Can information from a 7100i be sent to the Blackberry Desktop Manager and edited in the Desktop Manager and then returned to the 7100i

No. DM is just a transfer medium. You would need to sync with Outlook or Google or another supported PIM, edit and then resync.

I am new to this forum and totally unaware of how to navigate and use it. I am making the assumption that this 'Quick Reply' is directed to Dubdub, who provided a prompt and very useful response to my initial question (post).

Based on the reply by Dubdub, my current understading is that information (especially Contact Information) is transferred from my 7100i to the Blackberry Desktop Manager (DM) and then that information is redirected to another program, such as Outlook, to edit and update the information and then the updated information is sent back to the DM and then further sent onto the 7100i?

Any further guidance, suggestions, pitfalls, or advice on this issue would be most appreciated.

Thanks much, pscheasley

P. S. What is the 'Go Advanced' button next to the 'Post Quick Reply' button that I am about to punch?

The reply is publicly posted, as you see.

As far as sync, the details of how it does it seem to not matter. You have no access to your contacts, calendar, tasks, and notes in Desktop Manager. When performing a sync, it is comparing databases and making additions and changes in either the handset database or the database it is sync'ing with, going by the rules defined in the sync settings in Desktop Manager.

You can edit the information on the handset, or you can edit it in Outlook, or Google, or whatever you are sync'ing with, or in both locations. That is what sync is for. If you create a conflict by editing the same record in the two locations since the last sync, then you will be prompted to resolve the conflict, according the conflict resolution rules you define in the sync setup in Desktop Manager.

Dubdub's point, I believe, was that most find it easier to do significant editing in Outlook or whatever, then sync to the handset, rather than spend a lot of time and hassle doing serious editing or data input on the handset.

Quick reply posts your response in the forum. Advanced adds things like color, bold, italics, etc.

You are correct in your understanding about DM. You would sync the data between Outlook and your device, edit it in whichever app you wish and then resync.

As for pitfalls, the 7100i is pretty old as BBs go. I am not 100% certain that it will work with the latest version of DM. What version of Outlook do you have? DM 4.2 supports Outlook 2000 and older. DM 5 and DM 6 supports 2003 and newer.