SplashShopper for iPhone & iPod touch User Guide

 

Table of Contents

Introduction
Installation
Registration

Handheld
Quick Start
Home
List View
More
Preferences
Item Details
Stores
QuickLists
Deleting Items

Desktop
Setup Wizard
Lists
List View
QuickLists
Preferences
Item Details
Stores
Coupons
Deleting Items
Copy/Paste
Printing
Import/Export
Backup and Restore
Synchronization  
Creating an Ad hoc Network

Motorola Q


 

Introduction

SplashShopper is a list organizer for iPhone and iPod Touch that is perfect for keeping lists of groceries to buy, movies to rent, CDs to buy, books to read and more! You can create an unlimited number of lists, and each list can be customized to record and display only the information that is relevant. And data can be easily synchronized between SplashShopper on your handheld and SplashShopper on the desktop (Windows or Mac OS).

SplashShopper on the handheld and SplashShopper Desktop are virtually identical. This user guide focuses on the features in SplashShopper on the handheld. You may prefer to do most of your data entry in SplashShopper Desktop, however, since it's faster and easier with a keyboard, and then synchronize the data with your handheld.

Installation

  • Mac OS -- Drag the SplashShopper application file into the Applications folder or the destination of your choice.
  • Windows -- Run the Installer and follow the on screen instructions. iTunes or Bonjour must be installed before you can synchronize with the handheld.
  • iPhone & iPod Touch -- The handheld application is sold separately and must be downloaded from the App Store on the handheld or in iTunes.

Registration

The iPhone/iPod touch version of SplashShopper is fully registered once you buy it. When you launch SplashShopper on the desktop you will be prompted to enter a registration code or to run in Trial mode. You may run the software for 30-days in full-functioning Trial mode. The Trial software and Registered software are identical. Once the trial period ends you must purchase and enter a registration code to continue using the software. You do not need to re-install the software. Simply enter a registration code and your Trial version will be converted into a Registered version and all data will remain intact.

Quick Start - Handheld

Following is a quick overview of how SplashShopper can be used as a tool for grocery shopping:

  1. Launch SplashShopper. You're presented with a number of sample lists. 
  2. Open the Grocery list by tapping it. The All View is displayed, which shows a list of commonly purchased grocery items.
  3. Mark the items you need by tapping in the selection boxes on the left. A cart icon will appear next to the items, indicating that they are needed.
  4. Once you're done marking the items you need, tap the "Need" tab. This will display a list of only the items marked as needed. 
  5. Now go shopping and mark items completed by by tapping in the selection boxes on the left. As you check things off they will be removed from the Need list. Once all the items are gone, you're done!

That concludes the Quick Start. Read on to learn more about the individual features of SplashShopper.

Home

Home Screen
Home Screen
List Info
List Info Dialog
 

When you first launch SplashShopper you are presented with the Home View. You can open a shopping list by tapping it, or tap the Sync button to sync with the SplashShopper iPhone Desktop.

Editing Lists
You may create new lists or edit existing ones, as follows:

  1. To create a new list, tap the New List row at the bottom.
  2. To edit a list tap Edit on the top left to make the Lists editable. Now you can rearrange the order of the lists using the drag tool on the right.
  3. Tap a list you wish to edit.
  4. The List Info Dialog appears (see next).

List Info
You can create an unlimited number of lists. Each list includes:

  • Name - The name of the shopping list (e.g., Groceries, Books, Music, etc.).
  • Store Menu - The name of the Store Menu (e.g., Store, Author, Artist, etc.). See Stores for more details.
  • Custom 1 - The name of custom field 1 (e.g., Description, Author, Artist, etc.).
  • Custom 2 - The name of custom field 2 (e.g., Aisle, Publisher, Record Label, etc.).
  • Tax Rate - Enter a tax rate (optional), if you wish to calculate tax into the Total cost (Qty x Price x Tax Rate) for all items marked as taxable in Item Details.
  • Track Per-Store Prices - Select this option if you wish to track separate prices for each store in the Multiple Stores dialog (see Stores for more details).
  • Icon - Tap the icon to select a custom icon for the List. Now you can add a custom icon using your photo library or camera.

List View

All View
All View
 

The List View displays items in a list format separated into two tabs - All and Need. The following options are available in the List View:

  • Search - Tap the Search button to bring up the search box.
  • Email - Tap the Email button on the bottom toolbar to send an email of either the All Items list or the Needed Items list - whichever is displayed. The items can then be imported directly into SplashShopper on the receiving iPhone.
  • Filter By - Tap the Filter buttons to select which Store and/or Categories you wish to filter by.
  • All View - The All View displays all the items in the list. Items that are needed are marked with the list icon. Tap an item to mark it as needed.
  • Need View - The Need View displays only the items that are marked as Needed in the All View. The far left column displays a checkbox allowing you to check off items as they are purchased.
  • Favorites - The Favorites tab displays the items that you have previously marked needed for easy access. This tab can be changed in More > Edit.
  • Total - Displays the Total price of all the items currently in view. Note: You can choose to show or hide the Total in Preferences. Tap the Total "button" to select whether to view the Total, Total Needed, or Total Unneeded.

More

Menu Options

 

Tap the More button on the toolbar to access the tools for SplashShopper. Like the iPod application, you can click the Edit button in the More screen if you wish to change the toolbar buttons using drag and drop. Only the 3rd and 4th positions can be changed, however, as All and Needed are fixed. If you hide the total (in Preferences), you can also add a button to that position.

  • QuickLists - Opens the QuickLists dialog.
  • List Info - Displays the List Info dialog.
  • Preferences - Displays the List Preferences dialog.
  • Export - Allows you to export your list to VSH so it can be emailed to a desktop version of SplashShopper.
  • Sync - Opens the Sync tool for synchronizing with the desktop.
  • Batch Change
    • Mark All as Needed - Marks all the items in the All View as Needed.
    • Mark All as Unneeded - Marks all the items in the All View as Unneeded.
    • Delete Unneeded - Deletes all the items in the All View marked as Unneeded
  • Sort By - Select which field data to sort by and which direction.
  • Show Columns - You may select up to 1 additional column to display in Portrait mode and up to 4 additional in Landscape mode.
  • Quick Start -- Launches the Quick Start guide you saw the first time you ran the application.
  • About - Displays version information.
  • More Apps - Opens a page of links to other SplashData applications.
  • FAQ - Opens the SplashShopper online frequently asked questions page.
  • User Guide - Opens this User Guide on the iPhone for easy reference.

Preferences

Preferences

 

Select Preferences from the More screen to access the following options:

  • Mark Edited Items as Needed - If this option is selected, any items you edit (by opening the Item Details dialog) will be marked as Needed.
  • Mark New Items as Taxable - If this option is selected, any new items you create will have the "Tax" checkbox pre-selected in Item Details. Note: The Tax Rate is specified in the List Info dialog. The tax rate will be calculated into the Total for any Items that have the Tax checkbox selected.
  • Show Completed in Need View - Select this option if you wish to show completed items in the Need View. Note: if you select this option, you must manually clear the completed items from the Need View by tapping More > Batch Change > Clear Completed. Otherwise, when this option is turned off, items are automatically cleared from the Need View when you check them off as completed. 
  • Show Decimals in Price - Deselecting this option will hide the decimal display in the price column, thereby reducing the size of the price column in List View. Note: the actual price is still used to calculate the Total, even when the decimals are hidden.
  • Show Total - Displays the Total of the currently displayed items (Quantity x Price x Tax Rate). See Total for more info.
  • Sort Completed Items at Bottom - Select this option if you wish to sort completed items at the bottom of the Need View. Note: You must be showing Completed Items in Need View (see above) for this option to work.
  • Landscape Mode - When enabled, you can rotate the device to view SplashShopper lists in landscape mode.
  • Home Screen Badge - When enabled, a badge displaying the total number of needed items in SplashShopper will be displayed on the application icon on your home screen.

Item Details

Item Details Dialog

 

To create an Item, tap the New button new the List View. The Item Details dialog appears. You may fill in the following fields:

  • Item: Enter a name (e.g., Bread, Milk, Eggs, etc.) in the Item field.
  • Store: Select or create a new Store (e.g., Albertsons, Costco, Safeway, etc.) in the Store field or select multiple stores if the Item is available at multiple stores (see Stores for more info).
  • Category: Select or create a new Category (e.g., Dairy, Fruits, Vegetables, etc.) in the Category field.
  • Custom 1 & 2: You may enter a name (e.g., a description like Whole Wheat, Low Fat, Large, etc.) in the Custom fields.
  • Qty: You may enter the quantity you wish to purchase.
  • Unit: You may select a unit description from the list, or add a new Unit type.
  • Price: Enter the unit price of the item. The total price of the item will equal Price x Qty.
  • Auto-Delete: Normally items that are marked as completed in the Need view are removed from the Need view but remain in the All view so that you can mark them as needed again in the future. Select Auto-Delete if you want to automatically delete the item once it has been marked as completed in the Need view. This is convenient for one-time purchase or on-sale items.
  • Tax: Select this checkbox to indicate that the Item is taxable. Note: You must set a Tax Rate in List Info, if you wish to calculate tax into the Total cost (Qty x Price x Tax Rate) for all items marked as taxable.
  • Notes: You may enter a Note if you wish.

Stores

Multiple Stores

 

The Store Menu is similar to the Category menu. But unlike Categories, you can assign multiple Stores to a single Item. For example, an Apple can be assigned to only one category (Fruit) but it can be assigned to multiple Stores (Safeway, Albertsons, Costco, etc.). In addition, if desired, you can track prices on a per-store basis, in order to determine which store offers the best overall value.

In the Stores dialog, you can assign up to eight stores for an item. If you select "Track Per-Store Prices" in the List Info dialog, additional fields will appear allowing you to track Aisles (Custom 2) and Prices on a per-store basis.

When "Track Per-Store Prices" has been selected in List Info, the lowest priced entry (Store name, Aisle and Price) will be displayed. Note: By default, only Price is displayed in Portrait mode. To see Store, Aisle and Price, turn the device 90 degrees to view it in Landscape mode.

QuickLists

QuickLists

QuickLists allow you to quickly mark a set of predefined items as needed. When you select a QuickList it will add the set of predefined items to your Need list. You can create an unlimited number of QuickLists for everything from "Weekly Groceries" to "Chicken Cacciatore ingredients" to "Bathroom supplies".

To use a QuickList, go to More > QuickLists and select the QuickList name from the QuickList menu. Click Apply, and the predefined set of items will be marked as needed and added to the Need View. Note: the QuickList items will be appended to the Need View along with any other items that are in the Need View. In this way, you can select multiple QuickLists, like "Weekly Groceries" and "Bathroom Supplies" to add the items from both QuickLists to the Need View.

Creating QuickLists
To create a new QuickList:

  1. In the All View, mark a number of Items as needed.
  2. From the QuickList menu, select New List.
  3. Enter a name for the QuickList and press OK.

Editing QuickLists
To delete or change the name of a QuickList:

  1. From the QuickList menu, select Edit.
  2. Select a QuickList name and click Edit to rename it or Delete to delete it.
  3. You will be asked to confirm the change.
  4. Click Done when you are finished.

Updating QuickLists
To add or remove items from an existing QuickList:

  1. In the All View, mark a number of Items as needed.
  2. From the QuickList menu, select Update.
  3. Select a QuickList name that you wish to update and press OK.

Deleting Items

Normally, items are not deleted from SplashShopper and remain in the All View so that you can easily add them to the Need View in the future. However, you may delete items that you no longer want to keep in the All View, as follows:

Deleting a single Item
Select an Item and then select Delete from the bottom of the Item Details dialog.

Deleting a group of Items
You may delete all items that are not needed, as follows:

  1. In the All View, mark the items you want to keep as needed, and the items you want to delete as unneeded. 
  2. Tap More and select Batch Change, then Delete Unneeded.

Auto-Delete
Normally, items that are marked as completed in the Need view are removed from the Need view but remain in the All view so they can be marked as needed again in the future. Select Auto-Delete in the Item Details dialog if you want to automatically delete the item from the All view once it has been marked as completed in the Need view. This is convenient for Items purchased once only, or on-sale Items.

SplashShopper Desktop

Setup Wizard

When you first launch SplashShopper, you will see the SplashShopper Setup wizard. It will help you connect to your handheld in 3 quick steps:

  1. Ensure that your handheld and desktop are using the same local network connection and launch SplashShopper on the device.
  2. On the handheld version of SplashShopper, select Sync from the top right of the Home screen, then the desktop name you wish to sync with.
  3. Click Finish, and begin viewing and editing your data.

Lists

List Menu
When you first launch SplashShopper you are presented with the List View. You may open a shopping list by selecting it from the List panel on the left.

Editing Lists
You may create new lists or edit existing ones, as follows:

  1. Click the Edit Lists button under the List panel, bottom left.
  2. Select a List and click Edit, or click New.
  3. The List Info Dialog appears (see next)

List Info
You can create an unlimited number of lists. Each list includes:

  • Name - The name of the shopping list (e.g., Groceries, Books, Music, etc.).
  • Store Menu - The name of the Store Menu (e.g., Store, Author, Artist, etc.). See Stores for more details.
  • Custom 1 - The name of custom field 1 (e.g., Description, Author, Artist, etc.).
  • Custom 2 - The name of custom field 2 (e.g., Aisle, Publisher, Record Label, etc.).
  • Tax Rate - Enter a tax rate (optional), if you wish to calculate tax into the Total cost (Qty x Price x Tax Rate) for all items marked as taxable in Item Details.
  • Icon - Click the icon to select a custom icon for the List. Now you can add a custom icon from any image file by clicking the Add Icon button in the icon picker.
  • Track Per-Store Prices - Select this option if you wish to track separate prices for each store in the Multiple Stores dialog (see Stores for more details).

List View

The List View displays items in a list format separated into two tabs - All and Need. The following options are available in the List View:

  • Stores - Use the Store menu on the top left to filter the view by Store. 
  • Categories - Use the Category menu on the top right to filter the view by Category. 
  • All View - The All View displays all the items in the list. Items that are needed are marked with an icon (cart icon). Click in the left column of an item to mark it as needed.
  • Need View - The Need View displays only the items that are marked as Needed in the All View. The far left column displays a checkbox allowing you to check off items as they are purchased.
  • Total - Displays the Total price of all the items currently in view. Note: You can choose to show or hide the Total in Preferences.
  • Sort - You can sort by any of the displayed columns by clicking the column header by which you wish to sort. Click it again to sort in the other direction.

QuickLists

QuickLists allow you to quickly mark a set of predefined items as needed. When you select a QuickList it will add the set of predefined items to your Need list. You can create an unlimited number of QuickLists for everything from "Weekly Groceries" to "Chicken Cacciatore ingredients" to "Bathroom supplies".

To use a QuickList, just select the QuickList name from the QuickList menu and the predefined set of items will be marked as needed and added to the Need View. Note: the QuickList items will be appended to the Need View along with any other items that are in the Need View. In this way, you can select multiple QuickLists, like "Weekly Groceries" and "Bathroom Supplies" to add the items from both QuickLists to the Need View.

Creating QuickLists
To create a new QuickList:

  1. In the All View, mark a number of Items as needed.
  2. From the QuickList menu, select New List.
  3. Enter a name for the QuickList and press OK.

Editing QuickLists
To delete or change the name of a QuickList:

  1. From the QuickList menu, select Edit.
  2. Select a QuickList name and click Edit to rename it or Delete to delete it.
  3. You will be asked to confirm the change.
  4. Click Done when you are finished.

Updating QuickLists
To add or remove items from an existing QuickList:

  1. In the All View, mark a number of Items as needed.
  2. From the QuickList menu, select Update.
  3. Select a QuickList name that you wish to update and press OK.

Preferences

You can customize many options in SplashShopper. Select Preferences from the SplashShopper menu (Edit menu on Windows) to access the following options:

  • Show Completed in Need View - Select this option if you wish to show completed items in the Need View. Note: if you select this option, you must manually clear the completed items from the Need View by clicking Options > Clear Completed. Otherwise, when this option is turned off, items are automatically cleared from the Need View when you check them off as completed. 
  • Sort Completed Items at Bottom - Select this option if you wish to sort completed items at the bottom of the Need View. Note: You must be showing Completed Items in Need View (see above) for this option to work.
  • Show Decimals in Price Column - Deselecting this option will hide the decimal display in the price column, thereby reducing the size of the price column in List View. Note: the actual price is still used to calculate the Total, even when the decimals are hidden.
  • Show Total - Displays the Total of the currently displayed items (Quantity x Price x Tax Rate). See Total for more info.
  • Mark Edited Items as Needed - If this option is selected, any items you edit (by opening the Item Details dialog) will be marked as Needed.
  • Mark New Items as Taxable - If this option is selected, any new items you create will have the "Tax" checkbox pre-selected in Item Details. Note: The Tax Rate is specified in the List Info dialog. The tax rate will be calculated into the Total for any Items that have the Tax checkbox selected.

Item Details

Item Details Dialog

 

To create an Item, click Item > New Item in the List View. The Item Details dialog appears. You may fill in the following fields:

  • Item: Enter a name (e.g., Bread, Milk, Eggs, etc.) in the Item field using your keyboard or other text input method.
  • Store: Select or enter a Store (e.g., Albertsons, Costco, Safeway, etc.) in the Store field or select --MULTIPLE-- if the Item is available at multiple stores (see Stores for more info).
  • Category: Select or enter a Category (e.g., Dairy, Fruits, Vegetables, etc.) in the Category field.
  • Custom 1: You may enter a name (e.g., a description like Whole Wheat, Low Fat, Large, etc.) in the Custom 1 field.
  • Custom 2: You may enter a name (e.g., an aisle number like 1A, 3B, 3A, etc.) in the Custom 2 field.
  • Qty: You may enter the quantity you wish to purchase.
  • Unit: You may select a unit description from the popup list, or edit the list of choices by selecting Edit Units.
  • Price: Enter the unit price of the item. The total price of the item will equal Price x Qty.
  • Coupon: Select this checkbox to indicate that you have a coupon for the item. If you are showing the Coupon column, a "Yes" will be displayed next to the Item in the List view (see Coupons for more info).
  • Auto-Delete: Normally items that are marked as completed in the Need view are removed from the Need view but remain in the All view so that you can mark them as needed again in the future. Select Auto-Delete if you want to automatically delete the item once it has been marked as completed in the Need view. This is convenient for one-time purchase or on-sale items.
  • Tax: Select this checkbox to indicate that the Item is taxable. Note: You must set a Tax Rate in List Info, if you wish to calculate tax into the Total cost (Qty x Price x Tax Rate) for all items marked as taxable.
  • Note: You may enter a Note if you wish.

Stores

The Store Menu is similar to the Category menu, in that it can be used to filter the view to only show Items assigned to a specific Store. But unlike Categories, you can assign multiple Stores to a single Item. For example, an Apple can be assigned to only one category (Fruit) but it can be assigned to multiple Stores (Safeway, Albertsons, Costco, etc.). In addition, if desired, you can track prices on a per-store basis, in order to determine which store offers the best overall value.

To assign an Item to multiple stores, select "--MULTIPLE--" from the Store Menu to display the Stores dialog where you can assign up to eight stores for an item. If you select "Track Per-Store Prices" in the List Info dialog, additional columns will appear allowing you to track Aisles (Custom 2) and Prices on a per-store basis.

You may use the Store Menu on the top center of the List View to filter the list by Store. When viewing All Stores, and "Track Per-Store Prices" has been selected in List Info, the lowest priced entry (Store name, Aisle and Price) will be displayed. If you select a specific Store from the Store Menu (e.g., Safeway), the list will display only Items available at that Store, and the selected Store's Aisle and Price will be displayed.

Coupons

You may select the Coupon checkbox in Item Details to indicate that you have a coupon for an item. If you are showing the Coupon column, a "Yes" will be displayed next to the Item in the List view. You may use the Coupon checkbox as a general means of marking items that are on sale or, if you are tracking prices, you can use the coupon to track the amount of the discount as follows:

  • For general purposes: Mark an existing item with the coupon checkbox, then show coupons in the List View as a visual reminder that you have a coupon for that item.
  • Or, for tracking the amount of the discount: Create a new Coupon Item (e.g., Cola Coupon) with a negative Price (this will reduce the Total amount displayed at the bottom of the List View). You may also wish to mark the Item as Auto-Delete, since the coupon will no longer exist once you use it.
  • Or, for recording the amount of a discounted item: Create a new Item (e.g., Cola) and give it a price equal to its normal price minus the discount. You can mark the Coupon checkbox as a visual indicator that you have a coupon or it's on sale, and you may mark the Auto-Delete checkbox, since the item will no longer be on-sale once you redeem the coupon.

Deleting Items

Normally, items are not deleted from SplashShopper and remain in the All View so that you can easily add them to the Need View in the future. However, you may delete items that you no longer want to keep in the All View, as follows:

Deleting a single Item
Select an Item and then select Delete from the Item menu.

Deleting a group of Items
You may delete all items that are not needed, as follows:

  1. In the All View, select a category that contains the items you want to delete.
  2. Mark the items you want to keep as needed, and the items you want to delete as unneeded. 
  3. Click Item Menu and select Delete Unneeded.

Auto-Delete
Normally, items that are marked as completed in the Need view are removed from the Need view but remain in the All view so they can be marked as needed again in the future. Select Auto-Delete in the Item Details dialog if you want to automatically delete the item from the All view once it has been marked as completed in the Need view. This is convenient for Items purchased once only, or on-sale Items.

Copy/Paste

You can select multiple Items in SplashShopper desktop by clicking Items while holding down the control or shift key. Then you may copy the Items to the clipboard and paste them into another list. Or you may copy/paste Items between Users if you are syncing multiple devices with the same desktop by switching between users in the User Menu.

Printing

You may print your shopping lists from the desktop by selecting Print from the File Menu. SplashShopper will print whatever is displayed on screen. You may wish to customize the print format by hiding or showing columns or adjusting their width.

Import/Export

You can share information with other SplashShopper Desktop users by exporting and importing your SplashShopper records. Records can be exported/imported in several formats:

SplashShopper vSH
You may import and export SplashShopper records in SplashShopper virtual shopping list (vsh) format, which allows you to easily export and import shopping list items and share them with others. vsh files are a convenient way to share records with a coworker or spouse by exporting a vsh file and then emailing the resulting vsh file to the recipient. You can even use the vsh format as a backup mechanism by periodically exporting all of your lists in vsh format and archiving them on a backup disk.

To create a vsh file, simply display the Items that you wish to export (e.g., All View, Need View, a specific Category or Store, etc.), then select Export/vsh from the File Menu. In addition to the Items that are exported, all of the List Preferences (columns shown, field names, tax rate, etc.) are also contained in the vsh file. The recipient of the vsh file may open the file by double-clicking it or selecting Import/vsh from the File menu. When importing a vsh file, you have the option of creating a new list (which contains all of the pre-defined preferences) or importing just the records into an existing List.

You can download and upload sample vsh files as well as share tips and tricks with other SplashShopper users on the SplashShopper User Group at: http://forum.splashdata.com

CSV
You may also import and export SplashShopper records in CSV format. CSV stands for Comma Separated Values, and is a common file format readable by most spreadsheets, databases and word processors. If you wish to import a CSV file, the data must be in the following format:

Needed, Item, Store, Category, Custom1, Custom2, Qty, Unit, Price, Coupon, Auto-Delete, Tax, Notes

  • Needed = N for Needed, C for Completed, or blank for neither.

  • Coupon, Auto-Delete and Tax are marked with an X if the value is true.

  • Store, Custom2 and Price may contain multiple values separated by semi-colons (;) if that Item is assigned to multiple stores.

It is easy to create the above format in Excel by creating a spreadsheet with 13 columns (as described above) with one record per row. Then save the file in CSV format.

Third-party import filters
You may easily import data from another app by using one of the provided third-party import filters as follows:

  • HandyShopper PDB -- To import a HandyShopper PDB file, simply select Import/HandyShopper PDB from the File menu in SplashShopper Desktop, then select the HandyShopper PDB from the C:\Palm\<username>\Backup\ folder. SplashShopper will create a new SplashShopper List from the HandyShopper PDB.

  • HandyShopper CSV -- To import a HandyShopper CSV file, create a HandyShopper CSV file using the HandyShopper hs2convert.exe following the instructions provided with that application. Then, import the CSV file by selecting Import/HandyShopper CSV from the File Menu on SplashShopper Desktop.

  • HandyShopper TXT -- To import a HandyShopper text file, choose Export to MemoPad from within HandyShopper to create a MemoPad export file. Then synchronize with the desktop so the MemoPad file is copied to the desktop. Then, copy the text from the MemoPad file on the desktop and paste it into a new Text file. Last, import the Text file by selecting Import/HandyShopper TXT from the File Menu in SplashShopper Desktop. Note: The HandyShopper Export to MemoPad feature does not export Stores. If you wish to import Stores from HandyShopper, you must use the HandyShopper PDB or CSV option above.

  • PDA Cookbook TXT -- To import a PDA Cookbook text file, create a HandyShopper MemoPad Export file using the instructions provided with PDA Cookbook. Then synchronize with the desktop so the MemoPad file is copied to the desktop. Then, copy the text from the MemoPad file on the desktop and paste it into a new Text file. Last, import the Text file by selecting Import/PDA Cookbook TXT from the File Menu in SplashShopper Desktop.

Note: When importing a file, you are asked whether you want to create a new list from the file, or import the data into an existing list.

Backup and Restore

SplashShopper data is stored on both the handheld and the desktop, and each acts as a backup of the other. So, in theory, 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 sync.

Manual vsh Backups
It is recommended that you perform a manual backup of your data by selecting Backup from the File menu. This will export your SplashShopper List in vsh format to whatever location you select.

Restore
Select Restore from the File menu to restore a vsh file that has been backed up either automatically or manually as described above and you will be prompted to either import the data into an existing list or create a new list from the data.

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 here:

  • Windows: My Documents\SplashData\SplashShopper\<device name>\
  • Mac OS: <user>\Documents\SplashShopper\<device name>\

Synchronization

Items may be created or edited on the Handheld or Desktop and the changes can be synchronized over your local WiFi network.

By default information is synchronized in both directions, but you can adjust the settings, in iPhone Sync settings which can be opened from the File menu.

In most cases, you will wish to leave the Default setting (on the right) set to Synchronize. This means that after changing it to Desktop Overwrites Handheld and doing a sync, it will revert back to Synchronize for the next sync so you don't have to go back in and change the setting back manually.

Conduit

Here are the possible sync settings and the results they will bring about:

  • Synchronize -- Changes made on the Handheld or the Desktop will be synchronized. If a record is edited on both sides between syncs, both versions of the record will be kept so you can manually compare which one you want to keep.
  • Desktop overwrites handheld -- All data on the Desktop is copied to the handheld. Any data on the Handheld will be replaced.
  • Handheld overwrites Desktop -- All data on the Handheld is copied to the Desktop. Any data on the Desktop will be replaced.

You can also find the desktop IP address in this dialog if you wish to enter the IP address manually on the handheld to sync. This can be useful in cases where the desktop is not being discovered by the handheld but you are sure it is on the same network.

In order to synchronize, you must do the following:

  1. Select the same network that your computer is on for your handheld to join
  2. Open the SplashShopper desktop
  3. Select the correct user from the User menu in the SplashShopper desktop to match the device name
  4. Adjust the iPhone Sync settings in File > iPhone Sync if you wish
  5. Start the Sync on the handheld:
Sync
1. Select "Sync" from the top right of the Home screen
Sync
2. Select your desktop computer or enter its IP address manually
Sync
3. Tap "Start Sync" to begin synchronizing records

Creating an Ad Hoc Network

If you have trouble connecting your handheld and desktop SplashShopper, or if you want to make your sync connection with the handheld more private, you can set up an Ad hoc network (aka Computer-to-Computer network), and then perform your sync with both devices on that network. Here's how:

Mac OS

  1. Click the Airport icon in the menu bar, and select Create Network.
  2. Select options for the network such as name and if you wish to password protect it.
  3. On the handheld, join the new network from the list in Settings > Wi-Fi.
  4. Now open SplashShopper on both the handheld and desktop and proceed with the Synchronization.

Windows Vista

  1. Open Connect to a Network by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Connect to
  2. Click Set up a connection or network.
  3. Click Set up an ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network, click Next, and then follow the steps in the wizard.
  4. On the handheld, join the new network from the list in Settings > Wi-Fi.
  5. Now open SplashShopper on both the handheld and desktop and proceed with the Synchronization.

This Vista setup information was gathered from this documentation Here you can find information on setting up an Ad hoc Network in Windows XP.