Sun, 20 Nov 2005
- Key Terminology
- Working with Email
- Calendar short cuts
- Notification Profiles
- Making Calls
- Desktop Software
- Synchronization
- Installing and updating software
- Backing up data
- Emergency reboots
Key terminology
Throughout this document various keys will be referenced by name:
- shift The keys on either side of the space bar.
- alt The key below the A and to the left of the Z.
- power The key located at the far bottom right.
- escape The button just below the thumb wheel.
- enter The key located below the Del key and the right of the SYM key. Similar to the PC enter key.
- phone The key located at the top of the device. It is a short cut to the cell phone function.
Any statements that refer to scrolling or clicking without specifically referencing a key will be in reference to the thumb wheel on the right hand side of the Blackberry.
Working with email.
Open the Messages application. The Blackberry presents a list of all available messages, both sent and received, in reverse chronological order. Useful navigational short cuts that can avoid excessive scrolling:
- b Jump to the bottom of the list.
- t Jump to the top of the list.
- p Jump to previous day.
- n Jump to next day.
- space Page down.
- shift space Page up.
- r Reply to current message.
- f Forward current message.
- del Delete current message.
- enter Read current message.
- alt i Show only incoming mail.
- alt o Show only sent mail.
- alt p Show phone log messages.
- alt s Show SMS messages.
- alt v Show VoiceMail messages.
- escape Return to normal message view.
Deleting multiple messages at once:
Highlight a date (i.e. Fri, Oct 05, 2001) in the message list, press the thumb-wheel and select Delete Prior. All messages on that date and earlier will be deleted.
Hold down the shift key and use the thumb-wheel to scroll up or down to select multiple messages. Click the thumb-wheel and select 'Delete Messages'. Combine this with a sorting tip to make it even more useful. For example: to delete the last 5 messages that you have sent (checkmarks), press alt 'o' (for outgoing) this will show all of your sent messages, then per this tip scroll down and select the last five.
The Blackberry device has limited storage capacity. Be sure to delete unwanted email daily. Should the Blackberry become full, those sending email to you will have their message returned.
Useful shortcuts while reading a message:
- b Jump to the bottom of the message.
- t Jump to the top of the message.
- space or enter Page down.
- shift space or shift enter Page up.
- r Reply to current message.
- f Forward current message.
- p Jump to previous message.
- n Jump to next message.
- u Jump to closest unread message.
- del Delete current message.
Useful shortcuts while composing a message:
- Press the space key to insert the "@" and "." characters in an Email field. Backspace and type again to over-ride this like you would with AutoText.
- Press and hold a letter to capitalize it (with Key Rate enabled).
- Press the space key twice to insert a period and capitalize the next letter.
- Press and hold a letter key and roll the thumb-wheel to scroll through international/accent characters, equation symbols and other marks.
Calendar Shortcuts
When using the calendar the default mode is with Quick Entry enabled. In this mode an appointment can be entered in the selected timeslot simply by typing. Quick entry can be disabled by clicking for the calendar menu and selecting options. Highlight Enable Quick Entry and change it to no. Press escape and save the changes. With quick entry off several short cuts for calendar views become available:- c to create a new appointment.
- d to switch to Day view.
- w to switch to Week view.
- m to switch to Month view.
- n to switch to next day, week or month.
- p to switch to previous day, week or month.
- shift and roll the trackwheel to select more than one appointment.
- alt and roll the trackwheel in Day view to view the next or previous day.
- t to go to the Today view.
- g to go to a specific date.
Notification profiles.
The Blackberry offers various methods of notifying the user about device events. SMS messages, emails, phone calls, calendar and other events can all cause alarms. These alarms can have various forms: sound, lights, vibration or complete quiet. These alarms are controlled in the Profiles section. The Profiles section lists the various default alarm configurations. These profiles can be customized, or new one created. This allows the user to be notified by the Blackberry selectively. For instance, a user may care about calendar or email alarms but not SMS messages or voicemails.
To create a custom profile click the thumb wheel in the Profiles selection and select new. Give the profile a name. Now scroll to the new profile, click on it and select edit. There are seven different alarm triggers:
- Browser: No documentation available on this feature.
- Calendar: Occurs when a calendar event is due.
- Level 1 Message: This is related to special filtering performed by the Blackberry web client.
- Messages: Occurs when an email arrives, including voicemail.
- Phone: Occurs when a call is incoming.
- SMS: Occurs when a SMS message arrives.
- Tasks: Occurs when a task is due.
Each alarm trigger can be edited by clicking on the trigger and selecting edit from the menu. The editing screen is then presented. Each trigger has two possible states: Out of Holster or In Holster. Using this screen, scroll to any setting and click on it to change. When finished, press the escape key to save the changes and return to the alarm trigger listing. Repeat this for all the triggers you wish to edit. Afterwards, press the escape key to save the profile being edited and return to the Profiles listing. Scroll to the custom profile and click on it to activate.
Making calls.
Scrolling to the phone icon or pressing the phone button (typcially at the top of the Blackberry) will activate the Blackberry to make phone calls. Scroll to the blank line below My Number and enter the desired phone number. The number pad is automatically activated. Press enter to dial the call. The bottom half of the screen shows a history of recently dialed numbers. Scrolling to one and clicking it will give the option to dial the number, SMS the number or add it to the address book or speed dial list. To access the numbers stored in the address book simply press a letter. The Blackberry will begin searching the address book starting at that letter. From there, scroll to and click the desired number.
While on a call the phone button will act as a mute button.
Speed dial
The Blackberry speed dial list can be accessed when using the phone application. Clicking the thumb wheel will offer the option to view the speed dial list. The speed dial list is an alphabetacal list. Twenty-six speed dial numbers, one for each letter, are allowed. 'W' is already set as voicemail. You can program the speed dials by scrolling to the desired letter and clicking. From there a phone number can be associated to that letter either from the address book or manually entered. To use a speed dial press and hold the speed dial letter. The phone will automatically dial the number.
Installing and using the desktop software
Blackberry desktop software is used to synchronize personal data, like contacts and calendar, with both a computer and the Blackberry. Blackberry desktop software can be acquired from a wireless provider's website (e.g. T-Mobile or Rogers) or from your system administrator. When running the install program, choose the Typical install type and the Blackberry Internet Service. The installer offers to have the desktop manager to start automatically. This is a good option to have as it enables the Blackberry to synchronize automatically when it is plugged into the computer.
When the install is completed, start the desktop software. Plug the Blackberry into the computer using the supplied USB cable. Windows may install a driver for the Blackberry. Wait until this is finished. Go to Options on the top menu and select Connection Settings. Use the Connection combo box to select the Blackberry device. This is typically identified by a USB-PIN: string. Press OK. The desktop software will now indicate that the Blackberry is connected.
Synchronizing
The desktop software must now be configured before it can synchronize with Outlook. With the Blackberry still plugged into the computer, open the Intellisync icon. When the window opens press the Configure PIM button. The desktop software is able to synchronize the address book, calendar, memo pad and task list of the Blackberry with many types of personal information software. This example assumes that Outlook will be the target.
To synchronize the address book with Outlook check the address book check box and press the Choose button. If this is the first configuration attempt the choose button may be activated automatically. Select MS Outlook from the application list provided. Press OK. Repeat this action for each information group to be synchronized. Press OK when finished. Press the Auto Start button. This feature enables synchornization to occur automatically when the Blackberry is connected to the computer. Check the Synchronize PIM and Update handheld's date and time boxes and press OK. Press the close button to return to the default desktop software screen. Unplug the Blackberry and then plug it back in again. The Blackberry should begin synchronizing. The software will ask for confirmation about any information conflicts.
Installing or updating software
The Blackberry desktop software is also used to install new Blackberry applications or update existing ones. To install new software, download the desired application and save it to the PC. Start the Application Loader in the Blackberry desktop manager. After the application loader scans the Blackberry, it will present a list of available software both on and off of the Blackberry. Titles with check boxes checked are installed on the Blackberry. Check boxes that are not checked are available to install. If the previously downloaded application is not present on the list click the add button. Locate and select the saved application with the resulting dialog box. Once the software is added to the list it may be selected and installed via the next button. To remove software start the application loader again. Uncheck the software that is to be removed and press next.
The application loader can also be used to update the Blackberry operating system. New OS updates for the Blackberry are provided by the carrier and may be downloaded from their website. When the file is downloaded run it. The software will install itself where the application loader can find it. Start the application loader and check the new software for installation.
Backing up data
The Backup and Restore application in the Blackberry desktop manager allows the user to backup and restore all data stored on the the Blackberry. Open backup and restore. Pressing the backup button will prompt the user to determine the location of the backup file. Do so and press save. The software will begin copying all data and configuration information from the Blackberry to the choosen location. To restore this data to the Blackberry, or any Blackberry, use the restore button and choose the backup file.
Emergency reboots.
Occassionally, the Blackberry may stop responding or behave erratically. A full reboot of the Blackberry will usually return it to normal operation. A full reboot is performed by removing the battery from the back of the Blackberry. Wait for 10 seconds and then replace the battery. The battery is located beneth the access panel located on the back of the Blackberry. It is black and rectangular. Once the battery is replaced the Blackberry will begin to boot. The boot time can take several minutes. Once the Blackberry has started successfully, check the wireless status. Scroll to the wireless icon near the bottom. If the wireless is working the text below the icon should read Turn Wireless Off. If it reads Turn Wireless On then click the icon to do so.
Sometimes the Blackberry's wirelss functions may turn off. If that happens, Scroll to the wireless icon near the bottom of the icon list. If the wireless is working the text below the icon should read Turn Wireless Off. If it reads Turn Wireless On then click the icon to do so.
If your Blackberry ever has problems sending or receiving mail the device may no longer be registered properly with its network. Go into Options > Service Book. Highlight the Web Client Service book, click and choose delete. Once gone, click the thumbwheel and choose Undelete. When it is undeleted, the device reregisters itself with the messaging system which should return mail to normal service.