Hi MJ,

> One thing that would be very useful is the
> ability to execute some command after a successful pluck, so that the
> plucked file will appear in the list of files to be transferred at the
> next sync.

Sounds like a good idea. Right now there is a radio button to choose between
sending the plucked file to a HotSync UserName or sending to a folder
[either for (i) If the OS doesn't support OS-level HotSync UserName
management, make sure have a way for it to get it into the folder holding
the queue of files to install onto pilot like sending it to
'dev/pilot/install' or (ii) generating a file that they plan on
distributing, not putting onto PDA. Can certainly add in a way to specify
some custom behaviour to execute at the end of the Sync.

> left running in
> > the background and update the channels on its own when the due
> time is up.
>
> Does it have to be running to do timed plucks correctly, or will it
> notice when it's next started that it's time to do some plucking?

Was considering the concept of making a channel 'Due'. When the program is
running, or is started, it looks at the time when the Channel was supposed
to be updated, and compares it to the current time/day, and specifies in a
list column whether or not the channel is currently due (and if not due,
probably displaying in the column the days/hours until it is due).
For the initial draft, I was considering allowing options of 3 choices of
what to do when a channel becomes due, or the program is started and there
are due channels:
(1) Do nothing. No autoupdating at all. Only just says in the list that it
is due. User has the control: click the button to receive the channels. One
button clicks to receive all due channels. (Another button can be clicked to
sync the selected channel and another button can be clicked to receive all
channels whether due or not).
(2) Connect and pluck a channel as soon as it becomes due (within
5/10/whatever minutes or so, as the running program would only be checking
the time every 5 minutes to save processing power). Mostly for running at an
always-on internet connection and need the instant news on the palm at a
very certain time.
(3) When at least one channel is due, wait until a certain hour of the day
and then download all due channels. Good for places like Ireland where there
is a much cheaper rate for after hours access.

Best wishes,
Robert

Reply via email to