Setting up the templates

Settting up templates in Datebk is easy. You basically create an event or task like normal, and then from the application menu choose "Save as Template"

For flights basically have departure times and arrivals. So you would create an event with no duration. Departure and arrival times are always in local time, so it's best to set the timezone as "All Times". What this means is that it will always occur at that time, regardless of what local timezone you've set PDA to.

The rare exception to this rule would be if you needed to track somebody else's flight when you're in a different country. For example, you're in Bangkok and you need a reminder to call Kuala Lumpur office to make sure that Mr. VIP was picked up. Later on, you'll need another icon or text to filter flights others than yours like this.

Usually for template entries, I have prewritten text:

• Flight Departure:

Next set a default alarm of 4-5hrs in advance. This would give you ample time to pack and reach the airport in most cities even if you totally forgot and need to start packing. This would be your first warning.

Next attach a note to it. In this note, add a standard checklist of things you need on all your trips. Some suggestions:

• Passport
• Wallet - Credit Card, USD 100 (to be safe, the less developed the country, the more likely it will have some sort of payment that needs to be in USD)
• Clothes Shirts, Ties, Blazer etc.
• Pen
• Toiletry bag
• Electronic stuff, adapters, chargers etc.

You can improve on the template later from experience. Add anything else that you can think of for the trip well in advance. This reduces stress a lot. I used to always worry if I forgot something. This way you systematially know you've gone through everything.

In the same note, add some more information:

Accommodation Details:

• Name address and contact details of your hotel.

This is another piece of info you'll need to almost always write down in arrival cards or if you're unlucky have to answer by random spot check by immigration.

Local contact details:

• Name, address and local contact person

Now also create a memo called Passport details. In this put in the following details:

• Passport Number
• Date of Issue
• Date of Expiry
• Place of Issue

If you have family, put their details in this memo too. Link the flight departure event to this memo. You're going to need it to fill these details in for the arrival card for pretty much any country you visit. If you have all this info in your PDA, your passport is one more item you don't need to take out (and possibly lose).

That's good for a first go, just tap the top menu and save as Template.

Entering the template quickly

In daily view, go to the date, type/write down the time (24hr clock). First two will be hours and second two will be minutes. Once you're done, exit and then tap the T icon at the bottom and select Flight Departure: template. DateBk will now fill in all the details you had previously. For the title add the flight number after the : and then the city so it'll look like Flight Depature: MH780 Bangkok. By going through the notes, you only then need to modify only a few things for this leg of your trip.

You can also do the similar steps for arrival, maybe you want the accommodation and contact details on the arrival flight event instead. The issue for this is that it may not be relevant for connecting flights.

It should look like this:

Flight schedule summary

Custom views are one of the best features of DateBk. They're great for creating summary views when you apply filter to the standard list view. Earlier, we assigned an airplane icon. With DateBk we can filter list views by icons as well as text.

First create a new custom view (click on the diamond shaped icon at the bottom) and tap New.

After naming it Flight Schedule, you should exit automatically go back to your normal view.

Next go to List View and tap the "Opt" button at the bottom. Then select the airplane icon.

Once you've done this, tap the custom view icon (diamond view). Tap the Change tab at the top, and then tap the Flight Schedule Entry.

This will save your new custom view, and again you will be taken back to your previous default view. You can uncheck the icon now.

Now the next time you need to see your upcoming flight schedule, all you have to do is tap the diamond, and pick Flight Schedule and you will seee list of upcoming flights.

Tips and Notes

• After you've checked in your luggage, also to the event, in addition to the flight no, the boarding gate no. Then change the alarm to 40mins. This will warn you to get to the boarding gate in time.
• While on the flight, change the time zone through World Clock application. This should automatically adjust the time and time zone to that of your destination. Since your arrival time is also "All time" this won't affect it's accuracy at all.
• Also while on flight, you should change the time zones in your DateBk application. You chould change current and create zones to that of your destination location.