SplashID 4 Desktop Only User Guide   Table of Contents Introduction Installation Registration Quick Start Overview Buttons Options Web Auto-Fill Database Sync Edit Dialog Automatic Password Generator Custom Field Labels Masking Finding Records Security Importing and Exporting Backup and Restore

 

Introduction

SplashID provides quick and easy access to all of your personal identification information, including usernames, passwords, credit cards, PINs, calling card numbers, frequent flyer numbers, insurance info and more. Data is stored in a secure, encrypted, password protected format.

Installation

Run the Installer and follow the on screen instructions. The installer installs the following files:

• SplashID Desktop -- A desktop application (for Mac and Windows) used to view and edit information on the desktop.
• SplashID User Guide -- This User Guide.

Registration

When you launch SplashID you will be prompted to enter a registration code or to run in Trial mode. You may run the software for 30-days in full-functioning Trial mode. The Trial software and Registered software are identical. Once the trial period ends you must purchase and enter a registration code to continue using the software. You do not need to re-install the software. Simply enter a registration code and your Trial version will be converted into a Registered version and all your data will remain intact. 

Quick Start

1. Launch SplashID and several sample records will be displayed.
2. Click New to create a new record. In the Edit View select a Type, such as Credit Card or Web Login, and you will see the Field Labels change accordingly.
3. Click Done when you are finished entering the information for the new record and you are returned to the List View.
4. It is recommended you set a password to protect your data, which you can do by selecting Set Password from the File menu. Make sure you can remember this password, because it cannot be removed or reset without deleting your data.

Overview

When you launch SplashID you are presented with the List View, which displays a list of your items. Items are records of information, like a credit card number and expiration date; or a username and password for a web-site. There are two other useful views, Panel View and Tree View, which you can select with the view buttons toward the top of the window.

List View	SplashID Desktop has some great features features: 3 Record Views -- Use the View buttons to select from the traditional List View, or the new Panel and Tree Views. Select a record from the List to display the details in the Detail Pane on the right. Web Auto-Fill -- For Web Logins, click the globe button or right click and select Auto-Fill to open Internet Explorer to the selected URL and fill in the login info with your data. See Web Auto-Fill for more info. Or you may simply click on a URL or email address in the preview pane to launch your web browser or email client. Database Sync -- You may select multiple databases to synchronize with on the desktop, so you can share data with other users, even across a network. See Database Sync for more info. Types -- Use the Type menu on the top left to filter the view by type, such as Credit Cards or Web Logins. All Types are displayed by default, but you may restrict the list to only display items assigned to a specific Types (see Categories and Types). Categories -- Use the Category menu on the top right to filter the view by Category, such as Business or Personal. All categories are displayed by default, but you may restrict the list to only display items assigned to a specific Category (see Categories and Types).
Panel View
Tree View

• Sorting -- click the column header to sort by that column. click again to reverse sort. 
• Resize columns -- You may resize a column by dragging the left/right edges of the column header.
• Mask -- click the Mask button to show/hide masked fields.
• Click-able URLs -- You may click on a URL in the preview pane to launch your web browser or email client.
• Copy field -- You may click the clipboard icon next to a field in the preview pane to copy that field to the clipboard. You may then paste this field into another application (e.g., copying and pasting the password field from SplashID into a web browser). Note: You may also type Control-1 through Control-7 to copy fields 1 through 9 to the clipboard.

Buttons

There are buttons scattered around the SplashID Desktop window, situated by proximity to where they are to be used:

Options

When you click the Options button or select Options from the Edit menu, you will see the dialog to the left, with the following options: Set Font -- Select the Font type, style, size and color from the fonts on your system. Show Columns in List View -- Select which field data columns you would like to display in the List View. Set Row Color -- Select the color of the rows in List View, which will also be applied as the background color in the Panel and Tree Views.

• Database Location -- Select a Custom database location, including network locations. Note: You cannot select a folder that already contains a SplashID database. See Database Sync if you wish to share data.
• Auto Backup Location -- Change the location that the automatic vID backup is saved to.

Web Auto-Fill

For Web Logins, you can have SplashID launch Internet Explorer and automatically fill in the username and password fields for you. Please take note of the following:

• Record type must be assigned to Web Logins.
• Username and password fields should be filled in.
• URL field must begin with either http:// or www. Find the correct URL to get to the login screen on the selected website -- this is often not the homepage.
• On Vista and/or Internet Explorer 7, you must disable Protected Mode in:
  • Tools > Internet Options > Security > Uncheck "Enable Protected Mode"
  • Click Apply, then restart Internet Explorer.
• This may not work with all sites.

Database Sync

New in SplashID 4, you can synchronize multiple database files manually, at launch, and/or at exit. This is an advanced feature, not recommended for beginner users. As always, it is recommended that you backup your data with a vID export before trying out this feature, so you can revert if you lose anything. Please Note: You can only sync with other SplashID 4.x database files. At the time this User Guide was written, that means only SplashID 4 for Palm OS users and SplashID 4 Desktop Only users.

To synchronize multiple database files:

1. Click Add File and select a remote database to sync with. (Your database does not need to be selected).
2. Select the Sync Mode
   • Synchronize -- Compares the databases and writes changes to each.
   • Current to Remote -- Overwrites remote data with current user data.
   • Remote to Current -- Overwrites current user data with remote data.
3. Set In Case of Conflict -- Current wins or Remote wins.
4. Set Sync on Startup preference.
5. Set Sync on Exit preference.
6. Check the boxes for the databases you would like to sync.
7. Select Sync Selected or Sync Now.

Edit Dialog

Open the Edit dialog for a given record by double-clicking a record.

• Type -- Select the Type from the Type menu. The Type will dictate the default field labels, icons, and masking preferences for the record. See more about Categories and Types.
• Category -- In the top right of the Edit View screen, you can change the Category. It will default to the Category you were displaying when you created the record. See more about Categories and Types.
• Fields -- Enter your data according to the field labels.
• Custom Field Labels -- You may assign Custom Field Labels by clicking the Custom button.
• Masking -- A bullet appears to the right of any field that is masked. You may Customize the field masking by clicking the bullet or selecting Customize Field Labels from the Options Menu.
• Buttons --
  • OK exits the record, saving any changes.
  • Cancel exits the record, discarding any changes.
  • Duplicate creates a copy of the record.
  • Delete deletes the current record, after confirming that is what you wish to do.
  • Custom opens the Custom Field Label dialog.
  • Password opens the Automatic Password Generator (below).
  • Icon opens the icon selector.

Automatic Password Generator

To open the Automatic Password Generator, click the Password button in the Edit Dialog. To create a password: Set the Length. Check or Uncheck the pronounceable setting. Choose from the Character Sets one or more options of letters, numbers, symbols, or a combinatory thereof. click Generate. click again until you get a suitable password. click OK when you have decided.

Categories and Types

The difference between Categories and Types is best illustrated by example. You may use Categories to separate your Business records from your Personal records, while you use Types to separate your Credit Card records from your Web Login records.

Categories act as filters for grouping related records. The two pre-defined Categories are Business and Personal, though you may add more by choosing Edit Categories from the Category menu.

Types act as templates, which define the structure for the items you want to store in SplashID. You may define up to 9 custom field labels and a default icon for each type, as well as specify the fields you wish to mask. For example, you may create a type for Web Logins, which includes custom field labels for username, password and URL, with a globe icon, and the password field masked; and you may create a Type for Credit Cards which includes custom field labels for credit card number, expiration date and PIN, with a Visa icon, and the credit card number and PIN masked.

• Edit Types -- Select Edit Types from the type menu to display the Edit Types dialog. You may create an unlimited number of Types. Several sample Types are provided, which you may edit or delete. Select an existing type and click edit, or click New to create a new one. The Define type dialog is displayed.
• Define Type -- Enter a name for the Type and up to 9 custom field labels. The Mask checkbox specifies whether or not the data in that field will be masked. And you may also specify a default icon for the Type.

Custom Field Labels

Field Labels and masking are set by default when you define a Type. You may change the Field Labels and masking, however, at the record level by clicking the Field Label itself, or by choosing Customize Fields from the Item Menu.

Masking

Fields that are Masked appear as four asterisks (****). You may show or hide the masked data by clicking the Mask toggle on the upper right corner of the screen.

If you wish to permanently mask or unmask a field, you can change its mask setting in the Edit Type dialog or the Custom Field Labels dialog.

Find

You may search for records in SplashID by typing in the Find box (press Ctrl-F to jump there). All fields in all records in SplashID will be searched and any matching records will appear in the results below. You may then click an item to go to the Detail View for that item.

Security

You can secure your data in SplashID so that a password must be entered to access the application. You will be required to enter the password when launching SplashID. Once you set a password, SplashID encrypts your data using Blowfish encryption to ensure data security.

• Setting a Password -- To set a password, select Set Password from the File Menu. The Set Password dialog is displayed. Enter a password in the New Password field, and verify the password by entering it again in the Confirm field. 
• Entering a Password -- You will be required to enter your password each time you launch SplashID. You may enter the password using Graffiti, or with one of the onscreen keyboards. You may toggle between the alpha-numeric keyboard and the numeric keypad using the abc/123 button on the top right of the password dialog. The numeric keypad is suitable for entering a numeric password without a stylus, using your fingers.
• Changing a Password -- To change a password, select Set Password from the File Menu, enter your Old Password, then enter and confirm the New Password.
• Removing a Password -- To remove a password, select Set Password from the File Menu, enter your Old Password, then leave the New Password and Confirm fields blank.

Auto-Lock -- Choose Auto-Lock from the Options dialog to specify the period of inactivity that must elapse before SplashID auto-locks. Once SplashID locks, you must enter your password to open SplashID.

Import/Export

You can share information with other SplashID Desktop users by exporting and importing your SplashID records. Records can be exported/imported on the desktop in several formats:

SplashID vID
You may import and export SplashID records in SplashID Virtual ID (vID) format, which allows you to export and import records in a secure, encrypted format. vID files may be encrypted by assigning a password when exporting. The recipient of the vID file may import the data into their copy of SplashID Desktop by double-clicking the file, or choosing Import/SplashID vID from the File Menu. If a password was assigned to the file, the recipient must enter the password in order to import the data.

vID files are a convenient way to share records with a coworker or spouse by exporting a vID file, assigning a password (optional), and then emailing the resulting vID file to the recipient. You can even use the vID format as a backup mechanism by periodically exporting a vID file and archiving it on a backup disk.

*New in SplashID 4* -- You can also use the Email button on the SplashID desktop to export vID files and attach them to a new email message.

CSV
You may also import and export SplashID records in CSV format. CSV stands for Comma Separated Values, and is a common file format readable by most spreadsheets, databases and word processors. If you wish to import a CSV file, the data must be in the following format:

Type, Custom 1, Custom 2, Custom 3, Custom 4, Custom 5, Custom 6, Custom 7, Custom 8, Custom 9, Date Modified, Notes, Category

It is easy to create the above format in Excel by creating a spreadsheet with 13 columns (as designated above) with one record per row. Then save the file in CSV format.

Note: When importing data, if the type field is blank the record will be placed in Unfiled. If there is a type name and it does not match an existing type a new type will be created.

Backup and Restore

Automatic vID Backups
SplashID Desktop has an automatic backup feature which will allow you to easily recover data in most cases. Whenever the data has been changed, a backup is made each time you exit SplashID Desktop. A vID export file is created (and encrypted with the same password you are using in SplashID) and stored in:

My Documents\SplashData\SplashID\Backup\SplashID-_Standalone_.vid

If you later need to restore this data, simply double-click the .vid file and you will be prompted for a password and the data will be imported into SplashID Desktop.

You may change the location that this file is backed up to in SplashID Desktop Options.

Manual vID Backups
You may also perform a manual backup of your data by selecting Backup from the File menu. This will export your SplashID Database in vID format to whatever location you select. You will be given the option to set a password as well, which will encrypt the data and require the password to restore it.

Restore
Select Restore from the File menu to restore a vID file that has been backed up either automatically or manually as described above. The password will remain the same for the application even if the password for the backup file was different.

Desktop
The SplashID Desktop database file is automatically saved to the SplashID directory on your hard drive each time you exit the application. You may back up this file as an added precaution in case of a hard drive failure. To restore the backup file simply copy it into the SplashID directory. Then the next time you launch SplashID it will open the file. This file is stored here:

My Documents\SplashData\SplashID\_Standalone_

You may change the location that this file is saved to in SplashID desktop Options.

Import/Export

You can share information with other SplashID Desktop users by exporting and importing your SplashID records. Records can be exported/imported on the desktop in several formats:

SplashID vID
You may import and export SplashID records in SplashID Virtual ID (vID) format, which allows you to export and import records in a secure, encrypted format. vID files may be encrypted by assigning a password when exporting. The recipient of the vID file may import the data into their copy of SplashID Desktop by double-clicking the file, or choosing Import/SplashID vID from the File Menu. If a password was assigned to the file, the recipient must enter the password in order to import the data.

vID files are a convenient way to share records with a coworker or spouse by exporting a vID file, assigning a password (optional), and then emailing the resulting vID file to the recipient. You can even use the vID format as a backup mechanism by periodically exporting a vID file and archiving it on a backup disk.

CSV
You may also import and export SplashID records in CSV format. CSV stands for Comma Separated Values, and is a common file format readable by most spreadsheets, databases and word processors. If you wish to import a CSV file, the data must be in the following format:

Type, custom 1, custom 2, custom 3, custom 4, custom 5, custom 6, Notes, Category

It is easy to create the above format in Excel by creating a spreadsheet with 8 columns (as designated above) with one record per row. Then save the file in CSV format.

Note: When importing data, if the type field is blank the record will be placed in Unfiled. If there is a type name and it does not match an existing type a new type will be created.

Backup and Restore

Automatic vID Backups
SplashID Desktop has an automatic backup feature which will allow you to easily recover data in most cases. Whenever the data has been changed, a backup is made each time you exit SplashID Desktop. A vID export file is created (and encrypted with the same password you are using in SplashID) and stored in:

My Documents\SplashData\SplashID\Backup\SplashID-_Standalone_.vid

If you later need to restore this data, simply double-click the .vid file and you will be prompted for a password and the data will be imported into SplashID Desktop.

Manual vID Backups
You may also perform a manual backup of your data by selecting Backup from the File menu. This will export your SplashID Database in vID format to whatever location you select. You will be given the option to set a password as well, which will encrypt the data and require the password to restore it.

Restore
Select Restore from the File menu to restore a vID file that has been backed up either automatically or manually as described above. The password will remain the same for the application even if the password for the backup file was different.

The SplashID Desktop database file is automatically saved to the SplashID directory on your hard drive each time you exit the application. You may back up this file as an added precaution in case of a hard drive failure. To restore the backup file simply copy it into the SplashID directory. Then the next time you launch SplashID it will open the file. This file is stored here:

My Documents\SplashData\SplashID\_Standalone_

You may change the location of the SplashID database file by selecting Change Database Location from the File menu and selecting a different directory. You may choose a local directory on your computer or a network directory.