Desktop Software for PC

[th1]

I have Windows XP Home Edition. Recently I started having problems with my Palm Treo and so my son bought me a BlackBerry BOLD.

I am a long time Palm Desktop user (ver 4.1.4) and am so used to using this PIM for my calendar, contacts, memos. I was very disappointed to find out that BBDesktop (BBD) did not have a PIM like my Palm Desktop. I really did not want to put Outlook on my computer.

I installed BB Desktop ver. 5. When I did a Sync using BBD it transferred my Contacts perfectly, and my Memos.

However, I noticed that it imported my Palm Calendar to my BB from the current day forwards. I went back and changed the Sync setting to include "Transfer All Scheduled Events", but it still did not import my prior Calendar events. I did a Sync several times and it still was not adding prior events to my BB.

Then I got a brain storm ... and it worked for me. I unplugged my BB from the USB cable. Changed my computer's date to the date that I wanted to start my Calendar at (1 yr earlier). I changed the date on my BB also to the same date. I plugged in the USB cable to my BB. Started up the BBDesktop and did a Device Switch Wizard SYNC from my Palm Desktop to my BB. All of the prior Calendar events transferred perfectly.

To test this out, I went back to add another future event on the Palm Desktop Calendar and did another Device Switch Wizard SYNC and not only was the new event there, but it did not erase my prior Calendar events on the BB.

Now, I can still use my Palm Desktop Software and Sync it to my BB. So far, I have only tried this SYNC 1 way... I was not able to successfully export the BBCalendar back into my Palm Desktop. If someone knows how this can be done, I'd love to know how to do it. But, so far, I'm happy that I can continue to use my Palm Software.

Hope this helps someone who LOVES using their Palm Desktop Software with the BB.

[yorgle]

Great work!  I was nearly beginning I had made a mistake in getting a BB when I found out that DM didn't have a calendar on its desktop like palm.  I'm going to give this a try first thing monday morning when I get back in the office.  For my purposes, I really don't need to sync events from the BB to my PC, only the other way around.  So far, I've just been using the switch device wizard to sync.  It works, but is really slow.  Why on earth RIM hasn't come up with a better desktop is a real mystery.

[th1]

Yea... I hear ya.... Palm spoiled me to loving their Desktop software.... it is sooo complete and easy to use!!  RIM needs to seriouisly update their Desktop Manager to include a PIM!!

[GracefulConsonance]

I just bought a BB Storm and had the same level of disappointment when I noticed that the BB desktop sw did not provide a PIM editing interface for a PC. I'll try syncing straight from my Palm desktop to BB tonight like you guys have done.

The calendar sync between Palm/BB is not a showstopper for me, but the contacts and memos are very important, have years of data accumulated there.

[rodmac51]

I've just bought a BB8900 after using a Treo and the Palm desktop for years. Neither the BB nor the desktop software are anywhere near as simple to use but I will have to get used to that I guess!

However, I too would really like to be able to sync the BB handheld with the Palm Desktop. I'd love to know if there's a way to do it . I'm not so concerned about syncing from the desktop to the handset because nearly all my entries are made on the handset away from the office.

[IrwinII]

Hi and welcome to the forums!

A couple of places for you to visit for general information purposed: Blackberry 101    Tips & Tricks

Good troubleshooting for your "initial" one-way sync, however, you will not be able to continually sync two-way between your BB and the Palm Desktop.  DM  only serves as a conduit to transfer your data between your device and any of several applications that are supported for sync by DM.  Apps supported for sync by DM

The Palm Desktop is proprietary software and will not sync with the BB devices.

You are correct, RIM does not include its own version of the Palm Desktop, but this is by design so as not to reinvent the wheel.  It also allows users of many different stripes to choose their own desktop or internet based application.  I, too, came over from the Palm almost a year ago, but I have made the adjustment to Outlook and am still learning new things to this day.

As you run into any more issues or questions, be sure to search the forum specific the your device:  BB Smartphones

And remember that there are many great users here to help when and if you need it.  Keep coming back. 

Happy to have you here!

[PETERPNYC]

 Boy am I glad I found this link.First I found other instructions and  I synced  my Palm Ver 4.1.4 into outlook and synced using BB DM and the info was horribly displayed in contacts.

I read and read forums and I did a hard reset to clear all my data and used this method to at least bring over my contacts , memos, and tasks. I did not do the calendar Hack yet.

My question is If I clear  the outlook data for contacts memos tasks , and then sync with outlook > device for calendar , and then device >outlook for the other three , will it come out OK?

I have been using Palm for 12 years and hate the outlook layout compared to the much more user friendly Palm.

Do you think if I use outlook for calendar and sync with BB DM  ,  and  occasionally use the Device switch Wizard I will run into trouble? Aside from that what other way is ther to enter contacts in an understandable way to my BB Bold 9650?

[PETERPNYC]

Update.  I took a chance and did a sync using BB dm with the device  transfer  to outlook .  I had cleared all my Outlook contacts and kept my calendar that was synced Via Palm hot sync manager. 

I succesfully imported all my contacts to Outlook via device to desktop and the entire calendar via  outllok to device going back years to  the Bb Bold 9650 .