Handspring Visor Edge Handheld User Guide

							Chapter 1 Page 23
Using Palm Desktop software
If you have new records you want to add to your handheld and prefer 
to use the computer keyboard rather than the onscreen keyboard, 
enter the data in Palm Desktop software or the PIM you have installed 
to use with your handheld. 
After the information is in Palm Desktop software, perform a HotSync 
operation to synchronize your handheld with your computer. See 
“Exchanging and updating data: HotSync operations” in Chapter 5 for 
more information.
Importing data
If you already have data in a database on your computer, you can 
import it into Palm Desktop software. You can import data stored in 
computer applications such as spreadsheets and databases, or data 
from another Palm OS handheld. When you import data, you transfer 
the records to your handheld without having to enter them manually. 
See “Importing data” in Chapter 2 for more information.
Using an external keyboard
You can connect an optional keyboard accessory to the connector on 
your handheld so you can type data directly into your handheld. 
External keyboards are very helpful when you need to enter large 
amounts of data quickly and accurately while you are away from your 
computer. For more information about external keyboard accessories, 
go to the web site: www.handspring.com.
HotSync 
button 
						

							Page 24  Introduction to Your Visor™ Edge Handheld
Customizing your handheld
You can customize your handheld by using the Preferences 
application. You can enter personal information such as your name 
and address; change the time and date; view different date and time 
formats when you travel; turn off sounds; and configure your 
handheld to work with a modem or network. See Chapter 9 for more 
information on customizing your handheld.
To open the Preferences screens:
1. Tap the Applications icon  . 
2. Tap the Preferences icon  . 
3. Tap the category pick list in the upper-right corner of the screen.
4. Tap the Preferences category you want to view.
The following procedures for setting the time and date give you an 
example of how to customize your handheld. You make changes to 
the time and date in General preferences.
To set the current time:
1. Tap the Set Time box.
 
2. Tap the up or down arrows to change the hour.
3. Tap each minute number, and then tap the arrows to change them.
4. Tap AM or PM.
Note:
Your handheld can also display time based on a 24-hour 
clock. See “Formats preferences” in Chapter 9 for more 
information. 
5. Tap OK.
Tap here 
						

							Chapter 1 Page 25
To set the current date:
1. Tap the Set Date box.
2. Tap the arrows to select the current year. 
3. Tap a month.
4. Tap the current date. 
Palm Desktop software
Palm Desktop software includes the same main applications as your 
handheld:Date Book, Address, To Do List, Memo Pad, Expense, and 
desktop e-mail connectivity. You can use the HotSync feature of this 
software to back up and exchange data between your handheld and 
your computer. It is a good idea to back up your data in case 
something happens to the data on your handheld. Changes you make 
on your handheld or Palm Desktop software appear in both places 
after you synchronize.
With Palm Desktop software, you can do the following:
nWork with your handheld applications on your computer. Palm 
Desktop software duplicates the Date Book, Address, To Do List, 
Memo Pad applications on your handheld, so you can view, enter, 
and modify any data stored on your handheld.
nBack up the data stored on your handheld with HotSync 
technology and synchronize the data on your Palm Desktop 
software. Synchronization is a one-step procedure that ensures 
your data is always safe and up-to-date. See “Exchanging and 
updating data: HotSync operations” in Chapter 5 for details. 
nImport and export data, so you can easily transfer data from other 
desktop applications into any of your main applications. See 
“Importing data” in Chapter 2 for more information.
nPrint your Date Book, Address, To Do List, and Memo Pad 
information on any printer.
Tap arrows to select year
Tap to select month
Tap to select date 
						

							Page 26  Introduction to Your Visor™ Edge Handheld
Installing Palm Desktop software
The following instructions guide you through installing Palm 
Desktop software. After installation, refer to the online Help in Palm 
Desktop software for information about how to use the software.
Note:
You must install the software that comes with your Visor Edge 
handheld even if you already installed Palm Desktop software 
for a previous Palm OS handheld.
To ensure a safe and uninterrupted installation of Palm Desktop 
software, please do not
 simply copy the Palm Desktop software files 
to your computer’s hard disk. You must use the installer to place the 
files in their proper locations and to decompress the files. 
To install Palm Desktop software:
1. Exit any open programs, including those that run at startup such 
as Microsoft Office, and disable any virus-scanning software.
2. Insert the Palm Desktop software CD-ROM into the computer’s 
CD-ROM drive. 
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation. 
Using your handheld with Microsoft Outlook 
The software that comes with your Visor Edge handheld includes 
everything you need to synchronize your handheld with Microsoft 
Outlook. If you already have Microsoft Outlook installed on your 
computer, the installation program prompts you to choose the 
Microsoft Outlook synchronization option.
Using your handheld with another PIM
If you prefer to use another personal information manager (PIM), such 
as Lotus Notes, you can use it if third-party connection software, 
called a conduit, is available for your PIM. You must install the 
software that came with your Visor Edge handheld along with the 
conduit for your PIM to synchronize the data between your handheld 
and your PIM. For information on conduit software, go to this web 
site: www.handspring.com. 
						

							Chapter 1 Page 27
Installing a Springboard module
Springboard expansion modules enable you to extend the functions of 
your handheld. 
To install a Springboard module:
1. Remove the flip cover or the edge protector port door.
2. Slide the detachable Springboard slot onto the back of your 
handheld.
3. Insert the Springboard module into the expansion slot until the 
connectors are secure.
Align with grooves on the 
side of your handheld 
						

							Page 28  Introduction to Your Visor™ Edge Handheld 
						

							Chapter 2 Page 29
Chapter 2
Entering Data in Your Handheld
This chapter explains how to enter data into your Visor™ Edge 
handheld computer, by writing with the stylus in the Graffiti® writing 
area, by using the onscreen keyboard, by using the computer 
keyboard, by using an external keyboard, or by importing data from 
another application.
Using Graffiti writing to enter data
Chapter 1 introduced Graffiti writing and briefly described how to use 
it to enter text in your applications. In this section, you learn the 
procedures for creating letters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols as 
well as some Graffiti tips and tricks.
Writing Graffiti characters
Most people find they can enter text quickly and accurately with only 
minutes of practice. Graffiti writing includes any character you can 
type on a standard keyboard. The Graffiti strokes closely resemble the 
uppercase letters of the regular alphabet, which makes Graffiti writing 
easy to learn. 
There are four basic concepts for success with Graffiti writing:
nIf you draw the character shape exactly as shown in the tables later 
in this chapter (like the shapes shown in the following diagram), 
you achieve 100% accuracy.
nThe heavy dot on each shape shows where to begin the stroke. 
Certain characters have similar shapes, but different beginning 
and end points. Always begin the stroke at the heavy dot (you 
should not create the heavy dot; it is only there to show you where 
to begin the stroke). 
						

							Page 30  Entering Data in Your Handheld
nMost characters require only a single stroke. When you lift the 
stylus from the Graffiti writing area, your handheld recognizes 
and displays the text character immediately. To accomplish single 
strokes, some Graffiti strokes are portions of the regular alphabet 
equivalents.
nThe Graffiti writing area is divided into two parts: one for writing 
the letters of the alphabet and one for writing numbers. The small 
marks at the top and bottom of the Graffiti writing area indicate 
the two areas.
To write Graffiti letters:
1. Tap the screen where you want your text to go. 
Note:
You need to tap above the Graffiti writing area, and must 
see a blinking cursor before you write the text.
2. Use the tables on the following pages to find the stroke shape for 
the letter you want to create. For example, the stroke shown below 
creates the letter “n.”
Note:
There are two different stroke shapes available for some 
letters. For these letters, choose the one that’s easiest for 
you.
As you’ll see later, you use the same shape to create both the 
uppercase and lowercase version of a letter.
Write letters here Write numbers here
Division marks
Start stroke 
at heavy dotLift stylus 
here 
						

							Chapter 2 Page 31
3. Position the stylus in the left-hand side of the Graffiti writing area. 
4. Start your stroke at the heavy dot and draw the stroke shape as it 
appears in the tables.
5. Lift the stylus from the screen at the end of the stroke shape.
That’s all there is to it! When you lift the stylus from the screen, your 
handheld recognizes your stroke immediately and prints the letter at 
the insertion point on the screen.
As soon as you lift the stylus from the screen, you can begin the stroke 
for the next character you want to write.
Important:
You must begin the character strokes in the Graffiti 
writing area. If you do not make Graffiti strokes in the 
Graffiti writing area, your handheld does not recognize 
them as text characters.
Graffiti tips
When using Graffiti writing, keep these tips in mind:
nAccuracy improves when you write large characters. You should 
draw strokes that nearly fill the Graffiti writing area.
nTo delete characters, simply set the insertion point to the right of 
the character you want to delete and make the backspace stroke 
(a line from right to left) in the Graffiti writing area.
nWrite at natural speed. Writing too slowly can generate 
recognition errors.
nDo not write on a slant. Vertical strokes should be parallel to the 
sides of the Graffiti writing area.
nPress firmly. 
						

							Page 32  Entering Data in Your Handheld
The Graffiti alphabet
Letter Strokes Letter Strokes
AN
B
   O   
CP    
D    Q
ER
    
F    S
G
   T
HU
IV
   
JW
KX
   
LY    
M    Z
Space Back Space
Carriage
ReturnPeriodtap twice