Introduction

JabpBT is a sister program to JabpLite which provides the ability to transfer data via Bluetooth between your mobile device and your PC.  It has two components: a MIDP 2.0 application which runs on your mobile device and a Java application which runs on your PC.  The two applications establish a wireless Bluetooth connection.  JabpBT enables you to:
 

• Backup your data from your mobile device to your PC
• Restore your data from your PC to your mobile device
• Import QIF files to your mobile device from your PC
• Export QIF files from your mobile device to your PC

It is important to install and run JabpLite first.  This creates the data files which JabpBT can access.  Once JabpLite has been run, install JabpBT from the files J2ME\JabpBT.jar and J2ME\JabpBT.jad as for any normal MIDP application (follow the MIDP installation instructions for your mobile device).  Remember that your mobile device must run MIDP version 2.0 and must be Bluetooth-enabled.

Installing JabpBT on your PC

Your PC must be Bluetooth-enabled, and it must have a Java runtime installed.  Some PCs may already have Java installed: to check whether this is the case, open Windows Explorer and check the icon beside the file J2SE\JabpBT.jar which is in the JabpBT distribution zip.  If the icon is the default Windows one, Java is not installed.  In this case, go to Sun's website http://java.sun.com and download then install the current Java runtime environment (JRE) for Windows.  Note that you only need the JRE, not the full SDK (which is considerably larger).  This will be available from

http://java.sun.com/j2se/corejava/index.jsp

Now we need to get and install the Java communications software for Windows.  The file is available at

http://java.sun.com/products/javacomm/downloads/index.jsp

[Update: Sun appear to have removed the Java comms package for Windows, so the above URL doesn't work.  You can now download it from http://www.freepoc.org/download/javacomm20-win32.zip]

This file will be called something like javacomm20-win32.zip.  The installation instructions in this file are somewhat out-of-date.  Assuming that you are using Windows XP, here are the correct instructions.  Find the directory where your JRE is installed.  This will probably be something like c:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\ or c:\Program Files\JavaSoft\JRE\1.3.1_09\ depending on the JRE version.  From the javacomm distribution zip:

1. Place win32com.dll in directory c:\Windows\system32\
2. Place javax.comm.properties in the \lib\ subfolder of the directory where your JRE is installed
3. Place comm.jar in the \lib\ext\ subfolder of the directory where your JRE is installed

To run JabpBT on your PC, firstly extract the file J2SE\JabpBT.jar from the distribution zip into any convenient directory on your PC.  Double-click on JabpBT.jar to launch the program.

Running JabpBT and establishing a connection to your mobile device

Note: before starting, you should find the communications port on your PC which is being used for Bluetooth serial connectivity.  If in doubt, refer to the installation instructions which came with your Bluetooth connectivity kit.  You will need to specify this port for the JabpBT program.

Firstly ensure that you have correctly installed the Java communications software as described above.  Double-click on the file JabpBT.jar to launch the program on your PC.  When asked by the program, specify the communications port which your PC is using for Bluetooth serial connectivity.  Your PC will now be in "listening mode".  All connectivity instructions are enabled from the JabpBT program running on your mobile device.

On your mobile device, locate and run the JabpBT program then select the Connect option.  This will search for all Bluetooth devices within range and present them in a list.  Select the device which represents the Bluetooth connection to your PC.  Your mobile device and your PC should then wirelessly connect to each other.

Using the JabpBT program

On your mobile device, select your desired option from the following choices:

1. Import/Export QIF file
2. Import JabpLite data
3. Export JabpLite data

When exporting from your mobile device to your PC, the resulting files are created in directory c:\JabpLite (you can change this default directory using the Files>Set Directory option).  In order to use the Export QIF option, ensure that account names in JabpLite contain only valid Windows filename characters.  So, for example, an account MyBank in JabpLite will be exported as c:\JabpLite\MyBank.qif.  Similarly, if you are importing to an account MyBank then JabpBT will attempt to import the file c:\JabpLite\MyBank.qif.  When importing QIF files, only the debit sides of inter-account transfers are imported - the credit will automatically be generated in the other account.  This is to avoid duplicating entries.

When you use the option to export JabpLite data, this creates a complete copy of your data on your PC in the file c:\JabpLite\JabpLite.dat.  This is useful for back-up purposes and, for example, if you change your mobile device (you can export the data from your old device, then import to your new device).  If you choose the option to import data, the data will replace your current file (it will overwrite any existing data).  There is a timezone option when importing data - you can set either a positive or negative number of hours.  Normally, just accept the default option of zero hours.  You might need to use this option if you move data between different phones, and you see that the transaction dates differ by one day.

If you want to import or export QIF files with non-English characters, then set the File>Unicode option to Yes.

Note that when your mobile device and your PC are communicating, the data transfer is buffered.  This means that when JabpBT is sending data from your mobile device to your PC, the mobile device may appear to finish while the PC is still receiving data.  Similarly when sending data from your PC to your mobile device, the PC may appear to finish while the mobile device is still receiving data. Ensure that both the PC and the mobile device have finished before exiting the JabpBT programs.

Security of your data

We have extensively tested the JabpBT program to ensure that it works reliably.  However we accept no responsibility for any data which are lost or corrupted when using the Bluetooth connectivity options.  We strongly advise that you take back-ups of your data before using the JabpBT software to exchange data between your mobile device and your PC.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot run JabpBT on your mobile:

• Ensure that your mobile runs MIDP2 Java and has Bluetooth connectivity from Java (referred to as JSR-82).  Some phones have Bluetooth but do not offer connectivity from Java.
• Ensure that the Bluetooth connectivity is enabled on your phone

• Ensure that you have correctly installed the JRE and Java communications software as described above
• Ensure that jar files are associated with the correct program on your PC - which is Javaw.exe.  Note: some other programs (like the Nokia PC Suite) can 'take over' jar files.  If in doubt, right-click on JabpBT.jar and select Open With.  The Recommended Program should be Javaw.  If it is not, go to the Browse option and navigate to the directory where your JRE is installed (probably something like c:\Program Files\Java\jre1.4.2_06\bin\).  Select Javaw and click on 'Always use the selected program ... '.
• If you have enabled automatic Java runtime upgrades on your PC then JabpBT might suddenly stop working as a result of the new installed runtime.  If this happens, then move java.comm.properties and comm.jar from the previous JRE directory to the equivalent location in the new JRE directory.

• Ensure that you have correctly identified in JabpBT the Comms port for Bluetooth.  On your PC, right-click on the Bluetooth icon at the bottom right of your screen, and Open Bluetooth Settings.  Select Comm ports.  The port shown as Incoming will be the one that should be supplied to JabpBT.
• Ensure that both your PC and your phone have Bluetooth set to 'Discoverable'.  On your PC, right-click on the Bluetooth icon at the bottom right of your screen, and Open Bluetooth Settings.  Select Options.  Make sure Turn Discovery On is ticked.
• Ensure that no other program is using the Bluetooth connectivity (for example, PC Suite)
• Ensure that your PC is paired with your phone, preferably without a passkey.
• Turn your phone off, then on again.  Check that Bluetooth is still enabled.  Try running JabpBT on both PC and phone again.

Malcolm Bryant & FreEPOC
February 2005
Last updated: 1 January 2006