How to Transfer Data

Definitions:
Data Package- A folder within your project directory containing all data, photos, shapefile and other data from the current session (Since the last download).

Project Directory- Top level directory on your computer for storing your field data and files pertaining to the Handhelds.
Session- Period of time since last download of data.

Handheld Data

1. If this is the first time transferring to a computer create a Project folder in your C drive or other primary data holding drive (ex. C:\Great Gray Owl\).
2. Create a sub-folder within the previously created folder on the main computer name the subfolder with the date and unit_ID number at the end of the original folder's name (ex. C:\Great Gray Owl\GGO080602_001). This is your data package folder.
3. Plug handheld device into the cradle.
4. Select Guest Partnership (Unless you already have a partnership with the Handheld).
5. Open the Active Sync program.
6. Select the Explore Icon.
7. Navigate to and open  the RADB folder (typically in My Documents\RADB)

8. Click and drag the RADB file to your desktop.
   Icon looks like this or A window will open that looks like this

9. Browse to the Directory you just created above to store your data (i.e., C:\Great Gray Owl\GGO080602_001).
   Name the .mdb file the same as the folder it will be saved under (i.e.,C:\Great Gray Owl\GGO080602_001\GGO080602_001.mdb).
   And uncheck the box next to 'Keep tables synchronized'
10. Click Ok. This process may take 3-10 minutes or more depending on amount of data. During this time the Top Status bar will be filled and the bottom bar with fill in as the process converts the database.
    
11. When this process finishes the windows will close.  If you get an error message and you get the option to show log click on the button and then pick edit log and save the text file. You will need to email or call for help at this point, please attach the file when requesting help.  If you get any other error messages but no log click ok. Then go to the folder you set as the save point and look for your file, if its there the transfer worked.
    
12. Open you database, when it asks you if you want to convert the database select the option to open the database instead. It will then prompt you to tell you that you can't modify tables without converting, say "ok".
    
13. Now do a basic check of the table in Capital Letters: OBSERVATION, PHOTO, INCIDENTAL_FAUNA, , etc.   After assuring that your data is on the computer you can reset the database.

Resetting the Database

1. Open Activesync then the Explore icon.
2. Open the RADB folder and delete the RADB.cdb file (Do not do this until you have confirmed your data is on the computer)
3. Navigate up a directory and then open My Pocket PC
4. Now cpen the CF Card\RADB_Backup\RADB_restore.
5. Copy RADB.cdb.
6. Navigate back to My Device\My Documents\RADB\.
7. Paste the file.
   

*Important: It is suggested that you make a backup copy of the data on your CF card 1^st on the CF Card\Project\Data_Backup folder. Keep backup copy there until you begin to run low on memory and/or are sure that the computer data has been replicated on multiple computers. Back to Table of Contents

JPEG IMAGES (Using a CF card Reader or most Digital Cameras )

1. Take the storage card out of the digital camera and insert it into a CF Card reader hooked to your computer OR plug in your digital camera.
   

2. Click on My Computer and look for a new drive letter usually labeled removable media.

3. Open this drive and navigate to the location the photographs are stored on the CF Card.

4. Select all JPEG files and copy them to the project sub-folder.
   (ex. C:\Great Gray Owl\GGO080602_001\.). Note: On the Nikon cameras the photos are located in the 'DCIM' folder, under 'Nikon'.

5. After you are sure the pictures are on the computer and in the correct directory you can follow the camera instructions for deleting the files and resetting the Filename counter.

OR

JPEG IMAGES (Using Nikon Camera Software and a Camera to USB cable)

1. Plug the camera into the computer and turn it on in view mode.

2. Open the Nikon View Software

3. Select Tools --> Launch Nikon Transfer

4. Select Change and browse to the same data directory where the handheld data is (ex. C:\Great Gray Owl\GGO080602_001\).

5. Ok the directory then click the Transfer button.

6. Or if you don not have the Nikon Transfer software, navigate to Windows Explorer and go to your working drive. Find the drive pertaining to the camera and copy/paste photos into the folder where the handheld data is (ex. CC:\Great Gray Owl\GGO080602_001\).

7. After you are sure the pictures are on the computer and in the correct directory you can follow the camera instructions for deleting the files and resetting the Sequence number counter.

1. 1.Turn on the GPS Unit
2. 2.Use 'Page' to get to the Main Menu
3. 'Enter' the Setup Menu
4. 'Enter' Interface
5. Highlight the first line and 'Enter' (Should say something like 'NMEA/NMEA')
6. Scroll up/down and find 'GRMN/GRMN', then press 'Enter'

1. Launch VB Garmin
2. Select the menu Option Projections, Check the settings (RAD defaults shown below)
   Input - Geographic NAD83       Output - California Albers NAD83

3. Back on the main screen Select 'Download Waypoints' from the buttons
4. Select 'Waypoint List'. QC waypoint list to make sure all waypoints correctly correspond to the data collected. Here you can delete unwanted waypoints as necessary.
5. Select 'Create Shapefile' 'Single point feature from each waypoint' (default for RAD)
6. Select 'Create', Navigate to the previously created directory for the data (ex. C:\Great Gray Owl\GGO080602_001\)
7. Name the file 'rapix'.
8. In Windows Explorer, open the folder you saved rapix to, check that rapix has been saved. You should find four different rapix files.
9. Clear your GPS unit of waypoints for the next session.

*Important: If you wish to use preloaded waypoints for navigation, change their symbol when entering them so that you can delete all of your data collection waypoints at one time and not affect these preloaded points. Back to Table of Contents

Screen Capture Images

If you used Pocket Screen Capture to take images of your PDA screen this section explains how to transfer them with the rest of your data package.

1. Connect your PDA to the Computer using the cradle or sync cable.
2. Select Guest Partnership (Unless you already have a partnership with the Handheld).
3. Open the Active Sync program.
4. Select the Explore Icon.
5. Double click on 'My Pocket PC'
6. Locate the folder 'Temp' and open it.
7. Find and select all .bmp files, typically they are named display_#.bmp (# is an autonumber). Use the Ctrl key to select multiple files or the Shift to select a range.
8. Copy these images to your data package in your project folder.
9. Review the thumbnails of these images to insure they are screen captures you made and are relevant to your data. Delete any duplicates or other unintended screen captures.
10. Delete the images from the handheld Temp folder.

1. Copy the files you want to transfer to your media card.
2. Remove the media card from the PDA and insert it into the card reader
3. If the file browser does not come up automatically, Open 'My Computer' and look for a newly assigned drive typically called 'Removable Disk' and open it.
4. Copy the required files from the card to the your data package directory in your project folder on your computer.