobileDB plug-in by selecting Add-ins from the Tools menu in Excel and deselecting MobileDB.

Company Information

Handmark, Inc., is rapidly emerging as the leading publisher of consumer applications for Palm and Pocket PC handheld devices. Handmark offers consumer software for PDAs through major retail chains in North America as well as through its web site: www.handmark.com. Handmark software is available in the U.S. and Europe and will soon be sold in Australia. In the U.S. Handmark sells through both national and regional retail stores including Best Buy, CompUSA, Fry's, Staples, Micro Center, J&R Music World, RCS, and others. Handmark software is compatible with Palm OS handheld computers from Palm, Inc., Handspring, and IBM as well as other licensees of the Palm OS platform including new devices from Sony. The desktop components of Handmark applications are compatible with Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows personal computers. Please see the Handmark web site for more information.

License Agreement

LEASE READ THIS LICENSE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING HANDMARK SOFTWARE. BY USING THE HANDMARK SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE TO BECOME BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE, DO NOT USE THE HANDMARK SOFTWARE.

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Handmark MobileDB-Excel Serial Number
One Handmark MobileDB-Excel serial number may only be used by a single user on one Windows (TM) machine. A new serial number is required for each Windows (TM) machine.