Tours Application Help File

Welcome to the ChecklistPro Help File. The information here will assist you in using the ChecklistPro application on your phone or tablet.

Overview

The ChecklistPro application helps make sure you do not forget import tasks when working on a project. A checklist is a type of informational job aid used to reduce failure by compensating for potential limits of human memory and attention. It helps to ensure consistency and completeness in carrying out a task. A basic example is the "to do list."

Capabilities:

  • Comes with pre-populated checklists in the application. You can download more free checklists with the import function.
  • Add your own checklists by entering them in the application, or importing them from CSV (comma separated value) files
  • Track your progress toward completing a checklist by marking items that have been completed
  • Notify you when a checklist is complete
  • Clear a checklist when completed
  • Backup your checklists
  • Restore your checklist from a backup
  • Export a checklist so it can be shared with others or modified using a spreadsheet application
  • Import a checklist that others share with you or that you have modified with a spreadsheet program
  • Drag and drop checklists or items on your checklist to reorder
  • Optionally integrates (free option) with Dropbox, Box, Google Drive or OneDrive so that you can easily access your checklists from your phone or computer

All of this with a very simple and intuitive interface.

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App Permissions

The ChecklistPro application requests two permissions:

Internet Access - If you have chosen to use Dropbox, the application uses the internet to upload and download your data. The application also uses the internet to download pre-defined checklists (using the import function). Once you have created or imprted a checklist to your phone, Internet access is NOT required to use the checklist.

Storage - Local storage is used to store your checklists. The download directory is used to import/export checklists.

No other permissions are requested or accessed by the ChecklistPro application. The application does NOT access your private data (location, contacts, pictures, music, etc.) or anything on your internal storage (other than checklists).

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Phone Keys

There are 4 special keys available on most Android devices. The keys are located on the bottom of the device and used by the ChecklistPro Application as follows:

  • MENU KEY – Opens the Options Menu allowing you to select additional functions to perform on your checklists. On some phones/tabets there is a physical key labeled "menu". On phones/tablets with no physical key, you will see the menu icon (three verticle dots) in the right part of the action bar (top of screen).
  • HOME KEY - This terminates and exits the application.
  • BACK KEY - This returns to the previous screen.
  • SEARCH KEY - This is not used by the ChecklistPro application. Most modern phones don't have this key.

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Checklist Screen

Upon first entering the ChecklistPro application, you see a list of checklists. Each checklist is made up of one (or more) items that must be completed before the checklist is considered complete. In other words, when all the items are complete, the checklist is complete.
If the checklist is red, it is not complete. If the checklist is green, it is complete.
After the checklist name you will see a count. The count shows the number of completed items, a slash and then the total number of items in the checklist.
From this screen you can accomplish several functions:
Touch a checklist to start working with the items in that checklist. This brings up the item screen so that you can check-off the items that are completed.
You can long-press a checklist to modify your list of checklists. This will display a pop-up dialog showing the modifications that you can perform.
You can also long-press (and hold) the right side of a checklist to drag it to a new location. This allows you to reorder checklists using drag-and-drop.

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Checklist Modifications

After you display the pop-up dialog (by long-pressing a checklist), you can select one of the following:
Modify –A new screen is displayed after selecting this option showing all of the items in the checklist. Allows you to start working with the checklist by checking which items are complete.
Rename - Allows you to change the name of the checklist. Please note: The application will not allow you to create duplicate named checklists.
Delete – Allows you to completely remove a checklist and all of its items. This cannot be undone. Use with caution.
Add new (before) – Allows you to enter a new checklist, before the current checklist.
Add new (after) – Allows you to enter a new checklist, after the current checklist.
Move up – Moves the checklist up in the list. You can also use drag-and-drop to accomplish this.
Move down – Moves the checklist down in the list. You can also use drag-and-drop to accomplish this.
Move to top – Moves the checklist to the top of the list. You can also use drag-and-drop to accomplish this.
Move to bottom – Moves the checklist to the bottom of the list. You can also use drag-and-drop to accomplish this.
Export – Copies the checklist to your phones "Download" folder or uploads it to cloud storage.
Cancel - do nothing – Cancels the pop-up without doing anything.

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Checklist Screen – Additional Functions

On the main screen, you can also press your devices Menu button to display additional functions that can be performed:
Preferences – Allows you to set the ChecklistPro application preferences. See the “Preferences” section below for a complete explanation.
Backup – Copies the list of checklists to your devices storage. This creates a backup copy of all of your checklists that can later be restored. Use this function if you are about to make changes that you may want to back out of.
Restore – Overlays all of your checklists from a backup copy. Any changes you have made (including checked items) are deleted by the restore operation. This cannot be undone.
Export – Allows you to copy one of your checklists to CSV (comma separated values) format so that you can share the checklist via email with others that use the ChecklistPro application or modify the checklist with a spreadsheet program.
Import – Allows you to import checklists (CSV files) into your list of checklists.
About – Displays information about the ChecklistPro application.
Help – Displays this help screen (what you are currently viewing).
Exit – Ends the ChecklistPro applications.

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Item Screen

The item screen shows a list of items in a checklist. You can work toward completing the checklist by completing the items in the checklist. After each item is complete, touch it to show a green check mark.
You can organize your items into categories. Categories serve no function other than to separate the items into groups. Categories cannot be checked or unchecked. You do not have to use categories if you don’t have a need.
Touch an item's check box to mark it as complete.
Long-press an item or category to modify it. This will display a pop-up dialog showing the modifications you can perform.
You can also long-press the right side of an item or category to drag it to a new location.

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Item Modifications

After you display the pop-up dialog (by long-pressing an item or category), you can select one of the following:
Modify – Allows you to change the text of the item or category.
Delete – Permanently removes an item or category from the list. Please note that his can’t be undone.
Add new item (before) – Adds a new item before the current one.
Add new item (after) – Adds a new item after the current one.
Add new category (before) – Adds a new category before the current one.
Add new category (after) – Adds a new category after the current one.
Move up – Moves an item or category up the list. All of the "move" function can be accomplished here or with drag-and-drop.
Move down – Moves an item or category down the list.
Move to top – Moves an item or category to the top of the list.
Move to bottom – Moves an item or category to the bottom of the list.
Cancel - do nothing – Cancels the pop-up without doing anything.

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Item Screen – Additional Functions

On the item screen, you can also press the Menu button to display additional functions that can be performed:
Preferences – Allows you to set the ChecklistPro application preferences. See the “Preferences” section below for a complete explanation.
Clear – Uncheck all of the items.
About – Displays information about the ChecklistPro application.
Help – Displays this help screen (what you are currently viewing).
Return – Exits the item screen and returns to the checklist screen.

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Preferences

You can set the ChecklistPro application preferences by touching the menu key and then select the preferences item.

Location Type – Specifies the type of storage for backup, restore, export and import data. The options are: "Local, Dropbox, Google Drive, Box and OneDrive" - "Local" stores all of your data on your phones local storage. Everything else is considered "Cloud Storage". All of your data is stored "in the cloud" using the service you specified. NOTE: You must have internet access in order to use Cloud Storage.
Checklist Font Size - Allows you to change the font size for the checklist screen.
Checklist Background Color - Allows you to change the background color of the checklist screen.
Item List Font Size - Allows you to change the font size for the item screen.
Item List Background Color - Allows you to change the background color of the item list screen.

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Storage

All of your checklists are stored in a single file called "checklist.xml". This file is located in a hidden directory on your device. When you Backup your checklists (using the Backup option) a copy is made on internal storage in a hidden folder. These internal files are always kept on local storage regardless of whether you are using Cloud Storage or not.

Begining with Android version 6.0, these hidden folders are automatically copied to your Google Drive in a hidden folder. The "backed up" data is then automatically restored if needed (such as a device reset).

If you are using Cloud Storage, you can backup your checklists to the cloud. See Backup/Restore for a complete explaination.

Even if you use Cloud Storage, a local copy of your checklists and backup are kept on your device. This is done so that if you loose your internet connection (thereby removing Cloud Storage capability) you can still use the ChecklistPro application with the local copy of your data. Once internet is restored, just backup again to Cloud Storage.

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Import Checklists

This function is provided so that you can create checklists on your computer and then import them into ChecklistPro. This function also allows you to import checklists that have been pre-defined for you. You can modify any pre-defined checklist to meet your individual needs.

When you invoke the import function you will be presented with a list of checklists that have been created by you (if any) followed by a list of pre-defined checklists. Touch any checklist name to import the checklist into ChecklistPro. After the import is complete, you can start working with the checklist on your device.

You cannot have two checklists with the same name. If you try to import a checklist that you already have in your list, you will be prompted to change the name to something unique.

If you are linked to Cloud Storage (see preferences, Location Type), put your checklists to be imported in the Cloud Service. If you are using Dropbox put your checklists to be imported in the Apps/ChecklistPro folder. If you are using any other Cloud Service put your checklists to be imported in the ChecklistPro folder.

If you are not linked to Cloud Services (see preferences Location Type), put your checklists to be imported in your device's Download folder.

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Export Checklists

If you would like to share a checklist with someone else that uses ChecklistPro, first, export the checklist. Then email it as an attachment.

If you have a lot of changes to make to a checklist, it may be easier to use your computer. First export the checklist you want to change. Edit it on your computer using any spreadsheet program (like Excel). Save the modified checklist as a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file which can then be imported into ChecklistPro.

If you have an idea for a new checklist, you can enter it directly on your device. If there are a lot of items or a lot of text, this can be time consuming. It is a lot easier to create the checklist on you computer using any spreadsheet and then import it into ChecklistPro.

You may want to utilize Cloud Storage. First make sure you have specified a Cloud Storage service in Preferences/Storage Location. Next, export the checklist you want to modify. On your computer open the Cloud Service. If you are using Dropbox, your exported checklist will be in the Apps/ChecklistPro folder. All other services place the exported checklist in the ChecklistPro folder. Edit this with a spreadsheet program (such as Excel). Make sure you save your changes as a comma separated values (.csv) file. Then on your phone/tablet select Import from the options menu. You will see the checklist that you saved in Cloud Storage in the first category (Local Import Files). Touch the checklist to import it.

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Import/Export File Format

The files use a standard format called CSV (comma separated values). The best way to learn about the format is to export one of the checklists and examine the file using a text editor (like Notepad). You probably do not want to use the text editor to modify the file though. Use a spreadsheet program to modify the file as it maintains the CSV format for you.
You will see that the name of the file is the same name as the checklist you exported with a “.csv” extension.
Open the file and you will see that there is a row for each item and category in your checklist. Each row has two values. The first value is the text of the item or category surrounded by quotes. A comma follows the first value. Then you will see the word “category” if the row specifies a category. Otherwise this value will be blank.
You can create your own checklists on your computer using spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel. Just make the sheet include two columns. The first column is the text of the category or item. The second column contains the word “category” if this row specifies a category. Otherwise leave the second column blank. Save the spreadsheet as a CSV file with the name of the file the same as the title of your checklist.
Transfer this CSV file to your device's download directory and then import it into the ChecklistPro application. Or, if you are linked to Dropox, just save the CSV to the Apps/ChecklistPro directory and import it into the ChecklistPro application.
You can share CSV files with other users of the ChecklistPro application by sending them and email with the CSV file attached. They can then save the attachment in the download directory and import it into their list.

NOTE: If you are using Dropbox, checklists that are imported/exported should be in the Apps/ChecklistPro folder.

NOTE: If you are using another Cloud Storage (not Dropbox), checklists that are imported/exported should be in the ChecklistPro folder.

NOTE: If you are not using Cloud Storage,checklists that are imported/exported should be in the Download folder on your device.

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