AgnTidy - Psion 3a Agenda File Tidy Utility

Introduction

AGNTIDY is a utility that removes dead data from Psion 3a agenda files, thus reducing the overall size of 
the file and improving the performance of the agenda application.  It searches for repeated entries which can 
be simplified or deleted.

When a repeating entry is edited you are asked whether the edit applies to `all entries', `just this one', `this 
and all future', or `this and all previous'.  If you select `just this one' then an exception is written to the 
repeat record.  As repeats are amended the exception list can build up.  This is particularly true of entries that 
`repeat forever'.

For repeating entries when only the next occurrence is shown, any occurrence between the start of the repeat 
until yesterday is not relevant, and neither is any exception.  AgnTidy deletes these exceptions and changes 
the repeat from date to the date of the next occurrence for which there is no exception.

If all the occurrences of a entry the repeats for a finite period have been excepted, then the record cannot be 
seen in the regular views.  It can be seen in the `View all repeats' screen (Psion+V).  However, it cannot be 
edited or deleted within the Agenda application unless one of the occurrences is re-enabled.  

Similarly, if only the next occurrence of a repeated entry is shown, and the repeat until date is in the past 
none of the entries can be seen, but none can been seen even if not excepted.  The is no way to delete this 
within the Agenda application.

If the repeat until date for an entry is after the date of the last occurrence due to excepted dates then AgnTidy 
adjusts the repeat until date to the date of the last active occurrence.

Installation

AgnTidy consists of only AGNTIDY.OPO.  This should be installed in the \OPO directory.


Process

The following 4 options all start the tidy up process.  In each case the first thing that you are asked for is the name of the Agenda 
file.  During the tidy up process a bar graph is displayed that indicates how much of the file has been processed.  After AgnTidy 
has completed, any records which have been amended will have been rewritten and the originals marked as deleted.  The extra 
space can be reclaimed with the compress utility in the Agenda process.  The process may be aborted at any time by  pressing the 
escape key, in which case any updates that have been made will  have been written to the agenda file and will remain.

Silent (Psion+S)

The process runs without any information being displayed, but with the bar graph.

Verbose (Psion+V)

The process runs, and prints information about what it is doing which scrolls up behind the bar graph.
Confirm (Psion+C)

Each time the process is about to make an update to the agenda file a dialogue box will appear which will give some basic 
information about the repeating entry in question, the suggested amendment, and will ask the user to accept or reject it, or to abort 
the process.

No Write (Psion+N)

AgnTidy will display a dialogue box with the same information about the entry.  The user can only continue or abort the process.

Information (Psion+I)

This option displays version and copyright information about AgnTidy
Exit (Psion+X)

This option terminates the program.

Change Control

V0.1	21/01/97  first stable version

Copyright

AGNTIDY is the intellectual property of David Kurtz (david@kurzbyrn.demon.co.uk).  It is released as free software.

While I have used my best endevors to develop this software,  I will not be responsible for an damage or loss of data or anything 
else.  You use this software at your own risk.  However, so do I!

If you do pass AGNTIDY on then please pass on all of the files!

Feedback

If you find any problems, or wish to make an suggestions for enhancements then please mail me at

david@kurzbyrn.demon.co.uk

This and other pieces of software are available from my website

http://www.kurzbyrn.demon.co.uk/psion.htm

