WHAT'S HOT

SETUP

In Step 2 your computer is scanned for all compatible file extension types.  Your results will vary depending on what is installed on your computer.  I was surprised that .jpg and .gif files were not included in my Available File Types list but every other file type I've ever heard of was.

Step 3 has you selecting the printers that you want to be available as well as setting the default one.  Your printer capabilities will vary depending on which printers you have available.  You can not change the Printer Capabilities section as these options are determined by the program.

Step 4 synchronizes all of the changes you have made to your Pocket PC.  At this point you are ready to go and print your documents.   Any time after the initial setup you can start the ActivePrint Server on your PC and change the settings. 

PROGRAM FEATURES

   There are two parts to the ActivePrint program.  The ActivePrint Server runs on your desktop and controls all of your basic settings.  Adding and removing printers is accomplished by using the ActivePrint Server.  You will also use the ActivePrint Server to scan for file types as new programs are installed on your computer.  The server contains quite a few options; I'll cover each below.

• Show Print Status - displays a small status windows that appears above your system icons and shows which documents are printing. 
• Auto Printing - all queued documents will print once you have an ActiveSync connection. 
• Manual Print - this button is used to force print if Auto Printing is disabled.
• Check for update every - this allows you to change the frequency that ActivePrint checks for an update.  You can't type in this box so you'll have to use the up/down arrows.  The max setting is 240 minutes. 
• Enable Check For Update - if you don't want the program checking for updates you can always disable it by removing this check.
• File Types - opens the exact same dialog box that you had in step 2 of the setup for scanning new file types.
• New Printers - opens up the exact same dialog box you had in step 3 of the setup for adding and removing printers
• PDA Manager -  shows you the currently installed PDAs.  If you have a version of ActivePrint that supports more than one PDA you will be able to manage them here. 

The ActivePrint Mobile Client resides on your Pocket PC and allows you to select files that you want to print and queues them up.  When printing you will need to start the ActivePrint program and then select the documents that you want to print.

The process for selecting a file is easy.  The file menu gives you three basic choices.  You can choose or remove files from the ActivePrint queue or you can close the program; it's great to see developers including a close/exit function within their programs.

Selecting Choose File brings up a familiar file management menu.  It allows you to choose which folder you search in and then what extension your searching for.  If you select All folders it will scan your Pocket PC for all files of that type. 

I found the searches to be very quick, as the most broad search I conducted for .txt files and it took under 3 seconds for the list to populate.

At this point you can see what is in your queue.  The next time you connect with ActiveSync all documents that are in your queue will be printed.

If you installed more than one printer when you setup ActivePrint, you will be able to choose your default printer. 

Each document has it's own print properties.  If you tap and hold on any document in your queue it will bring up a menu where you can Choose Printer or Remove File. 

If you select Choose printer a documents properties page will pop up where you can select the printer as well as print options for that document. 

   There is also a settings menu item that will optimize ActiveSync to work with ActivePrint.  This sets ActiveSync to maintain a connection while syncing remotely.  With this setting enabled you can be assured that your print will finish when you connect to ActiveSync remotely.  Please remember that this is a setting that will affect how your Pocket PC connects with ActiveSync and it will not automatically disconnect your ActiveSync connection when done.   

   After connecting to ActiveSync the printing process starts and in most cases, this processes occured quickly, but occasionally it would request some user intervention which I explain in the Bugs and Wishes section. 

HELP SUPPORT

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

The system requirements were copied directly from the ActivePrint web page. 

On the Desktop:

• OS:  Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000
• Processor: 500 MHz or greater
• RAM: 64 MB (128 recommended)
• Hard Drive Space: 3 MB
• Microsoft ActiveSync 3.5 or better to connection to the Pocket PC
• Connection to a printer

On the Pocket PC:

• OS:  Pocket PC 2002, Windows Mobile Edition (Pocket PC 2003), Windows Mobile Second Edition
• Storage Space: 1 MB (Not on a storage card)

BUGS AND WISHES

    The program worked as advertised but I did run into a few bugs.  I had a problem choosing printers for documents in the ActivePrint Mobile Client.  My printers are installed and I'm able to select any of them as a default printer but when I try to choose a printer for each document the only option was my default printer.  The other printers didn't show up.  It took me a while to figure it out but the printer drop down box doesn't really drop down and it only shows the default printer.  By chance I tried my directional button and noticed that the Printer box did cycle through the printers with the directional pad only.  I was not able to change all settings on all printers; however, I was able to select Color for a Black & White Laser Printer.  Don't worry, it didn't print out in color! 

    Another problem I ran into was when documents were printing.  For the most part the queued documents printed automatically but occasionally a Word  or Excel document would pause and ask me if I wanted to save changes before exiting.  I was unable to produce this problem at will but did see it 5 times during the 3 days I used the program.  I also noticed that .gif and .jpg files are not supported and I discovered that most graphic extensions were not included but every other file you can imagine is.  You can find out exactly which files are supported at the ActivePrint's website (ActivePrint Compatible File Types). 

PURCHASING

PROS

• Compatible with as many as 60 file types
• Prints by using ActiveSync connection via wired, Wifi, or Bluetooth connection
• No additional hardware needed

CONS

• Can't print from within a program
• Printing contacts, web pages, or appointments is tricky and requires multiple steps
• Individual version is a bit pricey

OVERALL IMPRESSION

   ActivePrint provides an affordable and comprehensive way to use program to print a wide variety of documents with your existing hardware. That said, I would like to be able to print from within the program I'm working on just like I can on my desktop or laptop.  For me, this is the most productive way to work.  With the ActivePrint solution I am not able to print my email, appointments, or web pages without copying and pasting into some document and then using ActivePrint to choose that file and select it for printing.  Perhaps I'm looking for the Holly Grail of printing applications and for now it doesn't exist.  Until I can find this perfect program (or Microsoft builds in a print solution to Windows Mobile) I'll use ActivePrint to fill the Pocket PC printing gap.