New Plugin : Reminder Panel

[ojo]

:o Having trouble remembering your Morhters birthday or your wifes ?

Reminder Panel lets you edit a simple database with all important dates as well as the alert format.

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Please see the readme-reminderpanel.txt (in zip)

Special requirements: none

***** Please be patient *****
Even the newest release (0.6) has a major flaw in the configuration (database edit) parts.
Please note that until next release the ONLY way to enter new data (except the 4 example reminders) is by editing the Reminders.XML file yourself. If you're not familiar with XML files and not carefull, this might result in GBPVR.exe and/or Config.exe not being able to start.

If this should happen, just delete the Plugins\ReminderPanel.dll file and try to start GBPVR or Config again.

The error doesn't harm your GBPVR installation, it's just a really really irritating.
************************

*** Updated to Version 0.6 ***
o Changed Plugin to generate sample data if Reminders.xml file is not present - thereby removing one major obstacle for first time users
o Removed the example reminder database Reminders-example.xml since the file is auto generated
o Added some error handling in opening the database file
o Changed timer algorithm to enable more smothly timed display
o Removed menu item from the GBPVR main-page
o Panel is only shown when the plugin is active

[nightwalker]

Oh, this could be very useful, and keep me out of lots of trouble!

[A_Brass]

I think the WAF just went over 90%

[ggee]

Has this been tested with 0.96.12? It causes the Config.exe to crash when I try and start Config.

Greg

[wannabepvr]

It causes the Config.exe to crash when I try and start Config.
Greg

Same thing here. GBPVR will run but not the config utility.

Deleting the 'ReminderPanel.dll' out of plugins will get your config working again - but obviously you cant then use it.

[ojo]

Sorry, no !

Will download the version at test later today.

Sorry about that !

Did you download and install the newest version of the CommonGBPVRUtilities?

It could also be the format of the Reminders.xml file if you did input remindertypes yourself. The configuration is not yet "user-proff", since some validations is still missing.

[ojo]

I did a first initial test.

First i just upgraded the GBPVR version from the former (0.96.08 i think) and then i started the Config, selected the plugin and pressed Settings. Checked the data (didn't change anything) and pressed OK to close the plugin configuration. Pressed OK to close the Config app.

Startet GBPVR (windowed) first from command line in the ...\devnz\gbpvr directory and second thu the start-menu.

None of the above gave me trouble of anykind.

Hmmmm. Is there anything in the .log-files from your testing ?

[ojo]

A couple of questions for you ?

1) Did anyone manage to get it up and running?
To test and see it working you could change "alertdays" for birthdays to 140 to get a early reminder for Kofi Annan's birthday. It might also be the fact you have to rename or copy the Reminders-example.xml to Reminders.xml.

2) Some of the problems you having might be the fact i'm using the CommonGBPVRUtilities. Nothing wrong with that, but you might be experiencing some version incompatibilities. I'm currently working on at version that doesn't have that requirement. (see 3)

3) What do you prefer. Using this "speciel/stand-alone" Reminder Panel or integrating it with VAPanel ? I guess this i kind of a general question, what do you prefer?

4) Any ideas for enhancements ?
- GEDCOM import, other imports (please see below)

Planned features
- Timed display like "scheduled recordings"
- Better configuration with better input validation
- Historical birthdays, Celerberties birthdays
- Further skin support
- Import birthdays from other sources
- Configurable date-format.

[ggee]

A couple of questions for you ?

1) Did anyone manage to get it up and running?
To test and see it working you could change "alertdays" for birthdays to 140 to get a early reminder for Kofi Annan's birthday. It might also be the fact you have to rename or copy the Reminders-example.xml to Reminders.xml.

Just to mention, I was only using the sample. I didn't even modify it.

2) Some of the problems you having might be the fact i'm using the CommonGBPVRUtilities. Nothing wrong with that, but you might be experiencing some version incompatibilities. I'm currently working on at version that doesn't have that requirement. (see 3)

I'll try and see what version of the CommonGBPVRUtilities and upgrade if needed. Less dependancies is always better, but not really a problem as long as you mention what versions of each dependancy.

3) What do you prefer. Using this "speciel/stand-alone" Reminder Panel or integrating it with VAPanel ? I guess this i kind of a general question, what do you prefer?

In a way, both both be good to have as options. Currently, I would like to integrate into VApanel.

4) Any ideas for enhancements ?
- GEDCOM import, other imports (please see below)

Planned features
- Timed display like "scheduled recordings"
- Better configuration with better input validation
- Historical birthdays, Celerberties birthdays
- Further skin support
- Import birthdays from other sources
- Configurable date-format.

I can't think of any others than what you have listed. From the list, my priority would be "timed display" and good config tool. So from what you say in this list, if there is a birhthday that is 6 months away, it will appear in the reminder?

Greg

[ggee]

I just checked and my CommonGBPVRUtilities is newer than the one in your first post. The one I have is dated 1/17/2006 and the zip file in the first post is 8/8/2005.

Greg

Sorry, no !

Will download the version at test later today.

Sorry about that !

Did you download and install the newest version of the CommonGBPVRUtilities?

It could also be the format of the Reminders.xml file if you did input remindertypes yourself. The configuration is not yet "user-proff", since some validations is still missing.