RTG Timer ME lets you enter fees and expenses on a Pocket PC. These transactions are copied to RTG Timer on your desktop computer, where you can further edit them before you release them for billing in RTG Bills.

RTG Timer ME uses Microsoft's ActiveSync technology to copy your clients, matters, rates, and codes from the desktop computer to the Pocket PC. At the same time, released fees and expenses are copied from the Pocket PC to the desktop computer. These transfers occur each time you connect the Pocket PC to the desktop computer.

RTG Timer ME on the Pocket PC includes these features:

• Switch quickly from one transaction to another using a list of all your transactions, most recent first.
  
  
• Choose a client from your client list, then a matter from the list of matters for that client. Or save time by choosing a matter from the list of recently-used matters.
  
  
• Choose the date from a pop-up calendar.
  
  
• Choose an optional activity code from a list. Activity codes determine the type of transaction (e.g., hourly rate vs. expense). They can also supply a text description.
  
  
• Choose an optional task code from a list. Task codes are often required when a client uses electronic billing.
  
  
• Enter a description using any of the Pocket PC's input methods. You can use all of the shorthand codes you defined in RTG Timer.
  
  
• Time your work with a stopwatch. The stopwatch keeps running if you switch to another application, or even if you turn off your Pocket PC. You can also enter time using either a pop-up screen to set start and end times, or by typing in numbers.
  
  
• The hourly rate for fee transactions is automatically supplied based on the matter and timekeeper, just as it would be in RTG Timer on a PC.
  
  
• When a transaction is ready for billing, you can mark it "released" and it will be moved to RTG Timer during the next ActiveSync operation. Or you can release all transactions through a specific date.

RTG Timer ME is licensed in a similar manner to RTG Timer. When you purchase the initial RTG Timer ME license, you get all the necessary programs for the Pocket PC and the desktop PC. You also get one RTG Timer ME key, which allows one timekeeper to use the program. Additional keys can be purchased to allow additional timekeepers to use the software.

Because RTG Timer ME transfers its data to RTG Timer, the timekeeper must have a key for both programs. The keys are entered into RTG Bills.

• A Pocket PC computer
  The handheld computer must run the Windows CE operating system, version 2.1 or later. Microsoft has used a variety of names for products that use this operating system: Handheld PC, Palm-size PC, Pocket PC, Smartphone, and Windows Mobile.
  
  The best way to check compatibility is to download the demo version and see if it works on your handheld computer or phone.
  
  You need enough free memory to store the RTG Timer ME programs and the complete list of your clients and matters. Unless you have an extremely large client or matter list, this is not likely to be a problem.
  
  
• RTG Timer ME for the Pocket PC
  When you license RTG Timer ME, you get software for both the Pocket PC computer and for your desktop PC.
  
  Each timekeeper needs a unique RTG Timer ME key. You get one key when you license the program and you can buy additional ones as needed.
  
  
• RTG Timer for the PC
  You get RTG Timer when you buy RTG Bills. They are always sold together.
  
  RTG Bills and RTG Timer Version 2.17 or above is required to use the current version of RTG Timer ME. We strongly recommend that you use the current version of RTG Bills and RTG Timer.
  
  Go to the Orders page to order RTG Bills and RTG Timer, or go to the Support page if you need to upgrade to the current version.
  
  You also need a timekeeper key for RTG Timer. You get one when you purchase the program and you can buy additional ones as needed.
  
  
• Microsoft's synchronization software
  For Windows Vista, RTG Timer ME works through the Windows Mobile Device Center.
  
  For earlier versions of Windows, RTG Timer ME requires the ActiveSync software from Microsoft. You can download ActiveSync 4.5 from Microsoft's Web site:

  ActiveSync 4.5

You can download a free demonstration version of RTG Timer ME. It works just like the full version, and it includes the same tutorial so you can learn to use the program. It even transfers your complete client and matter list to the Pocket PC, just like the full version.

The only limitation of the demo version is that you cannot get the fees and expenses out of the Pocket PC and into RTG Timer on the desktop PC. In effect, you can enter fees and expenses but you cannot bill them.

The demo has exactly the same requirements as the full version, so be sure you have the prerequisites (described above) before you install the demo.

Here are detailed directions for downloading and installing the demonstration version of RTG Timer ME.

1. Click here to download the demo (709 KB)
   
   If your browser offers a choice, click Save, or choose Save to Disk and click OK.
   
   You should see the Save As window. To save the file demome.exe on the desktop, click the Desktop button along the left side of the Save As window. Then click Save.
   
   
2. Wait patiently while the file is copied across the Internet from our computer to your computer.
   
   
3. When the download is complete, you should see the file demome.exe on the Desktop. (It may appear as demome, without the .exe extension.)
   
   
4. Connect your Pocket PC to the desktop PC. For Windows Vista, the Mobile Device Center should handle the synchronization.
   
   For earlier versions of Windows, the ActiveSync program should start up and begin the synchronization. Wait for the synchronization process to finish.
   
   If synchronization did not start, or did not synchronize properly, fix the problem before you proceed. You must have synchronization working before you install RTG Timer ME.
   
   
5. Start demome.exe to install the software. To start it, double-click the icon. As an alternative, you can right-click the icon and choose Open.
   
   
6. You must install RTG Timer ME in the same folder as RTG Timer. RTG Timer is usually installed here:
   

   C:\Program Files\Rtgbills

   although if you were using a version prior to V2.17, you might have installed it elsewhere.
   
   When you are sure you have selected the correct destination folder, click Next.
   
   
7. At the Ready to Install screen, click Install.
   
   
8. The installation program will now install software on the Pocket PC. Click Start Install to begin this part of the installation.
   
   After a pause, a message asks if you want to use the "default application install directory." Click Yes. When the installation on the Pocket PC is complete, click OK.
   
   
9. You should see a window that says the installation is complete. Click Finish.
   
   
10. Disconnect the Pocket PC from the desktop PC. Look for messages on the Pocket PC screen.
    
    Note: You can ignore a message that says the application you have just installed may not display properly. Tap ok in the upper-right corner of the message window.

There are several more installation steps. They are described in the RTG Timer ME Tutorial, which you have just installed. Start RTG Timer and choose Help > ME Tutorial. This should open your Web browser and display the tutorial.

Go to the tutorial section entitled Installation on the PC, Part 2.

This section of the Tutorial will tell you how to enter the RTG Timer ME key (supplied with the demo), and how to set up RTG Timer ME from within RTG Timer. The following section of the Tutorial will explain how to finish the installation on the Pocket PC.