[learn more about ScoutPalDB2]

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Some questions before we start:

What kind of computer will you be using?
(For both initial installation and updates after installation.)

--Windows computer (XP, Vista, Windows 7, etc.)
--Apple Mac (any version)

Mac computer users: Please read the "I use an Apple Mac" info on the ScoutPalDB FAQ page.

OK, that's fine.  To use Easy Update on Windows, you'll need to have a card reader in order to transfer the download to the PDA storage card...
Do you have a card reader?

--YES
--NO

Also, your data card needs to be compatible with your PDA and computer systems.

For example, most Dell Axim's, other older PDA's, and most older computer built-in card readers are NOT compatible with SD cards larger than 2GB!

A card reader is required to use the Updater, and you'll need to get one before you can use the Eazy Update system.  You can use a sync cable (ActiveSync/Mobile Device Center) to copy extracted downloads to your card.  But it's highly recommended that you switch to using a card reader with the Easy Update system as soon as you can.  Even without using Easy Update, a card reader is simpler and faster than a sync cable.  Card readers are inexpensive, widely available, and nearly essential to get pictures and other media into your computer from cameras, video recorders, and all kinds of other gadgets that use an SD card.  It's the most modern, smoothest, fastest and cheapest way to transfer data. (Time is money!)

Good, a card reader is required to use Easy Update -- it's also the fastest and simplest way to get extracted downloads to your card.

Are you setting up your ScoutPalDB equipment for the first time?

--YES
--NO

You can proceed with the Easy Updater setup steps below.  When using Update the first time in an initial installation (or when introducing a new, replacement SD card) it will ask you a few simple additional questions beside its normal "ID, password, drive letter" questions.  For example, you'll be asked to confirm that the drive letter you give is for sure the correct one, and that you're setting up to use the card for the first time.

You can proceed with the Easy Updater setup steps below.  HOWEVER, since Easy Update always updates to a card folder SPDB2, and because you may have kept your previous database files in a different folder, and/or you might be running an older version of the program, you'll need to do the following steps after replacing the updated card into your PDA: Start ScoutPalDB, then look at the tip-top of the screen. 

• If you see "ScoutPalDB2" displayed, great, you're already running version 2.  The only extra thing you'll need to do right after doing Step 5 (soft-reset) is:
  1. Start the ScoutPalDB program.
  2. Tap the word "Settings" at the bottom of the screen -- tap the Database tab -- tap [Find it for me] -- tap [OK].
• If  you only see "ScoutPalDB" displayed (no "DB2" in the name), it means that you need to upgrade to the latest version.  Upgrading to ScoutPalDB2 is simple to do:  just watch and follow the upgrade steps in this short video
  • Hint: You can pause, rewind, and fast forward anytime in a YouTube video so that you can follow it step-by-step.
  • If you're familiar with operating the PDA's File Explorer, here's the video in a nutshell:  Soft-reset the PDA.  Don't start ScoutPalDB.  Instead, immediately start the File Explorer and navigate it to the SD card, then tap on the ScoutPalDB2 setup package that's in the SPDB2 folder and let it install with its defaults...  It's that easy!  (But be sure to start with a soft-reset!)

(Of course, as always, you can also call us, and we'll help you with any of this.)

Follow These Steps to Get the Updater installed and ready to use on your Windows Computer:

1. Right-click on this link to download a compressed ScoutPal Updater.zip file, then choose "save target as", or "save link as", or a similar choice; the exact wording will vary depending on the browser you use.  Save the file to a convenient place that you know how to get to.  (Like the Desktop, or maybe where you previously saved ScoutPal updates*, or any other location that you know how to get to in order to view files.)
    
2. After the download process completely finishes, open the newly-downloaded ScoutPal Updater.zip file, double-click the GetUpdated file, then choose "Extract All" and click next/ok/etc. in the wizard without changing any of its defaults -- the wizard will create a new ScoutPal Updater extracted folder. ‡
   1. When the extractor wizard is done, close the windows that show the GetUpdated file; there will usually be two of these windows, depending on the wizard's settings.
   2. Navigate back to where you saved the downloaded ScoutPal Updater.zip file.  If you don't remember where you saved it in step 1, search for it using Windows Find Files.
   3. You should see the zip file you just downloaded.  Its icon will look like a folder with a zipper in it, like this:
   4. Now look for a normal folder named ScoutPal Updater; you're looking for one that does not have a zipper in its icon, like this:
   5. From now on, that "no-zipper" folder named ScoutPal Updater (icon ) is the folder that you will use for updates.
   6. To avoid confusion, go ahead and delete the ScoutPal Updater.zip file (icon ), you don't need it anymore.
   
   
   Update Your Card:
    
3. Insert the PDA's storage card into your computer.  Make a note of its drive letter if you don't already know it:
   • Your card and its drive letter are displayed as a removable drive after clicking Start / Computer (in Windows7/Vista), or when you open the desktop "My Computer" icon (in Windows XP).
   • If you're not sure which removable drive is your card, plug the card in and out and it will appear and disappear from the computer's list of drives.  If more than one removable drive appears, open each of them, one by one, until you find your card; make a note of its drive letter.
      
4. Open the ScoutPal Updater folder (on your computer), then double-click on GetUpdated to run it.  (The GetUpdated program has an icon with a gear inside it.)  After you let it run, it will ask you to enter your ScoutPal login ID, password, and the card's drive letter.  The program will then automatically download the latest update and put the new database files on the card for you.
    
5. Put the card back in your PDA, then soft-reset the PDA:
   • Always soft-reset (reboot) your PDA after an update; with some newer PDA's, you may only need to reset ScoutPalDB by tapping settings/OK in the ScoutPalDB program.
   • To soft-reset your PDA, look for the small reset button/hole on the bottom, back or side of the PDA, and press in using the tip of the stylus.  For general PDA usage information, including how to do a soft-reset, please refer to the manufacturer's documentation.

From now, just follow the update your card steps 3, 4, and 5 (above) anytime you want to get an update.  Fresh updates are typically available on Friday and Monday mornings, but you can get an update at any time you like.  It's easy and simple to get updates with the ScoutPal Updater!

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* After converting to this Updater system, you can (and should) delete any and all of the old update files and folders that you may have on your computer as they are no longer needed and may cause confusion.

** If the ScoutPalDB program on the PDA displays a message that it can't open the database file:

Dismiss the error message, tap the word "Settings" at the bottom of the screen -- tap the Database tab -- tap [Find it for me] -- tap [OK].  If the error message persists, ensure that the card is securely in the PDA.  If it still persists, please contact ScoutPal support.

‡ If your Windows operating system's built-in zip extract function has been disabled by another commercial program, or for some other reason you can't successfully complete Step 2 above, Windows users can use this manual download procedure instead:

1. Delete the "ScoutPal Updater" zip file (icon ) that's on your Desktop.
2. Right click on any empty space on your Desktop, then select New / Folder, then name the new folder "ScoutPal Updater".
3. Click here to open a window to an index location on the ScoutPal website that contains all the easy updater files.
4. Right-click on each file in the index window, select "Save ... As".  You will get a Windows "save" dialog box. Click on Desktop, then double-click on the ScoutPal Updater folder, then click the [Save] button.  Do this for each file in the index window.
5. Close all your windows.  Look for the "ScoutPal Updater" folder that's on your Desktop, double-click to open it.
6. Double click on the "FinishSaveAs" program and let it run.
7. Proceed with Step 3, above.