Mobile Device Setup

Mobile inspections are managed by clicking the 'Mobile' button on the main menu or Start New Inspection form. When using the Mobile Application for the first time, you will need to begin by setting your Files Sync folder for the Mobile device then create your own custom Mobile forms to match your INSPECTEXPRESS™ desktop program.

Enabling File Synchronization on your Pocket PC:

The Windows Mobile Device Center is used to sync files between the Mobile device and the PC. Make sure you have installed Windows Mobile Device Center from Microsoft before starting. You will be prompted to create a Windows Mobile partnership with your Windows Mobile powered device when you start Windows Mobile Device Center the first time. The steps below assume you have completed this already. You can skip any other steps below you have already setup.

1. Start the Windows Mobile Device Center by going to All Programs > Windows Mobile Device Center.

2. Hover over the Mobile Device Settings button and Click Change content sync settings.

3. Make sure that Files is checked off and Click the Sync Settings link.

4. Now you can see the path to the sync folder. Hover over the label if it's cut off.

Remember that path as you will need it to setup the sync folder for the desktop application.

Setting the default Files Sync Folder:

Start INSPECTEXPRESS™ and Click the 'Mobile' button on the the main toolbar or Start New Inspection form.

The first time you click on the 'Mobile' button, you will likely get a message that the default file path (C:\My Documents\Inspections) cannot be found. Click OK, you will then be prompted with a dialog box to select your Sync folder for your Mobile Device. Select your primary Sync folder as displayed when setting the Files folder sync settings (above). The folder is commonly named 'C:\Users\owner\Documents\Device Folder Name\'. The 'owner' can be replaced by your username.

You are setting the path to the sync folder that Windows Mobile Device Center creates on your desktop that is used to hold a copy of your Pocket PC files. Not directly to the Pocket PC itself. Set the path to the Files Sync Folder.

The desktop will the Publish your Pocket PC forms to (My Files Sync Folder\Inspect Express\) and will read your Pocket PC Inspections from (My Files Sync Folder\Inspections\) See Below...

If your Files Sync folder is changed or is incorrect, click the 'Find Pocket PC Sync Folder' button on the Mobile Inspections form to set the folder to the correct path.

Starting the Mobile Inspection:

Click the 'Mobile' button on the Start New Inspection form. Once the Active Sync folder has been correctly set, a list of current Mobile Inspections will be displayed. Click on the mobile inspection you wish to begin and click 'OK'.

Now proceed through the inspection as usual. Whenever a section is opened, the software looks to see if that section was completed on the related mobile inspection and will load all the selection boxes and check boxes with the selections made on the Pocket PC.

Note:

The inspection address on the 'Start New Inspection' form must be the same as the address on the mobile inspection.

Settings:

Always Write Mobile Notes in Report: Select to have the section notes from the mobile inspection included in the current report document. Notes are written in the 'Observations' section of the report.
Add New Dropdown Entries to Database: Select to have any new entries made on the selection boxes on the Pocket PC added permanently to the lists on the desktop program.

Exporting forms to the Pocket PC:

Mobile forms are created by the user to match their settings in the desktop program. Mobile forms can be re-created as often as changes are made to the main program. To create the forms for the Pocket PC click on the 'Create Pocket PC Forms' button. The forms are written to the '/inspectexpress/' folder in your Files Sync directory and will automatically be updated on the Pocket PC when it is synchronized.

Setting that are exported include the order of the forms (see Report Template settings for more info), contents of the dropdown/selection boxes and the check box observations.

Using Mobile with Multiple Inspectors:

The Mobile version can be used by more than one inspector on the same inspection! Ensure that both inspectors enter the same address on the Pocket PC when starting the inspection then each inspector completes their own sections. Synch both Pocket PC's with the same computer and the desktop software will automatically read both sets of files.

You may want to hide sections when publishing. One inspectors has the roof and exterior sections in his menu the other inspector does not, he has electrical and plumbing etc... this will prevent any possible sync problems when using more than one inspector.