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Conference terri::tdl

Title:TDL - To Do List handler
Moderator:PLAYER::BROWNL
Created:Thu Sep 30 1993
Last Modified:Tue Dec 12 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:102
Total number of notes:424

76.0. "New version - "The October TDL"" by SAC::EDMUNDS (Frog, earwig, earwig) Mon Oct 26 1992 10:00

    There's a new version of TDL available, but NOTE: it is NOT
    exhaustively tested. If you want to try it now, mail me. If you'd
    rather wait, that's fine too.
    
    Although the database format hasn't changed, there was a bug in the way
    TDL wrote out the database before so you'll need to copy (backup) your
    existing DB, print it out (from TDL), then delete TDLDATA.DAT and
    re-populate the new version manually.
    
    Features:
    
    	o bug in saving database fixed (caused large wastes of space)
    
    	o menu bar re-organised
    
    	o window (actually a button: don't use it yet!) gives %age used of
    	  available database (the restriction on the number of items goes
    	  with VB V2 when I get it)
    
    	o Customize start up display
    
    	o Customize confirm delete
    
    	o Item priorities acknowledged and displayed in different colours
    
    	o Multiple item select supported using standard shift/ctrl methods
    
    	o Confirm delete box now has text of item to delete in it (to
    	  support multiple deletes)
    
    	o Button bar added: buttons at foot of display removed
    
    Lots more coming in the next few weeks. Report bugs on this test
    version here, please...
    
    Keith
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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76.1HIGH: Postpone deletes other itemsLARVAE::THAYER::SusiFear of the natWed Oct 28 1992 10:3511
It's very nice but...

Postponing items mysteriously causes a random number of items
for today's date to be completely deleted.  I noticed it when
I postponed 2 items using the button bar - it postponed them
but also deleted all items scheduled for today.  I've tested
it using the Item|Delete option on single items and it still
does it.

Didn't want to do anything today anyway,
S
76.2SAC::EDMUNDSFrog, earwig, earwigWed Oct 28 1992 12:516
    Oooh, thanks Susi (that explains what happened when you first used this
    version, right?).
    
    I'll look at it asap.
    
    K.
76.3LOW: startupLARVAE::THAYER_SA deer and a batWed Oct 28 1992 14:115
    Putting the new TDL in the startup group stops Dr Watson from starting. 
    I accept (and even suspect!) that this may be me, but it didn't happen
    with the old TDL.
    
    S
76.4HIGH: Deleted item re-appears!LARVAE::THAYER_SA deer and a batWed Oct 28 1992 14:158
    I deleted an item from TDL earlier today.  (It was one I meant to
    delete, rather than one that got deleted when I postponed another).
    
    This deleted item has just re-appeared on my list.  Will monitor.
    
    Good thing I wanted to do that item again...!
    
    S
76.5General protection faultLARVAE::THAYER_SA deer and a batWed Oct 28 1992 14:5812
    I was reading README.WRI just now (to see if it mentioned anything
    about DRWATSON.EXE).  I left my desk with the file still displayed in
    write, when I came back I found:
    
    Application Error
    
    TDL caused a General Protection Fault in
    Module SYSTEM.DRV at 0001:0239
    
    All dead, had to reboot.  
    
    Not happy, ma ow, S
76.6SAC::EDMUNDSWho's a furry mouse curser, then?Thu Nov 12 1992 17:4384
    New version available, not exhaustively tested yet but being so as I
    type. Mark, mail me if you want it (LB and ST have it). 
    
    A summary of the new version - what's in it, and what isn't.

    In
    ~~

    - Address/phonebook functionality

    - The ability to associate an address/phonebook entry with a todo item.
    Clicking on the 'phone icon on the item line displays the entry

    - If display is items "up to today", this is automatically updated when
    the day changes

    - Postpone items longer than a week and insert items to be done later
    than a week's time now displays a calendar to select the date from

    - The Windows notepad can be fired up from a button. If an item is
    selected, the note is associated with that item. Clicking on the
    notepad icon on the item line displays the note

    - The spelling of "scheduled" is corrected in the history window (a
    tricky bug, that one)

    - The percentage of the available database used is displayed in the top
    right corner (as mentioned elsewhere, this database size restriction
    disappears in Visual Basic V2: when I have it, you will)

    - There is a status line at the bottom of the screen. At the moment it
    tells you what each button on the button bar does. Suggestions for
    further uses wlecomed

    - Colours can now be customized (to a degree: is a greater degree
    needed?)

    - There is now a "customize" button (with a cute Snoopy icon)

    - Some menu changes

    - Overdue items now have date displayed in a different colour

    - Each priority of items can be displayed in a different colour

    - Printer errors don't crash TDL

    - Save as... doesn't crash TDL if drive isn't ready

    - Bug that caused databases to be saved with superfluous information
    fixed (this caused the infamous "null alarms" problem)

    - All user-defined options now saved in a TDL.INI file in the WINDOWS
    directory (note: existing options need to be re-defined, but I figured
    this was not a major problem)

    Outstanding - high priority
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    -Implement File|Open (partially done - well, completely done, but is
    doesn't work)

    - Re-instate alarms

    - Option to keep notes attached to items when those items are deleted

    Outstanding - not high priority
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    - Cope with window resizing

    - When preferences change, only update those that have changed
    (currently all are re-saved)

    - Implement "statistics" button

    - Improve icons (ideas welcomed)

    - Provide option to chose what application is used to make notes
    (currently Notepad, would like to include Word for Windows, ideas for
    others/feedback?)

    - Provide an "install" program

76.7FeedbackSAC::EDMUNDSWho's a furry mouse curser, then?Thu Nov 12 1992 17:4325
    There are a few areas where I *need* feeback (it's welcomed in all
    areas, but there are some I specifically would like it). These are as
    follows (feedback by mail/notes/pigeon is OK):

    - What would the reaction be if I made Excel (and specifically Excel
    Q+E, part of standard Excel) a pre-requisite for TDL? This is the most
    important part of feedback as it determines whether or not I use an
    Excel database in future versions. NOTE: I intend to maintain backward
    compatibility from now on...and the path to hell is paved with good
    intentions...)

    - Address/phonebook usability - I don't think it's ideal, but how can
    it improve?

    - The calendar display for "insert item" and "postpone" is slow to
    appear. Is this a problem?

    - Is more colour customisation needed?

    - Icons on button bar ain't good - eg, "edit" is crap. I don't need you
    to design the icon, but tell me a) which ones are bad and b) what do
    you envisage as the better solution?

    - Notes with items - do you need other applications other than Notepad
    (eg, Word?)
76.8SAC::EDMUNDSWho's a furry mouse curser, then?Fri Nov 13 1992 10:2020
    YANV (yet another new version). X.113. Minor bug fixes only:
    
    	o Editing an item could leave the original version on the screen as
    	well as the new version (although only the new one was written to
    	disk). Fixed.
    
    	o If the phonebook was iconised, and then the phone button pressed,
    	nothing happened. Now the phonebook is de-iconised.
    
    	o When using the phonebook search and "no (more) entries found" is
    	returned, the search string is now selected (meaning you can type
    	in a new search string without having to manually delete the old
    	one)
    
    	o In a few places in the code, today's date was interpreted as
    	"up until now" rather than "anytime today". I don't know of
    	anywhere where this bug was visible to the user, but it's fixed
    	anyway.
    
    	Keith
76.9SAC::EDMUNDSWho's a furry mouse curser, then?Mon Nov 16 1992 09:1727
    Good news and bad news. The good news is that X.114 is ready, and has
    the features listed below. The bad news is that I left it at home, so
    it won't be available until tomorrow!
    
    	o Window resizing supported
    
    	o Dimensions of main window saved between sessions
    
    	o File|Open implemented
    
    	o Internal check on reading datafile improved
    
    	o "Show tomorrows items" now on "Dates" menu
    
    	o Some button bar icon improvements
    
    	o Option to keep notes attached to items when deleting items
    
    	o Application used for notes is customisable (Notepad, Word for
    	  Windows or Write)
    
    	o Display Closed items fixed (no, I didn't realize it was broken
    	  either)
    
    	o "Show items entered today" fixed (ditto)
    
    	o Closed items weren't always removed from screen - fixed
76.10PLAYER::BROWNLReally? Well there's a thing...Tue Dec 15 1992 09:327
    Keith,
    
    As far as Excel is concerned, I'd advise against it, or at least
    suggest a parallel path of development/separate product. Tying the
    thing to Excel will limit your target audience somewhat.
    
    Laurie.
76.11SAC::KAEPC::KeithLappingTue Dec 15 1992 10:164
I think I've dropped that idea for now...but thanks for the reply. That was the 
conclusion I came to too.

K.