Basics

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Synchronizing

To synchronize a card with your PC, just make sure that the card is in your handheld and hit the HotSync button.  During the HotSync, a dialog box will pop up and let you know that BlueSync™ is analyzing your card.  The first time you HotSync, it will take more time as all the files need to be copied. Subsequent HotSyncs will not take as long, and only the files that need to be copied will be transferred.

Synchronizing Files to Palm with BlueSync™

To add files to your Palm, simply copy them into the correct directory on the PC.  BlueSync™ comes with a helper application on the PC to help you find the correct directory on your PC.  You can launch the helper application by going to Start->Programs->Blue Squirrel->BlueSync.

The BlueSync™ helper application will show all the Palm Users on your system.  In most cases, there is only one. 

Use these steps to add files to your handheld with BlueSync™:
1.   Choose the Palm User for your Palm.  The Palm User is the same as the HotSync Id.  You can find this on your Palm by launching the HotSync application on your Palm and looking at the Id in the upper right-hand corner.
2.   Choose the card you will HotSync with.  BlueSync will handle multiple cards.
3.   Hit the browse button.  Add a file to the folder with Copy/Paste or save a file to that location.
4.   HotSync. BlueSync will recognize that there is a new file on the PC that isn't on the card, and it will add it to the Palm card.      

Synchronizing Files to PC with BlueSync™

There are several ways to get files onto your handheld card:

1.	You can use the Copy… option from the menu in your Palm application launcher.  This will copy Palm databases to \PALM\Launcher and that is all.  This is a very limited function.

2.	You can use the Install Tool to install databases to the card.  This too will add files to \PALM\Launcher.

3.	You can use a camera that supports MMC/SD/Memory Stick or Compact Flash and take some pictures. These pictures are often (not always) stored in the \DCIM directory of the card.

4.	You can use one of the many card file managers that are available to move files from main memory to the card.

5.	You can use Launcher helper applications such as PowerRUN to move files from main memory to the card.

6.	You can use utilities that convert files to and from PC formats to Palm formats to move files to the card.

Once you have moved files to the card using one of the methods listed above, you can hit HotSync to synchronize the PC directory with the Palm.  The files that you added, or moved on the Palm will be added or moved in the PC directory.


Collisions

It is possible during synchronization that the same file will have been modified on the PC and on the handheld.  BlueSync takes two steps to correct for this condition:

1.	BlueSync will do a binary comparison on the file.  If they are identical, then BlueSync will choose only one of them and Synchronize on the PC and handheld.

2.	If the files are not identical, then BlueSync will make a copy of the least recently changed file and rename it by appending "_2" or "_3" as needed to make it unique and synchronize it to both the handheld card and the PC directory.

Archving Deleted Files

BlueSync has the ability to save a copy of the files that you delete. Remember that if you delete files from the PC directory, they will be deleted from the Palm on the next HotSync. If you set "Archive Deleted Files" then BlueSync will keep a copy on the PC in the "Archive\BlueSync" directory.  You can set this flag by right-clicking on the HotSync application in the tray and then choosing "Custom…", choosing BlueSync and then checking the "Archive Deleted Files" button.


Backup

If you do not want to use the synchronization capabilities of BlueSync, you may still want to back up your card(s) for safekeeping.  You can force the directory on the PC to be an exact copy of the Palm card.  To do this, set the "Handheld overwrites desktop" option.  You can set this by right-clicking on the HotSync application in the tray and then choose "Custom…", then select "BlueSync" from the list of conduits and hit "Change...", then choose "Handheld overwrites desktop".  If you want to repeatedly back up your card, you will also need to mark "Set as default."


Restore

If you want the card to be exactly like the directory, then you can force the card to be an exact copy of PC directory.  To do this, set "Desktop overwrites handheld."  You can set this by right clicking on the HotSync application in the tray and then choosing "Custom…", then select "BlueSync" from the list of conduits and hit "Change...", then select "Desktop overwrites handheld."