TOPIC: Transfer uncompleted report from laptop to office computer

Every report I do I copy from my Q to my laptop using a thumb drive.

I rather look at the larger screen at home.

Only once and I hope I dont do it again was when I deleted the report data I did on site instead of the template I created in the office.

So actually I create report on laptop/s\desktop and transfer to Q. Do report in field and transfer back.

I also update contacts, templates.

Sometimes I forget to transfer contacts when I create a new agent.

I set up the HIP folder on both my laptop and desktop as shared folders so when i get back from an inspection I just open HIP on my desktop go to network locations, select my laptop and then the file.  (both are connected to my wireless network)  Once open on my desktop, I save it to the local disk even before I start editing.  Having folders on both systems 'shared' also makes it easy to transfer other HIP files from one to the other as needed.  There may be an easier way, but this works pretty well for me.

I maintain a sync between three different computers, sometimes four, in addition to regular backups.
I sync an old Compaq desktop, an HP convertible tablet, a Motion LE-800 and a Motion M-1400.
I start the inspection setup at home, sync to the tablet I will take with me, do the inspection and then sync it back when I get back to the office and finish it on the desktop on my dual 20 inch monitors.  I have the picture folder open on the second monitor so I an see what picture "810006.jpg" actually is by looking at the thumbnail. ;D

The program I use is called SyncBack Pro from here:
www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/sbpro-new.html (latest version)
There is a "non-pro" version that is cheaper too.

I sync over my internal network and simply sync the entire HIP folder. Everything is synced and the same on each that way.  Which ever comp I grab and run out the door with will have all the latest info and anything I have customized on the desktop. No more messing with easily losable flash drives. Plug it into the network, hit the sync that I have pre-configured for that machine combo and it's done in about 30 seconds.
Simple is best. Using flash drives is pretty easy but I have a crap ton of them and they all look alike. Now I have to plug each one in and look at what is on it before I use it or I get stuff spread all over the place. :'(

I run HIP on three different comps. It depends on the type of inspection as to which portable I grab.
I use an old Motion M-1400 slate tablet for homes, a Motion LS-800 (smaller screen) for condos and always complete all reports on the desktop where I have all my fancy editing stuff for the pics.

All are kept synced over the network using an program called SyncBack Pro that I happened to have from testing and reviewing it. There are many other sync programs available.  I sync the entire HIP directory so everything is the same on all comps. Every sync is a "SmartSync" that looks at and compares the files and only updates the ones that have changed or are missing on one side or the other.

I found a sweet FREE program to optimize the photos and reduce the file sizes substantially without loss of detail and usability. It's called FileMinimizerPictures from www.Balesio.com .  I use the Pro version for the same reason mentioned above. It has more bells and whistles but you don't need that for this work. It shrinks the picture file size by up to 80% and you really cannot tell the difference in this situation. It's NOT a "zipping" program that requires the program to unzip and view. Anyone can view them, unlike 7-Zip or other zipping programs.  It even has an automatic upload to Facebook if you want.  Pretty sweet for a free app.

I archive all the raw, high definition pics for record keeping.  The optimized ones are used in the report.

I run all the optimized pics through a "normalizer" filter in XNView (another great free application) to brighten the dark ones and tone down the over exposed ones.

THEN I open the optimized folder in SnagItPro Editor and annotate them as needed. NOW they are ready to import into HIP.

I know this sounds like a lot of dancing around and extra work but it goes pretty quickly when you are used to it.  It only takes me about an half an hour to 45 minutes to do all 50 or 60 pics and the results are stellar. It really makes the report look great.  I get compliments all the time.
I don't use all the pics in the report usually but sometimes... :

Hi Dana,

Do your minimizer and annotator have any features that aren't built into HIP?

I really need to test SyncBack

Yeah I would like to know more about that SyncBack.  I am thinking of doing something like this so I don't have to keep using a thumb drive all the time.