Happy I bought Datebook 5

[hherbzilla]

Reading the Agendus threads has made me even happier that I bought DB5. Anyone else?

[OcellNuri]

I havn't been reading the Agendus threads, but I am still very happy that I bought DB5. There are so many updates, the support is increadible. When I got my NX I had also gotten a new computer, and had lost all of my previous e-mails. With those e-mails I lost my registration number for DB5. I e-mailed CESD explaining my situation, and he not only sent me my registration number but also noticed that I had just gotten an OS5 device, and pointed me to the latest build that had full OS5 support in it. Outstanding.

[jims]

Hmmm, tough call because Agendus is a better app than Datebk IMHO, (cleaner GUI and not so cluttered looking, better contacts & to-do integration on one screen, etc.)

Like everyone else, I definitely do not like or endorse dishonesty or unethical behavior, but other than some stupid errors in judgment and some aggressive business practices, I haven't really seen anything that is so abhorrent or significantly different from how the rest of the business world behaves. (Has anybody here ever bought software from a company called Microsoft by chance??) :)

I also tend to be a bit cynical and the whole "greenpeace" method of emotional blackmail approach tends to also rub me the wrong way. Don't get me wrong, I think it is admirable that the proceeds of Datebk go to the Gorilla Haven - Kudos to the President of Pimlico - but that can also be just as manipulative in a more subtle way.

I am about a week into my demo'ing of Agendus and Datebk and Agendus is winning quite handily for my needs/preferences. In the end I will end up buying the app that is the best value for my $ that will be updated and supported with the urgency of someone who's mortgage payments hinge on the success of the product, rather than it being an ultraistic hobby for someone. I should also in addition make a $ donation to the animal sanctuary of my choice just because it is the right thing to do. (Let me add that now to my Agendus to-do list so I don't forget!) :D

[hherbzilla]

Read the current threads. I'm just talking about all of the problems they're having with the latest release.

[jims]

Ahhh...the threads talk about both the current bugs with 6.x AND the business practices of Iambic. By your post I wasn't sure which issue was being referenced. I assumed it was the latter because I expect buggy software in general, (I work for a software company) because we are all fallible human beings and nothing is perfect. ;) I don't get too worked up about minor inconsistencies, (major flaws are a different story however), and was more concerned initially about buying from Iambic with the broo-hah that some of the threads had been discussing. (Like TankerBob's comments & website, etc.)

[Griff]

I always say buy what works best for you. For me it is Datebk5, Agendus just never really drew me to it...not enough features, and I could care less about contact management.

TO answer the first question, yes, given the recent threads I am happy I chose Datebk. Of course, every day I see CESD posting in the Yahoo group I am thankful...and when the new preview releases come out...and the new betas...and the new versions.

CESD is just a better customer service person than anyone at Iambic...but again, buy what is best for you.

[LITTLESIX]

Tried them both - swung to Datebk5. The new Agendus looks nice, but it's not going to get the job done for me.

Only thing I don't care for in Datebk, when you're in dayview and you split screen the top - memo, todo's, contacts, etc., I really would like the top window bigger. Too small for me; I don't like scrolling through the list. Agendus if I remember right you could adjust the panes.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by LITTLESIX
Only thing I don't care for in Datebk, when you're in dayview and you split screen the top - memo, todo's, contacts, etc., I really would like the top window bigger. Too small for me; I don't like scrolling through the list. Agendus if I remember right you could adjust the panes. You CAN adjust the panes. There's a little spot on the left side that you can click and drag to make the window larger or smaller. You can also adjust in Preferences under Split.

[Unregistered]

There's a handle on the dividing line -- just drag it up or down. Or hit the upper left arrow again for full screen of the alternate database. It cycles thru DB, split, full.....

[LITTLESIX]

sweet :D

thank you very much - dm

[alfa12]

Agendus, WHAT A CRAPPY PROGRAM!!! (':mad:')Installes Version 6.01 on my NR, started it, I could do 2 moves, the Clie locked up, and I had to hard reset. Now I am battling with the recovery. I LOVE DATEBK 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(':D')

[FiloD]

Functionality and view of DateBk5 just fits my needs. (I like the way it looks too which is a plus)

[Unregistered]

Why is everybody talking about better contact mangement in Agendus? I can't even dosument that I'm having a meeting with more than one person, so the contact history really is void.

Don't get me wrong: I'm a registered user of both. But DateBk5 still has way more flexibility to set it up the way you personally work.

[williepalm]

The best function about Datebook 5 in my personal opinion is -
When in the month view(31days), tapping on the icon(s) shows the appointment on a pop up/down tab and DOESNT go into the day view which Agendus does.

[tanker_bob]

Datebk5 is my #1 handheld app. Linking events to multiple contacts helps me track meeting participants and keep them informed, calendar categories combined with icons and color simplify a complex schedule and make the quarterly view more useful, and saved views provide instant feedback on specialized activities like medical appointment schedules over time. Datebk5 events can also be linked to memos and todos, as well as the address book. Contact histories can also be tracked simply in Datebk5. Every view and virtually every aspect of Datebk5 is customizable through a straight-forward tabbed preference interface. Agendus looks great, but lacks Datebk5's power and flexibility, even for contact management. You can't even edit the day view in place in Agendus, something even the built-in Palm Datebook supports. As already mentioned, customer support by CESD sets the industry standard, while Agendus barely has any. And if iambic doesn't like your post to their tech support forum, it will never see the light of day. Datebk5's Yahoo forum is open and all posts are valued, favorable or not.

[turcic.com]

I agree with tanker_bob. I have been using DateBK since V3.0, and it is also my #1 palm app (well, sharing its spot with iSilo). For the same reasons like tanker's.

I also downloaded a demo of AN every time Iambic released another new version. Until today they couldn't convince me to switch.

[werul]

My first Datebk replacement was Agendus (ActionNames), and at that time I was impressed......but only because I didn´t knew DateBk4/5:D

Agendus doesn´t work for me. Since I´m using a high-tech device, I like to have as much features as possible. My choice which ones I use. I couldn´t (or better, don´t want to) live without DateBk5 features like the saved views, templates .....

And the support is incredible!

I wouldn´t had to try (but I did) Agendus 6 to know that I won´t leave another 10 bucks for upgrading 5 to 6. It crashed my Clié three times before I deleted it.... with a grin in my face:)

[cpwoo]

Each person has different needs, and although I've tried Datebk series (even Datebk5), Agendus fits my needs better. All my schedules revolve around meeting people, and although Datebk5 has a more flexible approach to linking appointment and contacts, Agendus makes it far easier to make necessary entries, with its auto-fill feature (best when you prefer to see company-last name approach).

[Antipod]

I'd am considering DateBk, however, one thing is still unclear to me. Currenly, at work, I have to hotsync my standard Palm schedules/contacts/to do with GroupWise using Intellisync. I am not sure if DatBk and Intellisync are generally compatible and allow proper field mapping. Can somebody clarify?

[tanker_bob]

Antipod,

I don't use Groupwise (you have my sympathies there) or Intellisync. However, since Datebk5 uses the standard Palm databases, it will sync and map fields through them. Nothing special is required.

[Fidel]

@cpwoo: what do you mean with 'auto-fill feature'? If you mean the 'automatic' [IBM (Smith,Bob)] within the appointments text, you can get exactly the same (and MUCH more) with DateBks templates and variables.

[PDH LA]

I'm a long-time Agendus/Action Names user. I've downloaded v6.01 to my NR70V, and have had no problems. I still love it and think it's the best datebook replacement out there. I personally don't like software that's so complex that you have to navigate a big user guide to figure it out. Agendus works great for me right "out of the box", so it remains my datebook replacement of choice.

BTW, love my new background images on the Today page!

[Griff]

Originally posted by Antipod
I'd am considering DateBk, however, one thing is still unclear to me. Currenly, at work, I have to hotsync my standard Palm schedules/contacts/to do with GroupWise using Intellisync. I am not sure if DatBk and Intellisync are generally compatible and allow proper field mapping. Can somebody clarify?

The only field in question is category. I don't recall if Intellisync maps appointment category or not. Even if it does not, you will not lose the information from the Palm as a backup copy of the category information is stored within the note of the appointment.

Also, items such as icons don't sync over with any conduit or software as they are strictly Datebk features.

[Antipod]

Thanks Tanker bob and Griff. I guess if DateBk uses std palm databases it should work. Which should mean that the standard palm apps should still work in paralel to DateBk, which will give a little more confidence to try DateBk.
And Intellisync certainly does map appointment category.

I will give it a shot...
Thanks!

[cpwoo]

Originally posted by Fidel
@cpwoo: what do you mean with 'auto-fill feature'? If you mean the 'automatic' [IBM (Smith,Bob)] within the appointments text, you can get exactly the same (and MUCH more) with DateBks templates and variables.

I have not used Datebk's templates and variables yet, so please bear with me if I make ignorant comments.

What I meant was, being able to type a portion of the company name, then click once to have a drop-down menu of all contacts with the same company name. (which is the standard way of making an appointment in Agendus) I just need to select the right person then... All my meetings revolve around 1-2 specific people in a specific company. As such, making a new appointment from the contact's name is far more natural than making an appointment, followed by linking the appointment with contacts.

[Fidel]

With DateBk5, you can do that in a quite similar way... open the address/split-view and type the portion of the company name to jump to the right place in the addressbook, tap on the right person and then use the 'T'-Button to select a template, which will include all color/category/icon-information and automatically be filled with data from the adressbook and linked to it. For me, it's a major drawback that Agendus does only have one or two kinds of appointments while DateBk allows virtually dozens. It may be a bit work to set up, but after it's done it's much more powerful. Also, I have lots of similar 'company'-entries without specific persons and with rather long names, differing only in the city-name. Can you imagine how useless a dropdown-list with 150 "Stadt- und Gemeindeverwaltung" is? And since Agendus doesn't even offer any text-search or -filtering, it's even more useless.

[Tixx]

So happy together:)

[exiii]

I got first hand experience with the level of customer service that Pimlico offers just last week. I sent an email out to 5 companies about changing my hotsync name and needing a new reg-key.

To this point Pimlico is the ONLY company that has even responded (Do you think I'll EVER hear anything from Little Mobile Creations?). This is obviously more than an 'altruistic hobby' for CESD. He's been putting this much effort the DateBK project for several years now, and AFAIK, has yet to have any bad customer service experiences posted on this or any other web site.

When I purchased DateBK though, I didn't know any of this. I chose it because it did exactly what I wanted it to do, and I didn't personally see much benefit in Action Names' contact management angle.

I can understand most of the other's reasons for choosing Agendus/ActionNames over DBk, but I'm just sorry that they have to deal with that other company.

[mdharris]

I am an avid user of Agendus and rely on it quite a bit. I would like to see some screen shots of DB5. Their web site does not provide alot of screenshots. So if someone can load a few I would appreciate it. I did try the trial but had issues because I did uninstall Agendus.

[mdharris]

Also does it support or use the 320x480 screen?

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by mdharris
Also does it support or use the 320x480 screen?
Yes.

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by mdharris
I am an avid user of Agendus and rely on it quite a bit. I would like to see some screen shots of DB5. Their web site does not provide alot of screenshots.I guess you saw these already?
http://www.pimlicosoftware.com/datebk5details.htm
Are their other things in particular you would like to see?

[mdharris]

I would like to see them 320x480 if possible. Curious on how much it improves the LOOK compared to what I see at the above link.

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by mdharris
I would like to see them 320x480 if possible.Ahh...my trusty SJ30 and I will be unable to assist, but maybe someone else will oblige.

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by mdharris
I would like to see them 320x480 if possible. Curious on how much it improves the LOOK compared to what I see at the above link.
How do you post images here? I just tried to attach one, but it didn't show up in the post. I have several 320x480 screen shots of Datebk5 here from a presentation I gave a while back.

[mdharris]

Did you try to post them in your gallery on ClieSource? Otherwise you will need a source on the web where you can upload them and just post the link.

[efk]

Try this link

http://www.med.unc.edu/~greena/back2palm/screens_datebk.html

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by mdharris
Did you try to post them in your gallery on ClieSource? Otherwise you will need a source on the web where you can upload them and just post the link.
OK, I'll bite...how do I get to my gallery. I assume it's self-explanatory how to upload to it once I get there. What are the gallery's size limits?

The link sited in the post above gives a pretty good idea, but I'll be happy to toss mine up.

[mdharris]

Goto the top of page Gallery/My Gallery/Upload Photos

Not sure on size limits.

efk thanks for the pics, tanker_bob let me knwo if you get your pics up, thanks.

[freecia]

I love datebook. It might be a bit complex to use right out of the box, especially to it's full capacity, but after you go through the tutorial and play with it a bit I'm pretty sure you'd like it. It doesn't have backgrounds to make it pretty (I like to see my text anyhow) but it is highly functional. The icons are great because you can see what your schedule is like at a glance. I just started using the color text and background feature and it helps me see my most important events in a glance.
I started with the Visor version, then upgraded to 4, and kindly went to 5 on the same registration number.
If you're not afraid of reading a manual (most of it becomes fairly intuitive anyhow) then this is the one to get. Customer support is just great, I lost my serial # once, too. And suggestions are always welcome. That part I love. You actually have some input as to what the new features should be. How good is that?!

[rolando]

Originally posted by Fidel
With DateBk5, you can do that in a quite similar way... open the address/split-view and type the portion of the company name to jump to the right place in the addressbook, tap on the right person and then use the 'T'-Button to select a template, which will include all color/category/icon-information and automatically be filled with data from the adressbook and linked to it. For me, it's a major drawback that Agendus does only have one or two kinds of appointments while DateBk allows virtually dozens. It may be a bit work to set up, but after it's done it's much more powerful. Also, I have lots of similar 'company'-entries without specific persons and with rather long names, differing only in the city-name. Can you imagine how useless a dropdown-list with 150 "Stadt- und Gemeindeverwaltung" is? And since Agendus doesn't even offer any text-search or -filtering, it's even more useless.

An even easier way is to make a Call/Action Template out of your template (simply add "~~call" to it). Then tap (or tap and hold) the "New" button and select call/action. This will automatically open up the split screen address book. When you select the address book entry, it will create the entry based on your template. If you have more than one call/action tempate, then a list will pop up so you can choose.

I have my "New" button set to always create a call/action (a preference setting) unless I tap and hold on the button when I want to create something else.

Rolando

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by mdharris
Goto the top of page Gallery/My Gallery/Upload Photos

Not sure on size limits.

efk thanks for the pics, tanker_bob let me knwo if you get your pics up, thanks.
Sorry, I got my pics up a couple of days ago. They are in my gallery and linked in a ZLauncher thread.

[dphar]

I am posting to this thread for aid and assistance on a weird problem I created (I am sure). I am also a DateBook user and big fan but was running out of room on my NX70V. So I searched and found info on JackFlash and purchased that. However I may have been a bit too exuberant in loading things to Flash because all of a sudden, the icons that I had set up for my appt categories have disappeared.

Help!!!

[Marc]

I have been using DateBk 4 then upgraded to 5. Tried Agendus 7 this weekend, I'm back to DateBk now, Agendus just didn't do it for me. Not as much flexibility. I like being able to assign icons to categories. Maybe Agendus does it, but I couldn't find it. Another thing is that Agendus doesn't really support hi-Rez. You have to go into each view and change the font size. Talk about non-user friendly.

My two cents worth.

[dimensiondvdrob]

what i have a hard time with is that Agendus is programmed by a company and DateBk5 is programmed by an outstanding programmer and always DateBk5 is WAY more stable than Agendus. Personally, I do not like using a piece of software that crashes on me all the time. I have been a long time Agendus user and now since they updated to Version 7, I have been having too many problems, while I have also been trying out DateBk5 and found no glitches at all! This to me is of utmost importance when using such an important piece of software, as a Datebook/Contact manager. It seems that Iambic puts out all this software and does not do enough to insure stability, while DateBk5 is PERFECT each release. Also, their customer support at Pimlico is EXCELLENT! I believe I will be switching to DateBk5 after my trial runs out.

[dphar]

Does anyone have any suggestions for me???
tanker_bob???
hherbzilla???

 

I am perplexed:confused:

[Tixx]

Originally posted by jims

Like everyone else, I definitely do not like or endorse dishonesty or unethical behavior, but other than some stupid errors in judgment and some aggressive business practices, I haven't really seen anything that is so abhorrent or significantly different from how the rest of the business world behaves. (Has anybody here ever bought software from a company called Microsoft by chance??) :)

I also tend to be a bit cynical and the whole "greenpeace" method of emotional blackmail approach tends to also rub me the wrong way. Don't get me wrong, I think it is admirable that the proceeds of Datebk go to the Gorilla Haven - Kudos to the President of Pimlico - but that can also be just as manipulative in a more subtle way.


Interesting, as I know you are a person of God jims through discussion here, that you justify the unethical behaviour with the school yard reasoning of "everybody else is doing it".

And then goes on to call charitable giving "emotional blackmail".

Different religion than the Christianity I know.:(

[hherbzilla]

Originally posted by dphar
I am posting to this thread for aid and assistance on a weird problem I created (I am sure). I am also a DateBook user and big fan but was running out of room on my NX70V. So I searched and found info on JackFlash and purchased that. However I may have been a bit too exuberant in loading things to Flash because all of a sudden, the icons that I had set up for my appt categories have disappeared.

Help!!! Did you accidentally delete the icon file or did you just move it? If you moved it, did you try using JackFlash to move it back to RAM?

Next, I'd check in DB5 under Options/Appt. Categories. Are icons showing up associated with your categories and they're just the wrong ones? Or are all your icons completely gone? If the former, then just reselect the icons.

If the latter, I'd suggest loading IconManager (http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&SID=34C7C2F2-7E95-2C3D-7DB3DB489FCF47AC&prodID=47054) to help you, well, manage your icons. You'll want to ensure that the icon file you want to use is set as the default (will have a star next to it). If you need to make a change, in Icon Manager tap on the arrow next to the appropriate set and choose "Set as default." If you have multiple icon sets, you can move the others (not the default) to your MS to conserve space.

Hope this helps.

[cosFFM]

Originally posted by dimensiondvdrob
DateBk5 is WAY more stable than Agendus. Personally, I do not like using a piece of software that crashes on me all the time. . . .

This to me is of utmost importance when using such an important piece of software, as a Datebook/Contact manager.

Well said. I hate applications that crash!! ;-) I only use DateBk5, ShadowPlan and SnapperMail to name my essential and most used apps and I really can't remember the last time my device crashed. That alone drove me away from Iambic. I was sick and tired of all the bugs and paying for an upgrade every year.

DateBK5 is *rock* solid and that's how a datebook applications has to be.

[Tixx]

Originally posted by cosFFM


Well said. I hate applications that crash!! ;-) I only use DateBk5, ShadowPlan and SnapperMail to name my essential and most used apps and I really can't remember the last time my device crashed. That alone drove me away from Iambic. I was sick and tired of all the bugs and paying for an upgrade every year.

DateBK5 is *rock* solid and that's how a datebook applications has to be.

That was one of the factors that made me continue on with Datebk5 and no longer pay to update ActionNames.

[dphar]

The icon file is still there. I can add an icon manually from the detail screen. And I can view my appt categories with the icons. And I can select a category from the details screen. The font will change but the icon stays as a red X in a box! I have to change the icon manually...
I have a trial copy of icon mgr; i will go ahead and purchase and will advise if it works.

[Tixx]

Originally posted by dphar
The icon file is still there. I can add an icon manually from the detail screen. And I can view my appt categories with the icons. And I can select a category from the details screen. The font will change but the icon stays as a red X in a box! I have to change the icon manually...
I have a trial copy of icon mgr; i will go ahead and purchase and will advise if it works.

I had red x's and what I had to do was re-number the icons with icon manager:) That solved it because Dbk5 can only handle numbers up to a certain point like 2500 or something like that, I forget.

[dphar]

This is getting too frustrating. I installed the full version of Icon manager, renumbered all my icons and that cursed red X is still present.
AAARRRGGGHHH!

[Tixx]

Originally posted by dphar
This is getting too frustrating. I installed the full version of Icon manager, renumbered all my icons and that cursed red X is still present.
AAARRRGGGHHH!

No matter what Icon you put it still comes out a red number or what? What do your numbers max out at?

[dphar]

Tixx,
I have less than 100 in my DateBk5 Icon list. I just can't get the Category icons to display. I have to manually insert them (choose category and icon in details)

[Tixx]

Originally posted by dphar
Tixx,
I have less than 100 in my DateBk5 Icon list. I just can't get the Category icons to display. I have to manually insert them (choose category and icon in details)

Hmmm...when I have time I will check on mine.

[dphar]

Thanks to all who attempted to help. Somehow I must have broken the link between the icons and my datebook so I finally went into Preferences and reset all.

That meant I had to re-customize everything but all is back in working order and I no longer have to look at those scary red X's.

So I'm cool now...