Home Inspection Software FAQ

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked Palm-Tech Home Inspection Software support questions:

If you have questions about the all new Palm-Tech app, click here

1. Q: I'm getting a new computer/device. Will I be able to use Palm-Tech on it?
   A: Palm-Tech will run on any Desktop/Laptop/Tablet that runs Windows XP, Vista or 7. It also will run on handheld devices that run Windows Mobile 5.0 - 6.5.
   
   NOTE: Palm-Tech is set to release a brand new app that will run on the iPhone, iPad, and Android/Droid phones and tablets. The beta app will be available by 1/9/12 and will be free to all version 6 users of Palm-Tech. For more information visit our page about the new Palm-Tech app for iPhones, iPads, and Android phones and tablets.
   
   
2. Q: How do I change the company address in my license?
   A: With Version 6 you can change your address whenever you want by going to the General Information category. If you are on an earlier version, then you need to fill out the change of address form found on our website and either fax or email it back to us. We will then send you an updated license with your new address.
   
   
3. Q: How do I add a cover page to my reports?
   A: Go to Setup->Print Settings, and click on the 'Page Options' tab. Select the 'Print a cover page at the beginning of the report' checkbox. Now when you go to Print, Print Preview, or to create a PDF, the cover page data screen opens and a cover page will be part of your report. Check out the Adding a Cover Page tutorial for more information.
   
   
4. Q: How do I synchronize my handheld with my PC?
   A: Plug your handheld device into your PC and wait for your PC and handheld to connect. Next, open the Palm-Tech software on the PC, and click on the 'Synch Handheld' button from the menu (the green circle). Select which items you would like to synchronize, and press 'Continue'.
   
   
5. Q: How can I send an individual inspection file to my handheld?
   A: Open the file you want to send, and go to File-> Send to Pocket PC. Only the open inspection file will be transferred to your handheld.
   
   
6. Q: How do I delete old inspections from my Handheld after they have been copied to my desktop computer?
   A: Go to Edit->Delete Old Inspections. You have the option to delete files from both you Work Area and your Archive location. Simply tell it how far back you want to go to delete inspections and press 'Continue'.
   
   
7. Q: How do I open a backed up inspection file?
   A: Palm-Tech automatically saves a back up copy of each inspection file you complete in your archive location. On a desktop/laptop/tablet/netbook PC, by default this folder is in C/Documents/Palm-Tech6/Archive (C/Program Files/Palm-Tech5/Archive for version 5). You open inspection files from the archive folder the same way do open up any other inspection. On a Pocket PC you can see, and then open a backed up inspection by clicking on the 'Show Inspections in Archive' box at the bottom of the Open screen.
   
   
8. Q: How do I remove the inspection file name in the top corner of each page of the inspection report?
   A: Go to Setup->Print settings and click on the 'Page Layout' tab. In the top section find where it says 'File Name' and select 'Don't Show' from the dropdown.
   
   
9. Q: How do I save a template from an inspection file?
   A: Go to Tools->Save as Template.
   
   
10. Q: How do I move a saved template from my desktop to my Handheld?
    A: After you save a template by going to Tools->Save as Template, the software will prompt you to send the newly created template to your handheld.
    
    
11. Q: How do I email a report to a client?
    A: Open the report you wish to email and select the menu option for 'Create a PDF'. The first screen that appears gives you the option to add additional security to the PDF so select whether or not you want to. Once the PDF is created you have three options for your PDF, select 'Email'. The software will look to see what you default email client is and automatically create an email with your PDF attached.
    
    If you do not use email software, and instead log on to a web account, Palm-Tech is not able to open your email program. You will need to log into your email, start a new message, and then attach the PDF of the report. PDFs of inspection files save to same location as the inspection file. The default location for the inspection files is C/Documents/Palm-Tech6. Check out the Creating A PDF tutorial for more information.
    
    
12. Q: How do I add a pre-inspection agreement?
    A: First, create a new category named 'Inspection Agreement' by going to Tools->Add Category. When you create the new category you will want to uncheck the box that says 'Use Line Numbers and Ratings in Printed Report'. Next, go to Tools->Add Component and select 'Inspection Agreement' from the list.
    
    
13. Q: How do I add a page break to a category?
    A: Select the category you wish to add the page break to, and go to Tools->Add Line. Select page break from the drop-down list and then select where you like to add in the page break. This is generally done at the bottom of the category.
    
    
14. Q: How do I drag-and-drop pictures into my inspection report?
    A: Resize the Palm-Tech Inspector window so that it does not take up the entire screen. Open up the folder that contains your pictures and resize it so that you can see your pictures alongside Palm-Tech. All you have to do now is click and hold the picture(s) you want to add, and drag it to the line in the software you wish to add it to. Check out the Adding Pictures to Your Inspection tutorial for more information.
    
    
15. Q: How do I restore a library backup?
    A: Go to C/Documents/Palm-Tech6/Data/bkup. Inside this folder you will see several backup copies of your library (defaultbak1, defaultbak2...). Look at the date of the different backups, and locate the one you want to restore. Copy the file and paste it in C/Documents/Palm-Tech6/Data. All you need to do now is remove the file in the Data folder named 'Default.ptlib' and then rename the backed up library file you just copied into it 'Default.ptlib' to replace it.
    
    
16. Q: How do I transfer my Palm-Tech information from one computer to another?
    A: The first step is to make sure Palm-Tech is installed on the new computer you want to move information to. Once it is installed, you can easily create a backup of all your important Palm-Tech files from your old computer and then restore it on your new one. To create a backup go to Setup->Backup Program Data on your old computer. You now need to get the backed up file to your new computer. This is commonly done via email or with a UB storage drive. Once you have the backed up files on your new computer, open up Palm-Tech and go to Setup->Restore System Backup, and select the backup file you want to restore.
    
    
17. Q: How do I add my company logo to each page of the inspection report?
    A: Go to Setup->Print Settings and click on the 'Page Layout' tab. Go to the 'Company Logo' section and click on the '...' button next to the 'Image file' box. Now simply locate your logo file and select 'OK'.
    
    
18. Q: How do I delete old templates that I do not use?
    A: Go to the templates folder which can be found in C/Documents/Palm-Tech6/Data/Templates. Locate the templates you want to delete and right click on them and select 'Delete'. If you are deleting standard Palm-Tech templates, then you will also need to delete the templates from C/Program Files/Palm-Tech6/Default Profile using the same procedure.
    
    
19. Q: How do I make it so that ratings appear as text and not checkboxes on the report?
    A: Go to Setup->Print Settings and go to the "Page Options" tab. At the bottom of the screen you will see a section called 'Ratings'. Select 'As Text' from the drop-down box next to 'View Ratings'.
    
    
20. Q: How do I edit the ratings that are used?
    A: Go to Edit->Ratings, select 'Default', and the select 'Edit'. Check out the Editing Rating Sets tutorial for more information.
    
    
21. Q: How do I install the software on a PC that doesn't have a CD drive?
    A: Copy all the files from the Palm-Tech CD into a folder on a USB thumb drive or external drive. Copy the folder to the PC that does not have a CD drive and then run the Setup6.exe file to begin the installation process.
    
    

Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Check out the other Palm-Tech support sections including Tutorials and How To Guides.