Night Owl 6/Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso/031a/todov1_3.zip/TODOLIST.DOC

Text File | 1991-11-06 | 25KB | 576 lines

                            TO DO LIST!:

                                V1.3


                             WRITTEN BY:

                            DAVE SCHOEFFEL

                           dRs Engineering



INTRODUCTION

TO DO LIST is a simple Windows 3.0 utility to help you get your day
organized.  It includes a place to note the date and up to 10 locations for
listing tasks to complete.  Each location can hold up to 25 characters.  If
you need more space, simply use several lines to hold additional information.
You can change the colors of the form as well as specify a default data file
to be loaded when the To Do List is first run.

This program was written using Microsoft Visual Basic version 1.0 to run under
Windows 3.0 and must have the VBRUN100.DLL file located in your path. Simply
place VBRUN100.DLL in your Windows directory (or any convenient directory
in your path) and forget about it.  This file is available on most bulletin
boards as well as other sources, and should be obtained and installed prior
to using the To Do List.



VERSION INFORMATION

Version 1.0    Never quite made it to release.  Just as I was about to
08-01-91    release the program, several fairly major flaws came to light.
        By the time they were discovered, version 1.1 was well on the
        way to completion.  So, version 1.0 was never released.

Version 1.1    This version fixed serveral major flaws discovered before
08-11-91    version 1.0 was released.  Also several new features were
        added to the program as well as several "foibles" fixed.
        These features are listed below:

        **When any option box appears on the screen, the main To Do
        List box is disabled from any action.  This will force the
        user to either complete the action started by the option box
        or cancel it and go back to the main form.  I found it quite
        odd to be able to minimize the To Do List when any other
        option box was present on the screen.

        **A simple method was added to update the date of the To Do
        List.  As lists are created and saved to disk, the user may
        wish to change the date after opening a list.  This can now
        be accomplished quite simply with one of the Tools.

        **Several "foibles" were repaired such as the order of the
        buttons on the configuration boxes and beeps on keyboard
        entries where there shouldn't have been any beeps.  I made an
        attempt to make the code more efficient.  As this is written
        using Visual Basic, I rewrote segments of the code to call
        common code rather than just copying the code.

Version 1.2    This version fixed several minor errors, listed below, in the
08-30-91    program operation:

        **Default Data File now shows what the current selection is
        when it comes on the screen.

        **When certain option selection boxes were closed (colors,
        file open, etc.), the To Do List would occasionally go behind
        other windowed items such as Program Manager, etc.  This was
        fixed by making the To Do List the focus after closing any
        option selection box.

        **I see no reason why option boxes (colors, open files, delete
        files etc.) should be resizable by the user.  The main To Do
        List form itself does not need to be resized.  In version 1.2,
        this capability is defeated.

        Also the major features listed below were added:

        **CUT, COPY, PASTE...These options allow the user to cut,
        copy, and paste text to and from the Windows environment.
        This is accomplished using the standard clipboard that can be
        accessed via any Windows application.

        **Insert and Delete Items...These options allow the user to
        rearrange the order of the items on the To Do List.  All items
        above or below the item to be inserted or deleted are moved
        up or down by one item accordingly.

        **OPTIMIZE, OPTIMIZE, OPTIMIZE...As I took a long hard look
        at the code for the To Do List, I realized that it could be
        streamlined and still have the same rich features.  I did a
        complete code restart in some cases.  All things considered,
        I kept the .EXE file roughly the same size while adding all
        of the features described above.

Version 1.3    The following bugs were fixed:
11-10-91
        *Pressing Enter from the date field resulted in an error and
        program termination.  Now, Enter is allowed from any field
        and simply moves to the next item list field.

        *Menu items made to typical Windows standards.  This simply
        places a ... after each menu item that causes an additional
        dialog box to appear.  Items without the ... after the menu
        cause immediate action.

        *When typing within an item list area, reaching beyond the
        maximum characters per line causes the focus to move to the
        next item list.  This allows for multi-line items.  The bug
        is that the last character typed on the previous line is lost.
        This has now been fixed and the character that causes the line
        wrap now becomes the first character on the next item line.

        *Improved file handling when entering file names from the
        FILE - SAVE AS menu.  This menu previously could have allowed
        a user to create an invalid DOS filename.  Now the field is
        limited to 8 characters, the . is not a valid input character
        and the program takes care of adding the extension for the
        user.  Also, when entering the FILE - SAVE AS option, the
        current file name is entered into the name field and high-
        lighted.  If the user wishes to use this file name, simply
        press enter or click on SAVE.  If a new file name is desired,
        simply type in the new name, the old file name will be deleted
        with the first keypress of the new file name.

        *Entering "," or "." in the item fields causes successive
        file opens to get lost in the order of data loaded.  This can
        also happen in the new "Extended Text" feature.  In the new
        feature, entering a <CR> in the extended text can also cause
        the data to get garbled when loading.  I have eliminated the
        ability to enter a comma or period into the item fields.  I
        have eliminated those two and a <CR> from being entered into
        the extended text field.  If there is a demand for these
        punctuations, I will add it in a future version.

        *The following NEW features have been added:

        *Extended Text.  People asked for the ability to add more
        than just the 25 characters in the list item.  Simply choose
        the item that you wish to have more text for and select
        EDIT - EXTENDED TEXT from the menu.  You are now allowed to
        enter up to 150 characters as "Extended Text".  This text
        can then be printed in an "Extended Text Format" by selecting
        FILE - PRINT EXTENDED from the menu.

        *Full drive and path support.  When opening, saving or
        deleting files, support has been added for the full directory
        structure.  This has been implemented in the standard Windows
        format.  When the dialog box appears for the above functions,
        simply change to the drive and/or directory desired.  The file
        list box will change to reflect the files available in the
        drive and directory specified.  Note, however, that this new
        drive and directory becomes the default until changed by the
        user.

        *Alarm functions for all items.  You may now specify an alarm
        date and time for each of the 10 items on the list.  At the
        specified time, a reminder dialog box will appear on the
        screen and a notification beep will sound.  These alarm times
        will be saved with the data files.

        *A clock has been added to the main To Do List screen.  This
        clock, in the upper right side of the list is just a handy
        reminder of the current time.  It can be useful when setting
        the items on the list and when determining what times to set
        on the alarm.


                *****##### PRICE REDUCTION, PRICE REDUCTION #####*****
        Can you imagine that, all of these neat new features and fixes
        and still I manage to reduce the price by a whopping 25%.
        Wow, what a bargain.  Please register your copy today.



REGISTRATION

This program is being released as Shareware.  Please feel free to copy and
distribute it freely amoung your friends and business associates.  I would
ask, however, that if you find the program useful (the definition of useful
in this case meaning that you still have it installed after your evaluation,
then it must be useful) please send the registration fee of $6 to:

           *****##### PRICE REDUCTION, PRICE REDUCTION #####*****

                             Dave Schoeffel
                 dRs Engineering
                             1313 Riverton Dr.
                             Mukwonago,  WI 53149

Your registration will encourage me to create other useful utilities.  You
will also rest assured that you have done your good deed for the day.

Registration has been made simple for the user.  Simply run the program and
choose the FILE - ABOUT option from the menu.  This information screen has
a registration form on it and can be filled in by the user and printed out
to be mailed in.  Please take a few short minutes to register your copy.

############################################################################
It is the policy of dRs Engineering that all customers that register a
shareware version of our software are entitled to update to any future
versions of the same software without any further registration fees.
############################################################################

Corporate and site licensing is available.  Contact dRs Engineering at the
address listed above for more information.



FILES

The following files should have been included in the ZIP file that you
received (or all files included from whatever your source for this program):

         TODOLIST.DOC      This file that you are reading.
         TODOLIST.EXE      The executable code for the To Do List.
         TODOLIST.CFG      The configuration file that holds color info, etc.
           SAMPLE.TDL      A sample To Do List data file.



INSTALLATION

To install the program, simply copy all of the files listed above into a
subdirectory.  Remember that you need the VBRUN100.DLL file somewhere in your
path to use the To Do List.



RUNNING

You may run the To Do List several different ways.  You could open File
Manager and double click on the    TODOLIST.EXE file name. It could also be
installed via Program Manager into any convenient group.  Another method of
assuring that the To Do List is routinely run is to install it into your
WIN.INI file.  This will assure that whenever Windows is started, the To Do
List will automatically load.

To do this, simply edit your WIN.INI file with a text editor or from within
Windows using the SYSEDIT.EXE function.  In the WIN.INI file locate the line
that says LOAD= and insert (Drive):(Path)\TODOLIST.EXE.  This will load the
To Do List utility every time that Windows is run.



OPERATION

Operating the To Do List is simply a matter of entering data into the form
and looking back occasionally to check off completed tasks.  The following
section of this document describes all of the features and how to use them.



FILE - NEW

The FILE - NEW option of the menu simply wipes all entered information clean
and allows the user to start from a clean form.  The current system date is
automatically entered into the date section of the To Do List.



FILE - OPEN...

The FILE - OPEN option of the menu allows the user to load in previously saved
data files.  When To Do List is first installed, a sample data file named
SAMPLE.TDL is included.  This data file has several useful suggestions for
users of the To Do List.



FILE - SAVE

The FILE - SAVE option allows for routine saving of an already named data
file.  To name a data file, see the FILE - SAVE AS section below.  This
option is most useful in the everyday use of To Do List.  As your To Do List
changes, and you check off items that are complete,  remember to SAVE the
data file.  If you exit To Do List or Windows, this will assure that your
data file will remain intact.



FILE - SAVE AS...

Just as the above option, FILE - SAVE, saves your data files, the FILE -
SAVE AS option saves your data files but allows you to assign a file name
unique to your data file.  These data file names must follow all standard
DOS conventions.  Use only letters and numbers and avoid punctuation.  The
file extension .TDL will be added to the file name.



FILE - DELETE...

As you routinely use To Do List, you will most likely accumulate quite a
large number of data files.  These data files may or may not be useful to
you after the events have passed.  If you wish to delete these data files,
you may use the FILE - DELETE option of the menu.  Simply select the file or
files to be deleted, one at a time, and double click on the file name or
click on the DELETE box.  When you are finished deleting files, click on the
DONE box to return to the To Do List.



FILE - PRINT LIST

After you have completed one or several To Do Lists, you may wish to print
them using the FILE - PRINT LIST option.  This option simply dumps the To Do
List to the printer specified in your Windows printer setup.



FILE - PRINT EXTENDED

By using the "Extended Text" option of this program, you may add up to 150
characters to each item on the list.  After you have entered extended text,
you may print a formatted "Extended Text" To Do List.  Simply choose the
FILE - PRINT EXTENDED menu option and the "Extended Text" To Do List will
print on the printer specified in your Windows printer setup.



FILE - ABOUT...

The FILE - ABOUT option of the menu gives general information about the
program and the programmer.  This is also the option that should be used to
register your copy of the To Do List.  Simply choose FILE - ABOUT from the
menu, fill in the registration form, print it out, and mail it complete with
the registration fee to the programmer listed.



FILE - EXIT

The FILE - EXIT option of the menu allows the user to completly exit the
To Do List utility and terminate any further To Do List activity.



EDIT - CUT

This option works exactly the same as the CUT option in any Windows
application.  Simply highlight the text that you wish to cut and select this
option from the menu.  The highlighted text will be deleted and added to the
Windows environment clipboard.  You may then use this text to be pasted
someplace else, either in the To Do List or in any other Windows application.



EDIT - COPY

This option, like the CUT option above works the same as other Windows
applications.  To copy text among any other applications within the Windows
environment, simply highlight the text and select this option from the menu.



EDIT - PASTE

To past text from the environment clipboard to your To Do List, place the
cursor where you want the text pasted to and select this item from the menu.
Any text that was present on the environment clipboard will be pasted into
your To Do List.  The limitations to this operation are the field size of the
item list.  Any pasted text that is larger that the item list field size will
be lost.  The field sizes are 25 characters for the item lists and 11 for the
date field.



EDIT - EXTENDED TEXT

Choosing this option from the menu brings up a dialog box that will allow the
user to enter up to 150 additional characters for each of the item list areas
of the main To Do List.  This information is saved with each To Do List file
and can be printed using the FILE - PRINT EXTENDED menu option.  If extended
text is added, then an "E" will appear in the box immediately to the right of
the item that extended text was added for.  This box may show a "B" if an
alarm time has also been set.



EDIT - INSERT ITEM

To insert an item before another item on the list, simply place the cursor
where you wish the new item to be and select this item from the list.  Please
note, however, that the last item (if used) on the list will be lost.  This
is because we only have room for 10 items.  If you attempt to insert an item
when you already have 10 items listed, the 10th item will end up in the bit
bucket.



EDIT - DELETE ITEM

As you complete tasks, you may wish to delete them from your list.  To delete
items from your To Do List, simply place the cursor in the field of the item
that you wish to delete and select this item from the menu.  All items below
the deleted item will move up one on the list.



EDIT - SET DATE

If you use just one To Do List data file and keep updating it, you will find
that the date stays the same as the date that you entered (or the date that
was present) when you created the list.  As you use the list, you can keep
the date current by selecting this option.  The date that is set will be the
system date of your computer system.



CONFIGURE - BACK GROUND COLOR...

This option allows the user to adjust the color of the back ground of the
To Do List form.  When the form appears on the screen, three controls for
RED, GREEN and BLUE appear.  As the user adjusts the controls, the amount of
each color is mixed into the form back ground color.  When an acceptable
mixture of back ground color is reached, simply choose the save option.  This
will save these colors to the configuration file and all future session of
the To Do List will use this background color.  If you wish to revert back
to the old colors, simply choose CANCEL before leaving the configuration menu.
The original colors that were present before entering this menu will appear
on the screen.



CONFIGURE - ITEM LIST COLOR...

This option works identically to the CONFIGURE - BACK GROUND COLOR option
described above.  All references to back ground color will now apply to
the areas of the To Do List where the user enters information.



CONFIGURE - CHECK BOX COLOR...

This option works identically to the CONFIGURE - BACK GROUND COLOR option
described above.  All references to back ground color will now apply to just
the check boxes that you select on or off as tasks are completed.



CONFIGURE - DEFAULT DATA FILE...

This option allows the user to specify a default data file to be loaded every
time the To Do List is run.  The user can choose three options, described
below for the default data file

"NONE"        Choosing this option will load the To Do List with no data,
        except the current computer system date in the date area of
        the To Do List.

"CURRENT DATE"    Choosing this option will cause To Do List to search for a
        data file with the file name MMDDYY.TDL where the MMDDYY is
        replaced by the date from the current computer system date.
        For example, on August 6,  1991 the data file would be
        080691.TDL.  If this file does not exist, then the To Do List
        will run just like choosing the "NONE" option above.

"SPECIFY FILE"    Choosing this option will also highlight the Filename section
        of the default data file form.  This will allow the user to
        enter a valid DOS filename for a data file to be used until
        changed again by the default data file option.  Simply enter
        a data file name that has already been created or will be
        created.  This file, if it exists, will automatically be
        loaded when the To Do List is run.  If this file does not
        exist, then the To Do List will run just like choosing the
        "NONE" option above.


CONFIGURE - SET ITEM ALARM

When choosing the CONFIGURE - SET ITEM ALARM from the menu, the user is
presented with a dialog box for setting an alarm date and time.  This dialog
box is tagged to the item that was highlighted prior to selecting this menu
item.  You will see the item presented on this dialog box as a reminder of
which item you are setting an alarm for.

To set the alarm date and time, simply adjust the scroll bars to the date and
time that you wish to be reminded and select DONE.  If you change your mind
while in the SET ITEM ALARM dialog box, simply select CANCEL to remove any
changes to the date and time that you may have made.  To completely clear the
alarm date and time, select CLEAR ALARM.  If you want to use the current date
and time as a starting point, simply click on the CURRENT buttons that are
near the date or time field.

One additional feature of this alarm is the ability to set a daily alarm.  If
you wish to have an alarm event happen at the same time every day, simply set
the beginning date and the time of the event and then check the box next to
the word 'Daily:'.  When the notification dialog box appears on your screen,
and you clear this box, either by choosing OKAY or by the box time out
feature, the date is incremented by one day and the file is saved to disk
using the current file name.

When returning to the main To Do List, you will notice an "A" in a small box
immediately to the right of the item that you entered an alarm for.  This box
may contain a "B" if you also have extended text entered for this item.



CONFIGURE - ALARM ON

NOTE:    If you have set alarm dates and times using the CONFIGURE - SET ITEM
    ALARM menu item, the alarm is automatically set to the ON mode.  This
    function is simply a toggle for the user to turn the alarm on or off.

In order to enable or disable the alarm function, choose the CONFIGURE -
ALARM ON function from the menu.  This will enable the To Do List to routinely
check if any alarm tagged items are due for notification.

A few words on this alarm function are in order:

    When you enable the alarm using the ALARM ON function, this function
    will use some computer system time whenever it is activated.  I have
    designed the program to check the item alarm dates and times at
    approximately 60 second intervals.  You may notice some slight system
    performance slowing at these intervals.  I do not think, however, that
    this degrade of system performance will be noticeable to the average
    user.  The default for the alarm function is for the alarm to be on
    when the program is first run.  This is due to the fact that you will
    want to put the program in your WIN.INI file and set alarms for items.
    As soon as Windows runs, you will expect the alarm to notify you of
    items that are due for notification.  Therefore, the alarm function
    must default to on at program run time.  Otherwise, the user would
    have to remember to turn the alarm on each time Windows is started, or
    else no notification would take place.

    The program will check the alarm dates and times from the top to the
    bottom of the list.  Therefore, if you have two items that have the
    same alarm date and time, the first item that is encountered on the
    list will notify you first.  The second item may not come due for
    notification until several minutes after the first item.  (See the
    description below on ALARM TIME OUT to understand how the alarm
    works.)



CONFIGURE - ALARM TIME OUT

When an item is found to be due for notification, a dialog box will appear on
the screen.  This will happen even if the To Do List is minimized.  This will
not happen, however, when a non-Windows application is running from within
Windows.  This box will contain the text of the item that caused the
notification.  In the default mode of this notification function, this dialog
box will remain on the screen until the user clicks the OKAY command button.
This may cause the user to miss other important alarm functions.

In order to avoid this situation, if you choose the CONFIGURE - ALARM TIME OUT
option, the notification dialog box will remove itself from the screen after
being displayed for approximately 30 seconds.  (This can benefit other current
computing operations which may be taking place 'in the background'.  If you
have other operations taking place, this dialog box will interrupt them and
they will remain stopped until this dialog box is removed from the screen.)

####IMPORTANT NOTE:####
    When the notification dialog box is removed from the screen, either by
    the user pressing the OKAY command button or by timing out, as above,
    the alarm date and time for that item are reset.  Therefore, no
    further notification will take place for that item until the alarm is
    set again by the user.  The exception to this rule is if the Daily
    box is checked on the alarm set screen.  If this box is checked, the
    alarm date is incremented by one day and the time remains the same.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To Do List is a copyright product of David A. Schoeffel and dRs Engineering
of Mukwonago, WI.  Visual Basic version 1.0, Windows 3.0 and VBRUN100.DLL are
all trade marked and copyrighted products of the Microsoft Corp. of Redmond,
Washington.  No warranties, expressed or implied, are extended for the use of
this product or any side effects of the use or misuse of this product.