Tours Application Help File

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

Overview

The RV Checklist application is meant to be used by anyone with an RV. The RV Checklist application will enhance your RV experience by:

  • Allow you to be well prepared for camping trips
  • Make sure you do not omit important tasks
  • Track your progress toward completing important tasks

Capabilities:

  • Comes with pre-populated checklists
  • You can add your own checklists by entering them on the phone, or importing them from CSV (comma separated value) files
  • Track your progress toward completing a checklist
  • Notify you when a checklist is complete
  • Clear a checklist when completed
  • Backup your checklist
  • Restore your checklist from a backup
  • Export a checklist so it can be shared with others
  • Import a checklist that others share with you

All of this with a very simple and intuitive interface.

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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 RV Checklist Application as follows:

  • MENU KEY – Opens the Options Menu allowing you to select additional functions to perform on your checklists. NOTE: Some operating system versions have eliminated the MENU KEY. You can now use the gear icon (shown on the Checklist and Item list screens) to invoke the Options Menu.
  • HOME KEY - This terminates and exits the application.
  • BACK KEY - This returns to the previous screen.
  • SEARCH KEY - This is not used by the RV Checklist application.

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Checklist Screen

Upon first entering the RV Checklist application, you see a list of checklists. Each checklist is made up of multiple items that must be completed before the checklist is considered complete. In other words, when all the items are complete, the checklist is complete.
You can see the status of each checklist. If the checklist is red, it is not completed. If the checklist is green, it is complete.
You will also see the count of items within the checklist after each checklist name. 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 as you complete them.
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.

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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. This is the same as simply touching a checklist.
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. Please note that 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.
Move down – Moves the checklist down in the list.
Move to top – Moves the checklist to the top of the list.
Move to bottom – Moves the checklist to the bottom of the list.
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 RV Checklist application preferences. See the “Preferences” section below for a complete explanation.
Backup – Copies the list of checklists to you devices external storage (usually an SD card). 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. Use with caution.
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 RV Checklist application. The CSV file is created in the same backup directory as used for checklist backups. The CSV file is named the same name as the checklist and has a “.CSV” extension.
Import – Searches the backup directory for CSV files and allows you to import them into your list of checklists.
About – Displays information about the RV Checklist application.
Help – Displays this help screen (what you are currently viewing).
Exit – Ends the RV Checklist 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 are shown on the screen with a white background. Categories cannot be checked or unchecked. You do not have to use categories if you don’t have a need.
Touch an item to mark it as complete.
Long-press an item or category to modify this list. This will display a pop-up dialog showing the modifications you can perform.

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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. Use with caution.
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.
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 RV Checklist application preferences. See the “Preferences” section below for a complete explanation.
Clear – Uncheck all of the items.
About – Displays information about the RV Checklist application.
Help – Displays this help screen (what you are currently viewing).
Exit – Ends the Item screen and returns to the Main screen.

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Preferences

You can set the RV Checklist application preferences by touching the menu key and then select the preferences item.
A screen will be displayed showing the RV Checklist application preferences.
Location Type – Specifies the type of storage for backup, restore, export and import data. Currently you can only select “local” for the location type. This places the data on the external storage device (usually an SD card). In the future, you may be able to specify “Dropbox” and “Box” if you have those applications installed on your device.
Item Text Size - Specifies how the text should appear for Checklists.
Checklist Background Color - Allows you to choose the background color for the Checklist screen.
Item List Background Color - Allows you to choose the background color for the Item List screen.

 

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Import and Export

The RV Checklist application allows you to export and import checklists. This function is provided so that you can share checklists that you have developed with others using the RV Checklist application. You can also use this function to make mass-changes to an existing checklist, by exporting, making changes in a spreadsheet program and then importing the modified checklist.
The files use a standard format called CSV (comma separated values). The best way to see the format is to export one of the checklists and examine the file using a spreadsheet program.
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 and then import it into the RV Checklist application.
You can share CSV files with other users of the RV Checklist application by sending them and email with the CSV file attached.

NOTE: Beginning with Version 1.9 of RV Checklist, the export/import directory has been moved to be the "Download" directory on your device. This was done to make it easier to find the checklist. Using a file manager on your device, look in the "Download" directory for checklists that you have exported. Place new (or modified) checklists in the "Download" directory so that they can be imported into the RV Checklist application.

NOTE: If your phone or tablet runs Android version 6 (Marshmallow) you will be prompted for permission to read and write to the devices internal storage. You will be asked to allow or deny this permission. If you allow this permission the application can import and export. If you deny this permission, you will not be able to export/import. If you deny this permission and later change your mind, you can allow the permission on your device by navigating to SETTINGS, APPS, RV Checklist. Then tap on Permissions.

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Backup/Restore

The Backup/Restore feature is used to create a backup copy of your checklist database so that you can restore the database at a later time. Many people use the included checklists as a starting point and extensively modify the checklists to meet their needs. This can be time consuming to get the checklists exactly like you want them. It is a good practice to always backup your checklist database and keep the backup in a safe location (like cloud storage). If anything happened to your phone or tablet, you could then retrieve the backup copy (from cloud storage) and restore your database.

After you backup the database look in the RVChecklistBackup directory for your backup copy. The RVChecklistBackup directory will be created on your phone's SDCard (if available). NOTE: Some manufacturers improperly mount the SDCard so that apps do not have access. If you have an SDCard in your phone and you are unable to locate the RVChecklistBackup directory there, look in internal storage. This is NOT a fault with the app. It is the fault of your phone manufacturer.

It is a good practice to make a copy of the checklist backup in cloud storage. You can use any file manager (such as Solid Explorer or ES File Manager) to copy the checklist backup to cloud storage.

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How to create your own checklists

You may have a unique procedure for hooking up your RV that is not covered with the checklists provided with the app. Just follow these easy steps and you will have a custom checklist that has been adapted to your needs.

Step 1 - The easiest way to create a new checklist is to modify an existing checklist. On your phone, with the list of checklists displayed, press the menu key. Choose "Export" and then select which checklist you want to export.

Step 2 - Connect the phone to your computer using a USB cable and open a window to show the phone's contents. Navigate to the "Download" directory.

Step 3 - Right click on the exported checklist name and choose "rename". Change the name.

Step 4 - Double click on the new checklist name to open a spreadsheet on your computer. Many people use Excel but there are other applications that work just as well.

Step 5 - Modify the spreadsheet for your new checklist. You will see that there is a row for each item and category in your checklist. Each row has two values. The first column is the text of the item or category. In the second column you will see the word “category” if the row specifies a category. Otherwise this value will be blank.

Step 6 - Save the spreadsheet as a ".csv" file.

Step 7 - Place the file in your phone's DOWNLOAD directory.

Step 8 - In the RV Checklist application, open the options menu (use the gear icon) and choose "import". Choose the new checklist that you created.

Your new checklist is now available on your phone.

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