[Ed. Note: A few users of the first version of Money for the Pocket PC have reported that they've received error messages during the synchronization process. The user's data is not affected and the error messages can be easily remedied by following the corrective actions described below. To simplify the process, Microsoft will launch a new version of MS Money for the Pocket PC, available later this year on Microsoft's Mobile Devices Web Site (www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/downloads/default.asp). The new version will allow users to run Money during synchronization between the Pocket PC and the desktop PC, thus automating the process for the user.]

Microsoft Money is an easy to use, complete personal finance management application that helps people manage their personal finances, balance their checkbooks, create budgets, reduce debt, plan for the future and manage investments and taxes. MS Money for the Pocket PC and Handheld PC is designed to be a companion to Microsoft Money on the desktop. You can use it as a stand-alone application to track checks, expenses, ATM withdrawals, and more. But you get the most out of MS Money for the Pocket and Handheld PC when you use it in conjunction with the desktop version of Money. This lets you take advantage of the full feature set available in desktop Money, as well as its ability to link with the MSN MoneyCentral Web site.

Synchronizing Pocket PC/Handheld PC Money with desktop PC

To access this extra power, you have to synchronize Microsoft Money for the Pocket PC/Handheld PC with the desktop version of Money, and to do this you must have the components listed below. (Important note: Desktop Money 2000 or 2001 will synchronize with Money for the Pocket PC/ Handheld PC. Compatible Windows CE devices are listed below. This information is also available on the Microsoft Mobile Devices Web site (www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/downloads/default.asp).

Either a Handheld PC running Windows CE, version 2.11or later, or a Pocket PC running Windows CE, version 3.0.

Microsoft Money 2000 or Money 2001 on your desktop PC. Note: Even though a Pocket PC may ship with Money installed, you must run the Money for the Pocket PC setup program to synchronize data.

Money for the Pocket PC/Handheld PC installed on your Windows CE device. The version that currently ships on the ActiveSync CDROM is compatible with Money 2000 only. If you are using Money 2001 on your desktop computer, you need to get the updated version available at the Microsoft Mobile Devices Downloads site (www.microsoft.com/mobile/downloads/default.asp).

You are only allowed one partnership for Pocket Money.

If you have passwords on your Money files, you cannot synchronize over a network using Ethernet. There would be no way to enter the passwords if you attempted to do so.

Once you have the proper versions of Money installed on your Windows CE device and desktop PC, go to ActiveSync's Options menu and configure it to synchronize Microsoft Money data. Then you must tell it which accounts you wish to view on the CE device. Follow these steps:

1. Make sure that Microsoft Money is not running.
2. Start Microsoft ActiveSync on the desktop computer,
3. Go to the Tools menu and select Options, or click the Options button.
4. On the Sync Options tab, click to select the Microsoft Money Data check box, and then click on the Settings button (see Screen 1).
5. On the Transactions and Investments tabs, click to select the accounts that you want to synchronize (see Screen 2), and then click OK.
6. Click OK.