Re: org-mode and appointments

[Carsten Dominik <dominik@science.uva.nl>]

Hi Bernt,

Bastien is quite busy, so let me replay

On Feb 26, 2008, at 12:09 AM, Bernt Hansen wrote:

> Hi Bastien,
>
> I'm using your function for creating appointments:
>
> ,----[ my-org-agenda-to-appt in .emacs ]
> | ;; Make appt aware of appointments from the agenda
> | (defun my-org-agenda-to-appt (&optional filter)
> |   "Activate appointments found in `org-agenda-files'.
> | When prefixed, prompt for a regular expression and use it as a
> | filter: only add entries if they match this regular expression.
> |
> | FILTER can be a string. In this case, use this string as a
> | regular expression to filter results.
> |
> | FILTER can also be an alist, with the car of each cell being
> | either 'headline or 'category.  For example:
> |
> |   '((headline \"IMPORTANT\")
> |     (category \"Work\"))
> |
> | will only add headlines containing IMPORTANT or headlines
> | belonging to the category \"Work\"."
> |   (interactive "P")
> |   (require 'org)
> |   (require 'calendar)
> |   (if (equal filter '(4))
> |       (setq filter (read-from-minibuffer "Regexp filter: ")))
> |   (let* ((cnt 0) ; count added events
> | 	 (today (org-date-to-gregorian
> | 		 (time-to-days (current-time))))
> | 	 (files org-agenda-files) entries file)
> |     ;; Get all entries which may contain an appt
> |     (while (setq file (pop files))
> |       (setq entries
> | 	    (append entries
> | 		    (org-agenda-get-day-entries
> | 		     file today
> | 		     :timestamp :scheduled :deadline))))
> |     (setq entries (delq nil entries))
> |     ;; Map thru entries and find if they pass thru the filter
> |     (mapc
> |      (lambda(x)
> |        (let* ((evt (org-trim (get-text-property 1 'txt x)))
> | 	      (cat (get-text-property 1 'org-category x))
> | 	      (tod (get-text-property 1 'time-of-day x))
> | 	      (ok (or (null filter)
> | 		      (and (stringp filter) (string-match filter evt))
> | 		      (and (listp filter)
> | 			   (or (string-match
> | 				(cadr (assoc 'category filter)) cat)
> | 			       (string-match
> | 				(cadr (assoc 'headline filter)) evt))))))
> | 	 ;; FIXME Shall we remove text-properties for the appt text?
> | 	 ;; (setq evt (set-text-properties 0 (length evt) nil evt))
> | 	 (when (and ok tod)
> | 	   (setq tod (number-to-string tod)
> | 		 tod (when (string-match
> | 			    "\\([0-9]\\{1,2\\}\\)\\([0-9]\\{2\\}\\)" tod)
> | 		       (concat (match-string 1 tod) ":"
> | 			       (match-string 2 tod))))
> | 	   (appt-add tod evt)
> | 	   (setq cnt (1+ cnt))))) entries)
> |     (message "Added %d event%s for today" cnt (if (> cnt 1) "s"  
> ""))))
> `----
>
> and this has been working pretty well for me.  I really appreciate you
> posting this on the list (a long time ago :) )
>
> I have a function key binding to rerun this function when I add new
> appointments for today.
>
> ,----[ Activate the appointments in .emacs ]
> | (global-set-key (kbd "<f9> a") 'my-org-agenda-to-appt)
> | ;; Get appointments for today
> | (my-org-agenda-to-appt)
> | (appt-activate t)
> `----
>
> I have the following wishlist items for this function but don't
> currently have the lisp skills to fix it.
>
> - [ ] Clear the appointment list when rerunning the
>       my-org-agenda-to-appt
>       If I move an appointment to anther day and use f9-a the old
>       appointment reminder is still there and bugs me when the time
>       rolls around.
>       I only use org appointment entries so clearing the list should  
> be
>       trivial.  I don't use diary entries anymore.

In this case, setting `appt-time-msg-list' to nil before calling my- 
org-agenda-to-appt
should be fine.  BTW, org.el contains `org-agenda-to-appt' which is a  
very slightly improved
version of this function, so no need to keep it in .emacs.

> - [ ] Future deadlines are reported for today.
>       I have an installation deadline at 8PM on Thursday.  Since  
> it's a
>       deadline it shows up in my agenda today with a 3 day warning...
>       and my-org-agenda-to-appt picks this up and makes an appointment
>       for today -- which is incorrect.  I don't need an appointment  
> for
>       this until Thursday.


Do

    (let ((org-deadline-warning-days 0))

around the call.  Actually, yes, this should be part f org-agenda-to- 
appt,
I will put it in.  But for now you can do it in your update function.
There is a bug in the documentation of org-deadline-warning-days saying
that only negative numbers will be enforced.  In fact, 0 will also
be enforced.

> - [ ] If I leave Emacs running overnight is there a good way to reset
>       the appointment list at midnight?

Take a look at the function `run-at-time'.  This could be set up  
in .emacs, better to not
execute this each time you update your appointment list.

So to summarize, this is really all you need in .emacs:

;; Get appointments for today
(global-set-key (kbd "<f9> a") 'my-org-agenda-to-appt)
(defun my-org-agenda-to-appt ()
   (interactive)
   (let ((org-deadline-warning-days 0))    ;; will be automatic in org  
5.23
     (org-agenda-to-appt)))
(my-org-agenda-to-appt)
(appt-activate t)
(run-at-time "24:01" nil 'my-org-agenda-to-appt)