Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is CyberTracker?
How much does CyberTracker cost?
Where can I get the latest version of CyberTracker?
CyberTracker contains some GIS functionality, but I need more
How do I get new features into CyberTracker?
Which desktop operating system does CyberTracker run on?
What mobile devices does CyberTracker support?
Can I collect data with both iOS and Android devices at the same time?
How do I change the screen type, e.g. from radio list to check list?
Does CyberTracker support collection of sightings on a laptop or desktop computer?
Why can’t I edit data in a query table?
How do I export sightings that don’t have Latitude/Longitude to an ESRI Shapefile?
Why don’t my sightings save?
Why do I get the message “Time out of sync”?
Why do I get the message “Version Error - resync”?
When is my data downloaded from my device?
What are timer tracks?
How can I edit my timer tracks?
How do I make the screen state persist between sightings, e.g. so a list keeps it’s selection?
What does the GPS Accuracy number mean?
Does CyberTracker support Differential GPS?
What are the different states for the GPS triangle button?
How can I get my RangeFinder and my GPS to both auto-detect without conflict?
What RangeFinders does CyberTracker support?
How can I export data that I collect back to my GPS?
What is the difference between a screen and a sub-screen?
How do Paths work?
How does the Element Formula control work?
How to bind a bluetooth device on Windows Mobile?
What does “No Result: Value not saved” and “No Result: Text not saved” mean?
What is “Kiosk Mode” and how can I set it up?
How can “Kiosk Mode” be bypassed in the field?
CyberTracker reports that it cannot install to a Windows Mobile device: INF error

What is CyberTracker?

CyberTracker is a software tool that allows non-programmers to collect field data with mobile devices. A lesser known capability is that it can also be used to create digital field guides, because it allows rich content to be displayed in conjunction with data capture fields. So the data capture system can also serve as a teaching or reference tool.

How much does CyberTracker cost?

CyberTracker is freeware. Over the years various organizations have contributed to the development. Some users commission features for their own use and these then become available for everyone.

Where can I get the latest version of CyberTracker?

The most recent version is available on this web here. The version numbers are always incrementing, so 3.200 is more recent than 3.195. If the version is a test version (not well tested), then it will have “(BETA)” after the build number.

CyberTracker contains some GIS functionality, but I need more

CyberTracker is primarily a data capture tool. We’ve been resisting the move toward extensive GIS functionality because it distracts from producing a great data capture solution. We also do not wish to compete on features with products like ESRI ArcView. If you need more GIS functionality, we recommend using ArcGIS with CyberTracker as your data-conduit.

How do I get new features into CyberTracker?

Email justin@steventon.com with your feature request.

Which desktop operating system does CyberTracker run on?

CyberTracker runs on all versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows 11.

What mobile devices does CyberTracker support?

CyberTracker supports Android and iOS devices. If you bought a device in the last 5 years that runs Android or iOS then it will probably work.

Can I collect data with both iOS and Android devices at the same time?

Yes.

How do I change the screen type, e.g. from radio list to check list?

Click the “Layout” toolbar button
Select the Element List Control
Change the “List mode” property - options are “Single select”, “Multi select”, etc
Click the “Layout” toolbar button again

Does CyberTracker support collection of sightings on a laptop or desktop computer?

Yes, you can click on the “New sightings” button in “Report” mode.

Why can’t I edit data in a query table?

Table data is only editable if the column is bound to a single Element and the Column “Output As” field is set to “Data”. If you want to edit sightings more flexibly, then use the “Edit Sighting” feature off the Edit menu.

How do I export sightings that don’t have Latitude/Longitude to an ESRI Shapefile?

You can enable dummy XY generation by checking the “Generate XY on ShapeFile export” feature on the “Advanced” tab of the “Map Settings” dialog. Select “Edit View” from the toolbar when the map is selected.

Why don’t my sightings save?

Applications require that you have a Save button at the end of them, i.e. if your Application is: Screen A -> Screen B -> Screen C, then you must have a “Save” button on Screen C. You can enable a save button by checking the “Show Save 1” or “Show Save 2” checkbox on the screen properties under the “Navigator” title. Note, typically you will also uncheck “Show Next” so that your users have no choice but to Save at the end of a sighting.

Why do I get the message “Time out of sync”?

It was a common problem that data would have the wrong date/time. Now, the date/time on your device must be at least as recent as the Application you want to run. If you get this message often, the most likely reason is that your device time is wrong. Note, ActiveSync will automatically synchronize your time if you have a Partnership. Phones typically pick up the time from the carrier.

Why do I get the message “Version Error - resync”?

Resource files on the device must be created with the same version of CyberTracker that is running on the desktop. You should either resync or delete them.

When is my data downloaded from my device?

CyberTracker downloads the data during a sync operation. You can force CyberTracker to download sightings from an attached device using “File->Download Data from Connected Device”. If the download completed without error, then all the sightings are deleted from the device.

What are timer tracks?

The timer track feature sets up a timer that takes a GPS reading at fixed intervals. You can customize how long those intervals are from 1 second up. The track system internally has 2 separate modes of operation: short interval and long interval. For short intervals (60 seconds or less), the device is prevented from going to sleep on it’s own and the GPS is left permanently connected. For long intervals (more than 60 seconds), the device can be shut down and the alarm system will be used to wake it up, take a reading and shut it down again.

How can I edit my timer tracks?

There is no support in the CyberTracker UI for track editing. However, since the CyberTracker database is a Microsoft Access MDB file, you can open it and modify the “Waypoint2” table directly.

How do I make the screen state persist between sightings, e.g. so a list keeps it’s selection?

Several controls allow you to persist their state by using their “Retain state” property. Click the “Layout” toolbar button in “Applications” mode, select the control and check that property.

What does the GPS Accuracy number mean?

“Accuracy” is a number that the GPS provides to give some idea of the uncertainty of the reading. This number ranges from 0 to 50 and should typically be multiplied by 10 meters (32 feet) to get an idea of the area you are dealing with. For example, a value of 3.5 means that the GPS knows you are within 35 meters of where it says you are.

Does CyberTracker support Differential GPS?

CyberTracker does not have a feature to post-process GPS data. However, if you are within North America and your GPS is WAAS enabled, then you get differential like characteristics for free.

What are the different states for the GPS triangle button?

The GPS triangle has 4 possible states:

Empty triangle with line through it = Track timer is not set and no open connection to the GPS exists
Empty triangle with number in it = Track timer is enabled, but last track reading was not successful. This could be because the GPS is still acquiring satellites, or because the required GPS accuracy was not met on last attempt.
Empty triangle with number in it and line through it = track timer is set, but the connection to the GPS timed out and so CyberTracker is no longer trying.
Filled triangle = Track timer is enabled and last track reading was taken successfully

The number in the triangle is the track timer frequency. If the navigator button size is too small (as is the case on legacy PalmOS), this may not show. In addition, the display is rounded off, e.g. 80 seconds will show as “1m” (for 1 minute), even although it really is set at 80 seconds.

How can I get my RangeFinder and my GPS to both auto-detect without conflict?

RangerFinder support is limited to Windows Mobile devices.

If your RangeFinder is Bluetooth, then you cannot also have a Bluetooth GPS. The way to do this is to turn on your GPS and get it to detect first. Once CyberTracker has detected the GPS at a particular port, it will remember that for all future tries. Then do the same for the RangeFinder.

What RangeFinders does CyberTracker support?

RangerFinder support is limited to Windows Mobile devices.

CyberTracker supports RangeFinders that output the Laser Atlanta NMEA sentences LA1KA, LA1KC and LA1KD. RangeFinders are not currently supported on iOS or Android.

How can I export data that I collect back to my GPS?

CyberTracker supports export to CSV (Comma Separated Values) from the Query Table in Report mode. G7ToWin is a freeware application that can import CSV files. However, in order for this to work, you need the first column of your table to be called “Type” and have a “W” for its value. To make a table have a “W” in the first column, do this:

Find an Element that exists in every sighting, e.g. “Begin”
Go to the “Elements” mode (View->Elements)
Find the Element “Begin” and click on “Element Properties” in the toolbar
Set the “Tag” property (on the first tab) to “W” (without quotes)
Go to the “Reports” mode (View->Reports)
With the Table active, click “Edit View” on the toolbar
Click “Add” to add a new column
Set “Element source” to your Element, set “Name” to “Type” and set “Output As” to Tag
Click “Move up” until it is the first column

Now you should have a “W” in the first column of your table. Don’t forget to add “Latitude” and “Longitude” columns as well. Click “Export” on the toolbar to export.

What is the difference between a screen and a sub-screen?

Screens and subscreens are identical from the systems point of view. Grouping is allowed to help the user organize their screens.

How do Paths work?

A path is created when sightings are connected in the map view. The path system is configured from the maps “View Properties” dialog under the “Render” tab. There are 3 Elements which control the path: Start Element, Stop Element and Join Elements(s).

If you do NOT set the Join Element(s), then the path will be controlled by the Start and Stop entirely, i.e. a sighting containing the “Start Element” will begin a path and it will not be terminated until a corresponding “Stop Element” occurs in a subsequent sighting. If you set the “Join Elements(s)”, then the system will connect any 2 points pA and pB (with pA occurring before pB) if they meet the following requirements:

pA and pB must come from the same PDA
pA must not contain the “Stop Element”
pB must not contain the “Start Element”
pA must contain the “Start Element” OR one of the “Join Elements”
pB must contain the “Stop Element” OR one of the “Join Elements”
If pA and pB both contain a “Join Element”, then it must be the same one

Note, a “Join Element” is defined as an Element that must be in each sighting for it to be considered part of the same path. The concept is that we can build different paths out of the same data, depending on what I want to connect. Some examples:

Connecting observations made by one particular Observer:

Set "Join Element(s)" to the Name of the observer

Connecting observations by transportation mode, e.g. Walk, Horse, Vehicle:

Set the "Join Element(s)" to a category containing the "Walk", "Horse" and "Vehicle" Elements.
Note, this assumes that all your sightings contain the mode of transportation that was used and only one can be used at a time.

How does the Element Formula control work?

The formula property is a regular expression, meaning it can hold expressions like: “1+2”. If you set the formula to this, the output will be “3”. However, there is also support for more complex expressions:

“A+2” (where A is the number value of the Elements in the “Element A” property.
“(1 + 2) * 3” works because parentheses are supported
“max(1, 2)” produces “2” and “min(1, 2)” produces “1”
“abs(-5)” produces 5
“Today” works with the “Output as date” property. “Today-1” is yesterday.
“date(2007, 5, 20)” produces a date, see (5).
“if (1 < 2, 3, 5)” produces “3”
“if (1 > 2, 3, 5+1)” produces “6”

You can place the result of the calculation in the “Result element”, which will then become part of the sighting data.

If you put the result into a global value using the “Result global value” property, then you can later reuse that value in the formula itself. This provides the ability to do counters. Try this:

On screen 1, drop an “Element Formula” control:
Set the “Formula” property to “Test + 1”
Set the “Result global value” property to “Test”

Now everytime you save and return to this screen, the number will automatically increment.

How to bind a bluetooth device on Windows Mobile?

On an HP Travel Companion:

Tap Start and then Settings
Tap on the Connections tab
Tap the Bluetooth Icon
Tap “Turn on” to make sure Bluetooth is enabled
Tap on the “Bluetooth Manager” shortcut near the bottom of the screen
Turn on the device you want to bind to and tap “New” on the bottom left corner of the screen
Tap “Explore a Bluetooth device” and tap “Next” 8. An icon should appear that describes the device you want to bind to. There may be multiple devices, but just select the one you want and tap “Next”. Sometimes the screen will automatically press the next button for you.
Uncheck “Use a secure, encrypted connection”
Under “Service selection”, select “Bluetooth Serial Port” and tap “Next”.
You may be asked to enter a password. The device documentation provides this. Usually it is “0000” or “1111”.

On a Trimble GeoXM:

Tap Start and then Settings
Tap on the Connections tab
Tap the Bluetooth Icon
Select “On”
Select the “Bonded Devices” tab
Select the “New” list item
Select the device you want to bind to and tap “Next”
Enter the passcode for the device. This can be found in the device manual. Usually it is “0000” or “1111”.
Tap “Next” to create the shortcut
Close the input field and tap on the “Serial Ports” tab
In the “Client Serial Ports” box, tap “New”
Select the device and tap “Next”
Make sure “Authentication”, “Encryption” and “Default Bluetooth ActiveSync” are all unchecked
Click “Finish”

What does “No Result: Value not saved” and “No Result: Text not saved” mean?

Text and Keypad screens require that the “Result Element” property be set. This specifies the storage Element for the result from the text editor and keypad screens. The error message occurs to prevent accidental data loss.

What is “Kiosk Mode” and how can I set it up?

Kiosk’s are fixed purpose devices. The goal of Kiosk mode is to turn a device into a fixed purpose CyberTracker device. To configure this, open the “Application Properties” dialog during screen design and check the “Kiosk Mode” box. Save your database and synchronize the Application to your device. Notice that the application cannot be closed in the usual ways. The task bar is also hidden.

Kiosk mode is often combined with a password keypad to allow administrators to work on the system in the field.

Note: Kiosk mode does not work on iOS and Android devices.

How can “Kiosk Mode” be bypassed in the field?

Place an “Element Keypad” control on a screen and set the “Password” property to “1234”. Set the “Password auto next” property to “Shutdown”. When the correct password is entered, CyberTracker will close the current Application, thereby terminating Kiosk mode.