I wrote this utility, dtbk2csv, to simplify the weekly ritual of filling out my timesheet. I had recorded all my appointments and activities in the Pilot datebook, but when I went to export the data it was clear that there was no way to accomplish it with the Pilot Desktop program.
I had been in the habit of recording my activities in Microsoft's Schedule+, exporting them each week into a comma delimited file, importing them into Excel, sorting and subtotaling them, then using the data to record my hours in my client's system and fill out a timesheet for my company.
I wrote this application to extract the important information from the datebook.dat file on the PC. It produces a file with date, start time, end time, client, and description. The client field is not supported in the Pilot datebook, so I just put in the client code plus a ':' in the description. If it exists it is extracted as a separate field.
Operation
Run dtbk2csv in the same directory as your datebook.dat file. It will produce a csv file on standard out which can be redirected to a file. This can be directly imported into Excel as a comma delimited file. For example:
set TZ=EST5EDT
cd \pilot\username\datebook
dtbk2csv > datebook.csv
Currently it is problematic running it from a Program Manager icon as the redirection is lost. You have to create a ".bat" file to run it:
@echo off
set TZ=EST5EDT
cd \pilot\username\datebook
\pilot\dtbk2csv > datebook.csv
Then run the batch file from a Program Manager icon. Setting the "run minimized" flag makes things a bit nicer.
Planned for next release:
sort into date/time order
time adjustment
Changes in version 0.5:
fixed bug in handling large files
changed to localtime fixes most timesync problems
Changes in version 0.4:
fixed problem with files larger than 64K
Latest options in version 0.3:
-a - dump all fields
-o
Created: Saturday, March 22, 1997, 09:50
Last Updated: Saturday, May 17, 1997 - 18:24:35