CONVDB Revision Number: 2.3
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T
S
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CONVDB :
This utility converts a formatted text file to the datebook database
format. The output can be imported into the Pilot Desktop.
Program notes:
==============
C Program Compiled with mingw32 and Cygnus gcc for winNT/95 on
NT4.0 SP3.
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What's new in the
latest release?
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COVNDB works from the command prompt. There is no user interface.
CONVDB without arguments prints this message out:
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Usage: convdb -[OPTIONS <value>] <filename>
Alarm may be set globally:
-m N
N minutes in advance
-h N
N hours in advance
-d N
N days in advance
-x e'x'plain more
: Help
$Revision: 2.3 $
How do you make a text
file?
==========================
The text file can be created manually using a text editor or by
exporting data from your scheduler. When exporting data from the scheduler,
you can usually define the fields that need to be exported. The most reliable
format would be a tab delimited format. As far as the event description
goes, do not include any delimiters such as quotes ("). Next you may need
to clean up this exported file if it has fields that do not conform to
the requirements of CONVDB. Once this is done, insert the field definitions
record as the first record in the file. Here are the basic requirements:
The flexible format allows you to have any group of characters as
a delimter. You could have for example: "gobble-de-gook" as the delimiter.
The only requirement, therefore, is that the *data* inside a field should
not contain this group of characters. Since, the record is parsed one field
at a time, the search for a delimiter group is forward. Meaning, if your
string had a tab which was used to delimit field #1, and say your event
string is the last field (therefore delimited by return character), then
your string may have tabs in it. This would not cause problems.
To illustrate:
Record:
98<tab>1/3<tab>10<tab>This string has a <tab> in it.
Field definitions
within the text file
======================================
Flag | Description | Type of value | Default Value |
%d | [d]ate | Number | |
%y | [y]ear | Number, 4 digit or 2 digit. Ex: 1998, 98 | Current Year |
%m | [m]onth | Number, String: 10, Oct, October, Octo | |
%h | [h]our: start hour | Number | |
%i | [i] : start min
(i follows h) |
Number | zero |
%e | [e]nd : end hour | Number | start_hour + 1 |
%f | [f]: end min
(f follows e) |
Number | start_min |
%t | [t]ime span: duration of event | Number: integral hours. Ex: 2 (hours) | 1 (hour) |
%r | [r]epeat flag | String:
Date: Yearly by date Day : Yearly by day of the month None: No Repeat |
"None" |
%a | [a]m/pm: start time | String/Char case ignored, only 1st character is checked: A[M],
P[M].
If field not specified time is assumed to be in 24 Hr format. |
|
%b | [b] am/pm: end time
(b follows a) |
-- ditto -- | |
%p | [p]rivate flag | Boolean, case ignored: y, n, 1, 0 | N (not private) |
%u | [u]ntimed event flag | Boolean, case ignored: y, n, 1, 0
Note: event must have some number (dummy value) in the time fields even if it is untimed. |
N (not untimed) |
%v | e[v]ent. | String: Preferably be the last field.
Multi-line string not supported because return character is considered to be end of record. |
Minimum fields required:
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Month, date, start_hour, event
TroubleShooting:
================
Take a .45 and point it at .... alright, alright.
E X A M P L E S
===============
I have moved the sample text data to 2 files (example1.txt and example2.txt). These files are correctly formatted so that you can use convdb and see the results on your desktop.
Example : To add an alarm 10 minutes prior to every event in the file:
convdb -m 10 example1.txt
BUGS! ( Eeeeeeek! take that! and that! and that! *splat*):
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(Seems like the bug list grows as I improve(?) the converter)
Fri Jan 16 20:03:26 GMT-8:00 1998:
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