FAQ: PocketPlanter
On my PocketPlanter Shrubs plant names list, each shrub is listed twice. How do I get rid of the duplicates?
First, a brief explanation of the probably reason for the duplication:
When you first install PocketPlanter on the handheld computer, it builds the shrubs common name and botanic
name indexes the first time you start the program on the handheld. Ideally, you then perform a HotSync to move
the new indexes to the desktop. You then install the desktop version of PocketPlanter and it locates the indexes
previously created on the handheld and moved to the desktop by the HotSync. Thus, the desktop does not
create its own copy of the indexes, because it can use the handheld version’s indexes.
If, instead, you install and run PocketPlanter on both the handheld and desktop and then perform a HotSync,
the index gets built first on the handheld, then on the desktop, then you HotSync and the PocketPlanter conduit
merges the databases from the two platforms, creating the duplicate plant names.
Another way duplicate indexes can be created: if you have PocketPlanter working properly on the handheld and
desktop, then suffer a “hard reset” which erases the PocketPlanter files from the handheld, then reinstall
PocketPlanter, it will create new indexes the first time you start the newly re-installed program. They if you
HotSync the new name indexes on the handheld get merged with the already existing indexes on the desktop,
creating duplicate index entries.
The solution to the problem:
To correct the problem, we will delete the old indexes on both the PDA and the desktop. Then we will rebuild
them on the handheld and perform a HotSync to move the corrected indexes to the desktop to replace the ones
deleted there.
To locate and delete the Shrub index files on the handheld, you will need to download and install onto your
handheld computer a freeware utility program called Zarf Catalog, available
HERE.
After installing, tap Z'Catalog on your device to start the utility (it will install into the "Unfiled" category on the
device main menu).
Once Zarf Catalog is running, tap "Z'Catalog" in the upper left corner of the program screen to drop down the
"top menu".
Select Options on the top menu.
Select Preferences on the Options menu.
Tap to mark the "Allow Dangerous Actions" checkbox. This won't really do anything dangerous, but it will allow
you to delete the "bad" index files so they can be recreated.
Tap [Done] at the bottom of the screen to leave the preferences screen.
Scroll down the list of files on your device, using the down arrow in the extreme lower right corner of the Zarf
Catalog screen. Locate the file PpShBNDX and tap it once to highlight it.
Again, tap "Z'Catalog" at the top of the screen to drop down the top menu.
Tap Delete on the DB menu then tap [Yes] to delete the bad shrubs botanic name index.
Now locate the file PpShNNDX on the list, tap to highlight it, and repeat steps 9 and 10 above to delete the bad
shrubs common name index.
Tap the "home" button on your device to return to the handheld's main menu, then tap the PocketPlanter icon to
start PocketPlanter.
The shrubs indexes will be rebuilt and you should be back in business on the handheld.
Next, you need to find your bad shrubs indexes on the desktop and delete those so they can be recreated
properly. These files should be placed, by the PocketPlanter conduit, in a folder like...C:\Palm\[a variation of your
user name]\PocketPlanter...or...C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\[a variation of your user name]\PocketPlanter
After locating this PocketPlanter conduit folder, delete PpShNNDX.cdb and PpShBNDX.cdb. DO NOT START
THE DESKTOP VERSION OF POCKETPLANTER YET.
Finally, perform a HotSync to move the PDA's shrub indexes to the desktop. Now you can start the desktop
version and it should work properly.
