Personal Vehicle Mgr - database gets lost [Archive]

RichardSwe

December 6th, 2006, 06:29 AM

Keith Douglass

December 6th, 2006, 08:18 AM

I have used Personal Vehicle Manager for a long time. There is one major issue with it -- periodically it loses its database and makes a new blank one. Very irritating. It takes me 20 minutes or so to retrieve my backup copy and get it reconnected.

I sure would appreciate having this fixed.

When it is "lost". Is all the data loast but the file size and date correct ?
if this happens go to the new fuel adn see if your latest mileage is reported as the next mileage. That is wat mine is doing.
Hopefully Iambic will come out with an updated version. I miss it.

RichardSwe

December 6th, 2006, 09:52 AM

I'll watch and check. I've had PVM uninstalled for a while because of this problem and have just found my last backup db file and reinstalled.

I think the "new" file is smaller, but good questions...

I was trying another vehicle app, but PVM is the better one, so I hope it keeps working.

xdalaw

December 23rd, 2006, 03:45 PM

I'm also a long-time PVM user who has been annoyed with the periodically disappearing database problem. I did enjoy the interface and features, though, and hope the WM5 version will be rock-solid.

hifiguy

December 26th, 2006, 10:35 AM

i've also been using PVM for a long time with the desktop version as well. it's very frustrating to lose the database and hope an updated version will correct the problem.

Keith Douglass

December 26th, 2006, 01:53 PM

I have been able to determine that the db is a sqlite file but anything I try to read or open it fails.
I wonder if anyone has seen or used any tools or programs to just get the data out to save it instread of loosing it all together.

Any updates on the new release ??

Thank you

Keith Douglass

January 4th, 2007, 03:03 PM

Any update on the timeline for the new release ?

I have a sample "lost db" file I can email for tech or programing to check out.

Thanks

Keith Douglass

January 14th, 2007, 04:19 PM

OK the new version is out...Any thoughts for us who have the mysterious vanishing DB ??

Thank you

tmccartney66

January 30th, 2007, 05:23 PM

Oh, Lord - this has happened to me once already, and I assumed it was just something glitchy with my database. The fact it's a known issue worries me a bit, because that means it'll probably happen again.

My data file had data in it, because I could open it in Notepad and see all the maintenance entries I'd made, but somehow it was hosed so that the data couldn't be browsed in either PVM or SqlLite. When I started re-entering my data, though, I noticed it still had the list of maintenance types I had entered and even the last mileage figure. The only thing missing were the entries themselves.

Backup often, I suppose...

Tracey

michael

February 1st, 2007, 06:01 AM

tmccartney66

February 1st, 2007, 06:27 AM

So to make sure I understand this correctly...

This is initially noticed on the handheld?
And it's true on the desktop as well?
What devices are you guys using?
What version of ActiveSync?
On the handheld is the .dat file stored no the card or in RAM?

I haven't had this happen (yet), but will monitor it closely to see if I can reproduce. If there are any other contributing factors that you feel are relevant, please let me know.

It happened to me after entering data in the trial version, back when Two Peaks had it. I had downloaded the trial in April '06 and then didn't use it again until June. When I went to open PVM on the desktop, after the trial had expired, all my data appeared to be gone. I don't think I had ever gotten sync to work, so I didn't have a backup on my phone. I originally thought that I just needed to register the program to recover my data, but that wasn't the case. By then, Two Peaks had stopped supporting the product.

I can only guess that something goes wrong with the structure of the database that keeps it from being readable in PVM or the Sqllite browser. I sincerely doubt there's any way to reliably reproduce this condition.

Tracey

Keith Douglass

February 3rd, 2007, 01:36 PM

I submitted an email way back right at the acquisition and offered to send a sample of the db. I got a response of "We are workign on a new release".
To answer your questions.
Noticed on both handheld and desktop. (I am only using desktop right now)
Windows XP Pro Sp2 - Dell Axim X50v
Activesync at the time of intial loss. Tried 4.2 beta sa,e results. Not runngin AS right now.
.dat file stored on a card. On the desktop, My documents. (Backed up to a backup dir). When I rename the active file and copy over the back up, I get the same results.

What is interesting is when I open the file, all of my settings and descriptions are there, and when you go to an entry, it is remembering your latest mileage and/or date. Just no data. I have over 15 months of data I can't access.

I am surprised you sound as you have not heard of this as this post has been out for a while, and I have emails from much earlier than that.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Keith

**I just opened my active dat file with notepad, and I can see some partial info of my missing entries, I close and go into PVM and click on that vehicle and those entries are not there**

**I would be willing to get an excel export or text file with the entires, so I can have them**

tmccartney66

February 3rd, 2007, 02:52 PM

**I would be willing to get an excel export or text file with the entires, so I can have them**

The old, "lost" entries won't export to Excel. I think this is a structural problem with the database.

Tracey

adriano

February 4th, 2007, 01:30 AM

Hi,

could you email your db to qa@iambic.com for Michael to do further investigation?

Regards,

- Adriano

michael

February 5th, 2007, 09:05 AM

Tracey,
I received your db. I can confirm what you're reporting. Please stand by while we investigate.

mkss55442

February 5th, 2007, 11:00 AM

Running 3.3 and yesterday "My Vehicles" shows no entries after having approximately 6 months worth of data. Both the desktop and PPC data bases appear to be about the correct size but both programs refuse to recognize the data. I'm running an Axim x51v.

michael

February 5th, 2007, 03:52 PM

michael

February 5th, 2007, 03:54 PM

The old, "lost" entries won't export to Excel. I think this is a structural problem with the database.
TraceyHi Tracey,
Please check your email. I have replied to you after you sent your .dat files over.

mkss55442

February 5th, 2007, 04:04 PM

If you downgrade back to 3.2 can you open the .dat files?

I don't know because I no longer have 3.2. Where can I download it from?

michael

February 5th, 2007, 04:06 PM

I don't know because I no longer have 3.2. Where can I download it from?

Click here (http://www.iambic.com/download/windowsmobile/obsolete/twopeaks_last_Personal%20Vehicle%20Manager/).

mkss55442

February 5th, 2007, 04:40 PM

Click here (http://www.iambic.com/download/windowsmobile/obsolete/twopeaks_last_Personal%20Vehicle%20Manager/).

Isn't that the old TwoPeaks version not 3.2? I found 3.2 in a Ghost archive but I also found a My Vehicles data file from about 2 weeks ago, the last time I filled up. I restored that file and my VM (3.3) opened my data file intact, both on my desktop and x51v. Very frustrating. I asked TwoPeaks this a long time ago...Why not sync the file instead of each record each time the device connects?

tmccartney66

February 5th, 2007, 06:11 PM

Hi Tracey,
Please check your email. I have replied to you after you sent your .dat files over.

I saw that and replied. Thanks.

I've got my old, bad database open in the SQLite Browser, and I'm wondering if for some reason PVM is periodically truncating the Entries table. Every other table, including the keyword table, is still intact.

Will Iambic consider refunds for this product? Between its inability to sync with most smartphones and this very bad habit of eating data, the program at this point is less than ineffective - it's actually a serious time waster.

Tracey

adriano

February 5th, 2007, 08:28 PM

Tracey,

Will Iambic consider refunds for this product? Between its inability to sync with most smartphones and this very bad habit of eating data, the program at this point is less than ineffective - it's actually a serious time waster.

I think we are doing better than that. We are working closely with you guys to figure out what is going wrong, and as far as the smartphone edition, we are working with Microsoft to get a privileged execution permission for the smartphone portion of the activesync provider, which is what is needed for it in order to run.

As far as VM truncating the entries tables on its own, I hardly doubt it it does something like that without even warning the user, but we are double-checking just in case.

Regards,

- Adriano

Keith Douglass

February 5th, 2007, 08:37 PM

Hi,

could you email your db to qa@iambic.com for Michael to do further investigation?

Regards,

- Adriano

I also sent over two db this afternoon.

Keith

michael

February 6th, 2007, 08:33 AM

I also sent over two db this afternoon.

KeithGot it Keith. We'll have a look.

michael

February 6th, 2007, 08:38 AM

For those of you here that have experienced disappearing data can you try to answer the following?

1. Do you recall what exact steps you took (entries added, vendors added, new vehicle, etc.) just before you recognized data missing?
2. Did a sync take place from the point you had all your data to when you realized some was missing?
3. Was maybe VM (or PVM) running on the device when you cradled it to initiate a sync?

I know these are very difficult questions to answer, but as much info you can provide would be much appreciated to help us reproduce this and fix it.

mkss55442

February 6th, 2007, 11:36 AM

Michael,
I had put data in a couple of weeks ago. I filled up yesterday and when I tried to enter the fuel fill the data was gone. I don't know what took place between the last entry and yesterday except many syncs. Highly unlikely that both applications were open at the same time as I almost never open the VM and always close PVM (via Wisbar) when data entry is done. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Mark

tmccartney66

February 6th, 2007, 11:43 AM

See my story at http://support.iambic.com/forum/showthread.php?p=99198#post99198

Tracey

Keith Douglass

February 7th, 2007, 10:22 AM

Michael,
Like stated above. I had done several entires on the Axim. I had sync'd numerous times. I had thought it was a fluke thing, and was able to restore from a recent backup. Again several syncs then gone.

Keith

michael

February 7th, 2007, 12:04 PM

Thanks guys. I'm still trying to reproduce. Please stand by for a few days. In the meantime, please backup your .dat file after making changes. Also, if you discover some particular action that might contribute, please let us know immediately.

tmccartney66

February 7th, 2007, 12:28 PM

I don't think you'll be able to produce it, because I think Two Peaks embedded a secret, randomly executed SQL query:
TRUNCATE TABLE entries

:haha:

Speaking of backups, I've been backing my data up using the Sqlite Browser (http://sqlitebrowser.sourceforge.net/). You can open your database in the browser and back it up to a Sql file.

Tracey

adriano

February 7th, 2007, 04:39 PM

I don't think you'll be able to produce it, because I think Two Peaks embedded a secret, randomly executed SQL query:
TRUNCATE TABLE entries

I can assure you that is not the case -- we did a search through the code ;)

most likely the issue occurrs in very specific situations during syncs, we suspect the culprit is the active sync provider.

- Adriano

Keith Douglass

February 8th, 2007, 01:25 PM

I can assure you that is not the case -- we did a search through the code ;)

most likely the issue occurrs in very specific situations during syncs, we suspect the culprit is the active sync provider.

- Adriano

I know you are still investigating this, but is it possible to reconstruct the lost data or read it in some form for re-entry or !!!

Thank you
Keith

tmccartney66

February 8th, 2007, 01:38 PM

I know you are still investigating this, but is it possible to reconstruct the lost data or read it in some form for re-entry or !!!

Thank you
Keith

Keith:

I'm no expert, programmer or Iambic employee, but the more I look into it, the more I think the data is just gone from the entries table. Somehow the data in the table gets erased while the table structure stays intact. I had originally thought the data was intact but inaccessible, but after looking at it in the Sqlite browser, I no longer think so.

But I could be wrong.

Tracey

Keith Douglass

February 8th, 2007, 02:31 PM

I can assure you that is not the case -- we did a search through the code ;)

most likely the issue occurrs in very specific situations during syncs, we suspect the culprit is the active sync provider.

- Adriano

Keith:

I'm no expert, programmer or Iambic employee, but the more I look into it, the more I think the data is just gone from the entries table. Somehow the data in the table gets erased while the table structure stays intact. I had originally thought the data was intact but inaccessible, but after looking at it in the Sqlite browser, I no longer think so.

But I could be wrong.

Tracey

Tracey,
I am not a programmer by any means but,
I agree with you there, as I too see the same thing with SQLBrowser, but when I open the dat file in say notepad I can partially see "old (lost)" entries. So I am ""HOPEFUL"" that they can be reconstructed in some fashion instead of lost to the Black Hold of code !!

Keith

tmccartney66

February 8th, 2007, 03:34 PM

Tracey,
I am not a programmer by any means but,
I agree with you there, as I too see the same thing with SQLBrowser, but when I open the dat file in say notepad I can partially see "old (lost)" entries. So I am ""HOPEFUL"" that they can be reconstructed in some fashion instead of lost to the Black Hold of code !!

Keith

When I opened mine in Notepad, I could see data I had entered, but I believe it's data that resides in the "keywords" table. In my case, it was descriptions of maintenance - "oil change", "front-end alignment", etc. I haven't been able to spot any of the dated entries, but the data file is a bit hard to read in Notepad. :)

Tracey

Keith Douglass

February 8th, 2007, 03:49 PM

When I opened mine in Notepad, I could see data I had entered, but I believe it's data that resides in the "keywords" table. In my case, it was descriptions of maintenance - "oil change", "front-end alignment", etc. I haven't been able to spot any of the dated entries, but the data file is a bit hard to read in Notepad. :)

Tracey

Tracey,
I am seeing entries, similar to you, but also notes. What I am not seeing as of yet is dates and mileages. But as you said code is a bit hard to read :) :(

Keith