.chapter The VAX Reminder System
.IFNOT NBI
.RM72
.LM5
.ENDIF NBI
.ap
.HL 1 Introduction

Very often it is necessary to remind yourself or someone else that
there is a date to be met or something which must be done.  Before
there were computers the canonical way of remembering to do something
was to tie a string around one's finger.  Later improvements in information
storage technology allowed people to write themselves paper messages
to leave pasted on their doors, desks, walls, etc.  The problem with
this method is that one had to leave the reminder where the person
was sure to look and hope that the message looked sufficiently
attractive or urgent that it would be read.

For users who have office VAX terminals, the VAX Reminder System offers a paper
free alternative.  The limitations of the method are that the user will not get
the reminder if he/she is not logged on to the VAX. The VAX Reminder system
allows each user to leave reminder messages for themselves or others which will
be posted at the specified date and time. 

The VAX Reminder system can be accessed in a number of ways.  It is
available as an integral part of the VPW system as part of the 
Desk Management menu.  REMINDER can also be accessed as a foreign
command which is established by the system each time a user logs on by the
command file SYS$SYSVPWFILES:SETVPWSYM.COM.  Once the command REMINDER is
typed, the REMINDER screen is displayed, and REMINDER prompts for a user 
name to send a reminder to. 
.hl 1 On-Line HELP

If you need help using REMINDER,
press the PF2 key at any point REMINDER is prompting for input.
REMINDER will then display help information pertaining to the information
it is requesting.  The PF2 key is the standard VPW help key.  It is the
only operational VPW keypad key at this time.
.hl 1 Correcting Errors

If you make an error in an entered quantity and notice it only after
you have gone on to the next question, you can either back up to the
previous question by typing the Up Arror key, or enter Control-Y
or Control-Z to abort the operation.
.hl 1 Using REMINDER

After issuing the REMINDER command, REMINDER will prompt for someone
to remind.  If you type carriage return, it defaults to reminding the
person logged on the the terminal on which it is running.  It will
check to see if the VAX knows the person you requested to remind.  If
it doesn't it will warn you and allow you a chance to remind someone
else. If you are unsure of the allowed names of users on the system,
it will display a list of all name which it can send reminders to. 

Assuming the "Remindee" is a VAX user, REMINDER will prompt for the date and
time to remind the user and then allow you to input up to 80 characters of text
to use as the reminder message. Finally REMINDER asks if you want to 
send off another reminder to the same person. This allows you to be a
nag, and send off reminders scattered throughout some time period.  If
you do want to send the same person another reminder, REMINDER checks to see
if you want to send the message on the same day.  If yes, it then prompts for
the time to remind and reminder text. If no, it firsts prompts for a
reminder date. 

When the appointed time comes due, REMINDER will start up, grab
the message and fire it off to each and every terminal the 'Remindee'
is logged on to.  If you are not logged on to a VAX terminal when the
it attempts to deliver the message, it MAILS the message to you.  
Hence, as soon as you log on the VAX, VMS MAIL will tell you that you
have new mail waiting to be read, and if you read your mail, you will
get the reminder (so you will know what you missed).
.hl 1 System Requirements

For the Reminder System to work, the following files must exist.
.lit

SYS$SYSVPWFILES:BROADCAST.EXE       Install with OPER, WORLD privilege
SYS$SYSVPWFILES:REMINDER.EXE        Install with SYSPRV privilege
SYS$SYSVPWFILES:REMINDUSR.COM       For dequeuing the reminder messages

.end literal

The REMINDER command requires that the REMINDER image be installed with SYSPRV
if it is to be used by all users.