Syncing and sinking

J

jrdouce

0
Bottom line is I don't have and can't build, a single, complete view of my life.

At work, we have to use Outlook. Aside from the fact that I very much dislike Outlook, I refuse to sync my personal tasks, notes and appointments to a closely monitored company server. I use Palm Desktop for personal PIM at work so I can still cut n paste and type data into the system. At home I mostly use Palm Desktop. Since I'm now married and need to check and update the family schedule, I have lots of appointments on Google calendar - where I also see my wife's and kids' calendars. As implied by the Palm Desktop, I do use a Palm Tungsten E, and while I hate the idiot that decided to complicate graffiti after 10 years, I still love the Palm.

This system does not work. I can not keep 3 systems in sync. I have evaluated CompanionLink for Google Calendar, which syncs Google with Palm Desktop, it solves 1 problem, but it's $30 to connect 1 app between 3 of the 2 systems. I've also seen, but have not evaluates !ntelect from Chaos Software that looks like an awsome PIM client that handles email - including a GMail api. That's another $60, and I still don't have a complete view of my world.

I need to:
1) Sync Appointment and tasks from Work-Outlook to my "system", but not sync items to W-Outlook that did not originate there. I'll settle for a 1 way import.

2) Sync my Google Calendar to my "system". I need two way sync.

3) Sync a Palm Desktop (or similar application) to my "system".

4) Get everything into my Palm TE2

5) It would be great to sync contacts with GMail or any non-Outlook mail client that can use a GMail account.

I can't be the only one having this type of fractured information issue. Can any one offer help? I've been using GTD, with various degrees of success, for 15 years. I'm currently having less success with it now than ever.
 
intellisynch software?

I am talking from no real knowledge here because I have not tried it but a techy friend recommends this highly. This program has been recommended to me because for some unknown reason (despite consults from Palm and Microsoft, despite removing corrupted programs and the deadly F-C Plan Plus) I am still unable to synch my Palm handheld and desktop and I am sinking...
 
@jrdouce - I've faced some similar challenges and have a reasonable system that works - but it's not as complex as you want ...

I use Chapura's PocketMirror XT along with my Palm T|X and Outlook 2003.

jrdouce;46991 said:
I need to:
1) Sync Appointment and tasks from Work-Outlook to my "system", but not sync items to W-Outlook that did not originate there. I'll settle for a 1 way import.
Click to expand...

Tricky to achieve - but you might be able to do it ... if you have a special "Category" which one-way syncs from Outlook to Palm and is remapped on the palm when it arrives there ... It's complex to explain and may help if you take a look at the PocketMirror manuals. But basically you can have a category called "To Palm" on your outlook and when you do a sync that gets mapped to a category on your palm and because it's a one-way sync - it shouldn't go back again.

2) Sync my Google Calendar to my "system". I need two way sync.
Click to expand...

Check this out - but I'm not sure if it'll do exactly what you want.

3) Sync a Palm Desktop (or similar application) to my "system".
Click to expand...

If you're talking about when you get home here ... then you can PocketMirror Pro there as well.

4) Get everything into my Palm TE2
Click to expand...

All of my text above is based on getting stuff into your Palm

5) It would be great to sync contacts with GMail or any non-Outlook mail client that can use a GMail account.
Click to expand...

Not sure about this - you could try looking at Plaxo as an alternative.

I know that I haven't answered your questions perfectly - but hopefully you have enough info to start doing some more R&D. One more thing to note - you could always keep your Outlook calendar in a .PST and keep it on a USB key - then it wouldn't get replicated to any work server ...

Hope that helps - J.
 
http://calgoo.com/

Have you looked at Calgoo Calendar? I read about it on another site and took a look at it the other day. I have not yet tried it, but it is FREE and it allows you to view Google calendars and Outlook calendars in the same interface. You can use it online or offline. I do not know if it syncs your contacts or not. Download it from here http://calgoo.com/

Good luck!
 
Don't like to upload personal data to a company server either. But I do compromise. I synchronize only the calendar and contacts at work. Tasks and memos stay in the Palm (TE) and in palm desktop at home. Guess you'll have to trust your boss not to dig his nose into your private life that deep. ;)

Of course I really don't need to sync w/ outlook at all - it just looks more professional than an empty calendar :-D ...and it enables me do an additional one way sync to my stupid, gtd-useless, symbian s60 phone. Yes, it's incapable of syncin' task categories.
 
Thanks for all the help. I'm evaluating CompanionLink right now, It looks promising. As for "using paper", I was far more effective using a paper system back in the day, the problem is that nearly all the data exists and needs to be maintained and shared electronically.

I still primarily us a notebook for data capture and enter it periodicallly -usually not until end of day.
 
Just to follow up with the results of my investigation, CompanionLink Pro looks very promising. I have an eval install at work and it is effectivley syncing Outlook to Palm Desktop one way(by choice).

It offers multiple profiles, so I could set up a mapping to a second PIM if needed.

I have only 2 questions outdtanding, for which I am waiting a reply from CompanionLink, 1) How do I set up CompanionLink Pro to sync with Google Calendar, it's not an option in the profile set up. 2) can I install a sinlge purchased copy of CompanionLink Pro on two PC's, home and work. It's $80, I don't want to have to pay twice.

If I can add a Google profile to CompanionLink Pro, and I can run on both PC's they'll have a sale.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top