HanDBase 3.5 For Windows Mobile Released

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.ddhsoftware.com/news.html?sub=HanDBase&amp;view=release&amp;num=29&amp;UID=2006031013552272.164.214.130">http://www.ddhsoftware.com/news.html?sub=HanDBase&amp;view=release&amp;num=29&amp;UID=2006031013552272.164.214.130</a><br /><br />For the longest time, HanDBase has been a favorite database for mobile computing, from the early days of Palm, through the Pocket PC and now it is available on the Smartphone platform as well. Also for the longest time, at least on the Pocket PC side, it was stuck at 3.49b2 or thereabouts. I mean years. Well, it has finally moved to 3.5, and includes things like square screen support for devices like the HP 6500 series and Palm Treo 700w, support for landscape modes, which will have this K-Jam user rejoicing, category support, auto-save and more.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2006/20060313-handbase35.gif" /><br /><br />There are a lot <a href="http://www.ddhsoftware.com/ppc_software.html">more screenshots here</a>. Pricing starts at $29.99 for HanDBase Plus and goes up to $99.99 for HanDBase Enterprise which includes ODBC connectors and a form designer. For those of you that have never tried HanDBase and need a database for your Pocket PC, give this product a serious look. It was never meant to be a portable version of MS Access. It was designed as a database for portable devices with tiny screens, relatively little memory and modest processors. It succeeds brilliantly at it. :D

[ddhsoftware]

Ed, thanks for the kind words about our software! Indeed we were stuck for a long time without a real release. That was a problem for us as well as our users. Hoping that problem will be behind us with this release and v4.0 being developed as well.

I'd love to hear any feedback on this version from any PPCT gurus. We're trying to determine what plugins PPC users would most like to see developed. I'm thinking since the WM5 has a standardized camera API, we could easily develop a camera plugin to embed pictures into databases. Or perhaps a GPS coordinate storage one? Would love to hear from users on what they might want to see in a Plugin for HanDBase.

Take care and thanks for posting that press release Ed!

[DaleReeck]

I like HanDBase, especially its multiple platform capability. But since upgrading from 3.0k to 3.5, I've had two major problems.

1. Closing the application via a third party closer tool like WisBar Lite or Magic Button causes a crash to the point of locking up the PPC. I like closing the database I'm on, then closing the app (as opposed to closing the app with the "Exit" command while the database is still open). Unfortunately, I have to use the built in "closer" app in PPC's Settings -> System -> Memory app. And even then, closing this way produces the "Not responding, select OK to close app" dialog, indicating a "hard" close. I'm not sure why its so difficult to close this app. The 3.0 version had no problems.

2. The second, more serious problem is, the databases will no longer sync. Any attempt to sync any database (HanDBase desktop to PPC via Activesync) causes a crash of the "Synchronize HanDBase with PocketPC" app. It worked fine with v3.0. I did the usual troubleshooting, uninstall HanDBase from both the PC and PPC (including cleaning out the registry and deleting directoies). But no go. Its a Sprint (HTC/Audiovox) 6700 running Windows Mobile 5.

I haven't had time to post these to tech support. So I just thought I'd mention them here. In fact, I'll just copy and paste to your support right now since I've already written them out :)

[dbman]

I've been a user of Handbase since my Palm days. I used it on a Palm IIIc, a Palm Tungsten, a Dell Axim X5, an HP 4700 and now on an Dell x51v. While HandBase works well enough and does everything I really need from a program like this, there are two minor "features" that drive me mad.

1. On launch, the program comes up to a table loader screen where you can Open, Beam, or Create/Modify tables. Tables in this list are filtered by category. Unfortunately, the default category is always "Unfiled". As a result, anyone that uses categories to organize tables, will always see an empty list. This forces the user to select a category from the category dropdown just to see a list of tables. I think this should be changed to default to "ALL" tables on launch or there should be a mechanism to let the user select which category to display on launch. Likewise, when a user closes a table and returns to the loader screen, the program should remember the last chosen category instead of switching back to "Unfiled" like it does now.

2. There is no "Exit" option from the table loader screen. It seems counter intuitive to have to open a table before you can quit the program. This is the only program I can not close using InClose, Magic Bullet or any of the other common utilities out there. The only way to close the program, other than going to Settings/Memory/Running Programs and stopping the program is to open a table and use the "Exit" option that available only at that point to quit the program. This is the only program I have ever encountered on any version of the PocketPC OS that behaves this way.

I hope the author will respond in a timely fashion with a fix for these two issues. Adding an "Exit" option to the program loader screen and changing the default category to "All" or the last chosen category will make this a better program.

Other than these two issues, I can highly recommend this program to anyone looking for an easy to use, yet powerful, database program. I have always relied on this program and have steadfastly refused to abandon it. Hopefully, now that Palm has a device that runs Windows Mobile 5, the author will begin to release updates on a more frequent basis.

[dbman]

2. The second, more serious problem is, the databases will no longer sync. Any attempt to sync any database (HanDBase desktop to PPC via Activesync) causes a crash of the "Synchronize HanDBase with PocketPC" app. It worked fine with v3.0. I did the usual troubleshooting, uninstall HanDBase from both the PC and PPC (including cleaning out the registry and deleting directoies). But no go. Its a Sprint (HTC/Audiovox) 6700 running Windows Mobile 5.


I do not have a sync problem on my x51v so it will probably be an issue with your build of WM 5 or perhaps a corrupted table. Hopefully, the author will respond to a tech support request from you.

[ddhsoftware]

Indeed, I am sure Shannon in tech support will be able to get to the bottom of the syncing problem mentioned above. I use it with my Axim x50v and it is syncing fine, so it's possible that there is something specific to your platform or dbs causing it to choke. Re: Wisbar, I will have to check into that myself. I used to use Wisbar and I remember in the early days of HanDBase all the weird stuff we had to do in order to get HanDBase to close properly on it. I think the issue back then was the way we were able to have a non document form as our default form and MS' workaround to allow that to happen often caused these apps to be unable to close us down.

re: the suggestions from dbman- those are GREAT, GREAT ones. I would expect those to be integrated right away- they are really oversights on our part. One of the funny things about development, at least from a small company like DDH, is that it doesn't seem to matter how long your beta period is, it's only when you release the product that issues like this are found?! Regardless, all of this should be fixed in short order.

I'll post any updates to this thread when that happens!

[djr13]

I can only find the Mac desktop program available for those poor unfortunates who use a palm. Is there a version available for the enlightened souls with Pocket PCs?

In the same vein - are you planning to make cab files available for us Mac users? This would be very much appreciated!

[ddhsoftware]

We wondered just how many Mac/PPC users were out there- guess there is at least one of ya! I'll check and find out how we can get you set up with that.

[djr13]

Thankyou. I've used HanDBase for many years on a windows machine &amp; would like to continue after a recent switch to Mac.

[ddhsoftware]

djr13, just email [email protected] and they will send you the files you need to get set up on Mac. That goes for any registered users of our Pocket PC product as well!

Hope that helps.

[yannickvillegas]

I like HanDBase, especially its multiple platform capability. But since upgrading from 3.0k to 3.5, I've had two major problems.

1. Closing the application via a third party closer tool like WisBar Lite or Magic Button causes a crash to the point of locking up the PPC. I like closing the database I'm on, then closing the app (as opposed to closing the app with the "Exit" command while the database is still open). Unfortunately, I have to use the built in "closer" app in PPC's Settings -> System -> Memory app. And even then, closing this way produces the "Not responding, select OK to close app" dialog, indicating a "hard" close. I'm not sure why its so difficult to close this app. The 3.0 version had no problems.

2. The second, more serious problem is, the databases will no longer sync. Any attempt to sync any database (HanDBase desktop to PPC via Activesync) causes a crash of the "Synchronize HanDBase with PocketPC" app. It worked fine with v3.0. I did the usual troubleshooting, uninstall HanDBase from both the PC and PPC (including cleaning out the registry and deleting directoies). But no go. Its a Sprint (HTC/Audiovox) 6700 running Windows Mobile 5.

I haven't had time to post these to tech support. So I just thought I'd mention them here. In fact, I'll just copy and paste to your support right now since I've already written them out :)

I could have written this post. I have exactly the same situation here. I have an IPAQ 4795 and I am disapointed of not been able to sync.

I also have other problems like whe I ask for Info from the first Screen (List of DB's) The app just closes down. Not a big issue, but seems to me that is not a good interaction with 5.0 :(

[ddhsoftware]

I could have written this post. I have exactly the same situation here. I have an IPAQ 4795 and I am disapointed of not been able to sync.

If you haven't already, please send an email to support @ ddhsoftware.com - we're trying to narrow down the problem and can use all the experiential email we can!

I also have other problems like whe I ask for Info from the first Screen (List of DB's) The app just closes down. Not a big issue, but seems to me that is not a good interaction with 5.0

This was not yet reported, so I'd really appreciate your emailing support with details, so we can get this fixed and re-released quickly!

Thanks for your patience with us.

[ddhsoftware]

FYI, we posted a development version of the Pocket PC HanDBase software today. A development version is basically like a beta, but we don't have an official beta test for these types of releases when all there are are mainly bug fixes, as is the case here. Any registered user can be a tester/user of the dev versions and you can see the link when you log in to our site. We haven't addressed everything mentioned here, but have gotten most of it. Here's the text from the other David from DDH:

We have just released version 3.5a Build 1 of HanDBase for Pocket PC.
The only updated application in this build is the HanDBase program
itself. It is available as part of the following packages:

HanDBase for Pocket PC
HanDBase Plus for Pocket PC
HanDBase for Pocket PC Professional
HanDBase for Pocket PC Enterprise

Users can download this development version by logging into the
HanDBase website. There you will find the link for the new development
versions, under the Release versions.

The following bugs have been fixed in this release.
-- Views Drop Down list not available on Square Screen devices
-- Category not saving if exited from the Choose Database screen,
always defaulted to Unfiled

The following feature was added in this release
-- Added Exit option to the Tools menu of the Choose Database screen

We are still working on the issue where the program crashes/freezes
when you try to exit using a 3rd party Exit application, such as
WisBar. We are also working to optimize the Forms program for Square
Screen devices.

[yannickvillegas]

...
If you haven't already, please send an email to support @ ddhsoftware.com - we're trying to narrow down the problem and can use all the experiential email we can!
...

This was not yet reported, so I'd really appreciate your emailing support with details, so we can get this fixed and re-released quickly!

Thanks for your patience with us.

I just sent the email. I hope You get these issues fixed.

[yannickvillegas]

This was not yet reported, so I'd really appreciate your emailing support with details, so we can get this fixed and re-released quickly!

Thanks for your patience with us.

I am impressed! I reported the 3 things to DDH Support and I got 2 fixed yesterday. (Same day service).
1.- The Exit option built in the version 3.5a2
2.- The syn (the most important one) with a fix sent by email
3.- The only one that was not fixed is that the app closes when I select one DB from the list and click "details" or "Tools>Info" but this is not a big issue for me.

Great support.!

[dbman]

The 3.5a developer build has fixed the problems I reported. Remembering the last view category and adding Exit to the Tools menu fixed the two issues on the top of my list!

My thanks to ddhsoftware for the rapid response!

[ddhsoftware]

Glad to hear that the fixes are working well for you. I wish we were always this fast at our responses, but we're trying to get better, and I hope it shows!

Still working on the Info screen bug- only happens on WM5 devices.