How to set up a PDA

You can log on to MyOffice using several methods, one of which is via a Pocket PC PDA. If you have a PDA that runs Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC or Windows Mobile 6 Professional you will be able to run MyOffice on your PDA. Note that devices that run the Standard version of Windows Mobile won't be able to run MyOffice.

The Pocket PC PDA version is a specially written 'mini' version that connects directly to the MyOffice servers. It uses the inbuilt internet connection provided by GPRS Wireless LAN, GPRS, 3G, Bluetooth etc. to keep you up to date wherever you are. All data transferred is compressed, encrypted and kept to a minimum, so it's fast, safe and cost effective.

One interesting feature of the PDA version is that you can be logged on at the same time as you are logged on with the Windows or Web Browser versions. Normally, if you attempt to log on twice with the same username/passowrd (say one logon on one PC and another logon on another PC) the second logon will kick the first one of the system. The Pocket PC PDA version is different .... you can be logged on using the Windows Desktop version on a PC and you can log on as the same user on your PDA ... at the same time.

There are several steps to setting up your PDA and these are described below.

Configuring the user as PDA Enabled

The first step is to configure the user to be 'PDA Enabled'

To do this, log on using the Windows Desktop version and edit the user (Tools > User Admin). In the 'Details' tab tick the checkbox called 'PDA Enabled'.

Installing MyOffice on your PDA

To do this connect your Pocket PC to the internet, best done when connected via Activesync or your wireless network (to save money) and navigate to http://www.myoffice.net/pocketpc/downloads.htm and follow the instructions

Nominating the Diaries you want refreshing

MyOffice doesn't automatically refresh every diary that you have access to. This would consume airtime unnecessarily and increase your mobile phone charges. Instead, you nominate which diaries you want refreshing.

To nominate diaries to be included in the refresh, go to the Diary Tree view (blue diary icon in top left of page), hold the pen down on a diary you want including and select 'Include in Refresh' from the menu. Repeat the process for other diaries.

Nominating the Contact Groups you want refreshing

Similarly, MyOffice doesn't automatically refresh every Contact Group.

To nominate contact groups to be included in the refresh, go to the Contact Tree view (yellow folder icon in top left of page), hold the pen down on a contact group you want including and select 'Include in Refresh' from the menu. Repeat the process for other groups.

Setting the Refresh Frequency

Your PDA will auto refresh with the MyOffice server every 30 minutes when you are logged on. This is the default setting.

You can change this default setting by clicking Menu > Options > Refresh Options and changing the Auto Refresh frequency.

In addition to the auto refresh you can refresh MyOffice at any time by clicking Menu > Refresh and choosing 'Full Refresh' or 'Quick Refresh'. The first time you run MyOffice its best to do a Full Refresh.

Configuring email accounts for PDA access

If you want to send and receive emails on your PDA you need to configure your email account settings in MyOffice to be 'Server Managed'.

This changes the method used to receive emails. Server Managed means that instead of your PDA connecting directly to your email provider a background 'server managed' process regularly checks for emails and receives them to the database server. The process runs approximately every 15 minutes so you may experience a slight delay in receiving mails.

The reason a 'server managed' process is used is to substantially reduce your PDA airtime usage. When you log on to MyOffice all your received emails will instantly be listed ... so you don't have to wait for emails to be received. Any emails you send will be sent instantly.

To configure an email account as 'server managed' log on to MyOffice using the Windows Desktop version. Click on Tools > Email Accounts and edit the email address you want to use with the PDA. Click the 'Server managed' tab. Click the checkbox called 'Server Managed. Repeat the process for any other email accounts you want to use with your PDA.

Finally, nominate the email folders you want to include in refresh in the same way that you nominated diaries and contacts above.