Latest Contributions by TimHopper

David, The issue you're running into is most likely just a limitation of processing power on your mobile device.  I've run into this issue more times than I can count.  I've seen the issue on different projects with anywhere from ~8-80 feature classes in the document.  Sometimes the issue is related to one particular layer (such as a street reference layer) and sometimes it's just a combination of many feature classes in the map at one time. The only real way to eliminate this issue is to remove layers from your document. Either.. A. You have separate apm's which contain different sets of your data or.. B. You add and remove layers from your map as needed. This issue is documented under: CQ00312809: Errors are received when adding a large number of layers to ArcPad on a mobile device. The ArcPad development team is continually striving to improve the performance of axf files on mobile devices.  The main issue at hand, however, is that the vast majority of mobile devices lack any real processing power.  They just cannot be treated the same as a desktop or laptop computer. ... View more

In addition to Brett's comment: If you don't actually need to create any of the data (either you're utilizing shapefiles, rasters, or you have axf files already created) you would not need ArcPad installed on your computer.  As long as you have ActiveSync installed (Windows XP) or Windows Mobile Device Center (Vista / 7) you can plug in the mobile device and transfer files to and from device. But as Brett said, if you actually need to check out out data for editing (feature class to axf file) or create apm's, you would need to have ArcPad installed. ... View more

Which version of ArcPad are you using? In ArcPad 8 there is an issue with checking out a feature class with more than 100 fields. CQ00310076: ArcPad checkout tool cannot handle more than 100 fields In ArcPad 10, you should be able to check out more than 100 fields, but I have run into issue at times with certain datasets.  The following bug has been logged for that behavior: CQ00312675: Checking out to axf causes a crash if maximum number of fields and/or number of characters in field names is reached Unfortunately, there isn't a "maximum number of fields / characters" which has been defined. I just tried a checkout using ArcPad 10.0.2 with a feature class containing 105 fields.  The checkout completed successfully.  I then tried a checkout with a feature class containing 205 fields.  ArcMap crashed. While ArcPad 10 handles these limits better than 8, you may still run into occasional problems. The workaround would be to limit the visibility of fields which your field crew does not actually need.  This can be done through the Layer Properties > Fields tab, via the Table of Contents. ... View more

I was surprised to see that you mentioned ActiveSync 4.5 was not compatible with XP SP3.  It wasn't until I took a look at the download page that I saw that they say it's only compatible up to SP2. I utilized ActiveSync 4.5 with XP SP3 for almost two years before I upgraded to Windows 7.  We also have many other analysts here who utilize 4.5 with XP SP3 without issue. Have you tried 4.5 and are running into problems? I haven't utilized 4.1 with ArcPad 10 but according to the system requirements you must have 4.5. If you haven't tried 4.5 yet I would say go ahead and download it.  I think you'll find that it works without issue. Reply here if you run into additional problems. Thanks. ... View more

Currently, the only option available which allows you to select your custom forms is Disconnected Editing.  The request for custom forms for shapefiles (which used to work in the past) is listed under the following bug: CQ00312821: Layer Definition Template checkbox is no longer enabled for shapefiles within Get Data For ArcPad wizard ... View more

Fiona, You're most likely running into the following bug: CQ00312474: Fields for external list values only show on XP machines (not on Win7/Vista) If you're using a Windows Vista or Windows 7 machine you won't see the Value and Text lists populated with any information.  You'll have to use an XP machine to set these fields. As far as the axf file goes: You check out your data to axf file by checking your data out "for disconnected editing" using the ArcPad Data Manager in ArcMap.  This will allow you to check the changes you make in the field right back into the geodatabase. Also, if you have coded value domains set up in your geodatabase and applied to your feature classes, those will automatically get transferred to ArcPad as pick lists when you check out for disconnected editing.  No need then to do it yourself manually in ArcPad Studio. ... View more

Stuart, Are you current on your maintenance for ArcPad support?  If you are, I would suggest logging a support request on this one.  We'd be happy to take a look at your data and dig into this deeper. ... View more

I'll throw out my 2-cents regarding this question: Starting at ArcPad 10 SP3 python will be supported as a scripting language in ArcPad.  HOWEVER, there isn't (at this time anyhow) an official release of python which will run on a device with a Windows Mobile OS.  So, for the foreseeable future, python in ArcPad will only be relevant on a machine running a desktop OS. VBscript and Jscript have been, and will be, supported on Windows Mobile devices for the long haul. You shouldn't run into any compatibility issues between versions 8 and 10.  My suggestion is that if you've been using vbscript in the past, stick with it. ... View more

There is an issue with ArcPad 10 SP2 and features symbolized by Unique Category symbology. CQ00312944: Null values in an AXF with string field used for unique category symbology cause ArcPad 10.0 SP2 map frame to freeze I've witnessed other behavior in addition to the freezing as well.  A pretty common issue is that if you have any NULL records in the field of which the feature class is being symbolized by unique category some or all of the categories will not display in ArcPad.  No freezing (most of the time) but the features just don't come across. This bug has a resolution planned to be included in ArcPad 10 SP3. The workaround at this point would be to utilize the field calculator to set all of the NULL values to an actual value of some sort, such as 0, and then check out your data. Hope this helps. ... View more

Hi Paul, The related bug for this issue is: CQ00312421: Forms stored in ArcPad.apx cause an error message after closing the application However, it appears as though this issue should have been resolved after ArcPad 10 SP1. I tested (in ArcPad 10 SP2) with the data (apx + form) attached to the bug which was submitted for reproducing the issue and the application did not crash.  I tested on a Panasonic Toughbook CF-19. Have you tested with ArcPad 10 SP2? If you're using 10 SP2 and are still getting the crash with an apx file with a custom form, would you be able to attach the data to this thread?  I'd be happy to test with it. Thanks. ... View more

This is a known issue with Trimble Juno devices and the Windows Mobile Camera.  CQ00312842 Please check out the following KB article which outlines the behavior and the workaround to resolve the issue. Pictures taken in ArcPad with the Windows Mobile Camera on Trimble Juno devices appear solid green. http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/38996 ... View more

This is a known issue with ArcPad 10.0.2. CQ00312983: Elevation notation is displayed in scientific notation in ArcPad 10.0.2. The issue has been tested and is not reproducible in ArcPad 10.0.3 (SP3) which is not yet released (still in beta). You should find that after SP3 is released the elevation units will be displayed properly (not shown in scientific notation). Thanks. ... View more

Hello, If your symbology isn't coming across to ArcPad correctly (shows as # or something similar) than you're right, you're probably missing that particular font on the mobile device. Follow these steps to identify the font and copy it to your mobile device: 1. Identify which font the symbol comes from. To do this, open the MXD which contains the symbology. In the Table of Contents, left-click on the symbol itself to open the Symbol Selector. Click on the Edit Symbol button. This will open the Symbol Property Editor which should list the font that this symbol resides in (such as esri_150.ttf). 2. Locate and copy the font. In Windows Explorer, navigate to... C:\WINDOWS\fonts. You should find the font in this location. Please note that the actual filename of the font is different than the font Name. Select the font by left-clicking it once. Copying the font must be done by going to the Edit Menu > Copy. 3. Paste the font into the font directory on the mobile device. This should be located at... \Windows\fonts. Hope this helps. ... View more

Annie, I haven't personally used the Topcon GMS-2 so the best I can offer is two suggestions: 1. Make sure that another program on the device isn't utilizing the GPS as well.  I'm sure the Topcon has some sort of utility to connect to the gps.  Within that program reset the gps, then disconnect.  Try to connect to ArcPad. 2. Perform a factory reset on the device.  If you haven't wiped the device clean in quite a while I'm sure it's due for it.  Shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to perform the reset and get ArcPad installed again. If neither of these work respond back with the protocol, port, and baud rate you're attempting to use. ... View more

Brian, All that you need to do to incorporate this functionality is to symbolize your point features in ArcMap using Unique Values before you export. Open the layer properties of the specific feature class in ArcMap and go to the Symbology tab.  Under "Categories" select "Unique Values".  You can select the field that holds this info and add the Desktop and Field values and symbolize how you'd like. Setting up a coded value domain for these values would be a good idea as well, so that your field crew can select the "Desktop" or "Field" value from a list. You'll see that as the value is changed in ArcPad, the symbology will change as well. Hope this helps. ... View more