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Reminder System Strategy

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    #1

    Reminder System Strategy

    I would like to add a reminder system to my application. I have scoured the documentation and Message Board for references and I have not found any. I have found many discussions on building and integrating to calendar applications including a nice add-in by Jerry B. But these don't seem to meet my need of incorporating an Outlook style reminder system into A5. So I am starting this thread in hope of generating some dialogue on the development of an A5 based reminder system.

    Here are my current requirements for the system:

    * Multi-User Support - system would distinguish between reminders set up by different users in a multi-user application.
    * Once a reminder is created and scheduled for a future date and time the reminder system will pop-up a window on top of ALL OTHER open windows displaying the reminder and allowing the user to dismiss it, snooze it or reschedule it.

    Those are the very basic needs. Most of this seems straight forward. Script_Schedule() could be used to trigger the pop-up of reminders and XDialogue could be used to deal with the pop-ups. However the part of this that is most intriguing and important to me (at least) is efficiently triggering the reminders. Here are some possible strategies:

    * Schedule a script to run every 5 minutes that would query a table of reminders for reminders that belong to the current user and pop-up a window for any that appear in the next 5 minutes. This seems really inefficient to me and would generate a lot of overhead and network traffic.
    * As each reminder is added schedule one of the ten script_schedule() timers. This seems pretty efficient. There would need to be a script that would pre-load the timers when the application initially loaded and also some really interesting script work that would manage the timers as new reminders were added, dismissed, snoozed and rescheduled.

    I sure hope this elicits some suggestions from the community as I could use some ideas!

    CP
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Reminder System Strategy

    some suggestions from the community as I could use some ideas!
    Use one of a multitude of free reminder, PIM, etc applications available.
    There can be only one.

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Reminder System Strategy

      Hi Stan,

      Thank you for your reply. I guess to stimulate suggestions that are appropriate to my need I need to enumerate some additional requirements:

      * There is a prospect master table in this application and all reminders are to tie back to a prospect that is in this table.
      * This application operates in a multi-user environment. There are managers that review the work of the salespeople. They need to be able to see all of the reminders that a given salesperson has created.
      * Salespeople don't always work at the same workstation. A reminder system that does not store data on the local station is important and can move transparently with the user is a requirement.
      * The prospecting system allows a salesperson to take over the leads of another salesperson when they are sick or on vacation. Once again this requires that the reminder system's data be accessible via the network.

      Without just flat out specifying that the system is to be implemented in Alpha Five I am attempting to layout a set of specifications that makes it evident that this is the direction that needs to be taken.

      Once again I thank anyone who takes the time to share their suggestions on this topic.

      CP

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Reminder System Strategy

        There is nothing that I can see in your specs that can't be done in A5. But it is a little complicated. I guess it might be better if you ask a specific question for a specific problem, rather than throw out such a broad inquiry. My suggestion would be to do it one step at a time w. Qs asked one at a time accordingly.
        Peter
        AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

         [email protected]
        https://www.alphabasesolutions.com

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Reminder System Strategy

          I've done a close version of what you're describing - it's not difficult, and overhead is minimal. I know someone else has too - I just don't remember who.

          For the two systems where I do it (same customer - just two databases) a Main Menu is always running. The Main Menu has a timer set for every 60 seconds. We just that to check a variety of flags and conditions.

          Use something like the exist() function to check for a flag or condition, and then as necessary do the other stuff to build the message for the interface.

          You'll be surprised at how easy this is.
          -Steve
          sigpic

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Reminder System Strategy

            Hi Steve,

            Thank you for the suggestion on the timer event on the Main Menu. I always leave the Main Menu open in the application so this could be a very useful tool. I will explore this option.

            It is suggestions like these that are just little golden nuggets when trying to build a specification for a new project.

            Thanks,
            CP

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