PasswordWallet Application Manual

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Fundamentals of Sync

The following will help you understand what is happening when you sync your PasswordWallet data:

  1. Your entries in PasswordWallet are stored in files. On Mac and Windows these files are named by *you* on your hard drive and the files are protected with *your* password. PasswordWallet files should have a ".passwordWallet4" suffix.
  2. Files on the iPhone can be found inside PasswordWallet by tapping "Manage Files" on the main screen of PasswordWallet.
  3. PasswordWallet syncs files together. Files on one device or computer are synced with files on another device or computer when their filenames and passwords match.
  4. It is an error if the master passwords of two files do not match but still have the same filename.

Mac- or Windows-to-iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches Synchronization

There are a few ways to sync an iOS device (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) with a Mac or Windows:

  1. Through a Dropbox account
  2. Through a WebDAV account
  3. Directly between a device or computer over WiFi
    (Windows users: Start the sync from Windows PasswordWallet only.)
  4. Over USB
    (All users: Start the sync from iOS device only.)

To synchronize with any of the above methods (starting with the device or computer as noted above) do the following:

  • Starting on Mac or Windows: From the "File" menu select "Network Synchronization".
  • Starting on an iOS device: Run "PW" on your device and tap "Synchronize".

A wizard will appear and will walk you through all of the steps required to sync.

After successfully completing the synchronization wizard, PasswordWallet will automatically save synchronization settings with a name. To sync again with the same settings, just select it.

Settings can also be modified. When modifying settings, PasswordWallet will step you through each step of the wizard with your previous settings filled in and ready for changes.

Synchronization is not working!

Errors when syncing with a device or computer:

Try the following:

  • If you're syncing to an Apple computer, or Windows, be sure PasswordWallet is running on it.
  • If you're syncing to an iPhone, iPod, iPad, be sure PasswordWallet is running on it, and you're on the sync screen.
  • If you're syncing to a Windows computer, use the synchronization wizard on Windows to sync.
  • Be sure 'Allow connections from other PasswordWallets' is checked in Network Sync Preferences.
  • Be sure your software firewalls are off in your computer's security settings.
  • Be sure your hardware firewalls are off. Some routers will not allow discovery or data sharing on the private side of the firewall. Even if a router allows discovery, it may not allow communication.
  • Restart your router. I'm not kidding! (The author's original Apple Airport Base Station needs to be restarted every three days.)
  • Be sure both this device and the computer or device you are syncing with are on the same WiFi network and subnet.
  • Direct device and computer synchronization happens on your internal network. This uses different technology than what you would use to get to a public web site. Not all routers handle internal communication well.
  • If none of the above help, you may have to sync through Dropbox or WebDAV.

Errors when syncing with Dropbox and WebDAV:

Try the following:

  1. Be sure you have a backup of your data on your computer in a sequestered location. Make a copy!
  2. On Mac OS X and Windows there is a popup menu next to each saved sync. Select "Reset sync info on server...".
  3. On iOS, tap the details on a saved sync. And tap "Reset sync info".
  4. Then delete data from all other devices that sync with that server.
  5. Sync again.

Backing up and Restoring Data

To move your file back and forth between your computer and device, run "PW" on your device and tap "Backup & Restore".

If your data is missing from your device and you have no backups, run the PasswordWallet Backup Extractor on the SAME computer you've previously synced through iTunes with. The extractor is available for Mac OS X and Windows.

Download the "PasswordWallet Backup Extractor" to your computer.

Mac-to-WindowsMobile Synchronization

Synchronizing files between your Mac and Windows Mobile devices requires MissingSync for Windows Mobile. MissingSync maintains the connection to the device while the PasswordWallet conduit (portions of which are also built in to PasswordWallet) performs the synchronization. PasswordWallet does not have to be running for the synchronization to execute.

PasswordWallet for Windows Mobile will execute on any Windows Mobile 5 device, be it PocketPC or Smartphone. To begin, plug in your device and confirm that it is recognized by MissingSync. Select "File" menu → "Synchronize" → Windows Mobile

  1. Installation of PasswordWallet for Windows Mobile:

    Push "Install" under step 1. PasswordWallet will communicate with your device, determine if it is a PocketPC or Windows Mobile device, and install the correct version on your device. After you push "Install", MissingSync may have a question for you. Push "Default" if it is confusing.

  2. Installation of the Conduit:

    Push "Install" under step 2.

  3. Choosing files to synchronize:

    Push "Configure" under step 3. Add and remove files to synchronize with the remote device. Drag and Drop works. Or you can push the "+" button to add a file or the "-" button to remove a file. Files that do not exist on the device will be copied to the device. Files are never copied off the device by the conduit.

  4. To synchronize:

    Run MissingSync and push "Synchronize".

  5. On the device, be sure to choose the file you want to view under Options. PasswordWallet will create a MyWallet file by default and this is probably not the name of the file you synced.

Mac-to-Palm Synchronization

We recommend MissingSync for Palm as it is a modern Cocoa app still maintained by Mark/Space. HotSync from Palm has not seen a major update for over 5 years. Our conduit and synchronization work best in MissingSync. To begin, select "File" menu → "Synchronize" → Windows Mobile

  1. Install PasswordWallet on your Palm OS device.
  2. Installing the conduit that allows the data on the Palm and the data on your Mac to synchronize.
  3. Configuring the conduit with your preferences.

Sync with Automator Action

Enclosed in PasswordWallet's application is an automator action. Automator will find the Synchronization Action automatically. There is nothing special to do. So long as PasswordWallet is installed in your Applications folder, Automator will find it.

After running automator, the action can be found under "Library" -> "Utilities" -> "Synchronize Files". The action will have a PasswordWallet icon.

The automator action, for input, requires two files. These are most easily fed by the "Finder" action named "Get Specified Finder Items". The automator action expects only two files. The automator action will generate an error if exactly two files are not fed to it.

A sample Automator action can be copied to the desktop from the "File" menu → Synchronize → with Automator

Synchronizing two files

To use this menu item, open up a saved PasswordWallet document. When open, select this menu item to set up the synchronization. In the sheet that is presented, select the "Remote" file to synchronize with as well as the synchronization type. The original file will be closed temporarily and will be automatically re-opened. If the remote file is also open, it too will be closed and reopened automatically. You may be asked for the master password for either file when they reopen.