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Pocket PC/Windows Mobile Sync Through Outlook

1. How To:
   1. How do I sync?
   2. How do I sync only activities in a certain date range?
2. Errors and synchronization issues:
   1. I'm getting an error message.
   2. I'm getting duplicate records.
   3. My data isn't transferring.
   4. My handheld won't connect.
   5. My handheld won't sync to Outlook.

How To

1. Connect your handheld.
2. Your handheld should automatically connect with ActiveSync to synchronize with Outlook.
3. When the ActiveSync finishes, make sure that there are no errors in ActiveSync.
4. Open CompanionLink Setup.
5. Click on Synchronize.

The CompanionLink synchronization process will take your contact manager data and put it in Outlook, then call ActiveSync to move this data to your handheld. When this is finished, you will see a prompt saying that the synchronization is complete.


How do I sync only activities in a certain date range?
CompanionLink does not have an option to synchronize only activities in a certain date range. However, ActiveSync does have this ability. All data would still be synched by CompanionLink between Outlook and your contact manager; however, only activities in the date range selected in ActiveSync would appear on the handheld. In order to use this, you would do the following:

1. Open Microsoft ActiveSync.
2. In the lower half of the window, double-click on Calendar.
3. In this window, select the option that best suits your needs.
4. Click OK.

Errors and synchronization issues

There are also reasons related to the Pocket PC/Windows Mobile sync through Outlook for why you may be receiving duplicates. These include:

• Errors in ActiveSync. If there are messages other than 'Synchronized' in the lower half of the ActiveSync window and you run CompanionLink Synchronize, this may cause duplicate records.
• Wrong ActiveSync conflict resolution method. ActiveSync has three options for resolving conflicts with its records. One of these is 'combine items' or 'merge items'. If you select this option, this will create a new record with data from both of the previous records. CompanionLink will see this as a new record and will create as a new record. By default, it will also rewrite the two previous records, thus creating duplicate records. We recommend always selecting the option to replace items on your device.
• Wrong sync process. You must use the sync process outlined under How do I sync?. If you do this in a different order, this can cause duplicate records.

There are also reasons related to the Pocket PC/Windows Mobile sync through Outlook for why your data may not be transferring. These include:

• Errors in ActiveSync. If there are messages other than 'Synchronized' in the lower half of the ActiveSync window and you run CompanionLink Synchronize, this can cause your data not to synchronize.
• Information types not selected in ActiveSync. In ActiveSync, in the lower half of the window, you must have Calendar, Contacts, Tasks and Notes selected in order for this data to synchronize. If these information types are not listed, go to the Tools menu and select Options, then check these and click OK.
• Handheld not connected. In ActiveSync, in the upper half of the window, there will be a line listing the status of your handheld. If your handheld is connected, but this says 'Not connected', then you cannot synchronize. Please see My handheld won't connect to ActiveSync for help with this issue.
• Handheld connected as Guest. In ActiveSync, in the upper half of the window, there will be a label describing the handheld. If this is Guest, then no data will transfer between your handheld and the computer. Please see My handheld won't connect to ActiveSync and follow the steps there.
• Wrong sync process. You must use the sync process outlined under How do I sync?. If you do not run CompanionLink Synchronize, then your contact manager data will not sync with the handheld. If ActiveSync cannot sync, then your Outlook data will not synchronize with the handheld.

If a solution for your issue is not listed, you will need to contact Microsoft about resolving this error, or consider switching to the direct synchronization.

You must be able to synchronize your handheld through Microsoft ActiveSync to Microsoft Outlook BEFORE using CompanionLink. Any inability to do so, including errors in this process, are the responsibility of Microsoft and/or the handheld manufacturer, and must be resolved before configuring or synchronizing with CompanionLink.