Out of the box your PDA can handle calendar, contacts, tasks, email, web browsing, etc.  But try making a shopping list, a packing list for your next business trip or a list of the discs in your DVD collection.  Now make those lists searchable, sortable, and hierarchical.   You can't do that without some list making software.  Today, we'll take a look at the latest version of one of the first, most complete list managers around, Ilium Software's ListPro 4.1.

List It Out

ListPro comes in flavors for Palm Powered devices, Windows Mobile Pocket PCs and SmartPhones, and desktop Windows.  You can also purchase ListPro Professional Edition which gives you a version for your mobile device and bundles in the desktop version to sync with as well.

ListPro allows the user to create files with multiple lists inside.  You can organize these lists by creating a hierarchy of them using folders.  Then various list items can be added to your lists.  Setting up a list is easy.  You can create a new QuickList with a single tap.  This will give you a simple checklist that you can use for those honey-do's your significant other is always giving you. 

To get into the real meat of ListPro, open the New List Wizard.  The wizard allows you to create a custom list or choose from an extensive set of templates.  These include Music Collection, Shopping List, Travel Expenses, Meeting Agenda, Comic Collector and many others.  As you select a list template, the wizard shows you a description of what that template is best used for.  Tap Next and the wizard allows you to choose what fields each list item should have.  There are many default fields that match with the type of list you have chosen.  Simply remove ones you don't want, add others from the provided list or create your own user defined field.  Then you can give your list a name and you're ready to add items.

When you're viewing a specific list you'll see each item and as many fields as will fit on-screen.  The columns can be resized, but a detailed item view helps to make sure you can see everything you need about each item.  I have one nit-pick about the list view screen.  One of the Windows Mobile 5 Soft Keys is 'Done' which dismisses the list and takes you back to the list selection screen.  But I can do that already with the OK button.  However, when I add a new list item I have to tap and hold for a context menu or tap 'Menu' and then 'New Item'.  I'd love to see 'New Item' replace the 'Done' Soft Key in a later version.  There's only two of those pesky Soft Keys, so they've got to be wisely used.

The item details screen allows you to view and edit each field for a given item.  It also allows you to create a hierarchy of list items by indenting some items to make them sub-items of other things on your list.  Hierarchical lists come in handy when creating categories within a list and many other ways you may dream up.

You can send your lists via Infared and Bluetooth to other ListPro users as well as sync them with a desktop computer.  This is easy because the desktop version uses the exact same file format.  Got a long list or not sure what list an item is on?  ListPro also has built-in search.

Get Lists from Others

One of the best ListPro features doesn't actually concern the ListPro application itself.  It's a repository of lists provided by ListPro users and available at http://www.iliumsoft.com/site/lp/lp_lists.php.  Are you looking for an episode guide for ABCs hit show LOST?  How about  a list of telecom and data wire colors?  Or maybe a childhood immunization checklist?  These lists and many, many more are available for free. 

ListPro is snappy, easy to use and can be used for just about any purpose you can dream up.  Version 4.1 is available now and includes the following enhancements:

Simplified List Creation

Strike-Thru Completed Items

Expanded Calculations

New "Find All" Function

Improved Printing

Full Support for Windows Mobile 5.0 Devices

Full Support for the Palm Treo

Complete Support for any Screen Size or Shape

And many other Usability Improvements

Conclusion

If you've made a new year's resolution to get organized, or simply want to stop using Word Mobile or a notepad to keep track of important lists of your stuff, Ilium Software's ListPro can help.   This is stable, very useful, flexible, down-to earth software.  It can be found at www.iliumsoft.com and at PDA software resellers all over the web.  It also features a 30 trial so you can check it out before you buy.

Final Grade: A-

Pros:  Simple to use.  Very Flexible.  Many useful lists available online

Cons:  Use of Smart Keys under Windows Mobile 5 could be improved.