PMT Conduit Users Guide– Version 2,0,0,9
What is PMT Conduit?
PMT Conduit is a Windows DLL that works with Palm Computing’s HotSync® program. The PMT Conduit allows you to export PMT and PST data to the host PC, and import data from the host PC into PMT and PST, using the CSV file format. This format is supported by a variety of packages, including Microsoft® Excel.
No
: if you only want to backup your PMT or PST data to your PC. The System Backup conduit that is part of the HotSync process will automatically copy the database into a file called pmtdb.pdb on your PC. This file can be reinstalled on your Palm Computing® connected organizer if needed, so if you only want to be able to backup and restore your handheld, you do not need the PMT Conduit.Yes: if you want PC access to PMT or PST data. See below for a description of the limitations to see if the PMT Conduit will work for you.
The PMT Conduit has been tested and works correctly with Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT.
The PMT Conduit does not work with Windows 3.1
The PMT Conduit does not work on Macintosh computers.
The PMT Conduit has been tested and works correctly with HotSync 2.0.1.38 and 3.0. It will not work with versions of HotSync earlier than 2.0.
The PMT Conduit will transfer data from the database to a CSV file on the Host PC, or vice versa. It will not "synchronize" changes made on both files.
The PMT Conduit only supports CSV format files. Quicken™ and Microsoft® Money formats are being explored, but are not available at present.
Beginning with PMT version 2.8, PMT supports up to 9 databases on your Palm Computing® connected organizer. The system conduit backs up all databases, resulting in the creation of pdb files (except for those for which you set the disable backup preference). The PMT Conduit works with one database at a time. The database that has been selected on the Handheld as the current database (using the Select DB Options menu command) is the database the PMT Conduit works with.
Beginning with PMT version 3.8, the internal format of the PMT database changed. Version 2.6 and higher of the PMT Conduit is required to work with PMT databases version 3.8 and higher. Conversely, version 2.6 and higher of the PMT Conduit will not work with versions of the PMT database earlier than version 3.8. Note that PMT version 3.8 and higher will automatically convert the database to the new format. Be sure to run the newer version of PMT before attempting to use the new version of the PMT Conduit.
Beginning with PMT version 3.9, multiple currencies are supported. PMT Conduit 2.7 requires additional columns to support the multiple currency functions. As a result, CSV files created using PMT Conduit 2.6 or earlier must have the additional columns added in order for PMT Conduit 2.7 to be able to read them. See below for details.
Registered users of PMT or PST are entitled to support for one year from the date of purchase. Support consists of providing free updates for all versions of PMT and the PMT Conduit released during the year of support. The author of PMT and the PMT Conduit can be reached at
pmthelp@ibm.net, and news and updates will be available at www.pilotgear.com.
The PMT Conduit installation package consists of five files:
To install the PMT Conduit:
The PMT Conduit is now ready for use.
Note: if you installed HotSync in a location other than \pilot or \palm, you must manually copy pmtcond.dll to that location. This is the only change to the installation procedure required.
The interface to control PMT Conduit actions is the same as with other conduits. To begin, click on the HotSync icon, and select "Custom...". The list of conduits which can be controlled is displayed. If the PMT Conduit has been installed correctly, PMT should be on the list, with the next HotSync action displayed. To control the PMT Conduit actions, click on the PMT entry to highlight it, and click on the "Change..." button. This displays the following dialogue:
To control what the PMT Conduit will do at the next HotSync, click on one of the three options presented, and then click on OK. Your choice will be displayed in the HotSync list. Click on "Done" to finish the process.
If you want your selected action to be the default, that is, to be the HotSync action until you change it, then check the "Set As Default" box before hitting OK.
To change the name or location of the CSV file the PMT Conduit will use, change the entry in the Desktop Filename edit box. Note that any directories named in the path must exist, or the conduit will not be able to create the file.
Normally CSV files use the comma as the delimiter character. To change this to another character (to a semi-colon, for example), enter the required separator character in the Separator Character edit box. Note that if you select Desktop overwrites PalmPilot, then the separator character that is actually used in the desktop file must be the character you have specified in this edit box.
The Decimal Character selector allows you to specify if the Conduit will use a period or a comma for the decimal character. When you select Palm Pilot overwrites Desktop, this determines what character will be used in the CSV file. When you select Desktop overwrites PalmPilot, then the decimal character that is actually used in the desktop file must be the character you have specified in this selection box.
The Date Format selector allows you to specify the format the Conduit will use for dates. When you select Palm Pilot overwrites Desktop, this determines what format will be used in the CSV file. When you select Desktop overwrites PalmPilot, then the format that is actually used in the desktop file must match the format you have specified in this selection box.
The PMT Conduit imports and exports data from a file called pmt.csv, which is found in a directory called Pmt, located in your HotSync user subdirectory on the host PC. The CSV files used by PMT when viewed using Excel appear as follows:
You may notice that the entries shown above correspond to those entered in the PMT tutorial. Entries must be formatted as you see above, with the following specific requirements and considerations:
PMT Conduit uses the HotSync log to report errors that occur during the HotSync process. The following messages may appear:
PMT: Cannot open HH database
The PMT database could not be opened. PMT must be installed and run at least once before the conduit can be used.
PMT: cannot open PC file to write
The export file specified in the registry (normally pmt.csv) cannot be opened to write. Another application may have the file open, the disk my be write protected, or it may be full.
PMT: cannot open PC file to read
The import file specified in the registry (normally pmt.csv) cannot be opened to read. Either the file does not exist or it is not in the expected directory.
PMT: cannot read HH database
Expected records were missing from the PMT database. Run PMT on the handheld again. If the same message occurs, the PMT database has been corrupted: delete and reinstall PMT on the handheld.
PMT: Error on line xxx, dates must be in ascending sort order
Transactions must be entered in ascending order by date. This message indicates that the date on the line indicated falls before the date on the previous line.
PMT: Error on line xxx, incorrect currency, record skipped
For accounts in foreign currency, each transaction for the account must specify the same currency name as the name set for the account itself. If transferring between two foreign currency accounts, they must be of the same type of currency. This message indicates that the transaction currency does not match the currency of a foreign currency account specified for the transaction.
PMT: Error on line xxx, incorrect transaction, record skipped
In order to be valid, each transaction must have a value entered in two columns for which an account name was provided in the heading. This message indicates two entries were not made.
PMT: Error on line xxx, invalid date format
Date format must be MM/DD/YY or MM/DD/YYYY. This message indicates the format is incorrect, or an invalid value for day or month has been entered.
PMT: Error on line xxx, invalid date range
PMT supports dates from Jan 1 1990 to Dec 31 2029 inclusive. Years entered as 90 through 99 are treated as 1990-1999. Dates entered as 0 through 29 are treated as 2000-2029. Dates entered as four digits are processed as entered. This message indicates the year was entered outside the range of 1990 to 2029.
PMT: invalid PC file account budget line: Budget heading missing
As described above, the 5th column of the third line of the csv file must contain the word "Budget." The PMT Conduit verifies this is present as a validity check before going on. This message indicates the third line is not formatted as required.
PMT: invalid PC file account budget line: account heading missing
This message indicates a budget amount was entered on the budget line in a column that has no account name heading.
PMT: invalid PC file account line: DB Name does not match
Cell A2 contains the name of the PMT database that is specified in the PMT Preferences dialogue. When copying from the Handheld to the Desktop, the PMT Conduit puts the name of the database in this cell. When copying from the Desktop to the Handheld, the PMT Conduit verifies that the name in this column matches the name of the current database on the Handheld. This message indicates they do not match. This is to ensure that you do not accidentally overwrite the wrong database on the Handheld.
PMT: invalid PC file account line: illegal null account name
A column in the first line of the csv file has no name entered. All account columns must be given a name in the first line of the csv file.
PMT: invalid PC file account line: Note heading missing
As described above, the 5th column of the first line of the csv file must contain the word "Note." The PMT Conduit verifies this is present as a validity check before going on. This message indicates the first line is not formatted as required.
PMT: invalid PC file account type line: Type heading missing
As described above, the 5th column of the second line of the csv file must contain the word "Type." The PMT Conduit verifies this is present as a validity check before going on. This message indicates the second line is not formatted as required.
PMT: invalid PC file account type (x)
This message indicates something is wrong with one or more of the account types entered on the account type line. The number in brackets indicates the problem:
PMT: you must install and run PMT version 4.1 or higher to use this PMT Conduit
This message indicates the handheld database is not compatible with this version of the PMT Conduit. Run PMT version 4.1 or higher to automatically convert the database to the new format.
The default Backup conduit that comes with HotSync automatically creates a backup copy of the PMT database called pmtdb.pdb in the Backup directory each time you HotSync. If you install the PMT Conduit, then you will be making two backup copies: the CSV file the PMT Conduit creates, and the pdb file the Backup conduit creates. You may want to do this, as pmtdb.pdb is a more compact file, which may be more convenient for archiving. However, this will make HotSync for the PMT database twice as long as it needs to be, as the PMT database will be processed twice.
To avoid this, a PMT or PST Preference can be selected which will disable the Backup conduit from making its backup copy. When running PMT or PST, hitting the Menu icon, selecting the Options drop down menu and choosing "Preferences..." will show the following:
Checking the "Backup Disabled" box will clear the backup flag the Backup conduit uses to decide whether or not to create a backup copy. From that point on, pmtdb.pdb files will NOT be created during HotSync. To resume creating these files, simply uncheck the "Backup Disabled" box.
Don’t forget to keep backup copies of your pmt.prc, pst.prc, pmtdb.pdb, and pmt.csv files. Especially be sure to do this before installing a new version of PMT, PST, or the PMT Conduit – this will enable you to return to your current situation without difficulty in case you run into any problems with the new release. You should also backup all critical data on your host PC before installing and running a new version of the PMT Conduit. This will allow you to recover lost data in the event a malfunction or software conflict causes problems on your host PC.
To remove the PMT Conduit:
The PMT Conduit has been removed from your system
© Copyright 1998, 1999 Charles Morris. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of Charles Morris. PST, Personal Stock Tracker, PMT, Personal Money Tracker, and the PMT Conduit are trademarks of Charles Morris. Palm Computing and HotSync are registered trademarks, and Palm III and PalmPilot are trademarks of Palm Computing, Inc, 3Com Corporation, or its subsidiaries. All other brands and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.