Palm OS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Installation

1. How does the trial version differ from the regular version?
2. How do I install SplashShopper?
3. What is the current version of SplashShopper and what has changed?
4. How do I update my software?
5. How do I delete SplashShopper?
6. How much memory does SplashShopper require on my handheld?
7. How do I install the localized version (French, German, Italian, or Spanish)?

Registration

1. I just purchased SplashShopper and need a registration code. Where do I find it?
2. I installed SplashShopper on a new handheld/desktop and it's asking me for my registration code. Where can I find it?
3. SplashShopper won't accept my registration code. Why not?
4. How much do upgrades cost?
5. Can I use SplashShopper on multiple handhelds and/or desktops?

General Technical

1. Does SplashShopper support external memory?
2. Data between my handheld and desktop won't synchronize. Why?
3. How do I open the SplashShopper Conduit?
4. Can I sync SplashShopper with multiple computers (e.g. at work and at home)?
5. My Stores list is mixed up and showing items from a different store. What's going on?
6. SplashShopper is crashing when I launch it. How do I fix this?
7. I just bought a new handheld. How do I copy my SplashShopper data from the old handheld to the new handheld?
8. I just bought a new desktop computer (or reformatted my hard drive and installed a new OS). How do I copy my SplashShopper data from the handheld to the new desktop?
9. How do I backup my data?

Customer Service

1. Technical Support
2. Request Registration Code
3. Change of Email Address
4. Subscribe to SplashData eNews

How does the trial version differ from the regular version?
The trial version and regular version are identical. The software will run for 30-days in trial mode without requiring a registration code. Once the 30-day trial expires, you must purchase a registration code to continue using the product. Once you purchase a registration code, you do not need to re-install the software. Simply enter the registration code to continue using the software and all of your data will remain intact.

How do I install SplashShopper?
You must download and run the SplashShopper Installer on your desktop, as follows:

1. Go to the download page, and click the Download button for SplashShopper for your operating system (Mac or Windows).
2. When prompted with the "File Download" dialog box, select "Save this program to disk" and save it in a place you are sure to remember, like your Desktop.
3. After the file has finished downloading, launch the Installer from your desktop and follow the onscreen instructions.
4. After the installation is complete, you will need to perform a HotSync to install the software on your Palm.
5. For further instructions on how to use the software, double-click the User Guide that was installed on your desktop.

What is the current version of SplashShopper and what has changed?
SplashShopper 2.62 is the current version. For an overview of changes, see the release notes.

How do I update my software?
Simply download and run the latest SplashShopper Installer found on the download page. It will update your existing software on your desktop and handheld. Your data will remain intact and you won't have to re-enter your registration code.

How do I delete SplashShopper?
To delete SplashShopper and the SplashShopper Conduit from your desktop:

Windows:

1. Open the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel.
2. Select SplashShopper and click Change/Remove.

Mac:

1. Delete the SplashShopper folder from your Applications folder
2. Delete the SplashShopper Conduit from the folder Hard Disk/Library/Application Support/Palm HotSync/Conduits

To delete SplashShopper from your handheld:

1. Tap the Home icon on your handheld to go to the Application launcher.
2. Tap the Menu icon that appears below the Home icon to the left of the Graffiti area to display the App Menu.
3. Select Delete from the App Menu.
4. Select SplashShopper and tap Delete.

How much memory does SplashShopper require on my handheld?
SplashShopper requires approximately 300k for the application and data files.

How do I install the localized version (French, German, Italian, or Spanish)?
You must uninstall any previous versions on your desktop in order to install the new localized version because the new installer will automatically detect that you've already installed the English version and assume that you want to install the English version again.

In the Control Panel on your desktop computer, choose Add/Remove programs, select the application you are updating and choose Remove.

You only need to remove the Desktop application (not the handheld). After removal is complete, run the new installer and it will allow you to select a language.

If you need to download the installer, download it here.

I just purchased SplashShopper and need a registration code. Where do I find it?
When you purchase the software online, an order confirmation email is immediately sent to you containing your registration code (sent to the email you supplied during your purchase). The registration code will begin with the letters SHXU or SWXU. Enter it exactly as it appears, and the trial software will be converted into a registered version.

I installed SplashShopper on a new handheld/desktop and it's asking me for my registration code. Where can I find it?
If you installed SplashShopper on a new handheld or desktop, you can find your existing registration code on the old device as follows:

Desktop
Launch SplashShopper Desktop, then select About SplashShopper Desktop from the Help Menu. Your registration code will be displayed in the dialog.
Mac Users: Go to About SplashShopper Desktop in the SplashShopper menu.

Handheld
Launch SplashShopper on the handheld, then select About SplashShopper from the Options Menu. Your registration code will be displayed in the dialog.

If the above doesn't work, contact us and we'll respond with your registration code.

SplashShopper won't accept my registration code. Why not?
Make sure you are entering the correct registration code, and not your order number. The registration code should begin with the letters SHXU or SWXU.

How much do upgrades cost?

Single Product Upgrades
Currently all SplashShopper upgrades are free - SplashShopper Download Page.

Product Upgrades
Updates within a version (e.g., 2.0 to 2.1) are free to all registered users. Major upgrades (e.g., 2.x to 3.x) are available at a substantial discount to registered users. If you purchase within 30-days of a major upgrade you will receive the upgrade for free.

SplashWallet Suite Upgrades
The SplashWallet Suite is a bundle of SplashID, SplashMoney, SplashPhoto, and SplashShopper sold together at a discount. If you purchased an earlier version of SplashShopper as part of the SplashWallet Suite, you may upgrade to SplashWallet 5 for $9.95 here.

Can I use SplashShopper on multiple handhelds and/or desktops?
You may use SplashShopper on multiple computers/handhelds. The registration code is not tied to a specific device. The license is per user, so you may install it on all of the computers/handhelds that you use.

Does SplashShopper support external memory?
SplashShopper must be stored on internal memory in order for the HotSync Conduit to run and synchronize with SplashShopper Desktop.

Data between my Handheld and Desktop won't sync. Why?
Please check the HotSync log by clicking the HotSync icon in your system tray on your desktop and selecting View Log to see if SplashShopper is reporting an error. There are five primary reasons why SplashShopper won't sync:

1. Wrong User name -- The handheld User name may not match the SplashShopper Desktop User. Check the User name of your handheld by going to the app launcher and tapping the HotSync icon. Your User name will appear on the top right. Then check the User name from the User Menu that appears on the top right of SplashShopper Desktop. Make sure the User name that appears there matches the User name on your handheld.
   
2. SplashShopper not on internal memory -- If SplashShopper is stored on external memory (e.g., SD/MMC card on the m505) the conduit won't run. The Conduit requires that SplashShopper be installed on internal memory. If this is the case, simply move SplashShopper to internal memory and try HotSyncing again.
   
3. Different versions -- The version of SplashShopper installed on the handheld does not match the version on the Desktop. You must run the installer to install the most recent version of SplashShopper and then perform a HotSync to install it on the handheld. You must then launch SplashShopper on both the handheld and the desktop to upgrade the databases to the current version, and perform a HotSync again to synchronize them. To update your existing software, simply download and run the latest installer found on the download page. 
   
4. SplashShopper Conduit not loaded -- Click the HotSync icon in the system tray on the lower right hand side of your windows desktop, and select Custom. A list of Conduits will appear. If SplashShopper is not showing up in the Conduit list you may need to re-install it by downloading and running the SplashShopper Installer from the download page. If you just installed the software and it's still not showing up, you may need to restart the HotSync Manager. When you install a Conduit (like SplashShopper) it requires HotSync Manager to be restarted in order for the Conduit to load and show up in the list. The SplashShopper Installer automatically restarts the HotSync Manager after a successful installation process, but sometimes it doesn't work. Therefore, you have to manually restart HotSync, by restarting your computer, in order for the SplashShopper Conduit to load. After the initial restart, the Conduit will always load.
   

   Mac Users: Open the Palm Desktop and choose Conduits from the HotSync menu. A list of Conduits will appear. If SplashShopper is not showing up in the Conduit list you may need to re-install it by downloading and running the SplashShopper Installer. If you just installed the software and it's still not showing up, you may need to restart the HotSync Manager. When you install a Conduit (like SplashShopper) it requires HotSync Manager to be restarted in order for the Conduit to load and show up in the list. The SplashShopper Installer automatically restarts the HotSync Manager after a successful installation process, but sometimes it doesn't work. Therefore, you have to manually restart HotSync, by logging out of OS X (or restarting in OS 9), in order for the SplashShopper Conduit to load. After the initial restart, the Conduit will always load.

5. System Conduit set to Desktop overwrites Handheld -- The System Conduit should be set to "Handheld overwrites Desktop". This is the factory default setting. If it is set improperly to "Desktop overwrites Handheld" it will not allow the SplashShopper Conduit to run. To check the System Conduit setting, click the HotSync icon in the system tray on the lower right hand side of your windows desktop, and select Custom. A list of Conduits will appear. Scroll to the bottom of the list and double-click the "System" Conduit. Select "Handheld overwrites Desktop", check the "Set as default" checkbox, click OK and Done. Note: Do NOT confuse the System Conduit with the SplashShopper Conduit. The SplashShopper Conduit should be set to "Synchronize".
   
   Mac Users: System Backup set to Macintosh overwrites Handheld -- The Backup Conduit (not to be confused with the SplashShopper Conduit) should be set to "Backup". This is the factory default setting. If it is set improperly to "Restore from Backup" it will not allow the SplashShopper Conduit to run. To check the Backup Conduit setting, click HotSync > Conduit Settings in Palm Desktop. Double-click the "Backup" Conduit. Select "Backup", check the "Set as default" checkbox, click OK and Done.

How do I open the SplashShopper Conduit?

Windows:

1. Click the HotSync Manager icon in the Windows system tray and select Custom to open the Custom dialog.
2. Double click the SplashShopper entry in the Conduit list. This will open the SplashShopper Conduit and allow you to adjust its settings. For more information, see the SplashShopper Conduit in the User Guide.

Mac:

1. Open the Palm Desktop and choose Conduit Settings from the HotSync menu.
2. Double click the SplashShopper entry in the Conduit list. This will open the SplashShopper Conduit and allow you to adjust its settings. For more information, see the SplashShopper Conduit in the User Guide.

Note: If the SplashShopper Conduit is not showing up in the list, it may be because the HotSync Manager needs to be exited and restarted. The easiest way to do this is to restart your computer.

Can I sync SplashShopper with multiple computers (e.g. at work and at home)?
You may synchronize your handheld with multiple desktops (e.g., one at work and one at home). You just need to install the desktop software on both desktops, and ensure that they are both running the same version. You may install the software by downloading and running the latest installer found on the download page. You may synchronize SplashShopper with multiple desktops and it will keep all of them in sync. The default SplashShopper Conduit settings to "Synchronize the files" will work fine on each desktop. Note: it is possible that your Stores list will get confused if syncing with more than one desktop. See below for instructions on how to fix or avoid this problem.

My Stores list is mixed up and showing items from a different store. What's going on?
If you are syncing your handheld with multiple desktops (e.g., one at home and one at work) and you have created Stores on both desktops, then the Store Menu may get mixed up and show Items from one Store that really belong in a different Store. To avoid this problem occurring in the future you should not create Stores on more than one desktop. You can freely create Items and assign them to Stores on both desktops, but you should only create new Stores on one desktop or the handheld. If you have encountered this problem, you can fix up the Stores list by exporting your data and importing it into a new list. Here's how:

1. In SplashShopper Desktop, open the list that has the mixed up Stores and select Export SplashShopper vShop from the File Menu. Then name and Save the file.
2. In SplashShopper Desktop, select Import SplashShopper vShop from the File Menu, and select the file you just exported. When prompted whether to import into an existing list or create a new one, select New List and give it a unique name. This will import all the data and fix the Stores list.
3. Delete the old List (e.g., Groceries) by choosing Edit Lists from the File Menu, selecting the old list and clicking Delete.
4. Windows: Click the HotSync icon in the system tray on the lower right hand side of your windows desktop, select Custom to open the Custom dialog, double-click the SplashShopper Conduit and choose Desktop overwrites Handheld, then click OK and Done.
   Macintosh:  Launch Palm Desktop and choose Conduit Settings from the HotSync Menu to open the Conduit settings dialog. Double-click the SplashShopper conduit and choose Macintosh overwrites Handheld, then click OK and Close the Conduit Settings window.
5. Perform a HotSync. This will overwrite the lists on the Handheld with the new lists from the Desktop.

Note: You will also need to repeat steps 5 and 6 and on the other desktop the next time you sync your handheld with it (but change the SplashShopper HotSync settings to Handheld overwrites Desktop).

SplashShopper is crashing when I launch it. How do I fix this?
One or more of your SplashShopper lists may be corrupted. Make sure you have the latest version of SplashShopper installed, which you can download from the download page, then perform one of the following options:

Option A: If your SplashShopper lists are not too customized, and you don't mind losing your data and starting over with the default lists, the quickest solution is to reset your lists, as follows. If you don't want to lose your existing data, skip to Option B  or Option C below.

1. Close SplashShopper Desktop.
2. Open the folder: Palm\<your username>\SplashShopper (Mac: /Home/Documents/Palm/Users/<user>/SplashShopper). And delete all the SplashShopper database files in this folder.
3. Launch SplashShopper Desktop. All the default lists will be recreated.
4. Windows: Click the HotSync icon in the system tray on the lower right hand side of your windows desktop, select Custom to open the Custom dialog, double-click the SplashShopper Conduit and choose Desktop overwrites Handheld, then click OK and Done.
   Macintosh:  Launch Palm Desktop and choose Conduit Settings from the HotSync Menu to open the Conduit settings dialog. Double-click the SplashShopper conduit and choose Macintosh overwrites Handheld, then click OK and Close the Conduit Settings window.
5. Perform a HotSync. This will overwrite the lists on the Handheld with the new lists from the Desktop.

Option B: If you can launch SplashShopper Desktop, but not SplashShopper on the handheld, do the following for each list. (If you can't launch SplashShopper Desktop, skip to Option C below.)

1. In SplashShopper Desktop, select Export SplashShopper vShop from the File Menu. Then name and Save the file.
2. In SplashShopper Desktop, select Import SplashShopper vShop from the File Menu, and select the file you just exported. When prompted whether to import into an existing list or create a new one, choose to Create a new list and give it a unique name. This will import all the data and fix the corruption.
3. Delete the old List (e.g., Groceries) by choosing Edit Lists from the File Menu, selecting the old list and clicking Delete.
4. Windows: Click the HotSync icon in the system tray on the lower right hand side of your windows desktop, select Custom to open the Custom dialog, double-click the SplashShopper Conduit and choose Desktop overwrites Handheld, then click OK and Done.
   Macintosh:  Launch Palm Desktop and choose Conduit Settings from the HotSync Menu to open the Conduit settings dialog. Double-click the SplashShopper conduit and choose Macintosh overwrites Handheld, then click OK and Close the Conduit Settings window.
5. Perform a HotSync. This will overwrite the lists on the Handheld with the new lists from the Desktop.

Option C: If you can launch SplashShopper on the handheld, but not on the desktop, do the following.

1. Windows: Click the HotSync icon in the system tray on the lower right hand side of your windows desktop, select Custom to open the Custom dialog, double-click the SplashShopper Conduit and choose Handheld overwrites Desktop, then click OK and Done.
   Macintosh:  Launch Palm Desktop and choose Conduit Settings from the HotSync Menu to open the Conduit settings dialog. Double-click the SplashShopper conduit and choose Handheld overwrites Macintosh, then click OK and Close the Conduit Settings window.
2. Perform a HotSync. This will overwrite the lists on the Desktop with the lists from the Handheld.

I just bought a new handheld. How do I copy my SplashShopper data from the old handheld to the new handheld?
There are several ways you can transfer the SplashShopper data from your old handheld to your new one. Choose one of the following methods that works best for you. Before performing any of the following steps, it is recommended that you download and install the latest version of SplashShopper.

Copy and Paste

1. Open old user in SplashShopper Desktop
2. Open list
3. Select All
4. Copy
5. Switch to new user
6. Create new list and Paste
7. Repeat for each list.

Beaming
If you have SplashShopper version 2.1 or later installed on both handhelds (you can install the latest version of SplashShopper now), you can beam the data from the old handheld to the new one. Launch SplashShopper on the old handheld, open the List you want to Beam, then choose Beam List from the Beam menu. The list will be beamed to the new handheld. Repeat for each list.

Install the Backup PDBs
You can install the backup files from the old handheld to the new handheld. Each time you perform a HotSync, your SplashShopper database files (PDBs) on the handheld are copied to the Palm Backup folder on your desktop, C:\Palm\<username>\Backup\ (Mac: /Home/Documents/Palm/Users/<user>/Backup). Each list is stored as a separate database file with the letters SpSh- preceding the list name. For example, if you have a list called Groceries, it will be stored as SpSh-Groceries.PDB in the Backup folder. Locate each of these files in the Backup folder of the old handheld, double-click it to launch the Palm Install Tool, select the new username and click OK. Now perform a HotSync, and the SplashShopper backup files from the old handheld will be installed on the new handheld.

Export/Import
In SplashShopper Desktop, you can export lists from the old username and import them into the new username. Launch SplashShopper Desktop and select the old username from the User menu. Select the List you want to export from the List popup menu. Make sure you are viewing the All tab, All Stores and All Categories. Then choose Export/SplashShopper vShop from the File Menu, name the export file, and save it somewhere you can find it, like in My Documents. Repeat this process for each List you wish to export. After you've exported all the Lists from the old username, switch to the new username on the User menu. Then select Import/SplashShopper vShop from the File menu and select the list you want to import. Repeat for all lists. Last, perform a HotSync and all of the lists will be copied to the new handheld.

Install the old Desktop (.SSD) files
If you have upgraded from a Palm or Handspring to a Clie and SplashShopper Desktop is not showing the old username in the User menu, you can do the following. Exit out of SplashShopper Desktop. Do a search for "*.ssd" to find the SplashShopper Desktop database files. You should find them in two locations: the old files in C:\Palm\<user>\SplashShopper\ and the new ones at C:\Program Files\Sony Handheld\<user>\SplashShopper\. Replace the files in the new folder with the ones from the old folder. Then launch SplashShopper Desktop and your old data should re-appear. Now perform a HotSync and it will be copied to the handheld.

Mac Users: The path to copy your restored databases to is /Home/Documents/Palm/Users/<user>/SplashShopper/

I just bought a new desktop computer (or reformatted my hard drive and installed a new OS). How do I copy my SplashShopper data from the handheld to the new desktop?
After installing Palm Desktop on the new desktop computer, you must download and install the latest version of SplashShopper. Then when you perform a HotSync, any data in SplashShopper on the handheld will be copied to SplashShopper Desktop.

How do I backup my data?
SplashShopper data is stored on both the handheld and the desktop, and each acts as a backup of the other. So, in effect, if you lose the data on one of these devices through a catastrophic event (e.g., hard drive failure), the data will be restored to that device from the other device during your next HotSync. However, you may wish to backup your files as an additional precaution.

Handheld
Each time you perform a HotSync, your SplashShopper database files (PDBs) on the handheld are copied to the Palm Backup folder on your desktop, C:\Palm\<username>\Backup\ (Mac: /Home/Documents/Palm/Users/<user>/Backup). Each list is stored as a separate database file with the letters SpSh- preceding the list name. For example, if you have a list called Groceries, it will be stored as SpSh-Groceries.PDB in the Backup folder. You may wish to back up these files as an added precaution in case of hardware failure.

In the event of a hard reset, these PDBs will be automatically restored on your handheld during the next HotSync. You may also manually install these SplashShopper PDBs by double-clicking them to launch the Palm Install Tool, and then performing a HotSync.

Desktop
The SplashShopper Desktop database files are automatically saved to the SplashShopper directory on your hard drive each time you exit the application. Each List is stored as a separate file. You may back up these files as an added precaution in case of a hard drive failure. To restore one of these backed up files simply copy it back into the SplashShopper directory. Then the next time you launch SplashShopper it will open the file. These files are stored in one of the locations below depending on what operating system you are running.

SplashShopper Desktop for Windows

• C:\Palm\<username>\SplashShopper\

SplashShopper Desktop for Mac OS X with Palm Desktop 4

• Home/Documents/Palm/Users/<username>/SplashShopper/

SplashShopper Desktop for Mac OS 9 with Palm Desktop 4

• <HD>: Documents: Palm: Users: <username>: SplashShopper:

SplashShopper Desktop for Mac OS 8.6 or OS 9 with Palm Desktop 2.6

• <HD>: Palm: Users: <username>: SplashShopper: