One Company’s Experience with Using

PDA’s in ForestryScott Holmen

Olympic Resource ManagementPoulsbo, WA

Forester’s Really Like Paper• Cheap

• Familiar user interface, minimal training required

• Flexible data entry procedures

• Accommodates multiple applications – mapping, inventory, phone lists, text documents

Forester’s Really Like Paper

• Very efficient data storage for small projects

• Low power consumption, no adaptors required

• Multiple-use product – data entry, fire starter

• Great for data entry, not so great for data analysis

Forester’s Really Like Paper

• It grow on trees

We used lots of Data Loggers

• Many different brands, CMT, DAP, Husky…

• Mostly based on original 1982 IBM PC technology

• $1150 to $3000 per data logger, $500 to refurbish

We used lots of Data Loggers

• Brick-on-a-strap design, rugged and dependable

• Small screens (8x21 or 16x25), 384KB memory standard, minimal graphics capability

• Limited applications, but several applications tailored to Forestry

• Applications generally expensive

We used lots of Data Loggers

• Kermit for data transfer, a very old program

• dBase, C, BASIC for application development (Old School Tools)

• Operating System becoming less and less familiar to users, DOS command line - not Windows GUI

Notebook computers

• Cost more than the equivalent desktop machine

• Familiar user interface

• Lots of applications

Notebook computers• Great for hotel rooms, transfer data from data

loggers and then work it up

• Laptop computers don’t work well in moving trucks much less in the field– Fragile– Most have poor battery life– Too big for field use

PDA = Personal Digital Assistant

Palm OS– The first successful PDA

– Have lots of applications

– Tend to use less power = better battery life

– Good with both Windows and Mac OS computers

Pocket PC (MicroSoft)

– Newer technology

– Tend to have faster processors than Palms

– Tend to have more memory, cheaper expansion

– Only play well with computers running Windows

Palm vs Pocket PC PDA’s

• Both have similar core applications - Calculator, Calendar, Contacts, Spreadsheet, Word Processing

• Both have IR communications and touch screens for data entry

• Both can transfer data between handheld PDA and a desktop computer

• Both work with MicroSoft Office products

Why did ORM choose a Pocket PC PDA?

• Lots of companies make Pocket PC devices– Dell, HP/Compaq, Toshiba, Trimble– Relatively inexpensive $200 to $400 for base

models

• Good hardware expansion capability– CompactFlash slot for memory, wireless

communications, GPS units, mini-hard discs– SD = SecureDigital, a cheap and reliable memory

card

Why did ORM choose a Pocket PC PDA?

• ESRI ArcPad only runs on Pocket PCs

– Excellent integration with ESRI desktop products and data

– Lets us use our own map data and a GPS receiver together

– Makes field data collection and edits easy

Dell Axim 50

• $299 base price for 416 MHz XArm processor

• 64MB RAM, 64 MB ROM

• Bluetooth wireless

• CompactFlash slot for peripherals or memory

• SD slot for memory

Dell Axim 50• Comes standard with

– Docking cradle

– Rechargeable battery

– Case

– CD with ActiveSync and Outlook 2003

– 120/240 volt AC adaptor/charger

Dell Axim 50• Extras

– Car adaptor ($20)

– 512 MB SD memory card ($50)

– Additional travel sync cable ($15)

– Otter Box 2600 protective case ($50)

Bluetooth GPS Receivers

GPS unit is often purchased ($125 - $200)

• DeLorme BlueLogger GPS– Make lots of mapping software– Made GPS receivers for years – BlueLogger works well, $150 for GPS, AC

charger, car charger, PDA mapping software, $32 for external antenna

– Some supply problems

BlueTooth GPS Receivers• RoyalTek BlueGPS

– Well built, easy to hook up GPS receiver, comes with AC charger, car charger for about $130, $40 for external antenna

• IO Gear– Flimsy, doesn’t play well with other BlueTooth

devices – Not recommended

Using PDA’s in Forestry• Contacts & Calendar

– Easy to sync with desktop running Outlook– Great to have, works well

• Calculator(s)

• Inbox– Not recommended– Why load junk email onto PDA?

Using PDA’s in Forestry• Pocket Word

– Works reasonably well, but small screen makes for problems

• Pocket Excel– Supports multiple worksheets

– No macro support

– Data entry can be APITA

• Pocket Access– Doesn’t really exist

– 3rd party software can read and write to Access data tables

Database Software• Visual CE

– A database and an application development application

– Winner of several “Best Database” awards

– Can read and write Access databases

– Read and write Comma-Separated-Variable (CSV) files

Visual CE Database Software• Knows how to read GPS data

• Built-in functions include• Duplicate record

• Delete record

• Goto Previous/Next record

• Sort data

• Export data

• Import data

• GetDate

• GetDeviceID

Visual CE Database Software– Application development environment is clumsy

• Limited number of variables

• Not a traditional programming language development tool

• Programs are lots of hidden buttons with macros associated with the buttons, not simple lines of code

• Getting better, now has something like a subroutine

– Works with other products including a report writer, GPS receivers, bar code readers, etc.

Applications are form-based

Forms are linked to data tables

More than one table can be linked to a form

Tables can be used to create choice lists

A Form must be linked to a Table

Forms can include

Text labels

Text boxes

Pull down lists

Numeric fields

Pictures

Command buttons

Radio Buttons

Check boxes

Calculated fields

Scribble fields (BLOB)

Forms can include visible and hidden areas

Command buttons in hidden areas are used for writing program code

On this form the grey command buttons are hidden from the user

Forms can include visible and hidden areasThis form contains a visible area which is larger than the PDA screen

A scroll bar is used to move between the top and bottom of this form

Command buttons can also be used to move between different screen areas, appearing to be multiple forms, tabbed forms or sub-forms

Creating an application in Visual CE

• Start Visual CE on your desktop computer

• Create a table with the fields you want to use in your application

• Create a blank form which is linked to a data table

• Add Text boxes, drop down lists, buttons, and macros to the form

• Save the form on the desktop PC

Creating an application in Visual CE

• Download the form onto a PDA with Visual CE runtime installed

• Debug the application

• Build an install package for the application, its data table, and the Visual CE runtime code

• Install the application using the install package you created

Visual CE – Pros and Cons

• Compatible with Access tables, not Access applications

• Not a relational database, no queries, reports are an optional extra package

• Import/Export data is built-in functionality, automatically in any application

• Application development is quirky, but works and is stable.

Visual CE – by Syware Inc.

• Available from Syware.com or Handango.com

• Various packages and prices

•Personal (single user applications) $129

•Professional (multiple user royalty-free applications) $399 – ORM uses this one

• Enterprise = Pro plus report package $599

NS Basic/CE• Available from NSBasic.com for $150

• A fairly standard looking BASIC similar to Visual BASIC programming language

• Other versions for desktop, Palm OS, Apple Newton

• Requires a run-time library which is installed on each PDA which will run the program

NS Basic/CE

• Programs are developed on a desktop computer linked with ActiveSync to a PDA.

• Lots of tools, very flexible application development environment

• Hitting the “run” button on the desktop loads and runs the program on the PDA

• Error messages refer to program line numbers, debugging can be challenging

NS Basic/CE

Bluetooth

• Short distance wireless communication– Normally 10 meters max distance, 30 meter option

available

– Works like a serial cable, one device connects to another device

– Designed for linking to peripherals – GPS, printers, telephone handsets to PDAs, cell phones, and notebook computers

– 802.11.b or g is designed for wireless networks

Bluetooth

• PDA manages Bluetooth with two applications– Bluetooth Settings

• Establishes a Profile

• Enables or disables what types of communication are possible

• Sets up how connections will be made

• Establishes how secure connections will be

– Bluetooth Manger• Establishes connections with specific devices

Bluetooth

• Bluetooth Settings– General

• Sets the name of the current profile

– Accessibility• Is the device name used for Bluetooth communications?

• Can other devices connect without being paired?

• Can other devices detect your PDA?

Bluetooth Settings

• Services– File Transfer

– Information Exchange

– Serial Port • Must be enabled to use GPS

– Personal Network Server

– Dial-up Network Server

– Audio Gateway

Bluetooth Settings

• All of these services have 3 choices– Enable service

– Authorization required

– Authentication (Passkey) required

• Encryption required

Bluetooth Manager

• Sets up a shortcut to establish communications between your PDA and a specific Bluetooth accessory

– Start by turning PDA and device on

– Turn on Bluetooth on both devices if needed

– Choose “New” menu option

• Choose “Explore a Bluetooth device”

Working with Bluetooth GPS

• Enable Serial port in Bluetooth Settings– Enable service

– Authorization and Authentification NOT REQUIRED

• Go to where GPS can get a locational fix

• Turn on GPS and wait for it to find out where it is

• Turn PDA on, make sure Bluetooth is on

Working with Bluetooth GPS

• Start Bluetooth Manger– Choose “New”

– Choose “Explore a Bluetooth device”

– Highlight the GPS device (Earthmate Blue Logger GPS)

– Tap on “Next”

– Should see Bluetooth Connection Wizard• Service Selection

– Highlight “Serial 5251a”

– Tap “Next”

– Should see “Shortcut created”

– Tap on “Finish”

Working with ArcPad

• Turn on GPS and PDA, turn Bluetooth on

• Start ArcPad– Go to Tools/Options/Protocol

• Protocol NMEA 0183

• Choose appropriate Datum

Working with ArcPad

– Go to Tools/Options/GPS

• Port = COM7

• Baud = 4800

• Parity = ODD

• RTS Control = Enable or Disable

• DTR Control = DISABLE

• Data Bits = 8

• Stop Bits = 1

Working with ArcPad

• Enable GPS in ArcPad by tapping the GPS icon to the left of the Tools icon

• May need to choose GPS device from Bluetooth Manager

• GPS position window may pop up

PDA Problems• Do they break?

– Screens do break

• Not waterproof or dustproof without a case– Pretty tough in the Otter Box cases

• Shockproof except for the screen area

• If they do break, you can easily remove SD card and transfer to a different PDA– Assumes you have kept your data on the SD card

PDA Problems• What happens if you lose power?

– All programs and data on the 64MB of Main Memory are lost

– Default applications are stored in ROM and remain• Calculator, calendar, Pocket Excel, Pocket Word, Jawbreaker, etc.

– Any programs or data stored on SD card are NOT lost• The registry info associated with these applications will be lost so

they probably will not run

• Normally need to re-install programs to get them to run

• Shortcuts in Windows/Start Menu will be lost

Avoiding PDA Problems• Setup suggestions

– Give each PDA and desktop computer a unique Device ID• Helps ActiveSync know what to do

• Device ID can be read by applications and saved with data

– Buy an Otter Box case and use it

– Try and install programs on SD card• Not always easy or even possible

– Always store important data files on the SD card• Cruise data

• ArcPad data

PDA Troubleshooting• Problems with ActiveSync

– Make sure that the Device ID is set to something besides “Pocket PC” if you work with more than one PDA

• Go to “Settings/System/About/Device ID” to set

– ActiveSync uses TPC/IP for communications, can be blocked by Firewall software, especially with Windows XP

– “Powerdown” reset (remove all batteries) may be needed to make the PDA forget it was ever connected to a desktop

PDA Resources• Handango.com

– Both Palm OS and Pocket PC programs and information

– Lots of different applications available, free to $100s, most cost less than $50

– e-newsletter with new product info, specials, etc.

• MobileTechReview.com – reviews

• OtterBox.com– Protective waterproof cases