Spb Finance 2.3.2 Released [Archive]

View Full Version : Spb Finance 2.3.2 Released

Darius Wey

11-04-2005, 05:30 AM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/finance/?en' target='_blank'>http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/pro...cts/finance/?en</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Spb Finance is a financial manager that you can carry in your pocket. You don't have to write down all your day's expenses and transfer them to your desktop PC financial manager later. Enter your expenses into Spb Finance on the spot and forget about them, Spb Finance will remember them for you. Entering a transaction is a two-click business, since Spb Finance has a built-in autocompletion feature. Do you use Microsoft Money or Quicken at your desktop? Spb Finance has special features for synchronization with these products."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050713-SpbFinance.gif" /><br /><br />Spb Finance 2.3.2 has just been released and includes plenty of bug fixes and feature updates (a revision history can be found below). If you're a v2.x user, you can upgrade to the new version by <a href="http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/finance/download.html">downloading the latest installer</a> and installing it over the existing version of Spb Finance 2.x currently running on your device. New to Spb Finance? <a href="http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=84585&productType=2">Handango</a> is offering the full version for $24.95, and a free trial version is also available if you wish to test it first. [Affiliate] <!>

bbarker

11-04-2005, 06:53 AM

Is the MS Money sync seamless or does it involve an import-export process?

Darius Wey

11-04-2005, 07:13 AM

Is the MS Money sync seamless or does it involve an import-export process?

Seamless. It installs and uses a synchronisation plugin that operates within ActiveSync.

ctmagnus

11-04-2005, 07:55 AM

dschargel

11-04-2005, 08:12 AM

Darius Wey

11-04-2005, 08:21 AM

Does this seamless MS Money sync require the desktop MS Money app and/or SPB Finance App to be open when the syncing is going on or is it like Pocket Quicken where you need to close the desktop and handheld apps?

Open or closed, synchronisation will still take place. Like your PIM data, the Spb Finance plugin monitors the last saved state of your Money data file, and then feeds those changes instantly to and from your PC and Pocket PC.

Darius Wey

11-04-2005, 08:26 AM

They now have an option to download just the cab file rather than the desktop installer. I don't know how that works as it presents you with one cab file after you agree to the terms but the desktop installer contains three cab files, one for each version of Finance.

Spb introduced CAB installers for all their major applications not too long ago. In Spb Finance's case, I can only see it being of benefit (1) if you wish to update the version on your Pocket PC, and/or (2) if you use Spb Finance as a standalone application (i.e. no synchronising). To install the desktop plugin, you probably will still need the desktop installer.

Denis Khitrov

11-04-2005, 01:49 PM

Spb Software House provides CAB installer for Spb Finance Standard edition only. This edition works on Pocket PC and doesn't synchronize with desktop finance managers.
Othe editions (Money and Quick) supporting synchronization needs Desktop installer, because both of them have desktop ActiveSync provider module.

ctmagnus

11-05-2005, 02:28 AM

That's what I eventually got around to thinking. However, if a user already has Spb Finance installed on both the Pocket PC and desktop, would it be possible to upgrade to the new version by just installing the cab on the Pocket PC? I can't find any "About" dialog for the desktop version, so I don't know if that changes from one version to the next.

babykaye

11-05-2005, 06:03 AM

Darius Wey

11-05-2005, 12:24 PM

Spb finance 2.xx have bugs with activesync....Everytime after install, when the pocket pc starts to sync it will stop and say "Connection Error" But when I downgraded it to 1.9. Everything is fine. It always does it to me. So I ended up still using 1.9 even though I paid and upgraded it to 2.xx. Does anyone have this problem ? I'm hoping they already fix this problem on this new release.

Have you tried a soft-reset? I've only ever had one connection error associated with Spb Finance, and that was a long time ago. A soft-reset solved everything.

brian_r_baker

11-05-2005, 04:32 PM

Spb finance 2.xx have bugs with activesync....Everytime after install, when the pocket pc starts to sync it will stop and say "Connection Error" I just tried Spb Finance this week (version 2.3.1) and had the same problem. I am trying to get it working on my i-mate Jasjar which has WM5. I've contacted Spb support and I'll post back here if I get a resolution.

kuklovod

11-06-2005, 11:07 AM

2.0 - 2.3.2 user, never had a connection error. i didn't install the sync module, though, only standalone.

babykaye

11-06-2005, 07:06 PM

babykaye

11-06-2005, 07:07 PM

Darius Wey

11-07-2005, 04:14 AM

I tried soft-reset and hard-reset but still getting the same problem.

Hmm, could be a problem with your Money file then. How large is it and what version is it running under?

JMac

11-08-2005, 07:52 PM

Hi Darius!

I'm finally giving up on Pocket Quicken due to an extreme lack of features and develpopment of the PPC version. Yet they DO regularly update their Palm OS version though. Time to ditch it!

I'm looking at both Spb Finance and Cash Organizer. I had the original Spb Finance but it lacked much back then; looks like it's been updated quite a bit.

I see where someone already asked if the sync with Quicken is seamless, and you say that it is. Great! That's a winner IMO. I am weary of the QIF import/export method of "pseudo-synchronization"!

Do you run the Standard version? Or the Quicken or Money version? I need to know a little more info on the Quicken-specific version. I use Quicken 2004 Deluxe on my PC.

Most PPC finance apps that sync directly with a desktop version are limited by the rules of the desktop program, which is understandable. Like limiting certain actions on the PPC.

Pocket Quicken basically just let's you view your Quicken transactions on your Axim, and not much else. No reports, no graphics, and the budget module will not show budgeted vs. expended. It is much too limited.

I'm having some difficulty with a trial of Cash Organizer - Inesoft responded to a support email I sent by telling me how to find the user manual! So Spb Finance is a sure bet as long as it supports anything more than PQ does.

A few questions:

Can some changes be made to transactions on the PPC? I know it will let you create new transactions (or at least it used to), but can I fill in or edit categories for existing transactions on my PPC?

Are investment accounts (401K's) supported?

Can graphs and charts created in Spb Quick version be printed when you sync to the PC?

Thanks Darius, or anyone who has advice!

Darius Wey

11-09-2005, 03:30 AM

I see where someone already asked if the sync with Quicken is seamless, and you say that it is. Great! That's a winner IMO. I am weary of the QIF import/export method of "pseudo-synchronization"!

They were actually asking about Money sync, which is seamless. However, I'm pretty sure the Quicken version is just as seamless. Spb uses its own synchronisation plugins for Money and Quicken to sync up data on your PC and Pocket PC in the blink of an eye.

Do you run the Standard version? Or the Quicken or Money version? I need to know a little more info on the Quicken-specific version. I use Quicken 2004 Deluxe on my PC.

I use the Money version.

Pocket Quicken basically just let's you view your Quicken transactions on your Axim, and not much else. No reports, no graphics, and the budget module will not show budgeted vs. expended. It is much too limited.

Right. And I think you'd be happy with Spb Finance's extended functionality.

Can some changes be made to transactions on the PPC? I know it will let you create new transactions (or at least it used to), but can I fill in or edit categories for existing transactions on my PPC?

Yes, you can make changes to categories and transactions, and they will be synchronised with your PC on the next ActiveSync connection. Well, on the Money version, anyway. :)

Are investment accounts (401K's) supported?

I don't set up investment accounts on my Pocket PC, but I believe it is supported. Install the trial and play around with it if you wish to seek a definite answer.

Can graphs and charts created in Spb Quick version be printed when you sync to the PC?

Interesting question. I'm not sure if the Quick version supports synchronisation of graphs and charts. Again, play around with the trial version for a definite answer.

ctmagnus

11-09-2005, 04:32 AM

Can some changes be made to transactions on the PPC? I know it will let you create new transactions (or at least it used to), but can I fill in or edit categories for existing transactions on my PPC?

afaict, no. Everything's "greyed out" in transactions that have been synced from the desktop.

Are investment accounts (401K's) supported?

I have no idea. I don't have 401K's.

Can graphs and charts created in Spb Quick version be printed when you sync to the PC?

I'm not 100% sure, but afaict no. What I've always done is just do the report on the PC end, and I've never printed a report.

JMac

11-09-2005, 05:35 AM

THansk Darius and CT.

Sounds like there are a few differences. I will certainly give the trial a look see.

I was just asking to see if there are enough features to warrant installing it.

If transactions are greyed out after being synced from the desktop though, I may just keep working with Cash Organizer for another week or two. Their support person did get back to me again with a lot more info, so I have a lot to work on in that trial.

Thank you for the replies, guys! Much appreciated! :D

ctmagnus

11-09-2005, 05:41 AM

Thank you for the replies, guys! Much appreciated! :D

You're Welcome! :D

JMac

11-09-2005, 06:27 AM

BTW, ct, a 401k is the US government's section number of the income tax code that covers a certain type of tax-deferred retirement savings plan.

Most employers offer these plans wherein you can designate a percentage of your pay to be withheld into a retirement savings account and the employer matches a portion of your contribution. Then you have several options for investment, most commonly mutual stocks and bond funds.

Just for general knowledge. :)

bbarker

11-11-2005, 08:09 AM

afaict, no. Everything's "greyed out" in transactions that have been synced from the desktop...

I'm not 100% sure, but afaict no....
What does "afaict" mean?

ctmagnus

11-11-2005, 08:33 AM

What does "afaict" mean?

as far as I can tell

Jacob

11-14-2005, 06:09 PM

Are investment accounts (401K's) supported?

SPB Finance and Cash Organizer don't support these directly from what I can tell. I keep track of my 401(k) by having it as an account and occasionally just updating the balance of it.

They don't have an investment account that you can create from it.

JMac

11-14-2005, 08:30 PM

Thanks Jacob.

I ended up purchasing Cash Organizer and confirmed that they don't support investment accounts. I'll try creating an account and updating it manually as you suggest.

Thanks for the help! :D

Gelo

11-17-2005, 03:18 PM

Hi guys,

Does anyone know how soon SPB is planning to start supporting Quicken 2006? So far on their website I can only find a response that version 1.9 does not support it. It doesn't seem to me that 2.3.2 supports it either as I just upgraded my Quicken and all my accounts are zeros after synchronisation.

Interestingly Cash Organizer does support Quicken 2006 (the interesting bit is that both developers are Russian and I would have thought that they would want to stay on top of what each other is doing). I'm just trialling it now and it seems somewhat more powerful than SPB Finance. I would love to avoid paying $30 thou if SPB Finance can do the same thing.

Thanks.

Oleg

ctmagnus

11-17-2005, 10:40 PM

Does anyone know how soon SPB is planning to start supporting Quicken 2006?

I use v2.3.2 with Quicken 2006, with no issues.

kss55442

01-28-2006, 11:31 PM

I've already posted this question over at SPB but they don't have a support forum and the process for submitting questions provides no method for tracking a response or anywhere for me to log an email for them to respond. Also posted it on Aximsite but maybe someone here has a suugestion on solving the problem.

Here's my problem: I running SPB Finance 2.3.2 (x50v/WM2003SE) and Money 2005 (desktop). All of the sudden, syncing with Microsoft Money is broken. Starting yesterday morning after a soft reset (which happens everyday after Sprite Backup completes), the first sync produced a popup asking what I wanted to do: Combine..., Replace..., or Ignore.... Unfortunately I selected Combine and ended up with a really messed up Money data file, essentially every entry for 3.5 years was duplicated. I spent several hours cleaning up my Money data, uninstalled SPB Finance and re-installed it. During the first sync, I got the popup message again and this time I choose "Replace items on device with those from my desktop". At that point, everything seemed to be fine. This morning after another overnight Sprite backup, the first sync again produced the popup. I again chose "Replace the items on the device with those on my desktop" and ended up with 59 items not synchronized. After a soft reset, ActiveSync went thru several "Looking for changes" and finally synchronized. Anyone have any idea what I need to do to get this working again (short of choosing another program)? I was pleased with SPB Finance until this problem surfaced yesterday.

JMac

01-30-2006, 07:22 AM

What has happened since then? After it finally found its way and synched have you tried again?

BTW, it sounds like you are data-careful on your PPC, backing up with Sprite... you need to make sure that you backup your Money file regularly also. I use Quicken myself, and it can hold nine separate backups at a time. I keep all nine! Plus I have it set to prompt me to perform a back up everytime I exit Quicken. Like always, seems like a pain at the time, but you really only see the worth when you need it! I keep nine backups just in case I get a data corruption along the way and don't notice it immediately. I can go back to any of nine separate instances.

As for the problem that you had with SPB, it may have been something that changed in your data - maybe you added or deleted an account, changed your online updating scheme in Money, or something like that. Or it could just be data corruption that occurred in SPB Finance on your device. It doesn't take much, that's for sure!

I use Quicken 2006 and Cash Organizer 2005 Premium, but I think they're comparable with your setup. Also on an Axim X50v with WM2003SE, and I also use Sprite to backup my PPC. As I mentioned, I back up my Quicken data faithfully, and I also use Cash Organizer's auto-backup facility, separate from Sprite. I've had my data on the Axim become corrupted and had to wipe out the database, but a simple re-sync replaced all with no problem. Plus, I just (today!) upgraded from Quicken 2004 to 2006, and received database error messages from Cash Organizer. Turns out that, even though the datafile is named the same, and is in te same location on my PC, the data format is different in Quicken 2006 than it was in 2004, so Cash Organizer was looking for a different data format - even though it does work with the newer format.

I wrote an email to the developer and he wrote back with a solution within an hour! And this was on Sunday! I am duly impressed. Really impressed.

He told me to uninstall and reinstall Cash Organizer - only after backing up my data.

I'm certain that SPB Finance can do the job, though. How long ago did you submit the support request?

I have a couple of email addresses for SPB. Send me a PM if you are interested.

Personally, though, I've never gotten as quick a response from SPB as I did today from Cash Organizer. And this is not the first time that they responded quickly, though it was the first time that it was a fairly critical issue.

For me, that kind of excellent support is worth far more than the $29.95 price of the application!

Edit: Actually, I just checked the time stamps on the messages - I sent the request at 2:20 PM this afternoon (actually, I guess it's yesterday by now), and the reply email is stamped 2:37 PM. 17 minutes! Gotta be an all-time support record!

I love this software!

Denis Khitrov

01-30-2006, 03:08 PM

Hello kss55442

I apologize for this inconvenience.

To be honest I really wondered how it may happen. =( A unique ticket number is generated for every submitted question and confirmation e-mail with this ticket is sent to the client automatically. And you can always check the status of your request online using this ticket number.

Out support team typically reply to all requests as soon as possible (average response time for Spb Finance for the last 2 weeks is 5 hours). The most difficult from technical part questions are forwarded directly to the responsible developer or product manager. Only spam filters on the client side or some other unpredictable issues may be a reason of unanswered request.

If you have no received a message with you question ticket number, please contact send me via forum private message or e-mail: air [at] softspb [dot] com

The problem you are describing can happen because Spb Finance ActiveSync provider consider recovered file as a new file and automatically forces total resynchronization. The same situation will happen if you restore Spb Finance file from the Spb Finance backup.
There are two ways to start initial synchronization after Restore:
1. After Restore with Sprite do Backup and Restrore Spb Finance data. Then start synchronization and choose "Combine"
2. After Restore with Sprite delete SpbFinance.fdat file from your device. Then start synchronization and choose "Combine"

The second one is preferred as it works faster. Your desktop items will be just transferred to the Pocket PC side.

kss55442

01-31-2006, 01:24 AM

Thanks JMac and Denis for the responses. The program seems to be working now. JMac, I also do frequent backups of my Money data file. The problem happend this time because I misunderstood what selecting "combine" from the ActiveSync popup would do. For other users, when I selected "combine" as Denis suggested 1st, my Money data file got horrible corrupted with duplicate entries for 3 1/2 years of data. The next time this happens I will first select do nothing. Then delete the data file from my PPC and then re-sync and choose "replace". Denis, I sent you an email with some additional info on the website confusion.