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The Software Construction Co.
Presents ...
On This Day
Version 1.1
April 1991
The Software Construction Co.
P.O. Box 160
North Billerica, MA 01862
(C) Copyright 1990-1991 The Software Construction Co., All Rights Reserved.
1. Introduction 1
2. Command Line 2
3. Databases 4
4. Database format 7
5. Date specifiers 8
6. Notes about calendars 11
7. User Supported Software 13
8. Bug Reports 15
9. Known Problems/Limitations 16
Appendices 17
A. Bibliography 17
B. Program History 18
On This Day Version 1.1
1. Introduction
Have you ever been curious about events that happened on this
day in history? On This Day is a collection of databases and
a printing interface which will generate a list of items of
note concerning today. The databases sent to registered
users contain more than 11,000 entries (see section 7 for
more information about registration).
Some of the types of information which may be displayed are:
- Astronomical events.
- Birthdays of famous people.
- Historical events.
- National observations.
- Religious holidays and events.
In addition, a personal database may be created to contain
events important to each specific user. Events such as
birthdays of relatives and friends may be appropriate for
this file.
To clarify, the question this software is intending to answer
is:
What historical events, religious holidays, etc. happened on
a particular date?
It is not intended to answer questions like:
What date is Easter next year?
When was John Wayne born?
1
On This Day Version 1.1
2. Command Line
To run On This Day, use the following command line (note that
[]s enclose optional arguments):
OTD [-b] [-e] [-p] [-r] [-d <date>]
[-m <day-number>|all]
where:
b prints famous birthdays
d allows you to specify a date other
than today's date. Date may be ANY
form specified in section 5, below.
Some may not make sense in actual use
(e.g. R(*) would only print stuff on
Thursdays.) Note also that only items
that occurred before the date
specified will be printed.
e prints today's events
p prints today's personal events
r prints today's religious events
m indicates when to print monthly events
(<day-number> indicates the day each
month. all indicates to print every
day.) (default: 1) For example, the
command: 'otd -m 3' will print
today's events and if today is the
third day of the month, it will also
print any existing monthly events. For
more information on monthly events,
see section 5.
Again, we must emphasize that it is NOT necessary to input
ANY arguments to the OTD command. Simply typing "OTD"
(without the quotes, of course) will get you all the output
in the format that we believe most users want. If you want
to alter the output in any way, use the options as described
above.
Running OTD with none of the b, e, p, or r options is the
same as running with all the options. If any of these
options are specified, only those categories will be
displayed.
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On This Day Version 1.1
DOS hints:
Q: How can I print the output of OTD?
A: Append '> PRN:' to your command line (e.g. OTD > PRN:
will send today's information to the printer).
Q: It all goes by so quickly ... How do I get it to slow
down so I can read it all?
A: Append '| MORE' to your command line (e.g. OTD | MORE
will run OTD, displaying the results one screen at a
time). For more information on the MORE filter, see
your DOS manual.
3
On This Day Version 1.1
3. Databases
On This Day reads it's data from a subset of the following
databases:
BIRTHDAY.JAN EVENTS.JAN
BIRTHDAY.FEB EVENTS.FEB
BIRTHDAY.MAR EVENTS.MAR
BIRTHDAY.APR EVENTS.APR
BIRTHDAY.MAY EVENTS.MAY
BIRTHDAY.JUN EVENTS.JUN
BIRTHDAY.JUL EVENTS.JUL
BIRTHDAY.AUG EVENTS.AUG
BIRTHDAY.SEP EVENTS.SEP
BIRTHDAY.OCT EVENTS.OCT
BIRTHDAY.NOV EVENTS.NOV
BIRTHDAY.DEC EVENTS.DEC
RELIGION EVENTS.OTH
PERSONAL
Files in the current directory by these names will be used
first. If they do not exist there, the environment variable
OTDDIR will be searched. It has the same syntax as the PATH
environment variable. That is, you could place all the
BIRTHDAY databases in one subdirectory and all EVENTS
databases in another specifying all these subdirectories in
the OTDDIR environment variable. For example:
SET OTDDIR=C:\OTD\BDAY;C:\OTD\EVT
Or, you might want to place some of the databases on a disk
in each of two floppy drives on a floppy-only system. In
this case, you might want to use the following setting to
enable OTD to search both places for data:
SET OTDDIR=A:\;B:\
Typically, however, this facility will be used so that the
OTD command may be invoked from anywhere on your disk and it
will find the appropriate data files in one directory. For
example:
SET OTDDIR=C:\OTD
If the -d option has not been specified, the current date
from the system clock is used it to determine the extension
to use in the BIRTHDAY and EVENTS files.
If you set the TZ environment variable, OTD will use that
value when printing times for astronomical events. The
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On This Day Version 1.1
syntax of the TZ environment variable is:
SET TZ=zzz[+/-]d[d][lll]
zzz is a three character field representing the name of the
current time zone (e.g. EST, PST).
[+/-]d[d] is an optionally signed number of one or more
digits. It is the local time zone's difference from GMT in
hours. Negative numbers adjust westward from GMT. (e.g.
5=EST, +8=PST, and -1=continental Europe).
lll is an optional three-character field that represents the
local time zone daylight savings time (e.g. EDT, PDT). Don't
include this field if your time zone does not have daylight
savings time.
If the TZ environment variable isn't present or is not of the
above form, a default value of EST5EDT will be used.
If birthday information was requested, BIRTHDAY.<mon> will be
read. If events were requested, EVENTS.<mon> and EVENTS.OTH
will be read. EVENTS.OTH is used for those events which
might be in different months in different years. If
religious events were requested, RELIGION will be read. If
personal events were requested, PERSONAL will be read.
The entries will be printed as they are encountered in each
database. If you want entries printed in a specific order,
they must be in that order in the database.
OTD is distributed with all the above databases with the
exception of PERSONAL. Note, however, that much larger and
more extensive databases will be sent to you should you
register your copy (see section 7 for more information about
this and other advantages of registration).
Some of the databases distributed with the program are
compressed. This helps save disk space upon installation.
OTD determines dynamically whether a database is compressed
or not and reads it appropriately. Upon registration, you
will also receive the compression and decompression programs
so that you may maintain the databases that we distribute.
You may, of course, replace any of our compressed databases
with your own in order to try out some of the features of the
event specification language. Or, you may try out
interesting features in your PERSONAL database without
touching any of our databases. The program itself is not
crippled in any way. You have the ability to test all
functionality it is capable of performing.
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On This Day Version 1.1
Note that the information contained in the databases
distributed with the program has been taken from a great many
sources since sometime in 1985 or so. We do not guarantee
their accuracy. You may also find duplicate entries which
are not indicated in the database. We would appreciate
hearing about these as we do try to weed out the duplicates
when and if we can find another source to collaborate one of
the dates.
We are always interested in new dates. If possible, please
try to give us supporting evidence of a new date. We do not
want the databases to get any less reliable than they already
are. In fact we want them to improve in reliability over
time. We do, however, reserve the right not to add any date
to the database.
6
On This Day Version 1.1
4. Database format
A line in the database file may be in one of the following
forms:
#:<stuff>
This line is ignored by OTD. It is merely
used to add commentary to the file.
<relative date specifier>:<stuff>
Should today match the relative date
specifier, print the stuff to the standard
output device. See section 5 for more
detailed information about date specifiers.
<blanks>:<stuff>
This type of line indicates a continuation of
the line preceding for use when one line won't
hold enough text.
7
On This Day Version 1.1
5. Date specifiers
Date specifiers may have one of the following forms:
Absolute Dates -
<month-number>
If this month (in the specified calendar)
matches <month-number> and the -m option
specifies today as the print day, print the
item.
<month-number>/<day>
If this month (in the specified calendar)
matches <month-number> and this day matches
<day>, print the item.
<month-number>/<day>/<year>
If this month (in the specified calendar)
matches <month-number> and this day matches
<day>, print the item with "In <year>,"
prepended.
Relative dates -
<alternate calendar><absolute date>
This form directs OTD to use the specified
calendar to evaluate <absolute date>. Valid
<alternate calendar>s are:
G or <none> Gregorian
H Hebrew
HF Hebrew Fast Day
(will be moved to following
day if it is Saturday)
I Islamic
J Julian
See section 6 for short descriptions of these
calendars.
<absolute date>+<days>
Add <days> to the date specified in <absolute
date>. For example, 1/3+37 is the same as
2/9.
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On This Day Version 1.1
<absolute date>-<days>
Subtract <days> from the date specified in
<absolute date>. For example, 1/3-21 is the
same as 12/13.
<wkday>(<month>/<day>)
This specifies the first <wkday> occurring on
or before the date specified by <month> and
<day>. Valid values for <wkday> are:
M Monday
T Tuesday
W Wednesday
R thuRsday
F Friday
S Saturday
U sUnday
For example, W(8/14) specifies the second
Wednesday occurring in the month of August.
<wkday>(*)
This denotes every day that happens to fall on
the specified <wkday>. Valid values for
<wkday> are:
M Monday
T Tuesday
W Wednesday
R thuRsday
F Friday
S Saturday
U sUnday
For example, M(*) specifies every Monday.
E
This denotes the Christian holiday Easter.
E+<days>
This denotes a date <days> days following the
Christian holiday Easter. This format is
necessary to specify all the Christian
holidays as many are based upon Easter's date.
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On This Day Version 1.1
E-<days>
This denotes a date <days> days before the
Christian holiday Easter. This format is
necessary to specify all the Christian
holidays as many are based upon Easter's date.
*
This denotes every day.
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On This Day Version 1.1
6. Notes about calendars
Gregorian calendar
This calendar is the one in use currently by much of
the world (including the United States). It was
designed by a commission assembled by Pope Gregory
XIII in the sixteenth century. It is based on the
revolution of the earth about the sun.
The months and corresponding numbers that are legal
for this calendar are:
January 1
February 2
March 3
April 4
May 5
June 6
July 7
August 8
September 9
October 10
November 11
December 12
Hebrew calendar
This calendar was placed in operation in the mid-
fourth century by Hillel II. It is based on the
moon's revolution about the earth. However, it has
solar corrections built in.
The months and corresponding numbers that are legal
for this calendar are:
Nisan 1
Iyyar 2
Sivan 3
Tammuz 4
Av 5
Elul 6
Tishri 7
Heshvan 8
Kislev 9
Teveth 10
Shevat 11
Adar 12
Adar II 13 {Note Adar is Adar I in years when
there is an Adar II}
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On This Day Version 1.1
Certain holidays (fast days) must be moved to the
following day (Sunday) if they fall on a Saturday.
The HF calendar specifier allows you to indicate a
Hebrew date is one of these "special" holidays.
Note that one holiday (Ta'anit Esther) occurs on the
preceding Thursday when Purim is on a Sunday. There
is no way, currently, to specify this relationship.
Islamic calendar
This calendar is based upon the moon revolving around
the earth. There are no dates in this calendar before
Friday, July 16, 622 (Julian)
Much of the Islamic world does not agree with
calculations to determine this calendar at all. They
only rely on proclamation of the new moon by the
authorities at al-Azhar in Cairo to define the
calendar. Consequently, the dates computed here may
differ by a day or two from those observed by much of
the Islamic population of the world.
The months and corresponding numbers that are legal
for this calendar are:
Muharram 1
Safar 2
Rabi I 3
Rabi II 4
Jumada I 5
Jumada II 6
Rajab 7
Sha'ban 8
Ramadan 9
Shawwal 10
Dhu al-Qada 11
Dhu al-Hijjah 12
Julian calendar
This calendar was instituted in 45 BC by Julius
Caesar. It, too, is based on the revolution of the
earth about the sun.
The months for the Julian calendar are the same as
those used for the Gregorian calendar. See above for
more information on the proper month numbers to use
when constructing dates.
12
On This Day Version 1.1
7. User Supported Software
This software is distributed through a unique marketing
approach called Shareware. What this means is that we
encourage you to copy this software distribution and share it
with your friends. We must make the stipulation, however
that you not modify the distribution in any way when you do
share it.
If you have received this software through one of the so
called "Shareware Houses" (companies whose business is
selling disks containing other author's software), please
note that none of the money you have paid so far has (or
will) make its way to the author. You have simply paid for
the duplication and distribution costs.
This method of distribution is based on the following
principles:
1. Users need to try out software to determine
its usefulness.
2. Authors of software can get support directly
from their users.
3. Software sharing and copying can/should be
encouraged.
If you use this software, we ask that you register your copy.
For your $25 registration fee, you'll receive the benefits
listed below. You may use the registration form on the last
page of this manual to forward the necessary information to
us.
Registration benefits include:
- Notification of any updates.
- The latest version of the software.
- A much more extensive collection of data.
- The compression and decompression programs.
- Several other utilities which make the
maintenance of the databases much easier.
Although we encourage copying and sharing of On This Day to
distribute our product, we must insist that you NOT share the
utilities, compression/decompression programs, and larger
databases you will receive upon registration. We retain full
13
On This Day Version 1.1
copyrights to these files. It is an infringement of
copyright law to distribute copies of these files.
Please send your registration fee to:
The Software Construction Co.
P.O. Box 160
North Billerica, MA 01862
If you do not use this software, we'd also like to know why.
It is obvious you're somewhat interested or you wouldn't have
gotten this far into the manual. We'd like to know how we
can make this product better. Please write to us at the same
address and let us know what we could have done to make them
useful to you.
For $5 to cover the cost of the diskette(s) and shipping, we
will supply you with the latest edition of the software.
Please specify if you'd like 5.25" or 3.5" diskettes.
We would sincerely like to thank you for giving this, the
fruits of our labor, a trial. We hope it proves useful to
you.
14
On This Day Version 1.1
8. Bug Reports
Should you discover a bug in this code, please let us know at
the same address listed in section 7. We regret that we
can't provide phone support at this time (maybe in the
future). Provide us with as much of a description of the
problem as you can, as well as your name and address. If you
would prefer being contacted by phone, by all means, add your
phone number and the hours you will be available at that
number.
What do you get for your trouble? We will send a copy of the
fixed program to the first registered user to report the
problem and will strive to answer all others with a letter.
15
On This Day Version 1.1
9. Known Problems/Limitations
a. The Jewish holiday Ta'anit Esther occurs on the
preceding Thursday when Purim falls on Sunday. There
is no way, currently, to indicate this relationship.
We are not sure that this functionality will ever be
included as this relationship is extraordinarily rare.
16
On This Day Version 1.1
A. Bibliography
Special thanks to John Peyton, a friend who helped get me
thinking along the right path several times.
Following is a list (no doubt partial) of items I found
helpful when learning how to calculate the various calendars,
astronomical events, etc. that are contained in the software:
Astronomical Formulae for Calculators by Jean Meeus, 1982,
Willmann-Bell, Inc.
Calendrical Calculations by Edward M. Reingold and Nachum
Dershowitz, 1989, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign.
Practical Astronomy With Your Calculator by Peter Duffett-
Smith, 3rd edition 1988, Cambridge University Press.
17
On This Day Version 1.1
B. Program History
Version 1.0 - April 1990.
Version 1.1 - April 1991.
- Phases of the moon added.
- Lunar eclipses added.
- Compression for databases.
- Serial numbers to track distribution better.
- TZ environment variable controls times for
astronomical events.
- A few minor bug fixes.
18
- A -
absolute dates <see dates, absolute>
address 14, 15
alternate date specification 2
astronomical events <see events, astronomical>
- B -
birthdays 1, 2, 5
bugs 15
- C -
calendar, Gregorian 8, 11
calendar, Hebrew 8, 11
calendar, Islamic 8, 12
calendar, Julian 8, 12
calendars 11
command line 2
command line options 2
comments 7
compression 5
continuation lines 7
- D -
database format 7
databases 4
date specifiers 8
dates, absolute 8
dates, relative 8
decompression 5
- E -
Easter 9
events 2, 5
events, astronomical 1
events, historical 1
events, monthly 2
events, personal 2, 5
events, religious 1, 2, 5
- G -
Gregorian calendar <see calendar, Gregorian>
- H -
Hebrew calendar <see calendar, Hebrew>
Hillel II 11
historical events <see events, historical>
- I -
introduction 1
Islamic calendar <see calendar, Islamic>
- J -
Julian calendar <see calendar, Julian>
Julius Caesar 12
- L -
limitations 16
- M -
monthly events <see events, monthly>
- N -
national observances 1
- O -
options, command line <see command line options>
OTDDIR environment variable 4
- P -
PATH environment variable 4
personal events <see events, personal>
Pope Gregory XIII 11
problems 15
problems, known 16
- R -
registration information 5
relative dates <see dates, relative>
religious events <see events, religious>
religious holidays <see events, religious>
reporting bugs 15
- S -
shareware 13
- T -
time zone <see TZ environment variable>
TZ environment variable 4
- U -
user supported software <see shareware>
- Misc -
-m option 8
The Software Construction Co.
P.O. Box 160
North Billerica, MA 01862
Name: ________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________
Where did you get your copy of On This Day (version 1.1)?
The Software Construction Co. _____ BBS _____
Friend _____ Shareware Dealer _____
If you checked BBS or Shareware Dealer above please tell us which
one:
_________________________________________________________________
What format media would you like? 5.25" _____ 3.5" _____
Comments or suggestions: ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
