I don't know of a project that does what you want (and I've been
thinking of writing it myself for some time now :), but you might
consider YAML for the text file. YAML ("YAML Ain't Markup
Language", http://www.yaml.org) is a simple, insanely flexible,
human-readable text formatting specification
(http://www.yaml.org/spec/). Perl support is availble
(http://search.cpan.org/dist/YAML/), written by Brian Ingerson.
Here's a sample from an IBM DeveloperWorks article,
http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/xml/library/x-matters23.html:
XML configuration for chess club data:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<club>
<players>
<player id="kramnik"
name="Vladimir Kramnik"
rating="2700"
status="GM" />
<player id="fritz"
name="Deep Fritz"
rating="2700"
status="Computer" />
<player id="mertz"
name="David Mertz"
rating="1400"
status="Amateur" />
</players>
<matches>
<match>
<Date>2002-10-04</Date>
<White refid="fritz" />
<Black refid="kramnik" />
<Result>Draw</Result>
</match>
<match>
<Date>2002-10-06</Date>
<White refid="kramnik" />
<Black refid="fritz" />
<Result>White</Result>
</match>
</matches>
YAML representation:
---
players:
Vladimir Kramnik: &kramnik
rating: 2700
status: GM
Deep Fritz: &fritz
rating: 2700
status: Computer
David Mertz: &mertz
rating: 1400
status: Amateur
matches:
-
Date: 2002-10-04
White: *fritz
Black: *kramnik
Result: Draw
-
Date: 2002-10-06
White: *kramnik
Black: *fritz
Result: White
Hope that helps --
-=< Dave >=-
Original message follows:
-------------------------
> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 15:59:16 -0700
> From: "Ron Pero" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Suggestions for "to do" list program with reminders
> I have a project in mind that will probably involve DateTime. Before I
> proceed, it occurs to me to ask a couple questions of this list.
>
> It involves todo lists and an email reminder system.
>
> (I hope this is not considered off-topic...)
>
> I keep my todo list in a plain text file, not overly structured. At least,
> even if it starts off fairly structured it soon gets out of hand. Such is
> life.
>
> I have looked at programs dedicated to to do lists, including Outlook, and
> they all impose great structure on the data source. I want my data structure
> to remain a plain text file in a "normal" humanistic format, ie how it is
> now. But some added data is OK. The important thing is that I want to add to
> my text file as thoughts occur to me, not add them via a GUI. (Or, my GUI is
> the plain text file.)
>
> Before doing it, there are two question I would like to ask this group:
>
> 1. Do you know of an existing program that sounds like what I want? Or a
> favorite program that you like to use? It would be cool if it did all the
> iCAlendar things too, but my needs are simpler than that. Maybe someone
> points me to a program I like and I won't go through this trouble...
>
> 2. If I do go ahead and do this, would this list be a good place to ask for
> advice such as suggestions for date/time formats used in a reminder system,
> format for exporting to something like Outlook? I would like to use
> standards and DateTime, but it's not quite clear to me yet how to use the
> module effectively.
>
> Thanks. I guess I'm just taking a big breathe before jumping in.
>
> Ron
>
> P.S. Here is a sample of my plain text to do list. Headings in all caps
> preceded by a blank line are categories, and other categories are in
> <cat:...> tags.
> I expect to add <date:...> tags for recurrence and precise dates, which will
> be used by a tickler program or email reminder program.
>
> MISCELLANEOUS
> Education of Little Tree at Library<cat:out>
> Income Tax<cat:business>
> check logs
> New bank and brokerage<cat:out,phone>
> CPAAI: RBL, Recruit (cpafirm, Oly 360-555-5555, firm2)<cat:phone>
> Seth and Sandy: hiking 425-392-8060<cat:phone,social,fitness>
> Sam and mmpi coding<cat:work>
> Mark's site<cat:work>
> Luke's phone number<cat:social,phone>
> Cancel Earthlink
>
> SPORT, RECREATION
> Natural Golf coaches in area
> Appledo's School of Ballroom Dance, 3617 B'port Wy 564-5555
> seattleparagliding.com
> KAYAKING
> Gig Harbor Kayak Center 888-42-YAKIT
> Tahoma Outdoor Pursuites.com
> Boston Harbor Marina, Olympia
> Check web for kayak clubs, check colleges
> Kayak Lesson at Dntn Y?
> practice golf putting
> Tai Chi starts Sept 30
>
> --------------------------------------------
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