List – A Simple Database

Automate Backup & Backup next Hot-Sync

June 13th, 2007

I get a fair number of questions about what these options do exactly – so I will attempt to explain them here.

Backup next Hot-Sync

List uses the default backup conduit – refer to your Palm user documentation on the backup conduit. This conduit knows how to take files from your Palm device and back them up onto your PC. There is a standard flag in the Palm database format that controls if this needs to be done (for advanced users – this is very similar to the archive bit on PC files). The Backup next Hot-Sync check box allows the user to manually control this flag. The Hot-Sync operation will clear this flag automatically when the database has been backed up. In List this flag is set per database.
Automate Backup

Since there is no need to backup a database that has not been edited, it is fairly simple for List to toggle the flag for you if you edit. The Automate Backup check box is used to tell List that it should flip the Backup next Hot-Sync check box for you when you edit databases. In List this flag is a system setting.

Synchronization

There is no synchronization with List and any PC application (that I know of). This is different than the built in applications which allow editing of records on both the PC and Palm device – and sort out things for you. If you use a PC companion program to edit a List database – simply install it on your Palm device. This will overwrite what is on the Palm device. I recommend you start by doing a hot-sync to get the latest backup of your data, locate the file – edit, and then re-install.

Entry Filed under: FAQ