Franklin Planner to Palm conversion

W

Will Wyatt

0
When I got my Palm m505, I installed the Franklin/Covey Planner sortware that came with it. Incredibly, overly complicated software; ridiculous even. I never used much of it and after discovering GTD I know why.

I'd like to convert to a more simple system, probably just Palm's but I don't want to lose data. I've got much info in the Tel/Add and Calendar functions. I started setting the Palm up last night as suggested by David Allen, but to get to some of the modules; memos for example in the FC Planner on the PC involves jumpiing through some MAJOR hoops.

How can I convert to something simpler without losing that data and without losing even more of my hair?

Also, I'm going to be converting to the Mac platform at home as soon as I can afford it and would like a PDA, (even if I have to get a new one) that I can use on both platforms as I'll still be forced to use the PCs at my office. Any suggestions there?

Will

Thanks
 
I can't offer anything on the data transfer question, but as for the Mac question, I use Palm desktop software at both the office (PC) and Home (Mac) and regularly synchronize with both - no issues. I use a Palm Tungsten T3 currently, but have done so with two other Palm models without issues.

I have recently migrated to using Missing Sync for Mac to allow me to sync with 3rd party software (Note Studio, SOHO Notes) and all continues to work well. I use standard Palm sync at the office.

Best - MB
 
Will Wyatt said:
I'd like to convert to a more simple system, probably just Palm's but I don't want to lose data. I've got much info in the Tel/Add and Calendar functions. I started setting the Palm up last night as suggested by David Allen, but to get to some of the modules; memos for example in the FC Planner on the PC involves jumpiing through some MAJOR hoops.

How can I convert to something simpler without losing that data and without losing even more of my hair?
Click to expand...

Oh Jeezie-Peezie as a friend of mine likes to say. How to migrate depends on what version of the notorious FC software you have, and how comfortable you are with computers. 1st: Back up your hotsync directory- twice. If you have a version that sits on top of outlook, it's very easy- what happens in outlook stays in outlook. Disable the FC conduits, enable outlook conduits, and there you go. If not the outlook version, I think you are probably using the stock address book and calendar databases. If you disable the FC conduits and enable the palm conduits with "palm overwrites pc" then you should be fine. I don't remember any good tricks for the other parts of the FC software. There is always cut-and-paste window to window for memos and other stuff, and maybe vcard or csv for address info.

Worst comes to worst, you lose it all. Been there, done that, it ends up being a small price to pay. ;)
 
Will Wyatt said:
Also, I'm going to be converting to the Mac platform at home as soon as I can afford it and would like a PDA, (even if I have to get a new one) that I can use on both platforms as I'll still be forced to use the PCs at my office. Any suggestions there?
Click to expand...

Palms work fine. Treo's are nice if you need/want a phone too. You can sync with both pc's and mac's. By the way, it's been almost 2 years since I got my first mac (a laptop). Now I have one at work too. One of my children is very skilled with computers, the other one is an artist: they both use macs. It has been a great thing to not use a pc on a daily basis anymore. As my son says "I have no patience anymore for software that doesn't just work."
 
mcogilvie said:
Oh Jeezie-Peezie as a friend of mine likes to say. How to migrate depends on what version of the notorious FC software you have, and how comfortable you are with computers. 1st: Back up your hotsync directory- twice. If you have a version that sits on top of outlook, it's very easy- what happens in outlook stays in outlook. Disable the FC conduits, enable outlook conduits, and there you go. If not the outlook version, I think you are probably using the stock address book and calendar databases. If you disable the FC conduits and enable the palm conduits with "palm overwrites pc" then you should be fine. I don't remember any good tricks for the other parts of the FC software. There is always cut-and-paste window to window for memos and other stuff, and maybe vcard or csv for address info.

Worst comes to worst, you lose it all. Been there, done that, it ends up being a small price to pay. ;)
Click to expand...

So, the FC software is as bad as I think it is then?!?!? Truly an inelegant piece of overly complex junk, (much like Windows compared to Mac :-P ). First, a few questions: I'm using FC versionn 7.3, with no use of Outlook.

Now the dumb questions:

Is backing up the hotsync directory the same as Hotsyncing?

What are conduits?

Is the data, except for that which is in the FC only modules, in a Palm database?

Hate to be so ignorant, but I'd like to not lose my calendar and Tel/Adds. The rest would be pretty easy to duplicate as I've got most of it in my paper GTD file drawer.

Thanks again.

WW
 
Done!!!!!!

No data lost, at least none that counted, i.e. I don't care about all the dumb stuff in the FC software.

Doing the uninstall of the cursed FC stuff was WAAAAY fun.

Thanks,

WW
 
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