Configuring Outlook Calendar
The Preference Settings in the Outlook Calendar dialog box offer a number of options (referred to as "topics").

Categories/Folders
Selecting "Categories/Folders" from the topic list displays the dialog box shown in Figure I.

FIGURE I


If you decide you want to change your category settings you can do so for each conduit. Roll over picture for a larger image.

This topic allows you to determine on a conduit-by-conduit basis whether you want to synchronize the categories on your Palm device with the custom "PalmPilot Category" or with Outlook's Category field. But, as I stated earlier, you'll be able to more fully use Outlook's category features if you stick with the custom "PalmPilot Category." You'll also notice that if you're using PocketMirror 3.0 Professional, you can synchronize with folders in Outlook.

HotSync Action
At first glance, this seems to duplicate many of the same functions found in the HotSync Manager's Custom dialog box. But a closer look at Figure J shows that this topic offers several unique options.

FIGURE J


The HotSync Action topic lets you carefully control your Palm device's data. Roll over picture for a larger image.

For example, under permanent action you can choose to synchronize just once every day (or any other daily interval you choose). This can be quite useful if your calendar doesn't change much and you want to speed up the HotSync process. Admittedly, it makes more sense to use this feature with modules like Outlook Contacts or Notes.

This topic also gives you some additional one-time HotSync options. "Backup to Palm Desktop" safely archives your data, providing a convenient backup. Should you need this backup, simply select "Restore from Palm Desktop" to recover.

"Backup Private Records" and "Restore Private Records" function in a similar way. These choices will be active or grayed out depending on the settings you choose under the Private Items topic.

Location Delimiter
PocketMirror adds the text in Outlook's Location field to your handheld appointments using the delimiter you choose from the drop-down menu, as shown in Figure K.

FIGURE K


Thanks to the Location Delimiter, you'll always know where your meeting is. Roll over picture for a larger image.

Once you've chosen (), [], {}, or <> as the location delimiter, you should be careful how you use those symbols in the text of any appointment you create on your Palm device. Any text you place within the chosen set of brackets will be synchronized to the location field in Outlook. Also, in some cases, misuse of the location delimiter may generate a synchronization error when you HotSync.

Meetings
PocketMirror can add a "Mtg:" prefix to all appointments to which attendees have been invited, as shown in Figure L.

FIGURE L


The "Mtg:" prefix lets you know which appointments are meetings. Roll over picture for a larger image.

This can be quite helpful, as the note in this dialog box points out.

Multi-day appointments
As you know, Outlook supports multi-day appointments, but the Date Book application on your Palm device doesn't. This topic lets you choose whether you want to have multi-day appointments split up, or leave them intact in Outlook and only show the multi-day appointment for the first day on your Palm device, as shown in Figure M.