Welcome to ClearSync's Quick Start Guide!

First, we would like to welcome you to the ClearSync family!

This guide is designed to show you how ClearSync works, and how it can work for you. In this quick start guide you will find useful instructions displayed in blue, like this for your convenience.

ClearSync is a calendaring service that will empower you to keep your schedule and your contacts in order. ClearSync offers three ways of access to your important information.

First you have your desktop application that you can download here . This is great to use for ClearSync. From your desktop you can access all of your information, and also display you information to who ever else you choose to share it with.

You also have the Web application here, this is great when you are away from your desktop viewer and need to access your information. From the library, or your friends house; you are only a click away from your schedules and contacts. This is also a great way to keep your precious information safe from unwanted eyes; a feature of the web application is that it will store no information on the computer you are using, so your information is safe.

We also offer a ClearSync for palm application, so you have all of your contacts at the tips of your fingers, wherever you are. If you are interested in the Palm quick start guide please see the guide .

In this document you will see two icons, they are here so we can tell the between the two main ways to interact with your ClearSync software.

This is the icon for the desktop application.

This is the icon for the web application.

Some features of ClearSync are found in both the web application and the desktop application, in that case you will find that both icons will be displayed right next to each other.

Account Creation
Installing and Configuring ClearSync for Desktops
The ClearSync Interface
ClearSync Calendars
Syncing
ClearSync Contacts
Preferences
Account Selection
Printing
ClearSync Help
ClearSync Online

1. Account Creation

In order to create a ClearSync account, you must fill out the account form here. In this form, you will be asked to create a username and password. Be sure to remember these because you will need them to log in to ClearSync the first time you use the desktop application and every time you use ClearSync Online. When the form is completed, click "Finish". If there are any problems with your application, an error message in red text will appear next the problematic field. Please correct the error and click "Finish" again. You will be redirected to the download page.

2. Installing and Configuring ClearSync for Desktops

Download the ClearSync desktop application here. ClearSync will automatically download, install, and open.
Enter your Username and Password to enter calendar view. ClearSync will store this information and it can be edited later.

3. The ClearSync Interface

3.1 ClearSync Screen

This is what the ClearSync screen will look like the first time you use ClearSync. Key parts have been highlighted and labeled to aid navigation.

3.2 ClearSync Toolbars

Throughout the ClearSync User Guide there are small icons to help identify which button the guide refers to. The toolbar at the top of the ClearSync screen houses all the buttons. You can find a list of the buttons, and a short discription of what each button does in the table below.

There are two toolbars in ClearSync, the Contact View, and the Calander View. Both of tool bars are shown below(inside there respective coloums), and will assist you in creating, editing, and deleting your information.

The toolbar looks something like this, remember depending on the view you currently have selected, this may have some slight variations. you can find the diffrences in the table below.

Calendar View		Contacts View
The calendar Toolbar is displayed when one of the four Calendar Views are selected.		When the contact view is selected, the toolbar has buttons for working with contacts.
Switch to contact view.		Switch to contact view.
Display "side by side" view		Display "side by side" view
Display "merged day" view		Display "merged day" view
Display "week" view		Display "week" view
Display "month" view		Display "month" view
Print page		Print page
Preview print page
Create new calendar		Create new contact
Edit selected calendar		Edit selected contact
Delete selected calendar		Delete selected contact
Display calendar manager		Display calendar manager
Display category manager		Display category manager
Import calendars		Import contacts
		Contact field selector
Display preferences menu		Display preferences menu
Diaplay account selector menu		Diaplay account selector menu
Go to my ClearSync home		Go to my ClearSync home
Sync with the server		Sync with the server
Display help menu		Display help menu

3.3 Navigation Pane

The navigation pane is an interactive calendar.

From this window you can move a few ways;

By Day: You can select the left and right arrows in the "Select Day" field, to move forward, and backward a single day in the calendar at a time.
By Week: If you click the up and down arrows in the "Select Day" field, you will move a week at a time forward or backward.
By Month: The top portion highlighted by the "Select Month" box, moves you forward and backward by month, when you click on the arrows.

Remember you can always choose a day by just clicking on it on the calendar itself!

This tool might be useful when you need to make your plans far in advance, or need to refrence an event in the past.

3.4 Preview Pane

The preview pane is a overview of your currently selected event.

It gives you information like:

Name: The name of the event you have highlighted
Time: The start and end times of the event you have selected.
Note: Any extra notes that may be included with an event
Calendars: This a list of users who also have this event, or who else you share this event with.(please see the Communities section for more detialed information.)
Repeat: What the frequency of the event is like, I.E. a birthday would be once a year, or a team may meet every week at the same time.

In this example the Calendar List is used to show, who else will be comng to the family dinner.

3.5 Calendar List

The calendar list displays what calenders have access to your currently highlighted event.

As you see in the example only Dad, Mom, Bobby, and Laura's calendars show this event.

This tool can be useful in keeping your work events separate from your family events.

4. ClearSync Calendars

4.1 Creating a calendar.

In ClearSync, a calendar serves to categorize your individual events and appointments. Examples of common calendar names might include "work", "family", "personal", and various sports team or organization names. Before any events may be entered, we must first make a calendar.

Click on the Calendar Manager button. The Calendar Manager dialog box will appear.

Click "New". This opens a new dialog box.
Enter your desired calendar name.
(Optional) Provide a description of the calendar.
Select the color you want to represent the calendar.
Click "OK" to close the dialog box.
Set Access Options.
Click "Close" to return to the ClearSync calendar interface.

Access Options

For each calendar, you may set different access privileges. These access options will decide how other people interact with your calendars once you choose to share them. There are three choices:

Read Write: permits users you allow to both see and edit your calendar and events.
Read Only: permits users you allow to see your calendar and events but not edit them.
Hide Details: permits users you allow to only see when you have events, but not what the events are.

These options may be changed at any time:

Open the Calendar Manager (by clicking) *
Select a calendar.
Click the appropriate option in the "access by others" box.

4.2 Importing Events

If you have an existing calendar, you can easily import the events into ClearSync. Events must be in a .ical file format to import. To import .ical events:

Click on the Import button in the Calendar Toolbar.
Type or browse for the location of the .ical file you wish to import.
Enter the name of the new calendar the events should be entered in OR select an existing calendar from the list.
Click "OK".

4.3 Creating an event.

(Must have a calendar view selected)

Simple Creation

To create a new event, click once on the time and day that you want the event to start. A new event will appear. You may type in the event description. Hit the "Enter" key or click anywhere outside the event to end editing. You may also click and drag the event to extend, shorten, or change the event times.

Advanced Creation

At times, it may be necessary to change an event's calendar(s), modify event repetition, or add notes. These types of options require using the "Edit Event" dialog box.

Click on the New Event button (The Edit Event dialog box will appear.)
OR

Double-click on the calendar. The time you click on will be the default event start time. The Edit Event dialog box will appear. (This does not work in Month View).
Enter the event description and enter the date and start and end times in the appropriate boxes. If the event has no time, check the "untimed" box.
Select if the event repeats.
(Optional) Add a note to be displayed in the right, center column when the event is selected.
Add the event to the appropriate calendar(s) by checking them on the right.
Click "OK" to create the event.

Repeating Events

Events may be set to repeat on a given basis. Repeating events may be set for a range of dates. By default, events are scheduled from the date selected and repeat without an ending date. Additionally, the frequency of events may be edited in the "every" box (represented by n). There are four types of events:

Daily: Events occur every n days.
Weekly: Events occur every n weeks on whichever day(s) selected.
Monthly: Events occur every n months on the numerical day (the 11th) OR on the ordinal day (2nd Tuesday)
Yearly: Events occur every n years on the day selected.

4.4 Editing an event.

You can edit events in place by simply clicking on them. If more advanced editing is required, such as changing the assigned calendar(s) or event repetition, you must use the Edit Event dialog box. To access the dialog box, you may:

Select the event and click on the Edit Event button The Edit Event dialog box will appear.

OR
Double-click on the event. The Edit Event dialog box will appear.

OR
Right-click on the event and select "Edit Event Details". The Edit Event dialog box will appear.

4.5 Deleting an event.

Select the event and click on the Delete Event button
OR
Right-click on the event and select "Delete Event".

4.6 Viewing ClearSync Calendar

There are four ways to view the ClearSync calendar system. They are:

Side by Side Day View allows you to view your day with the events in separate calendars by column.
Merged Day View allows you to view your day with all events in chronological order.
Week View allows you to view 7 days views in series (from Sunday to Saturday).
Month View allows you to see a preview of events each day for a full month.

Each calendar may be seen or unseen by selecting the checkbox next to the appropriate calendar in the Calendar List in the lower right corner of the ClearSync Desktop Application. To show a calendar, check the box next to it. To hide a calendar, uncheck the box.

5. Syncing

In order for your information to be viewed by other people to whom you give permissions, or to view your information from a web viewer, you must sync. With Gold Account status, syncing occurs every minute automatically. Silver Account users and those wishing to update immediately should click the Sync button. Syncing is only possible when an internet connection is active. Any changes will remain saved locally on the desktop version of ClearSync.

6. ClearSync Contacts

6.1 Create a contact category.

In ClearSync, a contact category serves to categorize your individual contacts. Examples of common category names include "work", "family", "personal", and various sports team or organization names. Before any contact may be entered, we must first make a contact category.

Click on the Contact Category Manager buttonThe Contact Category Manager dialog box will appear.
Click "New". This opens a new dialog box.
Enter your desired category name.
(Optional) Provide a description of the category.
Select the color you want to represent the category.
Click "OK" to close the dialog box.
Set Access Options.
Click "Close" to return to the ClearSync contact interface.

6.2 Importing Contacts

If you have existing contacts, you may easily import them into ClearSync. Contacts that you wish to import must be in a .csv file format. To import a .csv file:

Click on the Import button (icon) in the Contact Toolbar.
Type in or browse for the .csv file you wish to import.
Match the fields between your existing file and ClearSync by selecting the .csv column heading each ClearSync field will reference.
Enter the name of the new contact category the contacts should be entered in OR select an existing contact category from the list.
Click "OK".

6.3 Creating a contact.

(Must have the Contacts view selected)

Click on the New Contact buttonThe Edit Contact dialog box will appear.
Fill in all applicable fields. A minimum of one name field must be filled in.
Select the category (or categories) to which the contact should be assigned. A minimum of one must be selected.
Click "OK" to save the contact or "Cancel" to cancel.

6.4 Editing a contact.

"Select the contact and click the Edit Event buttonThe Edit Contact dialog box will appear.

Double-click on the contact. The Edit Contact dialog box will appear.

Right-click on the contact and select "Edit Contact". That Edit Contact dialog box will appear.

6.5 Deleting a contact.

Right-click on the contact and select "Delete Contact".

7. Preferences

There are several preferences that you may edit to personalize ClearSync and facilitate easy schedule and contact management. To view the preferences dialog box, click the "Preferences" button. Following is a list of preferences you may edit.

Enable auto sync: auto sync automatically synchronizes your data so that you do not need to repeatedly click the sync button. You may also change the minutes between auto sync (minimum sync time is one minute for Gold and 12 hours for Silver).

Enable expanded month view: With expanded month view, each week is automatically scaled by height to show all daily events in chronological order in month view.

Choose first calendar as default calendar: If this is not selected, no calendar will be automatically selected when creating a new event.

Font Size: Change the size of text for events and contacts.

Enable SSL Encryption: (Gold Users Only) Allows for encrypted transmission of information.

8. Account Selection

In some cases, it may be necessary to access a different account from the ClearSync Desktop Application. To switch accounts:

Click on the account selector button

You may select, add, or delete accounts in the list. To access a ClearSync account:

Highlight the account by clicking on it and click "OK".

Accounts added will be stored in the Account Selector until deleted so that you do not need to enter your username and password more than once in the desktop application. You may also change the username alias (alias is displayed in place of the username in the desktop application) or proxy settings for advanced internet connection needs.

9. Printing

You may print any of the four calendar views or the contacts screen in ClearSync. Simply click the "Print" button to open a standard printing dialog box where you may select various printing options. The document that prints will be what is displayed on ClearSync at the time you hit the print button.

To preview the view you wish to print, click the "Print Preview" button. A dialog box will appear with a preview of what the printed document will look like. You may zoom in or out with the "+" and "-" buttons on the bottom of the dialog box. Click "close" to return to the normal ClearSync screen.

10. ClearSync Help

You can receive assistance from ClearSync's support documentation and staff by clicking the Help button..

Select "ClearSync Support" to be redirected the ClearSync support webpage.

Click "About" to learn about the version of ClearSync you are currently using.

11. ClearSync Online

11.1 Log In to ClearSync Online

To access the ClearSync website go to ClearSync.com and log in with your Username and Password in the "Access Your Account" box and press the "login" button. (as shown below)

You also have the option to click on the My ClearSync Home button from the ClearSync desktop application.

11.2 My ClearSync Home

Your My ClearSync home page will appear. It will look like this:

In "My ClearSync", you can

View and edit your calendars and contacts from your web browser
View, create, or manage Communities
View, join, and manage Public Recourses
View and edit your account settings
Upgrade your account
Download ClearSync Desktop or Palm
Access Help Files

ClearSync Web Viewer

Click on the "Web Viewer" button.

You will see the ClearSync interface with your information. The Web Viewer is nearly identical to the desktop version in functionality.

Communities

Communities provide a way for people to share calendars and contacts. Community members must be invited in order to join. Once in a community, members may choose to subscribe to any calendar or contact category that is published. Community members may also publish their own calendars or contacts.

Community Creation

Click on "Create a community" in the community options from either the My ClearSync Home or from the Communities page.
Fill in the "Community Name", "Community Description", and the "Member/Administrator Name".
Click "Create Community". Your community has been created and you will be directed to the Community Management Page for that community.

Community Management

Manage Resources

To add a calendar or contact category (resource):

Select a resource from the drop down menu. Any calendar or contact category you have published will be listed.
Click "Share". Any shared resource can be unshared at any time.

To remove a calendar or contact category (resource):

Locate the resource you want to remove and click "Unshare". Any unshared resources can be added at any time.

Manage Members

To invite members to join your community, simply fill out their name and e-mail address. You may also include a message. By default, that person will be invited as member, but you may choose to invite them as an "admin". An invitation link will be e-mailed to the person you invite. If they are an existing ClearSync user, they may log in. If they do not have an existing account, they may make one from the invitation page.

Any member may be given the privileges to edit a community by making them an "admin" by checking the box next to their name. These privileges may be revoked at any time by unchecking the box next to the member name. Additionally, members with "admin" status may remove a member from the community by clicking the text "Remove this member".

Edit Community Details

The community name and description may be updated at anytime at the bottom of the edit community page. Once entered, click "edit" to accept the changes.

Deleting a Community

Click "Delete This Community" at the bottom of the edit community page.

Public Resources

Public recourses are calendars and contact categories that are available to anyone. They include sports team schedules, airline or hotel phone numbers, and special holiday sets. You can choose to "Browse ClearSync Public Resources" and subscribe to any or all of them by clicking "Subscribe". The calendars or contact categories you subscribe to will be automatically shown in your ClearSync interface. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking "Remove" on the My Resources page.

Account Settings

To change any account settings:

Click on "Account Details".

You may change any of the details of your account with the exception of your User Name.

To change your password:

Click on "Change My ClearSync Password" on the bottom of My ClearSync Home.

When finished in either location:

Click "Save Changes".

Purchase ClearSync

To buy year-long Silver or Gold licenses to apply to your account.

Click "Purchase"

The first license is full price and any additional licenses are half price.

Download ClearSync Desktop or Palm

To be redirected to ClearSync's download page:

Click "Download"

Access Help Files

To be redirected to ClearSync's support page:

Click "Help"

11.3 Log Out

Be sure to click "Logout" when you are finished using the ClearSync Web Interface.