It is suspected that when this issue occurs, one or more of the XML data files for the application may be corrupted. The current solution to this issue is to delete the XML files for the application and then taking the necessary steps to have those files rebuilt by the application. To do this, follow the directions below:

1.  Since the application errors on startup, you only need to close the error window and the application will close.

2.  Open 'File Explorer' on the device. Depending on the carrier of the device, this can either be found on the start menu or by tapping on programs in the start menu.

3.  With 'File Explorer' open, click the arrow next to the drop down box (see the circle in the image below, dont be concerned if the text next to the arrow is different on your device as compared to the image)

4.  Click on 'My Device' in the dropdown box:

5.  Now in the list below the dropdown box, click on 'Program Files':

6.  Now in the updated list, click on VUPS_PPC:

7. In the list that you see, you will need to delete several files, the files that need to be deleted are circled in the screenshot below. To delete the files tap and hold on the filename. When done correctly, a menu will appear with several options, choose delete from the menu to delete the file from the device. You will need to confirm the delete action. Do this for each file circled below.:

8. Once this is done, you will be able to launch the program succesfully. Once logged in, go to the 'Other' tab and use the 'Get County Data', 'Get Place Data', and 'Get Work Types' functions to rebuild those files on the device. The program will automatically build the deleted files by performing those functions.

As always, if you have problems, please contact the VUPS Help Desk for more information.

The latest version of the application brought about a few significant changes. One of these changes is the ability to install the application from the web, greatly simplifying the installation process. Below are the steps required to install the latest version on your device:

1. On the device, open the web browser. For most recent devices, the default browser is 'Opera', although some devices may use 'Pocket Internet Explorer'
2. In the address box for the browser, type the following URL: http://vapilotproject.com/ppc.html and press 'enter'
3. A page will load with a single link to the ppc application, click this link
4. You will receive a prompt asking if you want to open, save, or cancel for the file vups_ppc.exe. Tap the 'Open' button
5. A zip program will open on the device and show a file called VUPS_PPC.CAB, double tap on this file to start the install
6. Next you will see a prompt indicating that the program is from an unknown publisher, etc. Click 'yes' to this prompt.
7. You should receive a message indicating the application was properly installed. Tap ok to close that window.
8. Once installed, close the zip program, the downloads window (if using the 'Opera' browser) and your browser window.
9. Launch 'vups_ppc' from the programs directory, by tapping the start menu icon, then 'programs'. Once the 'programs' window opens, simply tap on the blue 'N' icon.
10. On first startup, the program needs some information in order to properly function: In the 'Path to application server' field you will enter "http://newtina.vups.org/newtinweb", For the 'Com Port for GPS device', there are a couple options. If you are using the internal gps chipset of the device, you will use 'int' (without the quotes), otherwise you will need to determine what the com port that was setup for your external gps device and use that. All other fields should remain at their default settings. After you have entered the proper data, tap 'OK'
11. Log in with your Web Ticket Entry login
12. Select 'Get County Data' from the 'Other' tab. If successful, the hourglass will spin and then go away.
13. Select 'Get Place Data', this time a window listing all the counties/cities should appear. Check off the counties and/or cities you will do work in and select 'Ok' when done. The hourglass should spin and go away again.
14. Select 'Get Work Types', again an hourglass should spin and then go away.
15. You are now ready to use your device.

Changes made to the application in the latest release required a change to how data is stored on the device. Also, this version now allows for the use of integrated gps chipsets (if available on the device and unlocked by the carrier). For this update, a complete reinstall is required due to these changes. Unfortunately, any ticket data saved on the device will be lost. Please follow these instructions to get the new version properly installed:

1. Click the Windows icon (top left of the screen), select 'File Explorer' on the menu. If you do not see 'File Explorer' there, click on 'Programs' and click 'File Explorer' within the window that opens.

2. With 'File Explorer' open, click the arrow next to the drop down box (see the circle in the image below:

3. Click on 'My Device' in the dropdown box:

4. Now in the list below the dropdown box, click on 'Program Files':

5. Now in the updated list, tap and hold on the 'Newtin' directory. When done correctly, a menu will appear with several options, choose delete from the menu to delete the Newtin directory from the device. You will need to confirm the delete action.:

8. Now we need to remove the shortcut from the programs directory as the new installer will create one automatically. To do this click on 'My Device' from the drop down as in step 3.
9. This time, tap on the 'Windows' directory
10. In the list you see now, select the 'Start Menu' directory.
11. Now tap on the 'Programs' directory
12. Look for the vups_ppc application shortcut (look for the icon that looks like a blue letter 'N'). Tap and hold on this icon, if done correctly you should see a menu appear. Select delete from this menu and confirm that you do want to delete the program.
13. Now follow the directions in the install faq to reinstall the application. This faq can be accessed here.

As always, if you have problems please contact the VUPS Help Desk for more information.

Condition:

The ticket entry system has been designed to load balance the connections between the two servers, because of this design, in situations where the load on the 'A' server is higher than the load on the 'B' server, the user may be connected to the 'B' server through the ticket entry interface regardless of the server they initially connected to.

Solution:

1. Confirm the server that Ticket Entry connected to. This is done by checking the bottom right corner of the ticket entry interface. There will be a letter to indicate the server you are connected to. See the image below for an example:

2. If the server connected to is listed as the 'B' server (as in the example image above) then you will need to switch the server. This is done by clicking on the letter 'B'. This will bring up a prompt asking if you want to change the server from 'B' to 'A' as in the example below:

3. Click the 'Yes' or 'Ok' button and you will see the letter has changed to 'A' as in the example below:

4. You should now be able to see your suspended tickets after clicking the 'Unsuspend' button.

As always, should you have issues with these directions, please contact the VUPS Help Desk

When suspending a ticket with the application, once you have submitted the ticket, it will end up in the suspend queue on the VUPS server. The user then utilizes Remote Ticket Entry to access the suspended tickets by clicking the Un-suspend button.Users need to be aware of the functionality of this suspend queue:

Once a ticket has been un-suspended, it is removed from the queue, this happens even before the ticket is completed. Because of the way suspended tickets are handled, users need to be sure that they re-suspend the ticket if they are not going to complete it, otherwise the ticket is deleted from the system when the program is closed or if a new ticket is created within web ticket entry after un-suspending a ticket.

In order to use the application, several requirements must be met. These requirements vary depending on the account that is being configured. First, every user must have a web ticket entry account. Secondly, depending on the type of account setup, one of several permissions must be applied to that account by VUPS in order for users to utilize the application. Please keep in mind that depending on the account training by VUPS may be required before access is granted.

There are currently two types of accounts that are available, an account that can create a full ticket in the field with a Windows Mobile device as well as a limited account that only allows for the creation of suspend tickets.

Please contact the VUPS help desk for assistance with establishing the correct permissions for your account.

If you experience slow response or complete lack of response from your Windows Mobile device, there is more than likely a simple explanation to your problem. Many people unfamiliar with pocket pc devices do not realize that the little 'x' you see at the top right of the application will not always close the application. In many cases this will only minimize the applicstion. Of course your next question is 'How do I close the application then?' The solution can vary, it depends on the application in question. In many cases the developer of the application will build in some method to close the application, this can be provided in a menu option or button for example (Like the 'Exit Program' button under the 'Other' tab in the Norfield PPC Application (VUPS_PPC). In some cases there is no option built into the program. In these cases you have to use another method. Below you will find an example of these procedures, due to changes in Windows Mobile as well as carrier specific modifications, these options may not be available. In those cases it may be necessary to consult the documentation for your specific device:

1. Click the 'Start Menu'
2. Click 'Settings'
3. Click the 'System' tab
4. Click 'Task Manager'
5. Under the 'Running' tab, you will find programs currently running on the device.
6. Check the box for each application you do not need running.
7. Click the 'Stop Selected' button.

Another option is to perform a soft reset, this should be done only when the device has failed to respond. To perform a soft reset push the point of the stylus into the reset hole. This hole is found on the bottom of the phone next to where the charger is plugged into the phone. Please keep in mind performing a soft reset will close ALL running applications and all unsaved data will be lost.

If you receive an error indicating 'Old Request' this indicates that the time, date, and/or time zone are incorrectly set on the Windows Mobile Device. To check these follow these instructions:

1. Close all applications so that you return to the 'Today Screen' (This is the pocket pc equivalent to the desktop).
2. On the today screen you will see the time listed near the top, tap the time with your stylus. This will bring up a settings window which will have Clock & Alarms at the top.
3. Make sure the home radio button is selected and verify that the time zone is listed as GMT-5 Eastern US , that the time is correct (including AM/PM), and that the date is correct (including year).

It is very easy to overlook some areas when checking the time, but it is also very important that all of these are set correctly as the application does a check to make sure that the time on the device is close to the time on the server and the application will not continue if they do not match within 5 minutes of each other.

As always if you continue to have issues, please contact the help desk for assistance.