Here are a few tips to keep WinWam running smoothly, sync properly, and to help minimize crashes and ‘not responding’ errors. This is applicable for all WinWam users regardless of department.
- Avoid closing lid/keyboard during ongoing WinWam reports
If possible, try to avoid closing the laptop lid (or Surface keyboard) while WinWam is open, especially if you have an open report. This may tell the computer to go to sleep causing WinWam to break its connection to the local database on your computer. When reopening the computer, WinWam may be stuck, crashed, or perform improperly due to this.
To help mitigate this, you can simply lock the screen with the Windows + L keys at the same time (and keep the lid open) or carry the computer with you in an ‘open’ state. It might be very awkward to do, especially with the Surfaces, but it will help with lost work.
- Quit WinWam between Inspections/locations
Always save your work and close WinWam fully between inspections or when going home for the day. Same as the above, if you keep WinWam open between locations, it is prone to crashes and can cause issues due to its connection with the local database breaking. It’s an extra step but can save a lot of frustration and time by opening a fresh instance of WinWam when arriving at location or to homebase.
- Sync WinWam Regularly
Sync at least once a day, preferably at the end of the day. Better yet, sync after each completed inspection/report. The longer you wait to sync, the more info it needs to transfer, thus taking more time. Additionally, syncing makes sure your reports are sent to the hub, so if something happens to your computer, the hub will have the synced reports.
- Reboot Computer Weekly or More
Reboot or shutdown at least once or twice a week. This will keep your computer running in better shape. The longer uptime a computer has, the more slowdown and possible glitches may arise within WinWam and other areas of the device.
- Set default printer to 'Microsoft Print to PDF".
We have run into issues where WinWam will lockup when clicking certain buttons within it and one of the issues is how the default printer is set in the Windows Settings. To resolve this. Close WinWam, type Settings in the search bar at bottom of desktop and click Settings when it pops up. Click Bluetooth & Devices on the left. Click Printers & Scanners. Scroll down a little and turn OFF "Let Windows manage my default device' if its not already. Then scroll up and click on Microsoft Print to PDF and then click Set as Default. Close the Settings. WinWam shouldn't lock up as much or as long now when clicking its functions.
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If you are getting an immediate SYNC COMPLETE when attempting to sync your WinWam, without seeing anything new go through. Try the below.
- Make Sure Dropbox is running on your computer
Have you gotten the “Sync Complete” window instantly with no visible reports being transferred? This likely means Dropbox was not running. For WinWam to sync properly, Dropbox must be running in the background. Dropbox should always open in the background on startup without you needing to physically click it. You can tell its running by the Dropbox icon listed on the bottom right task tray that looks like this
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There are two things you can try to fix this, before you try syncing again.
a. You can reboot your computer, login, make sure you're on the network and wait about 5 minutes for Dropbox to reactivate.
b. Or you can attempt to open Dropbox up in the background by clicking the Dropbox icon on your desktop or on the Start Menu. It may take a minute or two to open, but you can check for the icon on the bottom right.
Then attempt to Sync again. (Keep in mind, that getting the Sync Complete immediately does not always mean its broke. If you synced only a bit before, it simply means it didn't find anything new to pass through.) - Do I need to always Backup WinWam when Closing it?
No, you do not need to hit the Yes button when the backup prompt pops up every time. Once a week at the end of the week is good enough and it will override the oldest one.
The most important thing is Syncing every day. We have multiple ways of getting a fresh backup that's separate from your computer.
