ScoutPalDB comes with a built-in standard template that sets up the style and formatting of database lookups on your PDA. But in the spirit of "open source", ScoutPal has opened up this interface, providing full and free open access to templates designed by the ScoutPal user community, and we believe that this will bring fantastic new ScoutPalDB features to all users.

NOTE:  Scripted templates may not work properly on some PDA's that use a version of Windows Mobile above 5.0

View a sample template that will play a sound file named "ding.wav" if the lowest price is greater than 7 and the sales rank is less than 2,500,000.

To use a template:

1. Download a template file from the Template Center Gallery to your computer. (A folder of templates is also included in the installation/update zip file.)
2. You can optionally edit a template file when it's on your computer: Right-click it and open with Notepad. Then edit the criteria numbers to meet your own specifications. If you can't figure out how to customize the template, send an email to ScoutPal with your specifications and we will make a custom template for you.
3. Copy the template file to the Pocket PC. Put it in the same place on the storage card where the spdb database file resides.
   • Templates that emit sound(s) will need sound file(s) in the same location as the database. Most templates use a single wav sound file named "ding".
   • You can substitute another sound effect, as long as it is renamed as required by the template.
4. Tap Settings / OK in ScoutPalDB, this tells it to use the new template file.
5. You can use the PDA File Explorer to organize your templates into separate folders on the storage card, then copy and paste your selected template into the database file location. Be sure to do Step 4 after pasting in a new template. You can switch templates while ScoutPalDB is running.
6. To test a template, tap in "X42" instead of an ISBN. The ScoutPalDB program will then bring up random books from the database each time you tap [Seek], so you can quickly see how a template will work with various price/rank scenarios.

Things to check if a template does not seem to work for you:

• The template file name:
  • As displayed in Pocket PC File Explorer, should be exactly this: "spdbtemplate"
  • Should have an Internet Explorer icon.
  • If you tap on it in the Pocket PC File Explorer, it should open in an Internet Explorer window.
• The Database File Location path as specified on the Settings screen must be composed correctly in order for a template to work properly:
  • Be sure that the path is composed with back-slashes (\), not forward-slashes (/).
  • There should not be a slash at the front of the path.
  • Even though a location path composed with forward-slashes will work for basic database file access, it may not work correctly with a template.
  • On some Pocket PC's, the database file, template, and sound file(s) will not work correctly if they are placed in a sub-folder, so you should move these files to the root folder of the storage card, then update the location path accordingly.
  • Here a some examples of location paths that are properly composed for template usage:
    (use "storage card", "sd card", or "cf card", depending on how your Pocket PC names its memory card .)
    • storage card\spdb.dbb
    • sd card\spdb.dbb
    • cf card\spdb.dbb
  • Examples of location paths that are not properly composed:
    • sd card/spdb.dbb (Change the forward-slash "/" to a back-slash "\")
    • \sd card\spdb.dbb (The leading slash needs to be removed)
• If you are using a sound template, and no sounds ever seem to play:
  • Be sure that you have the required sound files in the same place on the storage card as the database.  Read the template's source code to find out what sound files it requires.  Most templates need a single beep.wav file, other templates may require a different set of sound files, or a file with a different name.
  • Be sure that the PDA's volume control is on.
  • Tap Start / Settings / Sounds and confirm that sounds for programs are enabled.
  • If you are using a Bluetooth headset, refer to the FAQ's.