Copyright: Kana Solution
Citation: Kana Solution


Reminder Help
Kana Reminder Help

•	Introduction

•	Getting Help

•	Installation/Uninstallation

•	User Interface

•	FAQ

•	Distribution

•	Acknowledgement

•	Disclaimer


Introduction

•	What is Kana Reminder?

•	Where can I find Kana Reminder?


Getting Help

To get help during using Kana Reminder, use one of these ways:

1.	Use Help button from the main window. This displays this help file.

2.	Use Help menu from system tray pop up menu. This displays this help file.

3.	Use the context help by pressing the F1 key on the keyboard. This displays the context sensitive help, which depends on which control has the focus.

4.	Use the context sensitive button (the “?” button on the upper right of the window – next to the close button). This displays the context sensitive help of the control pointed by the cursor.


What is Reminder
What is Kana Reminder?

As implied by its name, Kana Reminder is program which can be used to set a reminder.  With Kana Reminder, an alarm can be set to be triggered at a specified time. But, Kana Reminder is not only a reminder. It can also be used to run another program at a specified time; so in short, it can be used to schedule a task.

Some features of the Kana Reminder are:

•	Can be set to remind on hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

•	Can be set to run a program when the reminder time is triggered.

•	Has built in shutdown, reboot, and log off routine to be used to schedule a shutdown, reboot, or log off.

•	If a file associates with a program, the Reminder can be use to launch that file. For example, you can specify a WinAMP playlist file. When the reminder time is triggered, because the file associates with WinAMP, it will run WinAMP and play the songs on the list.

•	Can be set to remind again within specified time.

•	Can run automatically with Windows.

•	The triggered reminder window can be set to pop up automatically, and to auto dismiss within specified time interval.

•	The triggered reminder window can be set to always on top.

•	The reminder data can be secured by giving a password.

•	Can be activated using hotkey.

•	Configurable reminder sound.

•	Context sensitive help file.

•	Simple user interface.

•	Run on Windows 9x, Windows ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

•	Kana Reminder places an icon on Windows notification area (the area next to the clock). When Windows’ Explorer crashes, all icons on that area usually disappear. Kana Reminder can place back its icon on the area when the crash occurs.

Kana Reminder was created by Kana Solution.


Where can I find Reminder
Where can I find Kana Reminder?

Kana Reminder is free software which was developed by Kana Solution. You can get this software and other free software from Kana Solution web site.


Acknowledgement

Kana Reminder was developed using Borland Delphi 5. In addition, the following components were used:

•	ToolBar2000 from jrsoftware.org (www.jrsoftware.org).

•	Inno Setup from jrsoftware.org (www.jrsoftware.org).

Kana Solution wants to thanks many of you who use Kana Reminder for the suggestions, bug reports, and the words to encourage its development.

Special thanks to:

•	Kenta Nakamura

•	Keiji

•	Brian McNeilly

•	Steve Swettenham

•	Tivet

•	John-Charles Cary

•	IMM

•	Gorm

•	Rolf Andreassen

•	Dave Miller

•	Chris Pirillo (Lockergnome)

•	Virgil Panus

•	Richard L. Laney

•	Hal Pawlowski

•	Terry Williams

•	Alan Norman

•	Rob Cunningham

•	Ellie Watland

•	Alec Stockton

•	Dave Porter

•	Johan

•	Marek Jezek

•	Martin Brody

•	PCDParker

•	Paulo Basso Jr. (Revista do CD-ROM)


Distribution

Kana Reminder is a freeware program. It can be freely distributed, as long as the following conditions are considered:

•	Any such distribution must be free of charge and limited to the original and unchanged archive.

•	Do not make any changes to the software. This includes translating help files or any other part of the package to other languages.

•	Do not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the software.

•	Do not include the software on a freeware/shareware CD-ROM collection, unless this CD-ROM collection is distributed free of charge.

•	Can be included on a cover CD-ROM for a book or magazine. However, in return, Kana Solution requests a copy of the book or magazine (use the contact page to get the address).

•	In case of doubt, check with the author first.


Disclaimer

THE INFORMATION AND CODE PROVIDED IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. IN NO EVENT SHALL KANA SOLUTION BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE UNLESS YOU CAN FULLY AGREE WITH THIS DISCLAIMER.


User Interface

Kana Reminder consists of four components:

•	Main Window

•	Add/Edit Reminder Entry Window

•	Reminder Window

•	Notification Icon with Popup Menu


Main Window

Kana Reminder main window is a window from where the reminder entries are listed and the global setting for Kana Reminder can be set. It contains four tabbed pages as follows:

•	Reminder List page

•	Options page

•	Hotkeys page

•	Sound page

•	Password page


Reminder List Page

Reminder List page is the page where the reminder data are listed. From this page, the user also can add, edit, and delete reminder data.

The list of reminder data consists of two columns, the Date - Time column, and the Reminder Text column. The Date - Time column lists the date and time the reminder will be triggered. It may be different from the actual setting time, such as in overdue reminder, or when the user click the Remind again in button.

The Reminder Text lists the text added for each reminder. When the password is set, the Reminder Text only displays the text *** Passworded ***.

When right clicking the mouse on the list, a pop up menu is displayed. From the list, a menu to add, edit, or delete reminder entry can be accessed.

Editing a reminder entry also can be done by double clicking the reminder entry.

The reminder list is sorted base on the triggered time.

The type of the reminder data can be recognized from its icon’s color.

•	Yellow icon - one time reminder

•	Gray icon - hourly reminder

•	Green icon - daily reminder

•	Red icon - weekly reminder

•	Blue icon - monthly reminder

•	Purple icon - yearly reminder

The number on the blue circle shows more specific information of the type of the reminder data. In the case of hourly reminder, the number 3 on the circle shows that the reminder is triggered every 3 hours.

If the reminder is overdue, the icon displays a minus sign, and the data is displayed with different line color.

To find more about this page, use the context sensitive help directly on the program.


Click this button to view the Help file.


Click this button to close the main window. To view it again, double click the Kana Reminder icon in Windows’ system tray, or use system tray icon pop up menu.


This is the list of the reminder data. The type of the reminder data can be recognized from its icon’s color.

•	Yellow icon - one time reminder

•	Gray icon - hourly reminder

•	Green icon - daily reminder

•	Red icon - weekly reminder

•	Blue icon - monthly reminder

•	Purple icon - yearly reminder

The number on the blue circle shows more specific information of the type of the reminder data. In the case of hourly reminder, the number 3 on the circle shows that the reminder is triggered every 3 hours.

If the reminder is overdue, the icon displays a minus sign, and the data is displayed with different line color.

Right clicking the mouse on this list displays pop up menu from where the function for adding, editing, and deleting reminder data can be accessed.

The reminder data on the list are sorted from the earliest triggered time.


Click this button to add new reminder data. This function also can be accessed from the reminder list pop up menu or by setting a hotkey.


Click this button to edit selected reminder data. This function also can be accessed from the reminder list pop up menu.


Click this button to delete selected reminder data. This function also can be accessed from the reminder list pop up menu.


Options Page

Options page contains global settings for Kana Reminder.

The following settings can be set from this page:

•	Use interval for reminder time

Put checkmark on this box to display the interval time from current time instead of absolute time when adding new reminder. With interval time, the selection of triggered time is displayed as, for example, 5 minutes from current time. To temporarily change the time display when adding/editing the reminder data, right click the mouse on time display box.

•	Minimize on start

Putting checkmark on this box makes Kana Reminder does not display the main window when starting with no reminder data on the list.

•	Auto popup reminder window

Putting checkmark on this box makes the triggered reminder window is displayed automatically when triggered. When password is needed, it asks for password first.

•	Auto close window

Put checkmark on this box to make the triggered reminder window is automatically closed within specified time. Set the time from the drop down list.

•	Popup reminder window always on top

Put checkmark on this box to make the triggered reminder window to always on top.

•	Double clicking tray icon adding new reminder

Putting checkmark on this box makes the Add new reminder window is displayed (instead of the main window) when double clicking the tray icon.

•	Do not ask when reminder list is empty

Putting checkmark on this box makes Kana Reminder does not ask to quit when the reminder list is empty.

•	Do not display exit confirmation dialog

Putting checkmark on this box makes Kana Reminder does not ask for confirmation when the user select to quit.

•	Do not display confirmation when entering overdue reminder

Putting checkmark on this box makes Kana Reminder does not ask for confirmation when the time entered on the reminder data is less than current time (so the reminder becomes overdue).

•	No abort dialog when schedule a shut down, reboot, or log off.

Putting checkmark on this box makes the log off, reboot, or shut down process is performed immediately.


Put checkmark on this box to display the interval time from current time instead of absolute time when adding new reminder. With interval time, the selection of triggered time is displayed as, for example, 5 minutes from current time. To temporarily change the time display when adding/editing the reminder data, right click the mouse on time display box.


Putting checkmark on this box makes Kana Reminder does not ask to quit when the reminder list is empty.


Putting checkmark on this box makes Kana Reminder does not display the main window when starting with no reminder data on the list.


Putting checkmark on this box makes the triggered reminder window is displayed automatically when triggered. When password is needed, it asks for password first.


Put checkmark on this box to make the triggered reminder window is automatically closed within specified time. Set the time from the drop down list.


Select the time interval the triggered reminder window will be closed from this box.


Put checkmark on this box to make the triggered reminder window to always on top.


Putting checkmark on this box makes Kana Reminder does not ask for confirmation when the user select to quit.


Putting checkmark on this box makes Kana Reminder does not ask for confirmation when the time entered on the reminder data is less than current time (so the reminder becomes overdue).


Putting checkmark on this box makes the Add new reminder window is displayed (instead of the main window) when double clicking the tray icon.


Putting checkmark on this box makes the log off, reboot, or shut down process is performed immediately.


Hotkeys Page

From Hotkeys page, the combination of keys can be set to activate the Kana Reminder.

The following actions can be activated using the hot keys:

•	View main window

Select the combination of keys to view the main window from this box. If the combination is already used by other program, it will be ignored.

•	Add reminder

Select the combination of keys to add a new reminder data from this box. If the combination is already used by other program, it will be ignored.

•	Show triggered reminder

Select the combination of keys to view the triggered reminder window (if it is not automatically displayed) from this box. If the combination is already used by other program, it will be ignored.


Select the combination of keys to view the main window from this box. If the combination is already used by other program, it will be ignored.


Select the combination of keys to add a new reminder data from this box. If the combination is already used by other program, it will be ignored.


Select the combination of keys to view the triggered reminder window (if it is not automatically displayed) from this box. If the combination is already used by other program, it will be ignored.


Sound Page

The default sound to be played when the reminder is triggered can be set from this page.

Put checkmark on the Use this sound as default sound to use the sound file on the box below this box as the default sound. Otherwise, a sequence of beep will be used.

Use the Test button to test the sound file selected.


Put checkmark on this box to use the sound file on the box below as the default sound. Otherwise, a sequence of beep will be used.


The sound file in this box will be used as default sound if the Use this sound as default sound box is checked.


Use this button to browse the sound file. The sound file also can be added by dragging and dropping it into the box on the left.


Use this button to test the default sound file.


Password Page

The reminder data can be given a password. The password is global, that means, the password is the same for all reminder data which have password.

The password can be entered in this page.

To find more about this page, use the context sensitive help directly on the program.


Type the password on this box. If the reminder data is set to need a password, Kana Reminder asks for password before displays the triggered reminder, or editing and deleting reminder data.

CAUTION! The password is not strongly encrypted. And the reminder data file also is not encrypted, so it is still possible to view the reminder data without using Kana Reminder. So, this program is not intended for critical data.


Retype the password here.


Put checkmark on this box to make the Kana Reminder always put a password on the reminder data.


Add/Edit Reminder Entry Window

When the Add or Edit button on the reminder list page is clicked, or double clicking the reminder entry on the list, or clicking the Add or Edit menu from reminder list pop up menu, the Add/Edit reminder entry window is displayed. The window contains three tabbed pages:

•	Reminder

•	Options

•	Sound


Reminder

The reminder tab displays the basic requirements to set the reminder data.

The maximum length of the text that can be entered on the box is 255. This text also will be displayed on the reminder list, if the password is not needed. To change the font type and color of the text in this window and also in the triggered reminder window, right click the mouse on this box.

The date the reminder will be triggered can be set from the date box. The type of the reminder can be chosen from the drop down list. There are plenty of the reminder type that can be chosen. Select the time the reminder will be triggered from the time box. To change the display time (from relative to absolute and vice versa), right click the mouse on this box.


Click this button to cancel adding or editing reminder data.


Click this button to accept the data currently added or edited. The data are then entered into reminder list.


Type the text to be displayed when the reminder is triggered on this box. The maximum length of the text is 255. This text also will be displayed on the reminder list, if the password is not needed. To change the font type and color, right click on this box.


Select the date the reminder will be triggered from this box.


Select the type of the reminder from this drop down list box.


Select the time the reminder will be triggered from this box. To change the display time (from relative to absolute and vice versa), right click the mouse on this box.


Options

The Options tab displays the basic requirements to set the reminder data.

To find more about this tab, use the context sensitive help directly on the program.


Put checkmark on this box to make the Kana Reminder tray icon displays the flashing yellow bell when the reminder is triggered.


Put checkmark on this box to make the triggered reminder is automatically dismissed. Depends on the type of the reminder, when dismissed, it is either deleted or rescheduled.


Put checkmark on this box to make the Kana Reminder asks for password to display the triggered reminder, or to edit and delete the reminder data.


Put checkmark on this box to make the Kana Reminder launches the file specified on the program box below.


This box displays the files to be launched when the reminder is triggered. It can be a program, or other files. If the file has associated program, the associated program will be launched and the file will be opened in that program.


Click this button to browse the file to be run. The file also can be added by dragging and dropping it into the box.


Put checkmark on this box to shutdown the computer when the reminder is triggered.


Put checkmark on this box to reboot the computer when the reminder is triggered.


Put checkmark on this box to log off the computer when the reminder is triggered.


Putting checkmark on this box makes the shutdown, reboot, or log off process is performed without notice. With this, all unsaved document will be lost.


Sound

The Sound tab displays the configurations to choose custom sound to be played for currently added or edited reminder.

To find more about this tab, use the context sensitive help directly on the program.


Select this selection to play default sound instead of custom sound.


Select this selection to play the sound file listed on the box.


This box displays the sound that will be played for this reminder. To make the reminder does not play any sound file, leave this box empty, but selects the Play the following sound.


Use this button to browse the sound file. The sound file also can be added to the box by dragging and dropping it into the box.


Use this button to test the sound file on the box.


Reminder Window

When the reminder is triggered, a reminder window may be displayed.

To find more about this window, use the context sensitive help directly on the program.


This text displays the setting time of the reminder. It may be different from the actual triggered time because the computer may be inactive when the reminder should be triggered.


This is the text of the reminder data.


This displays the type of the reminder.


Depends on the type of reminder data, this button can display the OK or Dismiss text. Dismiss text is displayed for one time reminder. Clicking this button when the OK text is displayed makes the reminder data is rescheduled. Clicking this when the Dismiss text is displayed makes the reminder data is deleted.


Click this button to be reminded again within specified time interval. The setting time is not changed in this case. Only the triggered time is changed. Select the time interval from the drop down list on the right of this button.


Select the time interval for Remind again in button from this drop down list.


Put checkmark on this box before clicking the OK button to edit the reminder data.


Put checkmark on this box before clicking the OK button to delete the reminder data.


Notification Icon with Popup Menu

Kana Reminder places an icon on Windows’ notification area (on the bottom-right area of your desktop), from where a pop up menu can be accessed.

Different types of icons can be displayed, which depends on whether there is a reminder to be displayed today or not, and the amount of reminders that already triggered.

The empty box denotes no reminder to be triggered today, the box with checkmark icon denotes at least one reminder to be triggered today.

When the reminder is triggered, the icon displays the blink yellow bell if the reminder is not displayed yet. The icon turns into green bell if 2 reminders are not displayed; red for 3 reminders; and blue for more than 4 reminders in queue.

The tool tip for the icon also shows how many reminders are in queue.

The pop up menu is displayed on figure below. Click on the figure to get more information about the menu.


Click this menu to display the main window. When the main window is displayed, clicking this menu again will close the main window.


Click this menu to add new reminder data.


Put checkmark on this menu to make the Kana Reminder automatically loaded with Windows.


Put checkmark on this menu to show the icon on pop up menu.


Click this menu to display the About window. The About window displays the program version number, the web site address for Kana Reminder, and some information about the computer where the Kana Reminder is running.


Click this menu to display the help file.


Click this menu to terminate the Kana Reminder.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: 	I set up an alarm to be triggered at specific time, and add a text. But when the time comes, the text is not displayed. What is the problem?

A: 	You may set the alarm to auto dismiss.

Q: 	I set up a hotkey for Kana Reminder, but when I press the hotkey, it does not work. What is the problem?

A: 	It may be another program already uses that hotkey. Try to use other hotkey

Q: 	When I click Edit button on the main window, the reminder time on the edit window is different from the time listed on the reminder entry. Why?

A: 	The reminder time on edit window is the time when you set the reminder to be triggered. The time on the list is the time when the reminder actually triggered. When you have an overdue reminder, or when you click the Remind in button from the reminder window, the trigger time will be advanced. For overdue reminder, it will be advanced by 1 minutes from the time it is checked (when starting the Kana Reminder, for example). Or, when you click the Remind in button, the trigger time will be advanced by the time selected from the drop down menu. The setting time is not changed to keep the setting time the same when you have daily, weekly, or monthly reminder. So, here is the different comes.

Q:	When I set the Kana Reminder to run a file, I get an error message from Windows when the reminder is triggered.

A: 	It most likely that the file does not associate to a program.

Q:	Where is the Kana Reminder saves its data?

A:	Kana Reminder saves its data on a file. The default name is Reminder.dat. You can tell the Kana Reminder to use different file by give a parameter on command line. For example, to use Example.dat as data file, activate the Kana Reminder by command:

Reminder Example.dat

Q:	I got a message from my anti virus program that the Kana Reminder file is infected by virus.

A:	To reduce the file size (faster download), the Kana Reminder executable file is packed using UPX, an EXE packager. With a packager, the file size can be reduced by a half of the original size. Older anti virus software may think this as a virus. You can avoid this problem by downloading the file which is not packed.

Q:	How can I change the date and time format displayed by Kana Reminder?

A:	Kana Reminder displays the date and time format base on the setting on your computer. So, in order to change that, you need to change your date and time display format from Control Panel.

Q:	Can Kana Reminder be used to turn off my computer?

A:	From version 1.5, yes it can. Just put checkmark on the Need program check box and Shutdown from reminder options.

Q:	How can I uninstall Kana Reminder?

A:	If you downloaded the one with setup routine, use Add/Remove program from Control Panel to uninstall. If you downloaded the one without setup routine, to uninstall, just delete the directory where you place the Kana Reminder. IMPORTANT! Remember that before you delete it, if you set the Kana Reminder to be run when the Windows starts, uncheck the Start with Windows from Option page or from pop up menu. It will delete the registry entry to run the Kana Reminder when the Windows starts.

Q:	What registry entries are created by Kana Reminder?

A:	The version information is stored under the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kana Solution\Reminder

If you set it to run with Windows, additional registry entry is created under:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run


Installation/Uninstallation

Kana Reminder can be downloaded as a zip file which contains the setup file, or as a zip file which contains all needed files to run it.

If the one with setup file is downloaded, to install, extract the downloaded file into a temporary directory, and run the REMSETUP.EXE. Follow the steps to install.

To uninstall, use the Add/Remove program from Control Panel.

Kana Reminder actually does not need special installation routine. If the downloaded file is the one without setup routine, to install, extract the downloaded file into one directory (this will be the working directory for Kana Reminder, so it is better to make a new directory for that), then run the REMINDER.EXE to run Kana Reminder. If the Start with Windows on the pop up menu is checked, it will be launched automatically when the Windows starts.

To uninstall, delete all files which come with the zip file. If the Start with Windows is checked, uncheck it before deleting the file, otherwise an error will be displayed every time the Windows starts.