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A warning about PocketMac for Blackberry data loss Apps
The following is not so much a hint as it is a warning about data loss using PocketMac for Blackberry software. I have included the exchange I've with the PocketMac team below, but the readers digest version is this:

When syncing your Blackberry using the PocketMac for Blackberry software, long notes in your Address Book are being deleted. It seems the notes in question must be fairly long, approximately one page plus, but an exact length has not been given. The data loss will only occur starting with the third sync of the device.

I have not seen this mentioned anywhere else, including the PocketMac site and/or the Read Me included with the software. I imagine that since the software has become a free release thanks to RIM, new Blackberry users may be experiencing this data loss and not even realizing it. So I'm just trying to get the word out.

The last two responses from the PM team are the ones where they acknowledge the bug, and give an update time frame of a few weeks. As of today, though, there's not yet an update on their website. Read the rest of the hint if you'd like to see the correspondence, which includes links to a couple utilities that may be of general interest as well.

Email #1:

To whom it may concern,

I have discovered a mission critical bug while syncing my BB using this software. The initial sync with my device (BB 8700c through Cingular) went fine. After syncing a second time, I noticed that long notes in my Address Book had been erased. For example, in my contact, I keep a list of all my previous addresses and job history. After syncing a second time, all of this information was erased. I restored the Address Book entries using a backup, and repeated the syncing with the same results. Syncing with the BB is causing long notes in Address Book to be deleted. Short notes seem not to be affected. This is a reproduceable error, and for me, mission critical. Please advise. Thanks for your time.

Bill Alexander

Email #2:

Bill,

Thank you for this clear and concise bug report.

Please be aware of our two utilties that may help you to some extent: In any case, download and run this cleaning program to clean out the sync history from both ~/Library/Application Support/PocketMac (Panther and Tiger) and ~/Library/Application Support/SyncServices (Tiger) and start fresh.

Open the app and click Clean SyncServices Files, and Clean PocketMac Files. This will set everything to a "first sync" state, which may help clear up any stale data that's in the way here.

A restart might be helpful after this (to avoid "Merging local records with device" error). If the Sync Services debug window comes up, click ALLOW. The Sync Services is new in Tiger, and it's funneling our sync data through there. If you disallow it, Tiger will block you from syncing. That's key.

You may also download the DataPurge utility that will help you purge data from your BlackBerry. WARNING: This will delete ALL Calendars, ALL Contacts, ALL Notes, or ALL Tasks from your BlackBerry. If you run DataPurge, run SyncClean as well.

Hope this helps! Steve

Email #3:

Steve, (or current tech support personnel)

I have followed the directions you gave, and still have the reproducible data loss. I downloaded both of the tools. I ran the cleaning program and had it clean both the SyncServices and PocketMac Files. I also ran the DataPurge tool, and erased all data from my BlackBerry. I then restarted both the computer and the BlackBerry.

Following the restart on both devices, I double checked to make sure all of my data was intact in iCal, and Address Book. Everything was fine, including the long notes in my Address Book entries. I also double checked to make sure that the BB was clear of data, in a fresh state.

I then started PocketMac for BlackBerry and performed the initial sync. I did get the debug window popup, and I did click 'Allow'. Following the initial sync, all data appeared normally on the BlackBerry, and all data appeared fine on my Mac, to include the long notes in Address Book. A second sync (by going to the PocketMac menu bar icon, and clicking Synchronize>All) appeared to be fine, with no apparent data loss on either end. I then felt pretty good, but to double check, synced again (3rd time), and then discovered that this third sync had resulted in DATA LOSS, with all long notes having been erased from Address Book.

I'm having a hard time judging from your email response if this is indeed a bug, or something that is only associated with my system/setup. Is it possible to paste a large, multi page note into an Address Book entry on your end, then perform three or more syncs with the PocketMac BlackBerry software to see if you also are having the data loss?

Thanks again for your time and help.

Bill Alexander

Email #4:

William,

This is a bug, but in some cases helped with the utilities.

Thank you for this valuable input. This issue should be addressed in the next update in a couple weeks.

Thank you Steve

Email #5:

Steve,

Can you tell me the known details of the bug? Does it only affect notes of a certain length, as in my case? Do you know the max note lenght that is not affected, so that I could parse long notes temporarily until a fix is available? Does this Bug only affect Notes? Is there any other known DATA LOSS?

With RIM's recent announcement of offerning the PocketMac for BB software for free, I would imagine that many Mac users are trying BB's for the first time. This issue should probably be mentioned in a ReadMe file with the download, and listed on the PocketMac for Blackberry page as a known issue, to warn people of possible data loss. I have been gushing about my BB and your great software, which outside of this issue is outstanding. But I now need to sheepishly call a few friends and one relative to relate that this great software may have erased some of their data.

Do you have any idea when a fix will be available? I won't hold your feet to the fire on a hard date, just looking for your best guess.

Bill Alexander

Email #6:

William,

Basically, long notes lead to problems with the current version that the update (in a couple weeks) will fix.

We are currently importing those notes into the notes section of each contact.

Steve
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