Larry Garfield looks at DateBk5, the heir to one of the oldest replacement applications for the Palm OS ever. He decides it lives up to its pedigree.
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One of the oldest replacement applications ever for the Palm OS is Pimlico Software's DateBk series. Now up to DateBk5 v5.1, DateBk5 offers users a thousand and one features in one cohesive is somewhat daunting package.
 | DateBk5 builds off of the default Date Book, and adds immense customization
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Primarily a Palm Date Book replacement, the 668 KB DateBk5 integrates all four of the basic PIM applications into one calendaring-centric application. DateBk5 uses the existing PIM databases, which means no migration issues when installing. All of DateBk5's extra meta data for each record is stored in the record's Note entry and then hidden from the user. That means that no desktop conduits needed, but also means that there is no desktop support for DateBk5's extra information and other PIM applications will have extra weird characters in the start of many Note fields.
The basic interface for DateBk5 is based directly off of the default Date Book, which reduces the leaning curve. However, there are so many features and customization options that the leaning curve for DateBk5 is still fairly high. The single New button lets the user create any of the basic PIM records (appointment, To Do, etc.) as well as a Daily Journal (recorded as an untimed event), Floating Events (fancy To Dos) Call appointments (single-time events with auto-generated text), and various others. All records can have their own color, font, and icon settings, allowing for very easy visual cues or a complete visual mess, as the user prefers.
DateBk5 can also show To Do items inline or via a split screen. The split screen also supports Address Book entries Memos, and only selected categories of each. In fact, the program adds category support to appointment records, too, and lets the user view any number of categories at once. Appointment categories also have another interesting side-effect. The user can beam an entire category of appointments to another user with DateBk5, and have that new category overwrite the category on the other device completely. That lets, for example, two people keep copies of each other's schedules in separate "His" and "Hers" categories and then just rebeam their own category to the other and they're fully in sync.
 | Users can customize appointments and to dos extensively
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Other features added to the basic records are alarms on To Dos, auto-repeat and auto-advance To Dos, and more maximum rings on an alarm. DateBk5 also lets users define templates for new records, and link Appointments to other records.
Because the program is so customizable, it also supports saved views. Saved views let the user save certain preferences sets and then view them again later at another time. That allows for, say, a "my work schedule" view, a "my family's schedules" view, and so on. Setting up and restoring saved views is somewhat tricky, however, and may lead to confusion for some users.
DateBk5's extensive feature set and extreme customizability are its key advantages, but are also its main drawbacks. All of that power and flexibility leads to a very packed and often daunting interface. The program has been cleaned up since our last look at DateBk4, so preferences are easier to get to, and there is extensive online help available, but we still suggest users read through the lengthy 100-page illustrated electronic manual. We're concerned that the program needs such a long manual, but it is there and it is very complete. On older, slower devices, the program can also be a bit sluggish when loading or switching views, although on more recent devices that problem goes away.
Availability
DateBk5 is available now for $24.95 USD, and a trial version is also available. Discounts are available for users of previous versions of the program. DateBk5 runs on any Palm OS 2.0 or higher handheld, and supports Sony HighRes and PalmSource High-Density displays.
Conclusion
A list of what DateBk5 doesn't do would be shorter than what it does do. DateBk5 sets the bar for PIM customization on Palm OS devices, with nearly any view configuration possible. Using the built-in databases means that it doesn't need a separate desktop conduit, but also means that the user can't access advanced features from the desktop. The zillion-and-one options (that is a technical term) also makes for a somewhat high learning curve. Users who are willing to take the time to learn the ins and outs of the program, however, should find it a complete and flexible solution to keeping track of today's overly busy schedules.
What’s positive: Extremely powerful and customizable, no conduit needed
What’s negative: High learning curve, large size, no conduit
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Price and availability
The will start selling for TBA () in November 1999.
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