Odometer Recorder Pocket PC FAQ page - Odometer Recorder Help

Odometer Recorder Pocket PC FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

Questions:
On which Pocket PC Operating Systems will Odometer Recorder run?
How do I install the demo or full version?
How do I uninstall the demo or full version?
Should I uninstall the demo version prior to installing the full version?
Where can I find Odometer Recorder help?
The balance does not change after a number of registrations. Does this mean there‘s a bug?
I have to figure out the mileage for my tax declaration manually.
How can I delete more than one record at once?
How can I export the mileage information from my Pocket PC to my computer?
Excel can not read my export files properly. What do I do?
How can I buy Odometer Recorder?
My question isn‘t in the Odometer Recorder Pocket PC FAQ

Q: On which Pocket PC Operating Systems will Odometer Recorder run?
A: On the product page of Odometer Recorder, you‘ll find the Pocket PC System requirements. For example, you might see the following description.

Requirements: Pocket PC , Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2003, Pocket PC 2003 Phones, Windows Mobile 2003 SE, Windows Mobile 2003 SE Phones, Windows Mobile 5.0, Windows Mobile 5.0 Phones

These entries mean that the Odometer Recorder Pocket PC can be installed, uninstalled, and used on those Pocket PC Operating Systems only.

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Q: How do I install the demo or full version?
A: The zip file that you download should first be unzipped (uncompressed ) on your Desktop PC by using an unzipping program such as Winzip. That program can be downloaded from www.winzip.com

Unzipping the file will give you the automated installation files. In a directory of folder on your Desktop PC where you deposited the installation files, you should find the following files:

To install the demo version or the full version of Odometer Recorder Pocket PC from your Desktop PC, do the following:

Place your Pocket PC in its cradle.
Make sure your Pocket PC is connected to your Desktop PC via the Microsoft ActiveSync program.
In the directory where you deposited the installation files, double click Setup.exe
The ActiveSync Application Manager will take over and complete installation.

After successful installation you‘ll find Odometer Recorder program in the Programs folder on your Pocket PC.

The installation process is very simple. However, please take into account the following possible problems:

Do not use the Windows XP standard utility for unzipping the demo or the full version of Odometer Recorder Pocket PC.
The installation files (all of them including Setup.exe) should be located in one directory or folder on your Desktop PC.
You should start the installation program Setup.exe only from within a folder that contains all the installation files. If, for example, you‘ll start Setup.exe from within the Explorer of the WinZip program, then the installation will fail. So, close first the WinZip, then run the installation program.
It can be that your Pocket PC is a member of a WLAN network. In this case you should switch it off. In most cases WLAN doesn‘t allow to perform the installation due to security protection.

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Q: How do I uninstall the demo or full version?
A: To uninstall Odometer Recorder from your Pocket PC device, do the following:

Place your Pocket PC in its cradle.
Make sure your Pocket PC is connected to your Desktop PC via the Microsoft ActiveSync program.
In the ActiveSync window, click on the "Tools" menu and select "Add/Remove Programs".
Click on the name of the program, KOLYA Odometer Recorder, so it is highlighted.
Click on the "Remove" button.

You can also uninstall your software from within your Pocket PC device:

Tap on the "Start Menu" icon upper, left-hand corner of the Pocket PC screen.
Select "Settings" from the Start menu.
After the Settings screen is displayed, select the "System" tab.
On the System page, tap on the "Remove Programs" icon to open Remove Programs dialog.
Tap on the name of the program, KOLYA Odometer Recorder, so it is highlighted.
Click on the "Remove" button.

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Q: Should I uninstall the demo version prior to installing the full version?
A: You may uninstall demo version from your Pocket PC, but it‘s not necessary. You can install a full version over its demo version.

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Q: Where can I find Odometer Recorder help?
A: There is a Pocket PC Help. Every Pocket PC program provides access to its manual via the Pocket PC Help System. Practically, you do the following. When the program is on the Pocket PC screen, tap the Help command within the "Start Menu". The Odometer Recorder Help will displays details and hints on how to use the program on the screen. When you work with Odometer Recorder, you‘ll go through different dialogs of this program. Just tap the Help command within the "Start Menu", and, you‘ll get Help for the specific dialog that is on the Pocket PC screen.

The full Odometer Recorder Help (or manual) is accessible in two ways.
When the program is on the screen (the program is active), go to the dialog About: tap the "Tools->About" menu item. Then tap the Help command within the "Start Menu". The full Help contents for the program will appear.

Alternatively, you can find the manual for Odometer Recorder in the Pocket PC Help System. Tap the Help command within the "Start Menu". The complete Pocket PC Help will be shown. There you‘ll find manuals as an independent section titled, "Odometer Recorder Pocket".

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Q: The balance does not change after a number of registrations. Does this mean there‘s a bug?
A: This is not a bug. The proper functioning of Odometer Recorder is based on the most recent status of your car‘s odometer in Odometer Recorder. You should constantly keep it upgraded.

Don‘t forget about Date of your odometer‘s status. You can see this date on main view of Odometer Recorder as the following string (for example): "Odometer status on 05-15-05". If a registration is made beyond this date, let‘s say on May 16, 2005, then this registration will not be reflected in the balance! So, you must update Odometer Recorder status up to May 16, 2005 in order to include all registrations from May 16, 2005 into the balance.To change the odometer‘s value and its date tap on main view Change Status button.

We implemented such functionality in order to encourage registration discipline of users. Odometer Recorder preserves integrity of the registration process. It means that a balance value is strictly based on the real value of your car‘s odometer and registrations you‘ve made.

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Q: I have to figure out the mileage for my tax declaration manually.
A: Actually, you don‘t have to. But, let‘s look at exactly how we implemented the process in Odometer Recorder. If an individual has a company-provided vehicle, Odometer Recorder can help him or her distinguish between business and personal mileage. This is very important because personal use of a company-provided vehicle is seen as a taxable fringe benefit. The unspoken goal of Odometer Recorder is to assist with tax planning and preparation rather than simply to record mileage statistics.

The main meaning of making a tax declaration correctly is to achieve a balance value of 0.0 (you can see this value on the main view of Odometer Recorder). The balance value of 0.0 means that all your mileage that is registered corresponds with the actual mileage/kilometers your car drove. The second step in the finalizing of your tax declaration is to view Statistics. If the statistics you get are not what you expected, then go back to your registrations, and look through those records. Maybe some registrations are registered under different categories. The Odometer Recorder makes possible such repeating process until you are satisfied with the output.

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Q: How can I delete more than one record at once?
A: To delete more than one record at a time, you must use the dialog "Delete Records by Range of Dates". Tap on "Tools-> the Delete by Range of Dates..." menu item.

The dialog will be displayed. Within the dialog, choose a range of dates where you want to delete records. Tap on the "Find Records" button. If Odometer Recorder finds records within your Date range, you‘ll be prompted by a confirmation dialog. If there are records found, and you tap the button "Yes" in this confirmation dialog, then all the records found will be permanently deleted.

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Q: How can I export the mileage information from my Pocket PC to my computer?
A: Odometer Recorder allows you to export your registered mileage and statistics in Comma Separated Values (CSV) files. Odometer Recorder exports CSV files into two Pocket PC folders: Business and Personal. If your Pocket PC is connected via the ActiveSync program to your Desktop PC, you can easily find these folders via Windows Explorer.

In the above figure, you can see that the export file 20050518.cvs will be saved into a Personal folder. Go to this folder via Windows Explorer, and, drag or copy that file to the location (on your Desktop PC) you want. More informative descriptions on how to copy files "manually", i.e. via Windows Explorer, is found in the Help-on-Line of the ActiveSync program.

You can also use the synchronization facilities of the ActiveSync program instead. The Help-on-Line of the ActiveSync program has a step-by-step tutorial for synchronization. Just follow the tutorial.

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Q: Excel can not read my export files properly. What do I do?
A: A CSV file can be opened by Excel Microsoft. But, it is well known fact that there is no Desktop PC with the same Excel cells properties installed. Almost every user has his or her own variant of an Excel sheet with date and digits types. This variation can cause problems with the interpretation of CSV files by Excel.

There is a solution. You can adjust your exported CSV files for your Excel sheet by choosing Right View Options in Odometer Recorder prior to exporting those files. To change the View Options tap the "Tools -> View Options..." menu item. The dialog View Options will be displayed. Choose the specific date and digits types that fit your Excel cell properties. Probably you‘ll need to repeat this process several times until your Excel can properly read your export file. But, the process is one time action. Odometer Recorder will preserve the options.

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