Conference terri::tdl

    Need to allow >24 items to be displayed. Priority 8.

    Need to provide option to examine the history of an item. Priority 6.

    Need to be able to postpone an item by x working days. Priority 4.

    Colour customisation would be nice. Priority 1.

    Datafile is currently hardcoded to be C:\CALDATA.DAT. Needs to be
    user-selectable (how? customize option, or environment variable set in
    AUTOEXEC.BAT?) Priority 3.

    At present, no items scheduled for the future can be viewed / deleted /
    postponed, etc. Need a way of listing items for a given date. Prio 6.

or at least, it must prevent you entering more than 24 items.

IMO, priority 7. 

Customize otion.

Assuming tdl works from a options file, this should be settable once.
Particularly since c: is the last place I want something like this.

IMO, priority 8. I see this as a reasonable serious restriction.

M.

    That would be a good temp workaround - if I can't FIX the 24 item
    problem quickly, expect this as an interim.

    Noted.

Copied tdl.exe to c:
ran tdl
created new datafile
inserted one item
inserted another item
Tried to use arrows - Hung

Rebooted

invoked tdl
"Error reading infile version no."
less than useful message, however remembered late one eveing at your place,
editing and deleted caldata.tmp.
invoked tdl. no sweat
insert three more items.
used arrows - hung

tried again deleting caldata.dat & .tmp

Same result.

enhancment - Mouse Control

Priority 3

    C: was never intended to be the permanent place, so don't worry about
    that. I'm tending more towards an environment variable, simply because
    the customisations are stored in the data file (which we need to be
    able to find). How strongly do you feel about this...if there was an
    options file, the problem becomes finding *that*.

Enhancement - Ability to edit lines

Priority 7

    Agreed, priority uprated.

I don't feel that strongly, but beware of depending on the Autoexec.bat too
much.

Many applications edit the autoxec.bat and some of them don't do it very
cleverly, particularly if it is an application that has been installed before.

Therefore you need to ensure that the variable is near the front of the
autoexec.bat.

    Nice, noted, but long way off.

okey dokey, tried a few more things as suggested.

Added future item, tried the arrow keys, rebooted.

Added past item.

Past item higlighted in white on red
Current items highlighted in white on blue

Initially cursor rested on past item, as soon as I moved it, it would move among
the "today" items but it would not return to the "past" item. I therefore
couldn't delete/postpone it.

However, if I then deleted/postponed something, it would then return to the past
line and allow me to amend it. Again, however, if I moved off it I could not
move back on to it.

Does that help ?

    Hadn't thought of that one - should be easy to do, and a good idea too.

The facility to close something is required, rather than delete. This I see as
important, say priority 7.

However, this then leads into the ability to purge/display/amend them, although
this is of lower priority, say 4/5

M.

when postponing something the text is something like "new text for line",
I would suggest something more clearly different from the original text would be
better.

Say something like "Updated task details"

    OK, I'll try this at home later. May call you if I can't reproduce the
    problem!

More info -

The system hangs whenever you try to use the arrows with no tasks for before
today. Although I have tasks in the future, and HAD a task in the past
(postponed) it hung when I tried to use the arrows.

M.

    What's the objective - to maintain a list of "done" items for reporting
    or something? If so, I'd considered that, and will add to the list...
    
    (I think what I'm saying is "what does it mean if an item is closed?"
    And how are such items to be treated by TDL?)

I want/need the ability to be sure when I did something within the near-past.
After a couple of weeks, it is only relevant that it was done, but in the short
term I can see that I would need to be able to look and see "oh yes, I did that
on thursday and x agreed.

I'm not for a moment saying that I would do this with all items, just that in
some cases it would make a big difference.

M.

Last bit, problem has become less urgent since all I shall do is retain an item
for 30-March which just says "Started using TDL"

I've been thinking about this.

For *MY* use, then this is essential.

Rather than using tdl to run my private life, ring dentist etc etc, I intend to
use it as my main diary system. This means that I  shall need to use it to find
out what I was doing, for SAMS etc.

Whether this is the same for all uses is debatable.

Therefore, for me, v. high prio.

see 22.*

I'd appreciate this for closed items.

caldata.tmp should be deleted during initialisation. A check needs to be made as
to existance first, of course.

An ability to preview, or to have lead times. IE, this job is due for 10/04,
lead time to produce the document of 7 days, tdl should be able to switch to
another screen "pre-alert type thing" and say, this is what you should have
started.

low priority - 1

After using it, and it has got some use this afternoon, IMO History is vital
part of req'd functionality.

Therefore Prior 8/9

M.

    See? The more you use it, the more you want! What a wonderful hack...
    Upgraded to P8.

Is c:\caldata.dat hardcoded with the device name ?

I accidently invoked it from a different disk and it failed to find my datafile
and thought it might as well generate another. It would appear to be important
to have the datafile in c: and to make sure that tdl.exe is invoked from the
same place.

M.

Error reading input file
Fatal error: 4

Need an answer fast.

M.

    Yep, it's hardcoded as "C:\CALDATA.DAT"

    Fixed X.002

    Fixed X.002 (no check for existence done. However, if it doesn't exist,
    the delete returns an error. I never check the return status [that's
    girl's stuff]).

    In fact, I don't even record, let alone check, the return status.

    Maybe in X.003:
    
    	"Failed to delete CALDATA.TMP which wasn't there"
    
    I'll think on it.

    We can come back to this and spec out what is needed later. Certainly
    possible.

    Some work done in X.002, but I am NOT convinced it is fixed.

Something strange is happening with caldata.dat

I know you've hard coded the dev/dir but it ain't working that way.

WIf invoked from windows, it uses c:\windows\caldata.dat It works fine, but it
DEF. uses that file.

M.

The ability to prioritise activities.

Priority 3

    Yeah, I thought of that too. Initially, how would it be if it just
    listed the items in priority order for each day? (Highest first)

I think that is about all that is required.

    OK, I'll look at priority based on 1 to 5 basis. Now, is prio 1
    important or unimportant? (ie, which is higher, 1 or 5?). Personally
    I'd choose 1 as high (unlike I've done in here, and I regret it) -
    people talk about a "priority one" job (or even "my first priority").
    
    Thoughts?

so you should. Normal rules should have applied !!!

1 is high. Digital's normal rules are that 1 is a show stopper and 5 is when you
get to it.

    Fixed in X.003.

    Fixed in X.002.

    More convinced now. Closed unless problems occur.

    Problem understood, and will be fixed in X.003 (but it ain't yet).

Requirement: Priority 4

The ability to print, or at least write to a text file either today's, Some
other days' or outstanding tasks.

Requirement: Priority 6

When postponing an item, the ability to retain existing text, edit existing text
or enter new text.

    How about, by default, the existing text is copied into the edit buffer
    (just like the Edit option in X003)?

A good idea, provided that there is a key which will clear the field. f13 is
typical.

Requirement - Prior = 4ish

Sticky Cursor

Initial Feedback -

Insert and Delete should work from I & D also.

Therefore, display could be "SCREEN" and use 'S'

'ESC' is not intuitive and annoys the hell out of me. <Cr> would be better, or
even any other key or even a prompt to tell me to use escape.

>'ESC' is not intuitive and annoys the hell out of me. <Cr> would be better, or
>even any other key or even a prompt to tell me to use escape.

In fact, make that any key + bleep when you put the message on the screen to
cause the user to look at the screen.

"DELAY" should be a letter from the word, not TAB.

When postponing, the current message should be the default.

Should be consistent. You're using characters from words without needing <Cr>. I
like this, but it doesn't always work. For example, display/History. History
does not have it's h highlighted, although it can ber used, and stil needs a
carriage return.

Enter TDL
Type D (display)
Type H <Cr> (history)
Type Z (customize)
Type Esc (since customize (with a z ?) is not yet implemented)

Study display (main window)

Try and work out how to use the wrong menu bar.

It reminas with the Display/History Menu bar. It isn't just a redraw problem
isince main menu commands won't work. It appears to be a problem with re-drawing
the history, you  are redrawing the main screen by mistake.

Clear ? Good.

M.

p.s. exiting from history is otherwise fine.

The only way I have managed to clear this is to re-enter history and then exit
properly.

You need to differentiate between Delay and Postpone a little more intuitively.

Postpone is more like "Re-queue following action"	Reschedule ?
							Requeue ?
							Adjourn ?

Delay is more like "re-queue following no action"	Postpone ?

    I actually found this last week (although I hadn't realized the wrong
    menubar displayed), but figured you wouldn't spend too much time in
    customize anyway....
    
    Can fix - probably - everything you've mentioned fairly easily.

    Yeah, the reason the display pop-up is inconsistent is because that is
    from a library of routines (that I didn't write) - they do all the
    windowing, but that one is a "higher level" one in that it provides the
    full pop-up. However, I'm pretty sure I have the source to the pop-up
    part of the library, so I'll look at that with a view to modifying it.

    Fixed in X004.

    Keith, you only need to write out the datafile when it has been
    modified. Don't waste IO time writing out an unmodified one.

    Only offer to show closed items if there are indeed any to show.

    Have an option to show all items, from the beginning of time to just
    after it ends.

    Option to allow monochromatic display (principally for laptops).

    Don't hide the highlighted line with the date/details boxes when
    postponing items.

    Need to record entry date/time and modification date/time for all
    items.

    Would be nice to be able to set alarms against items. Which, I think,
    won't be too difficult.

    In X.100

    In X.100

    n/a in X.100

    n/a in X.100 (better design)

    Fixed in X.100

    Fixed in X.100

    n/a in X.100

    Fixed in X.100? You tell me...

    n/a in X.100

    n/a in X.100

    Fixed in X.100

    Put days of week as well as date in the "Insert item" "other" date
    drop-down. Obviously the developer has never tried entering an item for
    next Tuesday. Typical.

    ...and stop trying to be clever by removing it, pillock.

    Please.

    OK, suppose you have an item dated yesterday, and you postpone it by
    one day. Should it be resceduled for today, or for the next working day
    following today?
    
    The current implementation is that it goes to today, but I think that's
    wrong (just been caught out with it).

    Put option on inserting item to do the insert, clear the text but leave
    the date the same. Intent is to use for inserting multiple items on
    same date.

    Wot it says.

    Some sort of search capability would be nice.

    LIke it says.

    LIke some help on this one. I think what I'd like is a periodic,
    automatic save of the datafile to an alternate directory - what I'm
    thinking here is like once every five minutes (if it's modified) to a
    network drive.
    
    Comments?

    Fix it so you don't have to click twice on the date drop-down box.

    Fixed in X.100

    Fixed in X.100 (use environment variable TDLFILES to point to
    *directory* to use for the files. Default is C:\)

    In X.100

    Partially answered by alarms in X.101, but see later topic.

    Partially answered in X.100, but see later topic.

    Is this still necessary in the windows version (X.100)?

.0�                                                          Which, I think,
.0�    won't be too difficult.
    
    Was I ever wrong. I've never written such buggy and hard-to-design code
    (point 2 explains point 1). Anyway, it's there in X.101, but see later
    topic.

    Fixed in X.101

    Fixed in X.101

    Fixed, X.101

    OK, it now postpones by x working days from 1) due date if that is
    today or later or 2) today if due date is earlier than today.
    
    Comments?

    In X.101

    Done, X.101

    In X.101

    Fixed in X.101

    Well, printing is there, but it isn't very clever. What should change?

    Alarms did not come nearly as easily to TDL as I wanted. They're there,
    but I'm not especially happy with the user interface to them. However,
    I've played around so much now, I'm getting punch drunk. So, how could
    they be improved? (1: need to be able to set them for a given date, but
    how should the user interface look?).

    Could do with an easy way of displaying tomorrows items only (and maybe
    one or two days after that only as well).

    I'm convinced the new behaviour is correct.

Bad idea.

I use it on a laptop, I don't always connect my network drives, they are not 
always available.

You need backup procedures anyway, so I wouldn't write anything extra in this 
direction.

    OK, configurable (coz I want it). Would be saved in the options file,
    so when on the laptop you wouldn't have it, but you could enable it on
    the desktop.

    How's about a PC lock facility? (Not because it's relevant, but because
    it would be useful).

When can I start using it ? I need the bugless version. I will however settle 
for one with less bugs than now.

    Forgot to copy it to diskette. It's at home. Available Wednesday.

    1. Error in date bombs TDL out
    
    2. The date formate characters in the dropdown don't match what's
       set in the desktop options of windows
    
    3. The "Other" radio button isn't automatically selected when the date 
       box is modified.
    
    4. Main screen should only be repainted when inserting an item that
       will actually appear on that screen.

    Do a search, then select an item from the display to postpone. The
    wrong text comes up in the Postpone box (indicating, I suspect, that
    the WRONG item will be postponed).

    When will you start using it?

    Unable to reproduce.

    Much improved in X.103. Considered closed unless feedback says it isn't 
    right yet.

about an hour ago

What's the timer ? Why should it be enabled ?

ALT (for menu)
Right hand arrow (5 times)
Down arrow (once)

wassa floppy-wop ?

Display all items entered today doesn't work. (It just repeats whatever the 
current display is)

In "save as..." some devices are shown with dir's after them, some aren't. 
Why and how do I stop it ?

display all items seems flakey.

Sometimes it is all items, somethimes it isn't. I'm trying to re-create the 
rror.

display all items includes closed items.

How do I display all open items. (ie, exclude closed)

.0�What's the timer ? Why should it be enabled ?
    
    It's possible to disable it for debugging purposes. You're not meant to
    find it. In fact, if you click on the menu bar to the left of "Options"
    you'll find it. Good (pub) story about why it's there. Basically, leave
    it enabled and ignore it.
    
.1�wassa floppy-wop ?
    
    A device to (successfully) find out if you're paying attention.
    
.2�Display all items entered today doesn't work. (It just repeats whatever the 
.2�current display is)
    
    Nice one. Not sure when that broke. I'll check it out...
    
.3�In "save as..." some devices are shown with dir's after them, some aren't. 
.3�Why and how do I stop it ?
    
    I think that's a feature of visual basic. It appears to be the name of
    the drive, although I'm not certain of that. Is there a particular
    issue here, or are you just pointing it out?
    
.5�How do I display all open items. (ie, exclude closed)
    
    I can put that on the wishlist - an extra menu option on the Display
    pulldown ("All open items") - OK?

Wishlist fine for display.

Display of devices with bit after, doesn't affect me, or anything I want to 
do. It should be tidied up at some point though.

.7�Wishlist fine for display.
     
    Not needed, I now realise. You just select "to do items" from
    "Display" and "all dates" from dates. Ergo, all unclosed items are
    shown.
    
.7�Display of devices with bit after, doesn't affect me, or anything I want to 
.7�do. It should be tidied up at some point though.
    
    Feature of Visual Basic. Very unlikely to change.
    
    Other things fixed. New version there in the morning.

    Postpone by one week of an overdue item postpones it one week from its
    due date, not today (which it should be).

    Need accelerator key on delete - are you sure? OK button.

Well, the option to add priority is there. However, I assume that it does 
what it is supposed to at present - DS.

How are you intending it to work ? All I envisaged is a star next to it, or 
maybe prioritised in the list.

Also, when setting the priority, the window background colours (yellow, I 
think) if you choose Med or Low but changes to white if you choose high.

Bug or some weird logic ?

M.

p.s. I do have the latest version.

Gonna do this ? I may need to start using a laptop, or at least be in the 
position where I can.

The interface for setting alarms is fine. Quite good actually.

I'm waiting for some test alarms to go off, to see what I think of that.

M.

Ok I suppose. But PCs running windows are lockable anyway and I doubt you'd 
improve that.

I wouldn't bother since I think there are more important things. But I've no 
real objection.

fine, but not intuitive.

M.

p.s. I'm talking about the display bit.

I'd prefer from today. It's more obvious and, I think, makes more sense.

but easily turnonandoffable, please.

well, the alarms didn't work.

What are they supposed to do ?

.5�How are you intending it to work ? All I envisaged is a star next to it, or 
.5�maybe prioritised in the list.
    
    Ultimately some kind of icon next to the line. Certainly ordering the
    items in priority order.
    
.5�Also, when setting the priority, the window background colours (yellow, I 
.5�think) if you choose Med or Low but changes to white if you choose high.
    
    Oh yeah, so it does. Left over from some earlier experimenting. I'll
    remove it so it's always white.
    
.5�p.s. I do have the latest version.
    
    That's what they all say.

    Ditto. The requirement is getting more important.

    Spelling mistake

    Customizable turn off confirm box.

Date format changes from 27/07/92 to 27-Jul-92

    Yeah, I've seen this. If you can isolate how to reproduce this, I'd
    appreciate it (I'll try and find it too).

It occurs when you edit the line. It repairs itself if another line is added 
for the same day afterwards.

M.

    When maximising, scale up the contents of the window as well.

    Something is causing "null" alarms. I think it's related to "complex"
    actions (eg, deleting a closed item that had been postponed) or
    something. If you can shed any light on how to reproduce it, please do.
    
    I do know that it only shows up when re-starting TDL.

    What do you think of printing?

    That's how it is now...

    Put a date drop-down box in the "Postpone item" form (similar to the
    one in the "Insert Item" form).

    Requested by a user.

    Ability to chose which display to default to (all dates or up to
    today).

(me!)

    I'm getting a "Subscript out of range" error when starting TDL 
    today.  When I choose OK it disappears, but won't let me start
    TDL.  
    
    Stuck,
    Susi

    Due to database becoming too large. Problem prevented in X.107.
    
    Keith

    Added in X.107

    Duplicated in 72. Alarms disabled for now( X.107) : will be fixed
    later. This topic closed.

    Fixed in X.107

    In X.107

    I've droped this idea. If anyone wants a PC lock, say so here...

    Printing must be OK. This closed unless I hear otherwise.

    Dropped the idea - database is saved on every update, and that isn't
    slow. Argue if you disagree.

    Dropped. Argue if you disagree.

    Added in X.107.

    Done.

    Answered (?) by colour customisation.