ABOUT ABKTool AND GETTING STARTED NOTES Version 4.0A April, 1994 Welcome to ABKTool. The ABKTool documentation consists of this file, the online help file (ABKTOOL.HLP), the hotkey code explanation file (HOTKEYS.TXT) and the upgrade highlights listing (UPGRADE.TXT). They be viewed by any program which reads DOS text files. It is recommended that you read this file before installing ABKTool and use the online help file as needed to learn about its features. Except for editing data or deleting entries, there is very little permanent damage that you can cause by experimenting with the different menu choices. (The default configuration settings prevent deletions without your confirmation.) In most all situations, pressing F1 will show the portion of the help file that relates to what you are doing. You can read the rest of the file by using the cursor keys and you can search it by keywords. -----What is ABKTool?---- ABKTool is a small, quick, handy appointment book and todo list manager. It was originally designed for the Hewlett Packard 95LX palmtop computer and uses the data file format from that computer. It uses relatively little memory and thus lends itself to being run either as a TSR (popup) program or in a Windows or Desqview window. You can set single event appointments and 4 kinds of repeating appointments. Todos can be given one of 9 priority levels and you can give your own short names to those levels in place of numbers. Design philosophy: ABKTool straddles the pure DOS and 95LX SYSMGR worlds to offer additional flexibility to users. It can be loaded as a traditional TSR (Terminate and Stay Ready) application and pop up over other DOS applications at the press of a hotkey. It is effectively Sysmgr compliant when run as a TSR and invoked with the supplied .EXM calling routine. This mode offers task switching between ABKTool and SYSMGR applications. A small DOS program (CALLABKT.EXE) allows the same capability from the DOS prompt, making it possible for you to access ABKTool from DOS (i.e., after shelling to DOS from another program) without having to exit back to SYSMGR. You can also use a standard loader program to run ABKTool over all but Lotus if you don't want to keep it in memory. It can also be run from DOS, either on the 95LX when Sysmgr isn't active or on other PC's or palmtops. Thus one program can operate in varied situations; the choice of the optimal setup is up to you. -----Sample Screens---- The following screen shots give a flavor for ABKTool's different views of your data: Cursors, while not visible here, are reverse highlighted characters. Daily view screen: ABKTool \qb45\samp.abk 4/1/94³ < File name, system date Fri Apr 1, 1994 7:30 am³ < View function, system time ÍW:13ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͳ < Week of year 800a 915a Sample daily calendar entry³ < Entries 900a 1030a þWeekly repeating calendar ³ 1200p 500pþMonthly repeating calendar ³ 200p 230p þMonthly position repeating ³ 300p 500p þYearly repeating calendar ³ 1 Todo entry ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ Quit Daily Only Insert Save³ < Function key labels Help Del Goto Find Month ³ F1ÄÄF2ÄÄF3ÄÄF4ÄÄF5ÄÄF6ÄÄF7ÄÄF8ÄÄF9ÄÄF10Ù The function key display at the bottom of the screen can be turned off to allow for the display of two additional entries. The line at the right and the Function key labels at the bottom are not visible on the HP 95LX but are placed in order to make use of the key legend easier for users of other computers and to set off ABKTool from the underlying text when it is uses as a TSR. Monthly (text) view screen: ABKTool \qb45\samp.abk 4/1/94³ Apr 1994 7:30 am³ ÍW:13ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͳ Fr 1 800a Sample daily calendar entry³ 900a þWeekly repeating calendar ³ 1200pþMonthly repeating calendar ³ 200p þMonthly position repeating ³ 300p þYearly repeating calendar ³ Fr 8 900a þWeekly repeating calendar ³ Fr 15 900a þWeekly repeating calendar ³ Fr 22 900a þWeekly repeating calendar ³ Fr 29 900a þWeekly repeating calendar ³ ³ ³ Quit Daily Only Insert Save³ Help Del Goto Find Month ³ F1ÄÄF2ÄÄF3ÄÄF4ÄÄF5ÄÄF6ÄÄF7ÄÄF8ÄÄF9ÄÄF10Ù Monthly (text) view screen: Apr FS SMTWTFS SMTWTFS SMTWTFS SMTWTFS ³ 94 12 3456789 0123456 7890123 4567890 ³ 8 ¿ ³ 9a » ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ³ 10a ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ 11a ³ 12p ¿ ³ 1p ³ ³ 2p » ³ 3p » ³ 4p º ³ 5p ³ 6 ³ 800a 915a Sample daily calendar entry ³ < entry under cursor ³ W:13³ < week of year for date under cursor F1ÄÄF2ÄÄF3ÄÄF4ÄÄF5ÄÄF6ÄÄF7ÄÄF8ÄÄF9ÄÄF10Ù Individual (Daily) entry edit screen: Yrly: Apr 1st Alarm:off 5 ³ < Date, Alarm on/off and leadtime 300p - 500p 4/1/94 -4/1/99 ³ < Start/end times, start/end dates ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍINSÍÍͳ Yearly repeating calendar ³ < Text entry ³ ³ More text can be inserted here ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ Hlp Cpy Cut Pst Cal Key Fnd Tim Mrk Done³ F1ÄÄF2ÄÄF3ÄÄF4ÄÄF5ÄÄF6ÄÄF7ÄÄF8ÄÄF9ÄÄF10Ù You can pick dates with the assistance of a pop up calendar: Goto date? ³ (F5: calendar) ³ ÍW:13ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͳ 800a 915a Sample daily calendar entry³ ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ calendar ³ ³ Apr 1994 ³g calendar ³ ³ Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa ³ repeating ³ ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ calendar ³ ³W:13 1 2 ³ ³ ³W:14 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ³ ³ ³W:15 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 ³ ³ ³W:16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ³ ³ ³W:17 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 ³ ³ ³ ³ ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙsert Save³ Help Del Goto Find Month ³ F1ÄÄF2ÄÄF3ÄÄF4ÄÄF5ÄÄF6ÄÄF7ÄÄF8ÄÄF9ÄÄF10Ù You have two screens of configuration options: Scrnúcolor Check Keys Todo Priority ³ Follow Lead Alarm Date Hours ³ ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍESC-exit³ Screen color set: 1 ³ Show checked off todo's: No ³ Show main screen function keys: Yes ³ ³ Todo carry forward default: Yes ³ Default todo priority: 1 ³ Cursor follows changed entry: Yes ³ ³ Default alarm lead time (0-30): 5 ³ Default alarm setting: Off ³ ³ Date display format: MMDDYY ³ Hours display format: 12 hr ³ F1ÄÄF2ÄÄF3ÄÄF4ÄÄF5ÄÄF6ÄÄF7ÄÄF8ÄÄF9ÄÄF10Ù Ignore Quitsav Backup Files Help ³ Duration Savekey Confirm Expired ³ ÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍESC-exit³ Ignore alarm settings: No ³ Automatically save when quiting: Ask ³ Use temporary backup files: Yes ³ ³ File dir: d:\abkdata\ ³ Help file: d:\abktool.hlp ³ ³ Duration of appts: 60 ³ ³ Save key (F10) saves: Unsaved ³ Confirm deletions: Yes ³ ³ Expired todos-show: All ³ F1ÄÄF2ÄÄF3ÄÄF4ÄÄF5ÄÄF6ÄÄF7ÄÄF8ÄÄF9ÄÄF10Ù Context sensitive help is available at the press of F1: Ú Help:   PgUP PgDN Home ESC F7-srch¿³ ³F9 MONTH shows appointments for a ³³ ³month at a time. Pressing F9 again ³³ ³displays graphical timelines for each ³³ ³day of the month. Single lines show ³³ ³single appointments; double lines ³³ ³indicate overlapping appointments. ³³ ³The cursor can be moved to different ³³ ³time slots and any appointments for ³³ ³that time are displayed at the bottom ³³ ³of the screen. (If there are more ³³ ³than 3 appointments for a time ³³ ³interval, a down arrow will appear to ³³ ³the left of the week number at the ³³ ³lower right corner of the display. ³³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ³ F1ÄÄF2ÄÄF3ÄÄF4ÄÄF5ÄÄF6ÄÄF7ÄÄF8ÄÄF9ÄÄF10Ù There are many other features. The best way to discover all of the features ABKTool has to offer is to try it out, exploring the menus and function keys and reading the remainder of this file and the help file. -----Files you should have---- All users: ABKTool.EXE the program itself README.TXT this file ABKTool.HLP the on-line help file HOTKEYS.TXT explains how to set a different TSR hotkey UPGRADE.TXT description of changes since version 2.0 REGISTER.TXT registration form Additional files specific to the HP 95LX Palmtop ABKLC.EXM, ABKLA.EXM "loader" files ABKCALL.EXM TSR calling program (for Sysmgr compatibility) SAMPLE.LST sample APNAME.LST file (must be edited before use) CONFIG.SAM, AUTOEXEC.SAM sample config.sys and autoexec.bat files CALLABKT.EXE TSR calling program for use from DOS -----Legal Stuff---- The ABKTool program and documentation are Copyright (c) 1993, 1994 Paul Kramer, all rights reserved worldwide. They may not be circulated in any incomplete or modified form, nor sold for profit, without written permission of the author. The use or sale of ABKTool is subject to the following terms: If, after a 30 day trial period, you find ABKTool useful and intend to use it you must register it (see the file REGISTER.TXT) and pay the $30 registration fee. Site licenses are available for users of more than 5 copies of ABKTool. Please contact the author for details. You may also register via Compuserve's Shareware Registration Database. While logged on to Compuserve, type GO SWREG and follow the instructions. ABKTool's registration ID is 927. If you elect to register using SWREG, Compuserve will add the registration fee to your next billing, subtract a 15% service charge and send the rest me. You will receive your registration number via Compuserve Mail shortly after I am notified by Compuserve of your registration. Once you are registered, you are authorized to use ABKTool on any computer owned or operated by you so long as no more than one copy is in use at any one time. ABKTool may be distributed by software distribution services so long as only the self extracting file is distributed intact and the charge for such service does not exceed $8. Disclaimer: YOU USE ABKTOOL AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE AUTHOR DOES NOT WARRANT THE SUITABILITY OF ABKTOOL FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND RESULTING FROM ITS USE. -----Key Features---- þ "Only" view, similar to the function in the 95LX phone book application, shows only those entries which contain a specified phrase. This is a quick and convenient way to find all the entries that relate to a particular person or subject. For example, while talking to Mary Woods you could display only the entries which mention her and make sure that you discuss all outstanding matters between you. This is much more efficient than searching with the built in find function on the HP95LX. You can store up to 30 search requests for reuse and can create boolean searches ("Mary AND Tom", "Ted or Alice", etc.). When editing an entry, you can pick from a list you your saved search words and insert one or more into a note. This allows you to categorize your entries by keyword and recall different groups of entries by keyword combinations. Because you can save the searches and copy keywords off of that list, the possibility of typing errors and "lost" entries is reduced. þ The data entries can be viewed in several different ways: þ A single day's appointments and todo items on one screen (instead of having to switch between calendar and todo screens). Calendar entries are first, sorted by start time. þ A monthly range of appointments on one screen, either in text or graphical form. The graphical display shows the blocks of time that are occupied and whether any appointments overlap. You can step through the time blocks and see the corresponding appointment at the bottom of the screen. þ All of the entries in the order in which they exist in the data file. þ Todos which first appear during the seven day period beginning on a particular date. In the normal daily view, these will be toward the end of each priority and might get overlooked--especially if your todo list gets large. þ All todo entries where carry forward has been set to no. This helps you spot todos that have disappeared because they only show on one date rather than on each date on and after the due date. þ All "expired" (checked-off) todos and appointments. By default checked-off todos are not shown (except in the all entries and this view)--you can change that with a configuration setting. This view also forms the basis for the archive function. þ All todos of a particular priority level. This is most useful if you've taken the time to give the priority levels short names such as "Kids" or "Urgent." With this view you can see all of those todos at one time, without being distracted by other entries. þ You can archive the entries in any view to a new .ABK data file and optionally delete them from the current data file. Used with the Expired view, you can remove entries from your active todo file but still keep them in a format for later searching and review. þ You can merge (combine) entries from another file into the current file. In combination with the archive function, you can rearrange the contents of your various .abk files. þ From any view you can edit an entry by placing the cursor on it and pressing Enter or selecting Edit from the menu. All of the attributes (except checkoff) of an appointment or todo item are edited on one screen. Text automatically overflows from the "text" portion of an entry into the "note" portion. The built in application requires you to use multiple screens to edit or view all of the attributes. You can even set the checkoff date independently of the current date. þ Entry of dates, whether in entries or the goto function, is much more convenient and flexible: þ One or two-letter codes represent Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, the days of the Week following the current date, or the date of the appointment or todo the cursor is on. þ A single number in the range 1-31 goes to that day following the current date (On Oct 30, "9" is translated to Nov 9) þ A month and day without a year will go to the next year if the month is prior to the current month. þ Date Math: add "--" or "++" after a date specification and the date will be set to the specified date adjusted by the number of days you've specified. Thus "9--20" on Oct 30, 1992 returns 10/20/92, as does "to[day]--10. This is great for pegging deadlines to a future event. þ A pop-up calendar shows one month at a time and allows you to specify the date with the cursor keys. þ Where appropriate, the Week of the Year is shown, a popular feature for our European users. þ Changing the display date is more flexible. In Daily view "+" and "-" adjust the date by one day and the left and right arrows adjust the date by 1 week. The calendar picker may be used as well. In the Monthly view, "+" and "-" change the displayed month. þ An entry can be cloned. This creates a second, exact copy of the cloned entry, which you may edit. This is convenient for setting multiple appointments that don't fit any of the repeating types. þ Configuration options, including: þ Date format (MM/DD/YY or DD/MM/YY) þ Time format (12 or 24 hours) þ Whether checked off todos are displayed. They are always displayed in the "All" view, regardless of this setting. þ Display of function keys. Turning them off gives two more data display lines. þ Whether deletions of entries must be confirmed. þ Whether to automatically save unsaved data when quitting the program or switching to another application when loaded as a TSR. þ Todo items carry forward default setting. þ Default alarm lead time and setting. þ Default todo priority/carry forward settings. þ Whether to ignore alarm settings (useful for those not using the built-in alarm functions of the HP Palmtops þ When loaded as a TSR, Version 2.1 of ABKTool responded to the HP95LX alarm. This feature has been removed because I was able to talk Jeff Mattox, the author of 95Buddy, into including alarm recognition in his program, which is always active and can provide you with alarms no matter what state your '95 is in at the time. This feature is available in version 3.1 of 95Buddy. I strongly recommend that you obtain it as it greatly improves the operation of almost all areas of the 95LX. As a beta tester of version 3, I was able to work with Jeff to make sure ABKTool and Buddy get along with each other. -----INSTALLATION/SETUP---- To install ABKTool, copy the appropriate files to your disk. You can run ABKTool from the DOS command prompt by typing "ABKTool". The program uses its own configuration file (ABKTool.CFG). On startup, this file is looked for in the C:\ and, if not found, created with the standard default settings. You can tell that the CFG file was not found if at startup ABKTool tells you your data file was not found and an empty file was created. On computers where you can not write to the C: drive because it is on ROM, write protected or doesn't exist, or where you want the config file to reside somewhere else, add the command line switch "/c:[drive]:[directory] when you start ABKTool (i.e., /c:d:\, /c:d\data\). Alternatively you can assign the appropriate directory path to the DOS environment variable "ABKTCFG" by adding "set abktcfg=[drive]:\[directory]" to your autoexec.bat file. If you attempt to use both methods, the command line setting will override the environment setting. The format of the configuration file is as follows: configuration settings string; data file last loaded; help file path/name; default data file path; saved "only" search phrases The data types are separated by semicolons (;). If you modify the config string you may affect a configuration setting, forcing it back to its default mode. This is not fatal and the file will ultimately be rebuilt when you change the affected setting from the menu. If this happens frequently, the size of the config file will grow. If you wish to start over, you can either delete the config file or make the first portion (up to the first semicolon) blank. UPGRADE NOTE: The config file format has been modified for versions 3.x and 4.0 to slightly reduce its size and significantly reduce the configuration handling code size. When you first run version 3.x or 4.0, you will be told that your configuration options were reset. This means you must revisit the two configuration screens and reset the items to your taste. You will lose the configuration settings in the first settings string; the last data file, helpfile, default path, etc., will be retained. You can override the file selection in the config file by specifying a file on the command line when you start ABKTool: ABKTool /f:[file path\name] This new file name will be recorded in the config file for use the next time you start ABKTool without the /F: switch. The ABKTool.EXE program file can be placed in any directory, however it expects to find its help file (ABKTOOL.HLP) on the root directory of drive C: (C:\). You can change the location of the helpfile by modifying the third entry in the configuration file to hold the proper path and file name for the help file. If you desire a smaller help file to conserve disk space, you may edit the supplied help file. Be careful not to delete the context-sensitive help markers (ASCII 255 plus another text character located at the begining of a line) or that feature will no longer work. Also be sure that no line of text is longer than 38 characters or the help file handler in ABKTool may not function properly. ABKTool's File submenu allows you to open other files or create a new, empty file. Using a loader. Loaders are used only with the HP95LX. They allow you to start ABKTool while SYSMGR programs (excepting 123) are running by pressing a hot-key. Two loaders are included. ABKTC.EXM expects to find ABKTool on the root directory of your C: drive and ABKTA.EXM expects to find it on the root of the A: drive. ABKTool.HLP (the help file) must be in C:\ unless you modify the config file (see above). You must copy the appropriate loader to your 95LX and add or modify your APNAME.LST file to refer to it. See the sample file (SAMPLE.LST); the file should be modified as described therein, renamed as APNAME.LST and copied to the C:\_DAT subdirectory if the programs are to reside in C:\ or the A:\ subdirectory if they will be in A:\. These files assign ABKTool to the Alt-APPT key. Back up your data to be safe and reboot. (Loaders are courtesy Dave Goodman's LDRMKR utility available on Compuserve's HPHANDS forum). ----TSR Installation---- PC Compatibles: Start ABKTool with the /R command line switch. The default hotkey is Alt-A; if you wish to use another hotkey, set the file HOTKEYS.TXT for instructions. ABKTool occupies approximately 125k of memory when resident. You can remove ABKTool from memory (provided that no TSR's have been loaded after ABKTool) by running it with the /U command line switch. WARNING: ABKTool does not check to see if there is any unsaved data before it removes itself from memory. Check that all data has been saved before invoking this function. HP 95LX: ABKTool is loaded as a TSR and invoked via the ABKTCALL.EXM 95LX Sysmgr compliant calling program or the CALLABKT.EXE DOS program. It can be called up over all Sysmgr programs, including Lotus 123. This is more convenient than using the regular loaders because: Regular loaders require that you quit Lotus before they will work If run via a regular loader, ABKTool must be completely exited (and all data saved) before you can return to one of the active Sysmgr applications; the TSR remains in memory, ready for immediate use without delay to reload data, and you can specify whether it should automatically save unsaved data when you switch to another application, prompt you to save, or just exit. To set up as a TSR, you must copy ABKCALL.EXM to your 95LX and make the appropriate key assignment in your APNAME.LST file as is described above for regular loaders. In addition, you must load ABKTool with the "/R" command line switch; this is best done from an autoexec.bat file on booting your computer--add that line to your existing AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you don't have an AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you can rename the AUTOEXEC.SAM sample file included with ABKTool. It must be copied to your a:\ (if you have one) or c:\ directory along with the supplied CONFIG.SAM (which must be renamed CONFIG.SYS). Note: When used as a TSR over HP95LX Sysmgr programs, you exit ABKTool to return to the underlying application by selecting Menu|Quit or F2 or one of the blue application keys. ABKTool will remain in the background (you can never truly "quit" it while its a TSR) until you press its hot key again. When set up as a TSR ABKTool occupies approximately 125k of memory. To avoid memory fragmentation, it is best to load ABKTool as a TSR before invoking Sysmgr. This is most conveniently accomplished by including the command "ABKTool /R" in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. For those occasions where you need to free up more memory you can reboot; ABKTool provides a short time window during which you can press Escape to bypass TSR installation. From DOS, you can run the CALLABKT program from the DOS prompt. For example, you could be in the middle of a DOS program such as Grandview and want to check your calendar. You would shell to DOS from Grandview and invoke CALLABKT to wake up ABKTool. When you're done, you would exit ABKTool via F2 and type "exit" to return to Grandview. This process could even be automated via a batch file: callabkt exit -----Additional Notes---- ABKTool runs on a PC or compatible. The viewing screen will remain at 16 rows and 40 columns. Screen writes are directly to video memory so users of Desqview or Windows must make the appropriate configuration setting to indicate this. If ABKTOOL tells you that your data file needs sorting, the file is not in the order that the 95LX's built in APPT application uses. That order is by numeric "type" of the entry (1-Daily, 2-Weekly, 3-Monthly by day of month, 4-Monthly by position, 5-Yearly, 6-Todo), further ordered by start date and time. Choosing (Utils Sort) from the menu will sort the file for you. (This routine is not optimized for speed and may take a minute or so on a large file. If you only use ABKTOOL and the built in 95LX application, you shouldn't need to sort your files. Other applications may not sort data in the same way as ABKTool and the 95LX. ABKTOOL's sort method goes the built-in application one step further by placing unchecked-off Todo's ahead of checked-off Todo's of the same date and priority.) The program is written in QuickBasic 4.5, using the PDQ link libraries from Crescent Software supplemented by additional assembly language routines for speed-sensitive functions. It is compressed using LZEXE and will benefit little or not at all from further compression. Compression reduces the .exe file size by roughly half and extracts at most a small performance penalty when loading. ABKTool can handle data files slightly larger than the maximum size permitted by the built in 95LX program. A maximum of 800 discrete entries is permitted. Support: I haven't quit my day job and can't provide telephone support. The best way to reach me is by mail or Compuserve Email: Compuserve: Paul Kramer, 72276,3602 Internet: 72276.3602@compuserve.com Mail: Paul Kramer One Linden Place Woodland, CA 95695 USA Registration Information. See the file REGISTER.TXT. Future releases: If sufficient interest is expressed, future revisions will be released. Thus far we've come from version 1 to 4 in a little over a year. Feature suggestions are welcome.