1. For most programs, a normal sync allows data to be syncronized between both the handheld and the PC, so when it's finished, the data is identical on the handheld and the PC. However, during Observer's "normal" sync, all data flow is one-way: from the handheld to the PC. During this type of sync, new observations on the handheld are transferred to the PC. As an option, you can have the observation data cleared from the handheld after each sync to the PC. To enable this, open the PC version of Observer, select Tools, Preferences, and place a check in  . At the present time, this setting is recommended to insure that duplicate observation data is not repeatedly transferred to the PC every time it's synced.
|
|
|
2. If you change to a new Observation Set on the PC, The status bar at the bottom of the program will indicate that a hotsync is needed in order to put the new observation set onto the handheld. 
|
|
|
| The type of sync needed to do this is different than the "normal" sync mentioned above. For this, you want to overwrite everything that is on the handheld with the new observation set that is on the PC. To force the new set onto your handheld, you will need to temporarily change the behavior of the Observer conduit within the Hotsync program so that Desktop overwrites handheld for one sync only. There are two approaches you can take to accomplish this:
|
| · | You can make the necessary settings manually each time you need a different observation set loaded on your handheld,
|
| · | or you can change your preferences in Observer so this happens automatically whenever a different observation set is loaded.
|
|
|
| With either approach, after the sync, the Observer conduit will be automatically set back to Synchronise the files, i.e. a "normal" sync.
|
|
|
| Caution: If you have observations on your handheld that have not been synced to the PC, you should wait to change to a new observation set until after you perform a "normal" hotsync. Otherwise, the observations will be lost.
|
|
|
| Caution: You shouldn't perform a hotsync while Observer is running. Unpredictable results may occur.
|
|
|
| Note: If the observation sets on the handheld and PC don't match, a "normal" sync will always be aborted, and an explanation will be placed in the hotsync log. This assumes that the preferences aren't set to automatically force Desktop Overwrites Handheld as mentioned above and explained below. (To access the log, notice the menu item "View Log" in the screen shot below.) The only sync that should be done when a different observation set is loaded is described below.
|
|
|
|
|
| Manually Changing Hotsync Settings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|