Before starting a new diary it can be very useful if certain entries of fixed date, such as birthdays, could be repeated or copied from the previous year.  The Psion Series 3, of course, can achieve this automatically with its 'repeat' function.  DIREPT: is simple OPL procedure that will enable something similar to be achieved on the old Organiser.

DIREPT: will run through the current diary and increment the year for each entry.  All other components (text, times, alarms) remain unchanged.


DIREPT: should be used as follows:-


1)   First save the current diary.

2)   Erase all entries that you do not want repeated.  Now is the time
     to add any new entries that you want to repeat.

3)   Run the dirept: utility.
     
     Unless you have a large number of entries this will take a very
     short time.  You may think that nothing has happenned and be tempted
     to run it again...  Don't or you will skip a year!
     I have included an artificial delay to calm the nerves.

     The whole of the current diary has now been incremented by one year.
     It may not look like it since the system clock is still in the
     current year.  You will notice, however, that all your entries will
     be on the same DATE but their DAYS will now correspond to next year.

4)   Now save this diary with a name that indicates the year to which it
     corresponds.  For example if the current year is 1993, save the
     incremented diary as DIARY94.

5)   Finally restore the original diary as saved in 1) above.

6)   Well not quite finally:  Before you start your new diary each year,
     restore the new year's diary (e.g. DIARY94), make any alterations/
     additions and run dirept:   Save this diary as DIARY95 and restore
     DIARY94 once more.

     You are now ready to start the NEW YEAR!  Note it's probably a good
     idea to all this before the new year's eve party!

                                 **********



PLEASE NOTE:  I have only tried this on an XP Organiser.

P.S.  If anybody fancies having a go at automating all the above, I'd be interested to hear from you.  It's a bit too hairy for me!

            Zac