Code Wallet Pro 2006 Review
By recrem

While reviewing the new O2 XDA Atom Exec, I found the bundled Code Wallet Pro to be a nifty addition and decided that a full review on this software was warranted.  With the assistance of Developer One I have had the chance to test out the program features and compile this review.

Code Wallet Pro 2006 is available in both Desktop and Mobile versions.  The Desktop version is designed to synchronise with the Mobile version and makes bulk data entry much easier.

Installation

Code Wallet Pro for the Mobile device comes as a single installation file.  Both the Pocket PC and Smartphone platforms are supported as well as the various Windows Mobile operating systems.  During installation to the mobile device, the only option to select is the operating system which is either Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows Mobile 5.  Whether a Pocket PC or a Smartphone is connected at the time makes no difference as the install package determines what device you have and installs the appropriate Mobile software.

Code Wallet Pro for the Desktop is simple to install and runs on Windows 2000 and Windows XP.  Code Wallet Pro Desktop also supports installation and running from a USB Memory Device.  This is particularly useful to those of us who use work computers with various security policies in place and would like to use the Desktop Companion to manage our sensitive information at work.

Features

Code Wallet Pro is so simple and yet powerfully flexible to store and display nearly any information one can think of securely.  The basic idea behind this application is in the use of wallets, forms, cards and folders.  Wallets store the forms, cards and folders.  Multiple wallets can be used on one device.  Forms are templates that can be downloaded and imported or created for future use.  These forms hold as many data fields as the designer wishes and each data field can be one of the data types below:

• Text - Any alphanumeric characters

• URL - This stores web addresses and when clicked while viewing the card, Internet Explorer loads and opens the web page

• Email - This stores Email addresses and when clicked while viewing the card, a new email is created from the address

• Telephone - This stores any phone number and when clicked while viewing a form dials that number

• Password / Hidden (********) - Self explanatory

• Date - When clicked this field inserts the current date

• Time - When clicked this field inserts the current time

• Date & Time - As above

• Yes / No - Simple selection with two answers

• Selection List - Much like a drop down combo box.  The default list can be edited on a per form basis to include relevant selections

• Check Box - Self explanatory

A simple form to record web site login information may contain the web address (URL), User Name (Text) and Password (Password / Hidden).  Cards are based on the forms, where relevant fields are filled, and can then be organized according to any folder structure that the person likes.  One key idea behind Code Wallet Pro is to only display those fields that contain data so that all information is easy to see.

Features common to Code Wallet Pro Mobile and Desktop Companion:

• Create, Edit and Delete Forms and Cards

• Create, Rename and Delete Folders

• Change Text size and color

• Change Form and Card background color and pictures

• Edit individual Card fields without changing the Form the Card was based on

• Personalize Icons associated with the Folders, Forms and Cards

• Add File Attachments

• Add Sound Files to play when Card is opened

• Automatically close wallets after a defined timeout period

• 128-bit RC4 Encryption of Wallet Files
  

Features available to the Desktop Companion:

• Field Justification - MultiLine, Left or Right

• Ability to Print

• Can be run from a USB Memory Device

The Test Drive

           
Screen Images of My Wallet

To get a good feel for what this application can offer I decided to enter some of the information I currently store in SplashData SplashID.  This involved creating various folders ready for the data I wanted to store and modifying the included forms or those I downloaded from the Developer One web site to suit my requirements.  The images above show what my wallet looks like after some customization.  I have organized my Cards into various folders to make finding the information simple.  Currently, I have folders assigned to my Bank Accounts, Contacts, Email Accounts and Software.  I have created a sub folder under Software where I have entered some of the details for the Pocket PC software collection on my Laptop.

           
Examples of my Credit Cards - hidden fields used for my protection

When I created these new cards, I downloaded the logo from each banking site and imported it into Code Wallet Pro.  After adding the background image and selecting the location (bottom right) I then clicked on a "Match Background" option to match the background color of the card to the image I added.  I then changed the color of the text to make it visible and readable.  The end result is quite neat and visually ties the data to the card.  I have chosen to hide all the vital fields so I can use my examples as illustrations.  The hidden data can be made visible either by highlighting the field or by enabling a checkbox to always show hidden data on a card by card basis.

           
Examples of Software Keys and Email Account Cards

Two more examples show how data can be stored for software registration and support and for email account information.  Just about any type of information can be stored and displayed using Code Wallet Pro.  The more I think about what can be stored, the more ideas I come up with.  For example, we carry in our work vehicle a ring of radio site keys to gain access through various gates, doors and cabinets.  There would be in excess of 100 keys hanging on that ring each with their own unique key number.  I could create a form to record the key number and a list of sites it accesses.

With the Desktop Companion, data fields can be justified as already mentioned earlier in this review.  All the images in this review use the default multiline justification where the data label is followed on the next line by the data field.  I found this to be the best format when viewing on the mobile device.  Left Justification places the data field to the left and label to the right.  Right Justification places the data field to the right and the label to the left.  Any changes made to the justification on the Desktop Companion are transferred to the mobile device upon synchronization.

The Desktop Companion also has the ability to print a hard copy of all your information.  I tried a test print of one card that I had open.  To enable printing to proceed I had to re-enter the password for my wallet which I thought was a good security precaution to build in.  I was surprised though when all the cards in my wallet came out of our printer!  Printing is best used to produce a complete hard copy of the wallet for safe keeping.

I have received some further clarification regarding the printing from Developer One and have included this information in the forum topic associated with this review.

Overall I am impressed with Code Wallet Pro's simplicity and flexibility.  After creating multiple cards and forms using the Desktop Companion and then editing the layout, colors and text sizes of each card I looked for a bulk edit function to make changes to selected cards.  Unfortunately I couldn't find such a feature so just edited each card individually until I was happy with how they presented.  This is a feature I will suggest to Developer One for a future upgrade if it is easy to implement.

Conclusions

Code Wallet Pro is a very nice application used to store and present your sensitive information in a manner that suits.  This will be an excellent investment for those who have a lot of sensitive information that is needed close at hand.  I have used other password managers before and modified various data fields to suit, but have never used software as flexible and powerful as Code Wallet Pro.

If you are considering a better way to manage your information, download the trial versions of Code Wallet Pro Mobile and Code Wallet Pro Desktop Companion to see it for yourself.  Although the Mobile version is all that anyone really requires, managing your data from the Desktop Companion is a much easier and less time consuming way to go.

Code Wallet Pro 2006 Mobile and Code Wallet Pro 2006 Desktop Companion currently sell for $24.95 USD each or $44.90 USD if purchased as a bundle.  Please visit the Developer One website for more information and updated pricing.

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Developer One's Code Wallet Pro 2006 Deserves A Solid 9.5/10