Pilot software - datebook to csv conversion


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 - output file (stdout is default)
-i - input file (datebook.dat is default)
-d[012] - date format (0=mm/dd/yy (default), 1=yy/mm/dd, 2=dd/mm/yy)

I doubt that this system is without bugs. Some areas to watch for:

I'm sure there are more.

Here are some likely improvements:

If you need to write data from another PIM into your Pilot datebook you should first contact the PIM manufacturer: most of them have written conduits to synchronize the desktop with the Pilot. Otherwise you might try Consult US who sells libraries for reading and writing Pilot databases. I cannot tell you much more than that as I have not used their products.

There are also two other tools I know of. The first is a CSV-to-Datebook or ToDo conversion which is possibly the best tool:

ConvDB

Here's some Java tools:

PilotBean

Please send me any suggestions or comments.

A lot of people have asked me for the source code and the description of the file format. I have decided to keep the source code to myself for the time being. Here is a link the file description I started from. It is excellent:Nico's Homepage

dtbk2csv.exe is Freeware.


Created: Saturday, March 22, 1997, 09:50 Last Updated: Saturday, May 17, 1997 - 18:24:35