Syncing Psion Series 3c PDA to PC -> Outlook ?

[MitzEclipse]

Syncing Psion Series 3c PDA to PC -> Outlook ?

Hi All,

Is it possible to sync my OLD Psion Series 3c PDA to my PC via USB? Do they even make USB cables for the Series 3c?

Is there any syncing software that I will need to purchase to do this? Where can I buy the software and cable?

Is this easy to do? I mainly want to transfer about 300 contacts from the Psion to Outlook. I don't really care on keeping them in sync as I am now using a different PDA. I just want to bring these old contacts onto my PC.

I am using Windows XP Pro and a Psion Series 3c PDA

Thank you!

[Jim Cooke]

If you only want to transfer the contacts, the cheap thing to do is to first export from the 3c Data file to a CSV or tab delimited file. Do you happen to have a computer, or acces to one, that still has a serial port? If so, it would just be a matter of using PsiWin 1.1 to transfer the exported file to that PC. You could then copy the file to a floppy or CD and load it on your new PC. It would then be a matter of importing the file into Outlook using field mapping.

The expensive way to do this would be first buy a USB to Serial convertor. Many don't work with a Psion although the Belkin line has proven pretty reliable. You could then follow the same steps outlined above to transfer the file to your new computer and import into Outlook.

[MitzEclipse]

Originally posted by Jim Cooke
If you only want to transfer the contacts, the cheap thing to do is to first export from the 3c Data file to a CSV or tab delimited file.

How do I convert the 3c Data file to CSV? I have *NEVER* Sync'ed before and thus all of the contacts were entered via the Psion not PC.

I just mearly want to get all of the contacts on to the PC just one time - can I do this via IR? Is there a method to do this without buying any cables?

My parents new pc is a Dell 2400 which i believe only has USB no more serial.

Thanks in advace

[Jim Cooke]

It's been a while so someone with a 3c may correct me but you can convert the 3c Data file directly on the 3c. You go to File and then it's either Save As or Export. Give the file a name and then export with either comma or tab as the delimiter.

Your problem is getting this file from you 3c to the PC. You can't use IR since the 3c IR is not compatible with the PC IR standard. I'm assuming that you do have a serial cable for the 3c. You have to either use the serial cable or a USB to Serial convertor and the serial cable along with PsiWin 1.1 to establish a connection with the new computer. Once that's done, you can then copy the exported Data file to your PC and import it into the contacts section of Outlook.

If you don't have PsiWin 1.1, you can download it from Mike McConnell's web page at http://www.mgmcc.myby.co.uk/ in the Series 3 section.

[MitzEclipse]

Jim,

Thank you again for the reply. I actually do NOT have a serial cable from the 3c --> PC. I was thinking of buying one, probably off of eBay, however, if I can find a method (ie: IR) that will prevent me from buying a cable so much the better.

Since the IR does not work, it seems to me the only method would be to use the serial cable method...right?

Thanks!

[Jim Cooke]

Originally posted by MitzEclipse

Since the IR does not work, it seems to me the only method would be to use the serial cable method...right?


I'm afraid that's the case since IR is not an option. The 3c, 3mx, S5 and 5mx cables are identical so whichever you can pick up the cheapest will work.

I must say that I'm suprised you don't have a cable, How did you ever backup your data? The 3c was a pretty reliable beast but even they went south now and again. Plus, the little buggers do get stolen, lost, run over..... :)

[MitzEclipse]

Originally posted by Jim Cooke
I'm afraid that's the case since IR is not an option. The 3c, 3mx, S5 and 5mx cables are identical so whichever you can pick up the cheapest will work.

I must say that I'm suprised you don't have a cable, How did you ever backup your data? The 3c was a pretty reliable beast but even they went south now and again. Plus, the little buggers do get stolen, lost, run over..... :)

It's actually my parents... and I have told them repeatedly countless times to sync and backup their data.. they're lucky that there was a backup battery in the Psion otherwise ALL of their contacts would be erased!

Looks like this will be my project this weekend.

Thanks again for your help Jim!