OVERVIEW

PocketLANce presented by Cresotech, Inc. provides a complete solution to implement basic capabilities of (remote) LAN resource access for Pocket PC users. This software product can help Pocket PC users that need network access at the file transfer level. It is especially useful when there is no unified system of access to internal enterprise document circulation and centralized database.

But modern business reality implies completely different approach to corporate business process organization with unified system of automation and document circulation. This approach sufficiently improves organizational effectiveness and efficiency. But by virtue of its restraint and orientation to standard solutions it hampers integration of non-standard access models, such as access on mobile PDA devices. Yet it is ability of the system to be integrated with new products, that characterizes system flexibility.

Cresotech, Inc. is proud to present PocketLANce Platform Software Development Kit, which provides system interface functions to conveniently integrate Pocket PC based applications into enterprise network infrastructure.

With PocketLANce Platform SDK you can easily, just by slight editing of source code, develop new or update existing Pocket PC based corporate software systems adding them functions of network data access. It enables to dispense with expensive database replication software or wireless protocol access facilities (WAP, DoCoMo, AvantGo etc.). Mobile professionals equipped with Pocket PC devices are the ones, who need remote access to enterprise information resources.

Using PocketLANce Platform SDK, a developer can add the following functionalities to corporate applications/systems:

• set of program interfaces for fast development of highly reliable and fault-tolerant network components for Pocket PC applications;
• additional option of remote access;
• work according to standard Pocket PC data synchronization protocol used in ActiveSync. It ensures compatibility of PocketLANce Platform SDK based applications with future modifications of Pocket PC devices.

GETTING STARTED

The distribution package of PocketLANce Platform SDK includes sample project for eMbedded Visual C++ 3.0 with source codes and documentation. This project demonstrates use of PocketLANce Platform SDK. Coordination of work of mobile representatives accessing remote report database is used as an example in this sample project.

PocketLANce Platform SDK enables you to quickly develop business-applications for multiple mobile Pocket PC users or add communication capabilities to your existing Pocket PC based applications. Moreover PocketLANce Platform SDK allows creating of heterogeneous software/hardware complexes in which PDA devices are equal in functionality to desktop PCs.

This example has to demonstrate abilities of recording of reports from mobile Pocket PC users to network computer, retrieving information from network computer, and running applications on network computer. In this example a simplified application for mobile representative work accounting.

Mobile representatives prepare reports on their Pocket PCs, establish ActiveSync connections and submit the information to the office network collecting center. Mobile representatives (salespeople) can also load and review reports of the other representatives from the collecting center, and run application on the network computer to process or convert submitted data.

Problem statement

This example was intended as a complete system for generating and processing of reports from mobile representatives visiting clients. After visiting a client representative prepares internal document - "Report on visit costs". This document is used for analyzing of representative work effectiveness in relation to his direct costs. The form, which is filled in by representative, consists of the following fields:

• Report date - current date;
• Report title - for mobile representatives it is "PocketPC", for in-office employees it can be "PC Name" or "Dept Name";
• Number of phone calls - total number of phone calls made by mobile representative while visiting a client;
• Number of resulting phone calls - number of phone calls which contributed to achieving of visit purpose;
• Distance (in miles) -
• Other costs - the other costs that do not fall under above categories.

The system functions autonomously, i.e. during report completion there is no need to communicate with the main server. It is being achieved by keeping a local database of reports, while synchronization is carried out only on representative's request.

The main database of reports is shared with read/write access in enterprise network infrastructure. In doing so the communication functions of PocketLANce Platform SDK are used, since PocketLANce Platform SDK proved to be reliable system, which can be fast and easily integrated into existing solutions.

Setup of Example Application

Since PocketLanCE Platform SDK MobileReports example application uses shared LAN resources, setup process consists of two phases: (1) Shared network folder adjustment and (2) Actual PocketLanCE Platform SDK MobileReports setup.

Phase 1. Create a shared network folder on your office network with write access to all users. NB: A new network folder should be created instead of using existing one. If you are not a system administrator with full access rights, you can use an existing shared folder but don't forget to backup this folder, since its content may be lost.

Phase 2. Copy executable file MobileReports.exe to the folder '\Windows\Start Menu\' on your Pocket PC if you want MobileReports application to be accessible from the system menu. You may copy MobileReports.exe to any location on your Pocket PC device as well.

How to Launch and Use

Start the MobileReports program from the system menu if you have copied MobileReports.exe to the folder '\Windows\Start Menu\' or otherwise from the File Manager. After the successful start of the program the main window is displayed where you need to specify the network folder that you have created while performing item 1 of previous paragraph, e.g. '\\Server\Share\RWFolder\'.

Further according to the manner of mobile representatives you can perform the following operations:

"Add Report" - adding a new record to the local database;
"View Reports" - reviewing the whole local database of reports as a table;
"Upload Reports to Office" - request for file synchronization with the central database of reports stored in the shared network folder;
"Download All Reps Results" - synchronization of the local report database with the central database. Request for copying of central database from the network folder to Pocket PC is performed.
"Run Report on Office PC" -this command launches on the server an application for report processing. In this example it is Windows Notepad, in which the central database from the network folder is opened.
"Readme!" - displays this document.

This example application can be used in the following logical sequence:

Mobile user selects "Add Report" to create a report. In the displayed window he fills in the required fields and taps OK. Then a new record in the local database file is created. User can review the list of his local reports by selecting "View Reports".

Having created several reports user may want to upload his part of the database to the back office collecting center. He achieves this by selecting "Upload Reports to Office".

To access the main database for reviewing, press "Download All Reps Results". This command copies the main database file from back office shared network folder to Pocket PC.

For demonstration of basic capability in processing of collected information Windows Notepad application is used. This program is being started on the back office server with the main database file path in the command line.

The above steps do not restrict mobile representatives interaction by the scheme Pocket PC - Network - Server. Joint multi-user work of multiple mobile representatives is possible when users are connected to the office network via cradle, network adapter or remote modem connection. With such organization of work all mobile users have access to the common information over unified collecting center on the back office network.

Since the same limitations apply to PocketLanCE Platform SDK as to the core product Cresotech PocketLANce, namely work exclusively through ActiveSync connection, the most convenient way to provide multi-user functioning for mobile users is modem connection via Remote Access Service (RAS) or Dial-Up Networking (DUN). Having properly adjusted settings of a server on the local network (for more details refer to the ActiveSync documentation) you can access LAN wirelessly and perform file operations with remote network resources in multi-user mode.

To Programmers

This example is for demonstration purpose only. This dialog-based application serves as a template for creating corporate information environment with PDAs playing a key role.

Special consideration should be given to project configuration, where dynamic link library LANceSDK.lib of SDK kernel - LANceSDK.dll - is used. The functions DoUploadCommand(), DoDownloadCommand() and DoExecCommand(), where export functions of PocketLANce Platform SDK are directly invoked, should be carefully studied as well.

Carefully read documentation supplied with PocketLANce Platform SDK (once this documentation is ready) before using this SDK in your applications. Since PocketLANce Platform SDK is fully integrated with Cresotech PocketLANce, please become familiar with PocketLANce documentation as well.

If you have any questions, remarks, bug reports, feature requests or something else, do not hesitate to contact us. Send your feedback here.