HowTo: Perform a 'Fake' ArcPad Checkout

If ArcPad data collected in the field does not check in properly or if the ArcPad check-in tool is not available after starting a GPS edit session (if using GPS Analyst) or after starting a regular Edit session (if using standard ArcPad tools in ArcMap), a fake checkout of the original data has to be done in order to get the new data checked in.

Because the checkout transaction is stored in C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Application
Data\ESRI\ArcMap\APtrans.log, there are multiple reasons why a 'fake' checkout needs to be performed:

1. A checkout transaction is removed from the log file when a check-in is performed. If field data is not in the checkout folder when the check-in is performed, the checkout is ‘lost’ and has to be performed again.

2. A different user logs in to check in the data.

3. Some users run ArcGIS Desktop from a server, for example, Citrix Server. The transaction log may be stored on the server machine and is not accessible when they try to check in.

4. Some users have their user settings (including Documents & Settings) stored on a server, and when they log in locally to a PC, it is synchronized with the server. If they check out, log off, then later log in, the check-in button may be disabled, because the transaction log has been overwritten on the local machine when the user settings were synchronized.

Procedure
Instructions provided describe how to perform a 'Fake' Checkout:

Create a new checkout in ArcMap using the same map extents as the original checkout. Make sure to check out all the same data that was originally checked out. If a larger extent is checked out or an attempt is made to check out a different set of data, this data can be lost during check-in.
Save this folder as 'Fake' in a desired location. When the checkout is complete, do not exit out of ArcMap.
Open Windows Explorer.
Browse to the original checked out folder on the mobile device. This should contain all the parts of the shapefiles as well as the GPScorrect.ssf file.
Select all the files in that folder and copy them.
Browse to and open the 'Fake' folder that was created in Step 2.
Paste the files into this 'Fake' folder.
Select 'Yes to All' for the 'Confirm File Replace' message.
In ArcMap, start a GPS Edit session if using GPS Analyst, or start a normal Edit session if GPS Analyst is not being used.
The 'Check in' button should become activated. Click the 'Check in' button.
Select all the layers from the 'Fake' checkout and click OK.
The data should now appear in ArcMap.