Some Handheld Contact for Act! tips #ActCRM

Hansheld Contact for Act! CRM - iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry

 

Recently, I’ve been asked a few common questions about Handheld Contact, so I thought I would put them all in this single article.

First, a couple of worthwhile articles to read:

 

How to upgrade to the current version of Handheld Contact?

 

Updating the HHC console on the PC/Server

If there is a later version, here are the steps needed to update the PC/Server HHC console:

If you are unable to access Handheld Contact on the PC or server, go directly to http://www.handheldcontact.com/downloads.php to obtain the latest installer for your version of Act!

  1. Open Handheld Contact on your computer or server.
  2. Once you are in Handheld Contact click on Help-->Check for Updates
    A pop-up should be displayed on the bottom right of the screen.
    If it says:  "Download available click here to download" click on it.
    If the pop-up does not appear, see above to obtain upgrade install file.
  3. You will be taken to the Handheld Contact Downloads page (mentioned above).
  4. On the downloads page click on the Act! version that matches your installed database.  If you do not know this, open Act! first and click on 'Help' and choose 'About Act!'.
  5. Download file "HHC-3_x_x_x.exe" (for Act! 12.0/2010 to Act! 14.0/2012) or "HHC-4_x_x_x.exe" (for Act! 15.0/2013 and higher) and save it to the desktop.
  6. Once the file has been downloaded close the Handheld Contact application on the Desktop/Server (if it is still open).  It cannot be running while the upgrade is started.
  7. Find the HHC-3_x_x_x.exe (or HHC-4_x_x_x.exe) file and run it.  When prompted, choose yes to update 3.x.x.x (or 4.x.x.x) to this version.
  8. Once the install has completed, click Finish and Handheld Contact should open automatically.
  9. Then click Maintenance-->Synchronize Users, select the checkbox beside all users accounts and then hit Sync Now. This will take some time to send the current Act! data to each of the devices.

Updating HHC on the mobile device

Apple iOS - Includes iPhone and iPad

In order to upgrade the software on this device, you must do it through the 'App Store'.

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Go to: www.handheldcontact.com/ota 
    This will redirect you to the Handheld Contact app on the Apple App Store.
  3. You can also go directly to App Store and click on 'Updates'.
    Click on Handheld Contact Professional, then click on 'Update'.
  4. Enter the Apple ID and then the download/upgrade will begin.
  5. No reboot is required.

Android

Upgrading Handheld Contact will be performed through Google Play.

  1. Go to www.handheldcontact.com/ota on your device's default Internet browser
    This will re-direct you to Handheld Contact on Google Play.
  2. If not, go directly to the Google Play Store and search for 'Handheld Contact'. 
    From there you can press 'Upgrade'.
  3. You may be required to enter your username/password for Google Play.
  4. No reboot is required.

Note: For Android users there is an option for 'Allow automatic updating'.  This is found within the Google Play Store when viewing Handheld Contact (after installation).  If this option is selected, then the upgrade will take place automatically.

BlackBerry 10

  1. On the BlackBerry 10 device, open the Browser icon.
  2. Go to: www.handheldcontact.com/ota 
    This will re-direct you to the Handheld Contact app on BlackBerry World.
  3. Select Download/Upgrade button in the top right to begin the process of upgrading.
    This will overwrite the previous version installed.No reboot is required.

What are the default fields that sync with Handheld Contact?

Below is a listing of all the default fields that sync with Handheld Contact Professional.  You have the ability to add up to 42 more custom fields.  The total number of fields that will sync are 73.

Company
First Name
Last Name
Title
Department
E-Mail
Personal Email
Phone
Extension
Fax Phone
Home Phone
Mobile Phone
Pager
Alternate Phone
Alternate Extension
Address 1
Address 2
Address 3
City State
ZIP Code
Country
Spouse
Home Address 1
Home City
Home State
Home Zip Code
Home Country
Web Site
ID/Status
Last Results

How many characters can sync in a field between  Act! and a handheld device?

When making changes in Act! and syncing to the device (or back to Act!), Handheld Contact has some character limitations (including spaces) that must be met.  Please see below.

Syncing from ACT! to device:

  • Activity Regarding Field - 256 characters.
  • Activity Details Field - 985 characters before truncation - HHC will show "(Truncated)(RO)" - 'RO' meaning Read Only.
  • Notes - 1500 characters.
  • History Regarding - 256 characters.
  • History Details - 985 Plus HHC will show "(Truncated)(RO)" - 'RO' meaning Read Only.
  • Contact Character Field - 450 character MAX due to Act! limit.  Go to Tools - Define Fields to determine field max limit.
  • Contact Memo Field - 236 characters before truncation - HHC will show "(Truncated)(RO)" - 'RO' meaning Read Only.
  • Contact Location Field - 128 characters.

Syncing from device to Act!:

  • Activity Regarding Field - 256 characters.
  • Activity Details Field - 1000 characters.
  • Notes - 1000 characters for iOS devices, 1500 for Android/BlackBerry devices.
  • History Regarding - 256 characters.
  • History Details - 1000 characters for iOS devices, 1500 for Android/BlackBerry devices.
  • Contact Character Field - 450 character MAX due to ACT! limit.  Go to Tools - Define Fields to determine field max limit.
  • Contact Memo Field - 236 characters.  Handheld Contact on device does not limit what can be entered into the field but if you exceed the max, the contact changes do not sync into Act! and no errors are produced.

Most Common Issues with Handheld Contact

 

Desktop/Server (console) application:

    1. Error message when syncing: "Communication with sync engine failed! The syncing process has been aborted! HHC Service is not running or doesn’t have the required permissions". Click here for solution.
    2. Message Queuing Service is not installed.  The error message is "Unhandled Exception occurred: Message Queuing is not installed or running on this PC".  Click here for solution.
    3. Logon Error when attempting to sync.  Error is "The user: {ACT NAME} failed to log on to the ACT! database: {DATABASE NAME}".  Click here for solution
    4. Cannot get beyond "Act! Administrator" screen on set up. Click here for solution
    5. Upgrading the desktop software.  Click here for solution.

iPhone/iPad:

    1. Getting caller ID on device by exporting Contacts. Click here for solution.
    2. Handheld Contact on the iPhone/iPad unexpectedly closes.  Click here for solution
    3. Close Handheld Contact and restart it properly.  Click here for solution.
    4. The Contacts, Task List and Calendar icons are not available on the device.  Click here for solution.
    5. Syncing with both iPhone and iPad.  Click here for solution.
    6. Upgrading the device software.  Click here for solution.