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Ohayden · Site Admin

General

What is ATAlarm?
How does ATAlarm work?
Why do I need to use ATAlarm?
Where do I get ATAlarm?

Installation and Troubleshooting

How do I install ATAlarm?
What directory does ATAlarm install to?
How do I set an alarm?
How do I turn off the alarm?
How do I pause an alarm?
Can I change the default snooze time? If so, how?
How do I play an MP3 or WMA for my alarm sound?
How do I use a custom WAV file for my alarm sound?
Why is my alarm deleting itself? (i.e. not a re-occurring alarm)
What's a recurring alarm and how do they work?
How do I remove a recurring alarm?
Do I have to stay in the program for my alarm to fire?
Do I have to leave my PPC on for the alarm to fire?
What's that funky star button next to the sound file name?
Can I use a different MP3 player?
Can I launch a different program other than a media player?
How do I switch the time to 12 or 24 hour format?

Error Messages and Common Problems

Why won't ATAlarm turn on the screen on a WM2003 Pocket PC? (It does, read below)

General

What is ATAlarm?

ATAlarm is a complete and full featured alarm clock for Pocket PC. Why buy expensive alarm clocks or travel alarms when you already have your Pocket PC. ATAlarm makes a great and inexpensive bedside or travel alarm. ATAlarm integrates with Windows Media Player to bring you access to your MP3s and WMAs. Why just wake up to an unwelcoming buzzer when you can have your favorite song greet you in the morning. ATAlarm can also play traditional WAVs so you can wake up to your own recordings. You can even turn off your Pocket PC and when it's time to wake up ATAlarm will turn it back on and sound off!
How does ATAlarm work?

ATAlarm uses the internal OS APIs in order to set the alarms. Unlike most other alarms applications, ATAlarm will track the alarms internally. Meaning, instead of setting all the alarms at once, only one alarm is set at one time. This helps to stop the failure of an alarm. In order to conserve battery, the Pocket PC does not have to be running. You can turn off your Pocket PC and when it's time for the alarm to sound, ATAlarm will turn your Pocket PC back on and then sound off. You can even close ATAlarm and it will still work!
Why do I need to use ATAlarm?

Do you want to wake up to just a plain buzzer or would you rather wake up to your favorite MP3? ATAlarm offers you the choice! You can wake up to either your favorite MP3 or even a WAV file. You can even record your own voice to a WAV files and wake up to your own voice. You can also create your own themes with ATAlarm, so you can decide how your alarm clock looks! Need something louder than the default alarms? Well with ATAlarm you can use the loudest WAV, MP3, or WMA out there to assure that you will wakeup and notice the alarm. You can even use ATAlarm to launch other applications or even wake up to a movie!
Where do I get ATAlarm?

ATAlarm can be downloaded from multiple locations. We list all the mirrors at http://atechware.com/index.php?at=download&id=22. Please check our download section for the list of mirrors.

Installation and Troubleshooting

How do I install ATAlarm?

If you downloaded the ATAlarm200X_Setup.exe file. Here are the simple steps to install the ATAlarm using the setup program:
1. Make sure your Pocket PC is synced via MS ActiveSync to your desktop computer.
2. Download and open the program.
3. Follow the on screen setup instructions.
If you downloaded the CAB file. Here are the simple steps to install the ATAlarm using the CAB:
1. Download the program.
2. Use ActiveSync to transfer the 'ATAlarm.Arm.2002.CAB' file (the file will be ATAlarm.Arm.2003.CAB if you downloaded the WM2003 version) to your Pocket PC. Or alternatively you can copy it to a CF/SD card from your desktop and then put it in your Pocket PC.
3. Once you have the CAB file on your Pocket PC, use file explorer and open the CAB.
  (The CAB will then launch the ATAlarm setup program, which will install itself.)
*NOTE* Do not extract the files on your desktop. They are Pocket PC files and will not run from your desktop.

Once installed, you can find ATAlarm under your programs menu.
What directory does ATAlarm install to?

The default path / installation path for ATAlarm is '\program files\ATAlarm\' on your Pocket PC.
How do I set an alarm?
1. Click on 'File'
2. Click on 'Set Alarm...'
3. Click on the 'Add' button
4. Click on the 'Set Alarm' checkbox, which will tell ATAlarm that the alarm we are setting is active.
5. Use the spinners (up and down arrows) to set the time.
  
  *NOTE* All alarms should be set at minimum 5 minutes into the future due to OS limitations.
  *NOTE* If your in 12 hour mode, make sure you set the AM/PM correctly.
6. Use the spinners (up and down arrows) to set the date or you can leave as the default for today.
7. Use the '...' button to chose the sound file you want. ATAlarm can play a WAVs, MP3s, WMA, and much more. Use the open dialog to find the sound file you want to play.
  
  *NOTE* You can use the '?' button to test the sound file.
  
  Optionally you can also set a recurring alarm by setting the 'Schedule'. A 'One Time' alarm is different than the other options. Once a 'One Time' alarm has triggered and you turned it off, it will delete itself. The other recurring alarms will reschedule themselves for the next time instead of being deleted.
  
  Schedules:
  ----------
  One Time - Only happens for the chosen time and date. Once triggered, it will delete itself.
  Daily - Will happen every # of days. You can set the # of days with the spinner (up and down arrows).
  Weekly - Will happen every # of weeks. A week is considered 7 days. You can set the # of weeks with the spinner (up and down arrows).
  Monthly - Will happen every # of months. It will schedule for the same day for next month (for example 10/15/2003 will schedule for 11/15/2003 if it's set for 1 month).
  Yearly - Will happen every year. It will schedule for the same day and month for next year (for example 10/15/2003 will schedule for 10/15/2004).
  Weekdays - This is similar to 'Daily' except that it will not run on Sunday or Saturday.
  Weekends - This is similar to 'Daily' except that it will only run on Sunday and Saturday.
8. Once you entered all the information. Click the 'OK' button to save, which will take you back to the list.
9. Click 'OK' to return to the main screen.
How do I turn off the alarm?

Click on the button with the alarm info, such as 'Alarm 1 ON @ 4:44am on 12/22/06'. By clicking on the alarm info button it will either delete or reschedule the alarm. If the alarm is an 'One Time' then it will be deleted. If it is a recurring alarm, then it will be scheduled accordingly.

Basically there are three primary buttons on the main screen: A snooze, which will pause the alarm for the predetermined time set in the option screen.
An alarm info 1 button, which shows the alarm info (time and date to trigger) and will turn off the alarm when it's triggering.
An alarm info 2 button, which shows the next alarm info (time and date to trigger).
How do I pause an alarm?

Click the button called 'Snooze'. This will pause the alarm for the predetermined time set in the option screen.
Can I change the default snooze time? If so, how?
1. Click on 'File'
2. Click on 'Options...'
3. Use the spinner (up and down arrows) to set the time to snooze.
  
  *NOTE* The time is in minutes. Therefore, a snooze of 5 means it will pause the alarm for 5 minutes.
4. Click the 'OK' button to return to the main screen.
How do I play an MP3 or WMA for my alarm sound?
1. Click on 'File'
2. Click on 'Set Alarm...'
3. Click on the 'Add' button
4. Use the '...' to set a MP3 or WMA.
  
  *NOTE* You must transfer a MP3 or WMA to your PPC before setting it for an alarm.
How do I use a custom WAV file for my alarm sound?
1. Click on 'File'
2. Click on 'Set Alarm...'
3. Click on the 'Add' button
4. Use the '...' to find the WAV file.
  
  *NOTE* You can use the voice recorder built into your PPC to create the WAV or you can transfer them from your desktop via MS ActiveSync.
Why is my alarm deleting itself?

A 'One Time' alarm is different than the other 'Schedule' options. Once a 'One Time' alarm has triggered and you turned it off, it will delete itself. The other 'Schedule' options will reschedule themselves for the next time instead of being deleted. Please see 'How do I set an alarm' for more information.
What's a recurring alarm and how do they work?

A recurring alarm is an alarm with a schedule setting of anything other than 'One Time'. They are as follows:

Daily - Will happen every # of days. You can set the # of days with the spinner (up and down arrows).
Weekly - Will happen every # of weeks. A week is considered 7 days. You can set the # of weeks with the spinner (up and down arrows).
Monthly - Will happen every # of months. It will schedule for the same day for next month (for example 10/15/2003 will schedule for 11/15/2003 if it's set for 1 month).
Yearly - Will happen every year. It will schedule for the same day and month for next year (for example 10/15/2003 will schedule for 10/15/2004).
Weekdays - This is similar to 'Daily' except that it will not run on Sunday or Saturday.
Weekends - This is similar to 'Daily' except that it will only run on Sunday and Saturday.
How do I remove a recurring alarm?

Since the alarm info button will only reschedule the alarm for the next time to trigger, you can only delete a recurring alarm by doing the following:
1. Click on 'File'
2. Click on 'Set Alarm...'
3. Highlight the recurring alarm you want to delete by clicking on it.
4. Click on the 'Delete' button.
5. Click 'Yes' to confirm deletion of the alarm.
6. Click the 'OK' button to return to the main screen.
Do I have to stay in the program for my alarm to fire?

No, you do not. ATAlarm schedules the alarms with OS. Once it is time for the alarm to trigger, the OS will notify ATAlarm that an alarm needs to be handled. ATAlarm will verify the alarm that needs to be handled and will trigger it accordingly.
Do I have to leave my PPC on for the alarm to fire?

No, you do not. In order to save battery, it is best to power off your PPC. ATAlarm schedules the alarms with OS so when it time for an alarm to trigger, the OS will wake up the PPC. ATAlarm will then load and handle the alarm accordingly.
What's that funky star button next to the sound file name?

The '?' is to test a sound file. Once you chose a sound file, click the '?' button to play it.
Can I use a different MP3 player?

Yes, under the file->options... is a 'Player' option. Use the '...' button to find your MP3 player of choice. As long as the MP3 play can handle command line parameters then it will work just fine.
Can I launch a different program other than a media player?

Yes, under the file->options... is a 'Player' option. Use the '...' button to find the program you want to launch.
How do I switch the time to 12 or 24 hour format?
1. Click on 'File'
2. Click on 'Options...'
3. If you want 12 hour format then click the '12hr format' checkbox, otherwise if you want 24 hour format, make sure that the '12hr format' checkbox is empty.
4. Click the 'OK' button to return to the main screen.

Error Messages and Common Problems

Why won't ATAlarm turn on the screen on a WM2003 Pocket PC?

The initial version ATAlarm had problems with WM2003, but we spent many hours and sleepless nights correcting the problem. ATAlarm version 1.5 and greater will work without any problems on WM2003! Check our new announcement on ATAlarm and WM2003 compatibility here.

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