Home > Articles

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

10 Synchronize PIM Data with Your PC

One of the most important reasons to connect your BlackBerry device to your desktop PC is to synchronize PIM data such as contacts, calendar events, tasks, and notes. You synchronize PIM data with your PC by enabling each type of data that you'd like to synchronize and then specifying a translator application for each. For example, in the case of Microsoft Outlook, it serves as the translator application for all PIM data types because it has support for the various data types (contacts, events, tasks, and notes).

For the purposes of synchronization, email is handled differently from the other PIM data types. Your ability to synchronize, or reconcile, email depends largely on what type of email account you have and whether your company uses the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. If you don't have access to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, you'll probably want to use the BlackBerry Web Client. See 23 About Email and the BlackBerry Web Client to get started.

  1. Run the BlackBerry Desktop Manager on Your Desktop PC

    With your BlackBerry device plugged in to your desktop PC and turned on, click the Start button on the Windows taskbar of your desktop PC to open the main Windows system menu. Then select All Programs, BlackBerry, Desktop Manager. The BlackBerry Desktop Manager application appears.

  2. Open the Intellisync Screen

    Double-click the Intellisync icon in the BlackBerry Desktop Manager. The Intellisync window appears, offering several synchronization options.

  3. Configure the PIM Synchronization Settings

    Before you synchronize for the first time, you should configure the PIM synchronization settings. Click the Configure PIM button to view the Handheld Configuration window, where you tweak PIM synchronization settings for each PIM application.

  4. Configure the PIM Applications for Synchronization

    In the Handheld Configuration window is a list of handheld applications that handle PIM data. To the left of each application is a check box you can click to turn synchronization on and off for that particular application/data type. For example, you might want to synchronize only contacts and no other PIM data, in which case you would check the Address Book application and uncheck the others.

    To change the desktop translator application that synchronizes with a particular handheld application, click the handheld application in the list and then click the Choose button. The Choose Translator window appears for the handheld application you selected. As an example, if you click Address Book as the handheld application, the Choose Translator window appears with the available desktop translator applications that can handle contact data.

  5. Choose the Translator for Each PIM Application

    The Choose Translator window displays a list of desktop translator applications associated with a particular type of PIM data, such as contacts or tasks. Click the appropriate translator application in the list. The translator application you choose will likely be the same application you already use on your desktop PC to manage PIM data. For example, I use Microsoft Outlook for my contacts, calendar, memo notes, and tasks, not to mention email.

    If you want to carry out a one-way exchange of PIM information, select Import or Export as the Operation instead of Synchronize just below the list of translator applications. The Import operation imports PIM data from your desktop PC to your BlackBerry with no information exchange in the other direction. Conversely, the Export operation exports data from your device to your PC only.

    To exert maximum control over the synchronization of PIM data, you must dig deeper into the advanced settings for each type of data. Click OK to return to the Handheld Configuration window; then click the Configure button. Click Advanced Settings in the menu that appears, and the Advanced Settings for Address Book window appears.

  6. Tweak Advanced Settings for Each PIM Application

    The Advanced Settings for Address Book window displays a series of tabbed panes with advanced options associated with address book (contacts) data. The Confirmation tab allows you to specify whether contact record changes, additions, and deletions must be confirmed during synchronization. I'd recommend leaving the default setting for both of these options, which is to leave them both turned on.

    Other tabbed panes allow you to specify Conflict Resolution options and Filter options for contact data. Other PIM data types can also include additional panes that provide options specific to that type of data. For example, the Advanced Settings for Calendar window includes a Date Range tab that allows you to get very specific about which appointments and events are synchronized. You can limit the synchronization to appointments and events that take place only within a certain date range.

    Click OK to accept your changes and close the Advanced Settings for Address Book window, or click Cancel to exit the window without making any changes. Then click OK in the Handheld Configuration window to return to the main Intellisync window. Here you can set the BlackBerry Desktop Manager so that it automatically synchronizes PIM data when you connect your device to your desktop PC. Click the Auto start button to open the Auto start settings window.

  7. Configure the Auto Start Settings

    The auto start settings consist of three options that allow you to automatically synchronize PIM data, execute add-in actions, and update the device's date and time from your desktop PC. The first option, Synchronize PIM, is the only option that directly relates to synchronization, although you might want to enable the last option—Update handheld's date and time—if you want to ensure that your desktop and device time are always in sync. Click OK to accept the auto start settings and return to the Intellisync window.

  8. Initiate the Synchronization

    Click the Synchronize now button to initiate the synchronization of your BlackBerry with your PC. A window appears that provides you with a status report on the synchronization process. You might be required to okay changes to information based on the advanced Confirmation settings you saw in step 6. When your device finishes synchronizing, click the Close button in the Intellisync window to return to the main BlackBerry Desktop Manager window.

    You can either leave your device connected to your PC to charge the battery or disconnect it. You'll probably want to minimize the BlackBerry Desktop Manager application instead of closing it so it remains available for synchronization later; otherwise, you'll need to launch it again the next time you need to synchronize. BlackBerry Desktop Manager is a reasonably lean application, so it shouldn't tax your system too much to leave it running.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020