Is there a manual or tutorial for WM5?
The manual that came with my Dell X51v is useless.

I have simple questions, like how do I set an alarm???
Random experiments indicate that the alarm function doesn't
"function" when the machine is in standby???? How can this be?
They can't be that stupid...it's gotta be me being stupid...right???

But the calendar
appointment function does...I think...under some circumstances...

And the X50 WM2003 and the X51V WM5 appear to behave differently...I
think...I'm so confused...

Operating my PDA shouldn't be a matter of trial and error.

Searched MS site till I was blue in the face. Standard web
search didn't turn up much either.

Isn't this stuff documented somewhere?

No, I don't wanna BUY a $40 book to learn to run a $100 PDA!!!

Thanks, mike
--
Return address is VALID!
Bunch-O-Stuff Forsale Here:
http://nm7u.tripod.com/homepage/sale.html

"mike" <spamme9******.com> wrote in message
news:0KWNh.109368$fo5.11347@trnddc07...
> Is there a manual or tutorial for WM5?
> The manual that came with my Dell X51v is useless.
>
> I have simple questions, like how do I set an alarm???
> Random experiments indicate that the alarm function doesn't
> "function" when the machine is in standby???? How can this be?
> They can't be that stupid...it's gotta be me being stupid...right???
>
> But the calendar
> appointment function does...I think...under some circumstances...
>
> And the X50 WM2003 and the X51V WM5 appear to behave differently...I
> think...I'm so confused...
>
> Operating my PDA shouldn't be a matter of trial and error.
>
> Searched MS site till I was blue in the face. Standard web
> search didn't turn up much either.
>
> Isn't this stuff documented somewhere?
>
> No, I don't wanna BUY a $40 book to learn to run a $100 PDA!!!

I don't have a Dell machine, but usually find the manufacturer hides a
manual on the install CD.
Check the CD whether there is one available, its probably a PDF.

Beck wrote:
>
> "mike" <spamme9******.com> wrote in message
> news:0KWNh.109368$fo5.11347@trnddc07...
>> Is there a manual or tutorial for WM5?
>> The manual that came with my Dell X51v is useless.
>>
>> I have simple questions, like how do I set an alarm???
>> Random experiments indicate that the alarm function doesn't
>> "function" when the machine is in standby???? How can this be?
>> They can't be that stupid...it's gotta be me being stupid...right???
>>
>> But the calendar
>> appointment function does...I think...under some circumstances...
>>
>> And the X50 WM2003 and the X51V WM5 appear to behave differently...I
>> think...I'm so confused...
>>
>> Operating my PDA shouldn't be a matter of trial and error.
>>
>> Searched MS site till I was blue in the face. Standard web
>> search didn't turn up much either.
>>
>> Isn't this stuff documented somewhere?
>>
>> No, I don't wanna BUY a $40 book to learn to run a $100 PDA!!!
>
> I don't have a Dell machine, but usually find the manufacturer hides a
> manual on the install CD.
> Check the CD whether there is one available, its probably a PDF.

I have the paper manual.
I downloaded the pdf.
It's equivalently useless.
no pdf or doc files on the CD.

The more I dig into WM, the more I find that it works about 80% like
desktop windows. I must be wanting to use the OTHER 20%. Sigh!!!

mike

--
Return address is VALID!
Bunch-O-Stuff Forsale Here:
http://nm7u.tripod.com/homepage/sale.html

the dell's are good iron, so hang in there.

In addition to getting 99.999% of your questions (dumb or otherwise)
answered here, ppc's and most applications have context sensitive help.

simply go to the place were things are not clear and tap start/help
(sometimes start/programs/help) While not always the ideal answers, it's
normally a good starting point.

In addition, you can search help for a string.

>> alarms <<

There are so many, it's hard to know where to begin... but, the basic
"alarm clock" is to tap the time/date on the today screen, then, alarms
and set what you need... for example, you can highlight weekdays and
select an upbeat tune to wake up in time to get to work and not be
bothered on the weekends...

....however... remember that system mute and volume impact the system
alarms as well as time zone changes.

Of course, you can set alarms to calendar and task events as well, then
there are a large number of third party alarm apps around as well.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Strange you find the x51v manual THAT bad. While it doesn't cover the basic
OS, it's pretty good - at least compared to some other dev manufacturers'
manuals.

As far as trial and error is concerned, Pocket PC's are pretty safe and are
very hard to destruct - when I'm lazy to read a manual, I just set out and
start clicking away, using the trial and error method.



--


--
Werner "Menneisyys" Ruotsalainen - Microsoft MVP - Windows - Mobile Devices
Please see the Pocket PC Mag Expert Blog (including mine) at
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ - you will definitely like it.


"mike" <spamme9******.com> wrote in message
news:0KWNh.109368$fo5.11347@trnddc07...
> Is there a manual or tutorial for WM5?
> The manual that came with my Dell X51v is useless.
>
> I have simple questions, like how do I set an alarm???
> Random experiments indicate that the alarm function doesn't
> "function" when the machine is in standby???? How can this be?
> They can't be that stupid...it's gotta be me being stupid...right???
>
> But the calendar
> appointment function does...I think...under some circumstances...
>
> And the X50 WM2003 and the X51V WM5 appear to behave differently...I
> think...I'm so confused...
>
> Operating my PDA shouldn't be a matter of trial and error.
>
> Searched MS site till I was blue in the face. Standard web
> search didn't turn up much either.
>
> Isn't this stuff documented somewhere?
>
> No, I don't wanna BUY a $40 book to learn to run a $100 PDA!!!
>
> Thanks, mike
> --
> Return address is VALID!
> Bunch-O-Stuff Forsale Here:
> http://nm7u.tripod.com/homepage/sale.html

> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Hi, another dumb question for you

Today Settings->Items-> Today Timeout (1- 12 hours)

what is it for?

Thanks

"DTL" <dtl_dtl********.com> wrote:
>
>
>> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>
>Hi, another dumb question for you
>
>Today Settings->Items-> Today Timeout (1- 12 hours)

This setting controls how long before the PocketPC hides the running
app and displays the today screen.

--
Scott Seligman [MSFT]
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers
no rights.

"Scott Seligman [MSFT]" <scosel@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:eubfg0$si8$1@panix3.panix.com...
> "DTL" <dtl_dtl********.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>>
>>Hi, another dumb question for you
>>
>>Today Settings->Items-> Today Timeout (1- 12 hours)
>
> This setting controls how long before the PocketPC hides the running
> app and displays the today screen.
>
> --
> Scott Seligman [MSFT]
> This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.

God Bless You

>> God Bless You <<

Double bless... note that Scott is about the only microsoft employee
brave enough to hang out here and mingle with the rabble ;-)

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

>> Scott is about the only microsoft employee... <<

Just looked, and found that Chilumba, Jeffry and Chani deserve thanks as
well.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Reply to message from "Werner \"Menneisyys\" Ruotsalainen [MVP - Windows -
Mobile Devices]" <!ei.mail (Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:08:16) about "Re: WM5
manual or tutorial?":

W> Strange you find the x51v manual THAT bad. While it doesn't cover the
W> basic OS, it's pretty good - at least compared to some other dev
W> manufacturers' manuals.

I agree - I found the manual to be pretty good especially when you consider
that most of the time users will be customizing their Axims and adding more
3rd party software, that a manual more comprehensive would be too onerous
both to read and keep current.

W> .... - when I'm lazy to read a manual, I just set out and start
W> clicking away, using the trial and error method.

I typically do trial and error first for few minutes then I read the manual
once I start getting stumped too often.

W> "mike" <spamme9******.com> wrote in message news:0KWNh.109368$fo5.
W> 11347@trnddc07...

>> I have simple questions, like how do I set an alarm???

Go to Start > Settings > System > Clock & Alarms > Alarms. Tap on the days
of the week you want to be alarmed, tap on the time to set the time of day
for the alarm, then finally tap on Description aid enter as necessary.

>> Random experiments indicate that the alarm function doesn't "function"
>> when the machine is in standby????

The alarm functions on standby on my Axim X51v.

Best Regards
Wayne Moses <wmoses@houston.rr.com> Tue, 27 Mar 2007 07:21:00 -0500

=== Posted with Qusnetsoft NewsReader 3.3

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] wrote:
> the dell's are good iron, so hang in there.
>
> In addition to getting 99.999% of your questions (dumb or otherwise)
> answered here, ppc's and most applications have context sensitive help.
>
> simply go to the place were things are not clear and tap start/help
> (sometimes start/programs/help) While not always the ideal answers, it's
> normally a good starting point.
>
> In addition, you can search help for a string.
>
> >> alarms <<
>
> There are so many, it's hard to know where to begin... but, the basic
> "alarm clock" is to tap the time/date on the today screen, then, alarms
> and set what you need... for example, you can highlight weekdays and
> select an upbeat tune to wake up in time to get to work and not be
> bothered on the weekends...
>
> ...however... remember that system mute and volume impact the system
> alarms as well as time zone changes.
>
> Of course, you can set alarms to calendar and task events as well, then
> there are a large number of third party alarm apps around as well.
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>
>
Thanks for the inputs.

I don't have a problem with the obvious stuff. I can read a help file.
I can search the web. Problem is that I'm not getting what I need.
I don't have any problem setting the alarm. Problem is that when I
pushed the power button to put it to sleep, or whatever the standby mode
is called, the alarm didn't ring.

Since that's unacceptable behavior for an alarm, my conclusion is that
I've messed something up.

I had better luck with the calendar, except it's relatively hard to use.
Looks like you have to set it a minute late and set the reminder for
the minimum 1 minute early??? The alarm did ring, but I had trouble
turning it off. Kept ringing every minute or so, even after I told it
to stop and even deleted the appointment. I don't have any idea how
I got it to stop. Luckily, I stumbled across the solution before
I threw the thing against the wall...with prejudice!!!

This has gotta be stupid cockpit error, but I can't find anywhere
that the behavior is described...so I have no clue how to fix it.

That's why I asked for a tutorial or manual. Doesn't a
program/operating system have a specification and a manual to
describe that in customer terms????? That's a two-edged sword.
If there's a manual, it has to actually work that way...bummer
for the developers.

Microsoft has given (sold) me a jumbo jet to fly and said, "Just start
poking
at the controls. It's 99% obvious; you'll get her off the ground. If
there's something you can't figger out, go ask a passenger. Off you go
now."

While messing around some more, I tripped over the possibility to set
reminders in TASKS. Not clear whether it uses the same time offset
entry as the calendar. Doesn't say so, but that's hardly conclusive.
Also, if I'm using tasks or calendar, don't
I have to leave the program running in the background to make this work?
I'm in the habit of stopping all programs when I turn it off.
Since the clock isn't in the task list, I'd assumed that it is still
working in the background...but my experiments suggest otherwise????

Yes, I probably can figure it out by trial and erorr.
Would be so much easier with a manual that described how it worked.

As for third party, I found almost no freeware clocks.
Just 'cause you get a million hits, doesn't mean
there's anything at the other
end of the link. 404 is getting to be my favorite number.
The few
that exist are clock displays, not alarms. I don't think I found
ANY freeware alarms that claimed to work in WM5. Maybe they do, just
more trial and error.
And the few cheap alarms
are described as tho they are to be used when the machine is turned on.
Behavior in standby/sleep mode is not discussed.

WM5 Tutorial?
Manual?

Thanks mike

--
Return address is VALID!
Bunch-O-Stuff Forsale Here:
http://nm7u.tripod.com/homepage/sale.html

ms's answer to most of your astute observations is "poke around and the
mvp's will help you" ;-/

With respect to the alarm issues, this message indicates that you have
proceeded directly from a beginner's learning issue to an advanced os
problem. There are known problems with the alarms and I don't have a
good answer for you but am sure that others might.

It's absurd that ms has not addressed this point, but with a high number
of devices, it's an oft reported problem... perhaps it's time to hit
google groups

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...pocketpc?hl=en

and search for "alarms" and related terms. As for freeware, I've had
good luck with StopTime http://home.comcast.net/~jonsachs but I have no
experience with it under wm5 (it's old, like me) but there should be no
reason not to give it a shot... in general, you will not find "WM5"
certification but almost everything works, especially if it requires a
minimum of 2003.

There are several others out there and the trick is to google for

POCKETPC <term>

and after those results, note the "did you mean..." link at the top and
click that for the same using POCKET PC...

Since this post is exposing you as a seemingly advanced techie, you
might take a look at MemMaid (not freeware but has a trial period) to
peek into the workings, see, and possibly delete rogue alarms, but, do
that after the groups search.

Yes... we all know the os and provider is a pain... but the device's
rewards are worth ignoring the source of the problems during the
learning as ranting to ms has proven to be useless for the better part
of a decade.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

>> Also, if I'm using tasks or calendar, don't I have to leave the
program running in the background to make this work? <<

No... the alarms are stored in the system data and (should) execute even
after a soft reset with nothing running. From what little I know, they
seem to trigger the program that created them to launch and execute the
alarm.

>> Microsoft has given (sold) me a jumbo jet to fly and said, "Just
start poking at the controls. It's 99% obvious; you'll get her off the
ground. If there's something you can't figger out, go ask a passenger.
Off you go now." <<

pretty good analogy, so it's surprising it's still in the air ;-)


Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
message news:eQUmltOcHHA.4984@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> ms's answer to most of your astute observations is "poke around and the
> mvp's will help you" ;-/
>
> With respect to the alarm issues, this message indicates that you have
> proceeded directly from a beginner's learning issue to an advanced os
> problem. There are known problems with the alarms and I don't have a
> good answer for you but am sure that others might.
>
> It's absurd that ms has not addressed this point, but with a high number
> of devices, it's an oft reported problem... perhaps it's time to hit
> google groups
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/micro...pocketpc?hl=en
>
> and search for "alarms" and related terms. As for freeware, I've had
> good luck with StopTime http://home.comcast.net/~jonsachs but I have no
> experience with it under wm5 (it's old, like me) but there should be no
> reason not to give it a shot...

I used to have the alarm problem with my old Ipaq 5550 (running 2003) but I
haven't encountered it in WM5 (imate Jamin) *except* with StopTime, which
otherwise appears to behave, lulling one into a false sense of security.

There's always Pocket Informant, but it's not quite free . . .

Peter Groves