Technical SupportFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)General
Platform Inquiries
Windows
Windows Mobile (Pocket PC and Smartphone)
Palm OS
WebWISER
GeneralA: For Windows, Windows Mobile, and Palm OS platforms, WISER is available through download from this web site. Please go to the Download page. If you are unable to download you may contact us to request a CD. However, download access is preferable so that you can keep current with WISER updates. A web-based version of WISER, WebWISER, is also available. Only an Internet browser is required. Both PC- and mobile-based browsers are supported. A: The WISER download is a setup program that will install the correct files to your desktop/laptop and, if applicable, your mobile device. After downloading the Windows setup program to your PC, double-click on it and follow the instructions it presents. For detailed instructions, read the corresponding README files for the Palm OS, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile Smartphone, or Windows platforms. Q: What operating systems / versions are required? A: See the separate questions for:
Q: What other software is required? A: WISER for Palm OS requires the Palm HotSync software to install the WISER application on the device. No additional software on the device is required. WISER for the Windows Mobile platforms (Pocket PC and Smartphone) requires a PC with the appropriate software for synchronizing with the mobile device. On Windows XP (or earlier) PCs, ActiveSync 4.x or later is required. Windows Vista already includes the required software, Windows Mobile Device Center, but version 6 or later of that software is required. The latest versions of either can be downloaded here. The Windows Mobile platforms also require the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1, which is bundled with the WISER software and automatically installed. WISER for Windows® requires the Microsoft® .NET Framework 2.0 or above. The WISER setup program will verify if this is already installed and, if not, will automatically download and install it. Note that the .NET installation requires administrative privileges. A: WISER for Windows depends on the Microsoft .NET Framework, which the WISER setup program will install if required. However, uninstalling WISER will not uninstall .NET because .NET is system software, and there is no way to know if other applications on your PC require it. If you are sure it is not required for anything else, you may uninstall it by going to the Windows Control Panel and selecting Add/Remove Programs. Similarly, on the Windows Mobile platforms (Pocket PC and Smartphone), WISER is dependent on Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1, and it will remain after uninstalling WISER unless it is manually removed via Start-->Settings-->Remove Programs. Q: How much memory is required? Why so much? A: The vast majority of the memory required for WISER is storage space for the WISER database. WISER contains a wide range of information available for each substance, and that wealth of substance data takes considerable space. WISER for Palm OS requires approximately 8.5 megabytes of space for the databases and application. The application is able to read the data from either the handheld memory or from a storage card. On the Windows Mobile platforms (Pocket PC and Smartphone), WISER requires approximately 15 megabytes of storage space, either on the device or on a storage card. However, an amount of that same size is also temporarily required on the device during installation (in other words, 30 megabytes are required during the installation process). Up to 8 megabytes more of program memory is required to run WISER. WISER for Windows® requires approximately 20 megabytes of hard disk space. Q: How are upgrades of the downloadable versions of WISER handled? A: The downloaded WISER setup program will automatically upgrade previous installations of WISER. To ensure you are aware of new releases of WISER, please subscribe to the WISER e-mail list. In addition, WISER for Windows provides an automatic update check capability. If enabled (via the File-->Preference menu option), and if connected to the Internet, WISER will automatically check the WISER web site for a new version each time it is started. This check can also be manually invoked by selecting the Check for Updates option from the Help menu. A similar capability is available for the Windows Mobile platforms (Pocket PC and Smartphone). A version check utility is included on the PC as part of the WISER installation. Each time synchronization with the mobile device occurs, this utility will check for a new version of WISER. To enable/disable this capability, or to manually invoke the check, open the Windows Start menu and select Check for Updates from the WISER group. Q: Can I just download the WISER data? A: No, a data-only download/update capability is not available, and it wouldn't t provide any savings or benefit over the complete download and install. The database alone comprises 90% of the download, whereas the application is very small and fast to install. So, to ensure that users always have the latest versions of the application, database, and documentation, the only downloads we provide install everything. Q: This FAQ doesn't answer my question; how do I get my question answered? A: Please contact us. Feedback/questions are monitored daily, and we will do our best to answer questions immediately. Platform InquiriesQ: Can you recommend a mobile device for running WISER? A: A summary of options follows:
Q: Why isn't WISER available for [fill-in-your-platform here]? A: Our goal with the WISER project is to provide a solution that can operate in a standalone, disconnected mode on the platforms that are most common for our primary user base: 1st responders. These platforms include Microsoft Windows PCs, Windows Mobile devices, and Palm OS devices. For other platforms, support is available via WebWISER, the functionally-equivalent, Internet version of WISER. It can be accessed from any web browser, including those on mobile devices like BlackBerries and iPhones. Funding and resources are limited, so we cannot support development for platforms which are not common among our users, and on which WebWISER is available as an alternative. See the following questions for further details regarding specific platforms. Q: What about BlackBerry support? A: While there is enough demand to warrant development of a standalone version of WISER for BlackBerry devices, it is not currently part of our schedule due to technical issues. WISER relies on a relational database, and a freely distributable database for BlackBerry devices is not currently available that can fill our needs. When this issue can be adequately resolved, we will reconsider adding support for the BlackBerry. In the meantime, BlackBerry devices are supported by WebWISER, the Internet version of WISER. A: iPhone and iPod Touch devices are supported by virtue of the availability of WebWISER, the Internet version of WISER. In regards to a standalone version of WISER, Apple has only recently opened the iPhone platform to development of installable 3rd-party applications, and currently the iPhone is not prevalent among our core user group: 1st responders. Until these conditions change we will not add the iPhone to our roadmap. Q: What about Macintosh or Linux support? A: These platforms are supported by virtue of the availability of WebWISER, the functionally-equivalent, Internet version of WISER. Apple's Safari is one of the browsers included in our testing. In general, Macintosh and Linux machines are not used in the field by 1st responders, and the handful of users who have inquired about support for these platform are usually satisfied with the availability of WebWISER. Thus, there are no plans to develop standalone versions of WISER for Macintosh or Linux. Q: Are you aware of the new Android platform? Any plans to support it? A: Yes! Android is a project of the Open Handset Alliance to build a complete, open, and free mobile platform. Hardware for this Google-backed platform is expected to be available sometime later in 2008. Anticipating that this may be a popular platform among our user base, we have already developed a basic version of WISER as part of the Google-sponsored Android Developer Challenge. If this platform proves viable and in-demand by our users, we will quickly be able to release an Android version of WISER. WindowsQ: What versions of Microsoft Windows are supported? A: WISER for Windows® requires a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer running Windows 98 or later. Note that WISER is only tested on Windows XP and Vista. At least 23 megabytes of hard disk space is required. The Microsoft® .NET Framework 2.0 or greater is also required. If your computer does not have .NET installed, the WISER for Windows® setup program will aid in downloading and installing it. A: WISER for Windows depends on Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0. Previous versions depended on .NET 1.1, which is a separate installation from .NET 2.0, and which will not be automatically removed when upgrading WISER. Since .NET 2.0 supports backwards compatibility, you should be able to remove .NET 1.1 even if your PC has other applications that require it. To do so, go to Add/Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel. A: A silent install can be achieved by executing the setup program with "/SILENT" or "/VERYSILENT" command-line parameters, e.g., WISER_Windows_Setup.exe /VERYSILENT The "/SILENT" option will still display a progress dialog, while "/VERYSILENT" will not display anything. It may also be relevant to know that the setup is not a MSI (Windows Installer) package (WISER is packaged using the InnoSetup installation tool.) Windows Mobile (Pocket PC and Smartphone)Q: What's the distinction between a Pocket PC and Smartphone? A: The Microsoft definition of a Smartphone is a phone+PDA device that runs Windows Mobile but does NOT have a touch screen interface (does not use a stylus). A Windows Mobile device that has a touch screen (uses a stylus), whether integrated with a phone or not, is a Pocket PC. Because of the difference in the user interface, there are two different downloads of WISER to support these two devices: WISER for Pocket PC and WISER for Smartphone. Q: What Pocket PCs are supported? A: WISER for Pocket PC (which is for devices with a touch screen interface) requires a Pocket PC 2003 (version 4.x of the Windows CE operating system) or later device (which includes Window Mobile Pocket PCs). NOTE that, as of version 2.3 of WISER, Pocket PC 2002 (version 3.x) devices are no longer supported. However, an old version of WISER that supported those devices is still available for download. Q: What Smartphones are supported? A: WISER for Smartphone (which is for devices that do not have a touch screen) requires a Windows Mobile 5.0 or later device (operating system version 5.x or later). 2002 and 2003 editions of the Smartphone are NOT supported. Q: Which WISER do I download for my Palm Treo Smartphone? If your Treo runs Windows Mobile, then download WISER for Pocket PC. The Palm and Microsoft definition of a Smartphone is different. Your Treo has a touch screen interface, and thus is considered a Pocket PC (it runs Windows Mobile for Pocket PC Phone Edition).If your Treo runs Palm OS, then you need WISER for Palm OS. WISER can be installed to a storage card, but before the setup can present the prompt for the desired location, it must temporarily download setup files to your device. If your device does not have enough storage space for these temporary files, a "Not Enough Space On Device" dialog will be presented on your PC. Aside from deleting unneeded programs and files to free up space, this can be resolved by installing WISER directly to a storage card. For the detailed procedures, see the Resolving Installation Errors section of the README for Smartphone or README for Pocket PC. There are two common causes of this error:
A: Check the version of Microsoft ActiveSync: on your PC, open ActiveSync, and select "About Microsoft ActiveSync from the Help menu. If the version is not at least 4.0, then you must upgrade it (Click here to download it). Installation of WISER and its dependencies (Microsoft .NET CF 2.0) require Microsoft ActiveSynce 4.0 or later; failure to upgrade will result in the error described in the question. A: WISER for Pocket PC depends on "Microsoft .NET CF 2.0". Previous versions depended on "Microsoft .NET Compact Framework" (the 1.0 version), which is a separate installation, and which will not be automatically removed when upgrading WISER. Unless there is another application on your device that specifically requires it, you should be able to remove it. To do so, go to Start-->Settings-->System-->Remove Programs, and remove"Microsoft .NET Compact Framework". Prior to version 2.3 of WISER for Pocket PC, Microsoft SQL CE 2.0 was also a dependency. If there are no other applications on your Pocket PC that require it, it can similarly be removed. Palm OSQ: What versions of Palm OS are supported? A: WISER for Palm OS requires a device with Palm OS version 3.5 or above. Q: What version of WISER do I download for my Palm Treo Smartphone? See above.Q: Installation to the Palm OS device is very slow!? A: The databases for WISER are large, so they will take several minutes to install. With a USB connection, synchronization time can approach 10 minutes for an older (e.g., 4.x) device. Note that there are issues with earlier versions of the Palm Desktop that cause the installation to be significantly slower. It is recommended that you upgrade your Palm Desktop software to the latest from the Palm web site. Q: Why can't I sync to the Tungsten T5 or Treo 650? A: Known issues with synchronizing large files to these devices have been fixed in ROM updates available from Palm. For more details, please see the README file for WISER for PalmOS. A: Do you have a storage card in your device? If so, pop it out and try to run WISER again. If this works, you have old database files on the card; delete them, or HotSync the database files to your card instead of handheld memory. Following are details of this issue: Running the new WISER program against an old database results in this behavior. Because WISER can run against databases that have been HotSync'd to either a storage card or to handheld memory, it is easy to create this scenario if the database files have not been updated in both places. If your device has a storage card, WISER will first look for its database there, and if not found there it will look in handheld memory. So, if you sync all three WISER files (the .prc program file and both .pdb database files) of the new version to the handheld, but still have old versions of the .pdb files on a storage card, you will encounter the problem. WISER looks on the card first in order to support devices with limited memory. It allows the large database files to reside on a card, but still install the program to handheld memory for better performance. Further, a smaller version of the database can be installed to handheld memory, and it will automatically be used by WISER if the card with the full database is removed. WebWISERQ: What web browsers are supported? A: Theoretically, WebWISER should work with any PC- or mobile-based web browser. It is tested against a BlackBerry browser and against the following PC-based browsers:
Q: Why does some WebWISER content not display properly on my BlackBerry? A: In the Browser Configuration Options, make sure that the options "Support HTML Tables" and "Support Style Sheets" are checked (enabled). Without these options there is certain content that will display very poorly. It is also recommended that the "Show Images" option be set to include HTML pages; the PDA-friendly version of WebWISER has intentionally been designed to avoid images as much as possible, but some content, in particular the WISER Tools, will not be useful without images. |