IDEA: Generic saving reminder

[me_7834539]

Savíng reminder request

Hello, some time ago, an ahk forum member kindly wrote an AHK script for me
that would autosave message drafts in windows live mail. sadly, for some odd
reason it wouldn't work and would send typed letters into the draft quite often.
The script was also fairly complicated. (I am once again thanking the author for
their efforts tough!!) Today my system froze (win 7, usually stable) and I once
more lost a draft. So I decided this is a problem that needs solving, and probably
applies to many more programs other than WLM.

My idea is as follows: a script that will do this:

- at certain times, ideally every 15 minutes, i.e. 24h/d starting 00:00, 00:15, ... 23:45
it will simply pop up a save reminder popup box window (ideally with an OK button) if,
only if, at least one ATH_Note windows is currenly open.

bonus features would be:
- don't show another reminder box if one reminder box is already in display.
- show the total amount of currently opened ATH_Notes in the message
- option: choose key that will close the message (to prevent closure whilst
 typing space, which one obviously will be typing fairly often).
- experimental option: closing the message box will automatically
 send ctrl-S to all opened ATH_Note windows.
- you may want to check out above mentioned sophisticated yet partially problematic
 autosave script at: http://www.autohotkey.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=85296

...thanks to all who consider this idea's, uhm, implementation... !!!!  

[shmuel1]

Are you still interested in this?
What program you referring to? I can't find ATH_Notes. Do you mean ATnotes?

[me_7834539]

hello, ATH_Notes is the name of WLM's e-mail composure windows!

Thanks for asking.

[shmuel1]

I installed WLM and the new mail window says New Message. I installed Windows Live Mail Version 2009. Is that what you have?

[me_7834539]

Hi,

Window Class = ATH_Note
Window Caption is irrelevant
WLM version in use is 2009

All of that is not really important, since the script should work generically for any Window Class, by simply subsitituting the Window Class name. No need to install WLM.

:-)

[shmuel1]

For these options I need to know the window class:
- show the total amount of currently opened ATH_Notes in the message
- experimental option: closing the message box will automatically
  send ctrl-S to all opened ATH_Note windows.

[skwire]

Window Class = ATH_Note

^^^ 

[skwire]

We've been working offline on this.  On first run, the program creates an INI file.  Adjust as necessary and choose reload from the tray menu.

Source/Binary: http://skwire.dcmembers.com/apps/snacks/meReminder.zip

[me_7834539]

Here's some general comments and instructions:

- Copy and rename and you can watch additional programs (simply configure the additional ini file)

- It also works nicely with OpenOffice (classname is SALFRAME)

- Set up to autostart at windows boot (and configure tray icons to be fully hidden)

- Pressing Ctrl-S will activate the first of the windows that needs attention (unless it's in the foreground already), press Ctrl-S
again to save (super ergonomic! ). (If more than one window has been detected (as shown in the box), you may want to go through all opened Windows that need care in terms of saving.)

- Sending Ctrl-S directly to the application is _generally_ something unreliable and will also interfere with your work. This program is _the best you can get_ in terms of saving your work regularly, unless the program you use has a good built-in autosave function.

- You may want to combine this program with commercial programs like e.g. SecondCopy. You'll have e.g. 25 former versions, with e.g. 10 minutes of work between each.

- I have been using and testing this beautiful script and it works like a charm and has actually prevented data loss for me. It is as unobstrusive as it can be, and did not interfere with work at all.

- You must can use e.g. the window spy function of ahk (right click AHK tray icon) to find out the classname of your program.
##however, the window spy function has been forgotten to be shown in meReminder's tray context menu (@skwire -> you may want to add this.) Anyway, otherwise just install AHK and just use Window Spy from its startmenu group.

- For testing, you can set the ini file to e.g. IntervalMins=0.1 so it will pop up the saving reminder every 6 seconds.

- If this program saved you from data loss or if it helps you to regularly save/and or backup your work, please consider showing some appreciation to skwire by means of a small donation (like I did), I am really so happy with this little program, thanks skwire!!!



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Here's some tags: save, remind, autosave, save reminder, regularly, intervals; here's some German tags: Speichern, Speicher-Erinnerung, ans Speichern erinnern, Erinnerungsprogramm, regelmäßige Erinnerung

[me_7834539]

Just an update, I have been using this program for over a year now and it worked great to remind me to save e-mail drafts in Windows Live Mail, which I still prefer to most other Clients for various reasons.
It also works well for OpenOffice, if one does not want to use the built-in saving feature.
Thanks again, skwire!  

[skwire]

That's really great to hear.  I'm glad it's still useful for you.  =]

[TaoPhoenix]

Sure!

Not so bad for me, I'm a Control-S fiend. But maybe emails and a couple forums that time out REALLY fast are my bugaboos. But I like it when I can work in layers. I'll post a message here and then a few min later edit it and the third version is finally complete.