Quick Tips & Tricks

The MSN Mobile Web site is offering free maps and directions similar to Microsoft's Streets & Trips, AutoRoute, or MapPoint. You can access this page (http://mobile.msn.com/pocketpc/menu.aspx) from Internet Explorer on your Pocket PC or desktop PC. Click on the Maps & Directions link and you will be taken to a page where you can display a map of a specific location, or driving directions between to locations. The Maps & Directions link was labeled "Free Preview" when we wrote this tip on April 2, 2003. There's no telling how long it will remain free.

The MSN Mobile Web site is currently offering free maps and directions.

You can download free Pocket Streets maps from Microsoft's Web site (www.microsoft.com/pocketstreets/mapdownload/ MapDownload_EN.html), but they will only work with the newest version of the Microsoft map program, Pocket Streets 2002. However, you can convert the new maps to the older Pocket Streets 2001 format using Revolutionary Software Front's PSConvert (http://revolution.cx/rcx/pstreets.htm).

With the newer 2002 version, Pocket Streets is no longer available as a free download to Pocket PC users. In addition, the older free version, Pocket Streets 2001, is no longer available on Microsoft's Web site or on the CD that comes with the Pocket PCs. However, as of April 2, 2003, it was still available for download from the Pocket PC For You Web site (www.ppc4you.com).

HanDBase (www.ddhsoftware.com) is a full-featured relational database program that lets you create, view, and modify custom databases on your Pocket PC. Todd Ogasawara has a thorough three-part article on creating and using HanDBase databases on the Pocket PC. Check it out at http://to-tech.com/mobileviews/merlin/howto/

I found out from Hewlett-Packard that a storage card can have no more than 256 files or folders in a given directory. For example, the My Documents folder on the storage card can have no more than 256 separate document files and sub-folders in it. If you are planning on storing a lot of files on your storage card, make sure you divide them up among subfolders within each folder. For example, create separate sub-folders within the My Documents folder for your music, video, Word documents, Excel documents, images, and so on. Each of these sub-folders can have 256 files.

by Andrew Scott

I recently installed Total Commander on my desktop PC and my Pocket PC. The desktop version is shareware and the Pocket PC version is freeware. Both can be downloaded at the developer's Website (www.ghisler.com). The desktop program is a truly superior split-screen file manager. I also like the Pocket PC version alot. The good news is there is a free plug-in for the desktop PC version that lets it display the files and folders found on your Pocket PC. For this to work, the Pocket PC must be connected to the desktop PC with ActiveSyn crunning. You can copy files between devices, delete and rename Pocket PC files, andmore. You can even open Pocket PC document files on your desktop PC. Once you've installed the desktop PC version of the program, download the plug-in (http://ghisler.fileburst.com/fsplugins/wincefs.zip), unzip the file, and follow the installation instructions in the ReadMe.txt file. Note: This does not convert files to Pocket PC formats (e.g., Word to Pocket Word).