Mini-research notes.
Studio Scheduler (Timetabler)
For handling all those millions of instrumental music timetable changes ...
Conditions
- export/import CSV, iCal, and/or XLS
- easy exception handling
- CLI or simple GUI
- easy/fast to update
- long-term: hypothetically portable to web interface
Notes
Free Electronic Timetabler - open source, free timetabling software. Active development (as of 5/2010). CSV/HTML im/export. Constraint handling included.
Lloyd Sparkes's Timetable Converter - Python script; CSV to iCal
Hooman's iCal to CSV script - java based
Web Appointment Scheduling System - at Sourceforge
5Shift Scheduler - at Sourceforge
TASC (Teaching and Activity Scheduler) - not readily available. Good idea, though.
Process Notes
Mock up in scripting language? Start with CSV data files.
Possible software platforms:
- Mozilla Thunderbird + Lightning
- standalone
- other Calendar applications supporting plug-ins/add-ons?
- drupal + web
Endpoint Notes
Required functions:
- auto-assign meeting times for 6-10 weeks
- handle individual exceptions/conditions for teacher, students, locations
- display final results (calendar-like)
- GUI for input, changes/editing, daily use
- SQL database integration
- cross-platform (Win, Mac, *nix)
- both local and web access - redundancy, convenience
Palm Task List (pdb file) converter
Unfortunately, my Palm is dying - it just doesn't have tools to integrate with my computer. I need them.
Problem: convert Tasks PDB file quickly/easily (via scripts) to HTML or other format ... for TreeLine, OpenOffice, or other editing program.
Resources
Current steps:
Convert ToDoDB.pdb to plain text file using pilot-read-tasks -w -f ToDoDB.pdb > ToDoDB.txt
Convert ToDoDB.pdb to XML file (completed! May 2010) - see following article
Now I need to convert that into the TreeLine format (or whatever I'm going to use ...). Also, have to make some code to convert everything back [sigh].
XML Handling libraries, tutorials:
- Expat - XML parser
- libxml2 - the GNOME XML parser
- MiniXML Library - an alternative to libxml2. Lighter.
Python Tutorials
For support of PyQt and PyXML, I need to know how to use Python!
Python.org Python Tutorial - basic Python crash course
David & Paul's Intro to Python XML - need to read the Python tutorial first
Python Course and Exercises
