[General Topics] Menneisyys:
In the Smartphone & Pocket PC Mag VIP Help forum, I’ve received the following question:

“When I create an email on my Mogul (HTC4000) and go to insert file, my memory card is not a listed option to pick from any ideas? My Moto Q did this as did my 6700 before that”

The explanation and cure for this is pretty simple. (Note that if this problem doesn’t apply to you, don’t stop reading: in the second part of this tutorial, I provide you with some really useful tips. Also note that this article deprecates my pre-WM5 one published HERE. I also explain the difference between the MS Smartphone and Pocket PC platforms, file dialog-wise.)

First, the explanation. Let’s see the case of the Moto Q – that is, MS Smartphone devices. In which way is the MS Smartphone (that is, touchscreen-less) platform different from the “big brother”, the Pocket PC OS? In several ways, of course – it’s much dumber in almost every respect (I miss the ability to fine-tune the backlight level the most). In a way, however, it’s (at least for many users) much more useful and usable than the Pocket PC operating system: its file dialog box is entirely different from that of Pocket PC’s. This, however, greatly confuses users switching between the two platforms.

When you go to Menu / Insert / File (or, more generally, you select a file from any program - again, this tutorial is a generic one), you’ll have direct access to all the directories (including the storage card(s)) as can be seen in the following screenshot:

Here, if you do select the storage card (by going to Menu / Storage Card), you’ll be taken directly to the card and, there, can select (left softkey) any file, in any directory, as can be seen for example in the following screenshot:

On Pocket PC’s, the situation is vastly different. When, upon composing a mail, you select Menu / Insert / File, you’re shown ALL the (accessible – see the rules later) files in one listbox as can be seen in the following screenshot:

There can be several hundred or even thousand files in the list, which results in both at time huge loading times and a lot of work to actually find the file you need; therefore, you can restrict the selection to a subdirectory only by using the “Folder” drop-down list:

The results of the restriction can be seen in HERE, showing an example of listing the contents of the “cities” subdirectory.

Note that – this is VERY important! – the “Folder” drop-down list only contains subdirectories under \My Documents in the built-in storage memory and the direct descendants (subfolders) of the root folder of the storage card. That is, if you have a file you’d like to add in, say, a second descendant of the root of your card, (say, \a\b), it won’t be accessible at all. The same stands for the subdirectories of \My Documents on the storage card – they won’t be listed either. This has always a BIG problem with Windows Mobile and has widely been criticized (see for example THIS for links).

In addition, there’s no way to “select only the root (without its visible subdirs) of the storage card” from the list – as opposed to the above-shown Smartphone screenshot. You will ONLY see the contents of the root of the card if you leave the “Folder” drop-down menu on its default, “All Folders” setting. Then, happy hunting for the file - after the list, finally, loads ; )

If you find this all (1, the HUGE number of the files shown 2, the inability to access anything outside \My Documents in the built-in storage memory and the direct subdirectories of the root of the storage card) a pain in the back, rejoice: there are decent solutions to the problem. Of them, I explain the two most widely used and important ones; one of them being even free.