You are now ready to transfer the files from your computer to your PDA. To complete this step, you will need to start the Palm Desktop software that came with your Palm device. If you have not installed this software before you will need to follow the instructions that came with your PDA and install it on your computer.

To begin the installation process, click the 'Install' button on the Palm Desktop. This button can be found in the lower right-hand corner of the screen once you have launched the Desktop software. You will also want to be sure to know where you stored the files you are going to install as you will be asked to identify those files.

	Figure 9. Install Tool Window

You should now see a window that looks like that shown in Figure 9. This is the Install Tool Window and is the place where you will identify the files you wish to transfer to your Palm. You will first want to ensure that your Palm User Name is the one identified in the 'User' box (this should only be an issue if more that one person uses the computer to synchronize their Palm). If it is not, use the drop down box to find your Palm User Name.

To select a file for transfer, click the 'Add' button. This will open up a window in which you can navigate through your computer and identify the files you wish to move to your Palm (Figure 10).

	Figure 10: Select File Window

Once you have located the files, simply double-click and they will be added to installation list (if you wish to add multiple files, you can select them one at a time).

In our example, we are going to transfer a number of files from our folder named 'Palm'.

	Figure 11: Install Tool Window (with files)

As you select individual files for transfer, you will see them added to the Install Tool Window (Figure 11). Once you have selected all of the files you wish to install, confirm that they are all listed in the Install Tool Window and click the button marked 'Done'. The installation software will prepare the files you have identified for transfer the next time you synchronize your Palm device.

	Figure 12: Install Confirmation

After the software has completed its necessary steps, a final window will appear confirming that process is complete and the files are ready for transfer (Figure 12). All that remains to be done is to place your Palm device in the cradle and press the HotSync button. In addition to all of your usual information being updated between your computer and PDA, the files you selected will also be installed on the Palm device. Once the synchronization process is complete, you can confirm that the operation was successful by looking in the application launcher window to see if icons for the new programs have been created (not all programs will create individual icons. Many documents and databases will only appear when you start the appropriate viewing utility so do not be alarmed if something you have installed does not appear in the application launcher window. To learn about different file formats, read our Guide to Palm OS File Formats).

As you continue to find useful applications you would like to add to your PDA, you may find yourself running out of memory. In this case, you may wish to remove some of the programs you have added in the past to make room for the new files. To learn how to remove software from your Palm device click here.

We hope this guide has been useful in helping simplify the software installation process. If you still have questions, feel free to let us know at comments@pdare.com . If you have suggestions on how we can improve this guide please let us know that as well.