Establishing an ActiveSync Desktop-Device Partnership
A version of this page is also available for
4/8/2010
Users enable ActiveSync by double-clicking the Mobile Devices icon on their desktop computer. During initial setup, users establish a connection partnership between the desktop computer and the Windows Mobile device by choosing options from the Partnership Wizard.
The user can specify which data is actively synchronized. For example, a user can choose to sync the Calendar and Tasks, but omit Contacts. Connection settings can be modified at any time choosing options on the Mobile Devices menu.
There are three ways to initiate synchronization:
- Manually — The user decides when synchronization will occur.
- Automatically — Data is synchronized when a Windows Mobile device and a desktop computer are connected.
- Continuously — If the device-desktop connection is active, data is immediately synchronized whenever it changes.
Users can synchronize at their desktop computers and away from them, over serial, infrared, modem, and Ethernet LAN connections. Users can synchronize their Windows Mobile device with more than one desktop computer, such as their home and office computers, or they can synchronize information on one desktop computer with several devices — to share files within a department, for example.
It is not required that every data type defined in the service provider be synchronized; users can choose a subset of data types.
Backing Up and Restoring Device Data
ActiveSync can back up the contents of a Windows Mobile–based device to the desktop computer. If the Windows Mobile device data becomes lost or corrupted, it can be restored from the desktop. This functionality is not supported in Windows CE 5.0 and later.
Transferring Files between a Device and the Desktop Computer
When ActiveSync is installed on a desktop computer, the Mobile Devices folder appears in Windows Explorer. When a Windows Mobile device is connected to the desktop computer, this folder provides a view of the files and folders on the device. Users can move and copy files between the device and the desktop computer by dragging them to and from this folder. The format conversions required to minimize memory and storage use on the Windows Mobile device are performed automatically.
Installing Programs on and Removing Programs from a Device
The Application Manager in the Mobile Devices folder shows which programs are currently installed on the Windows Mobile device, as well as applications on the desktop computer that can be installed on the device. Programs can be installed on or removed from the Windows Mobile device or a memory card.
Importing and Exporting Database Tables
On Windows Embedded CE devices, choosing the Import Database Table option from the Tools menu of the ActiveSync manager opens a window in which the user can select a Microsoft Access file (.mdb format) on the desktop to be converted to an Access Mobile file (.cdb format) on the device.
The Export Database Table option from the Tools menu of the Microsoft ActiveSync manager will convert a Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects for Windows Embedded CE (ADOCE) control for tables in the default object store on the device to tables in an .mdb format on the desktop. If a user wants to export ADOCE tables in a .cdb format on the device, the user must copy the file from the device to the desktop using the Explore option from the File menu of the ActiveSync manager and the conversion from .cdb to .mdb will occur automatically.**
Note
Importing and exporting Access Mobile files is no longer supported on Windows Mobile devices starting with Windows Mobile Version 5.0 or for ActiveSync starting with version 4.0
Preparing for Remote Connection
ActiveSync can establish a remote connection between a desktop computer and a Windows Mobile device. A Wizard prompts the user through the steps needed to set up a dial-up or Ethernet connection. This functionality is not supported in Windows CE 5.0 and later.