Note: Tablet and mobile devices have replaced this technology. See Running Inspections on a Mobile Device for more information.
With a wireless connection to a terminal server
To set up your system for data entry in PDA mode:
On the terminal server, set up a new icon for the SPC Data Entry module to launch the program in PDA mode. People with handheld devices should use this new icon to enter data.
If serial-to-TCP/IP interfaces have been purchased to support direct input from serial devices, templates previously configured for RS-232 input must be modified for TCP/IP input.
If desired, templates can be modified to behave one way in PDA mode and another way in normal mode. This feature is most commonly used to display or hide components of the Data Entry tab, depending on which mode of display is used.
This formula is one such example:
IF (PROGRAM_ID < 0), (DE_OPT 14, 65), (DE_OPT 14, 31)
When running in PDA mode, PROGRAM_ID will return a negative number.
Thus, the template will run the "DE_OPT 14, 65" portion of the formula, which hides all components except for the default prompt message, air gage, and number buttons.
When running in normal mode, PROGRAM_ID will return a positive number.
Thus, the template will run the "DE_OPT 14, 31" portion of the formula, which hides the number buttons but displays all other components.
To enter data off-line and synchronize later
If you are not able to run GainSeeker in PDA mode via wireless connection to your terminal server, you can use PocketForms software to collect data while your Pocket PC device is off-line and later synchronize that data with your computer and with GainSeeker. PocketForms software can be purchased from www.pocketforms.net.
To set up your system for off-line data entry using PocketForms software on a Pocket PC:
Make sure that your system meets the following requirements:
your handheld device is a Pocket PC
Microsoft ActiveSync has been installed on your computer
synchronization between your handheld device and your computer has been tested
your computer is running GainSeeker version 7.601 or later
the PocketForms software has been installed on your computer
On your computer, use the PocketForms software to create the desired form, using the following guidelines:
The form type should be set to "Template".
In addition to any data that will be entered on this form, GainSeeker will be able to read the name of the form, its creation date, and any comments you apply to the form.
Keep this in mind as you design the form. For example, you might want to include "SPC" in the name of all forms that collect variable data, and "DMS" in those that collect attribute data. This allows your GainSeeker template to search the name of the form for "SPC" and "DMS" and then process this data appropriately.
When the user fills out this form on their Pocket PC, data values will only be saved for controls for which you have specified a data field name.
Best practice is to specify data field names that match the GainSeeker tags. Otherwise you will need to use the XML_MAP command to match data field names with the names of GainSeeker tags.
For data fields that may require a decimal separator or a negative number, best practice is to use the Text Entry Control. (The Numeric Entry Control may not always function as desired.)
For data fields that provide a list of pre-defined options, you can use the GainSeeker List Utility to copy lists of values from GainSeeker.
To launch this utility, navigate to the folder where GainSeeker program files (*.exe) are installed, and then run GSList.exe.
On your computer, use the PocketForms software to distribute this form to the Pocket PC.
On the Pocket PC, use this form to collect data.
Synchronize the Pocket PC with your computer.
On your computer, run an SPC Data Entry template (see example) that first uses the POCKETFORM command to convert the PocketForms file to XML format, and then uses XML and Record Buffer commands to process this XML file. Each PocketForms file can contain one SPC data record and/or one DMS data record.