ThinkingRock Forum

I have been testing the recurrence feature on Windows XP.

When I create a recurrence, derived from start date, it successfully creates the number requested "Generate X occurences in advance" I haven't tested all the different variables, but it does not generate any additional actions after this first batch.

If I have selected terminate never or a date/occurence number that requires additional tasks be created, I would expect the program to create these actions as I checked off the previous ones. However, it doesn't seem to matter. No additional actions are being created.

Thanks!

The generation of the next actions is based on the current date. There is a background task that runs about five minutes after startup and then every 24 hours. It checks how many occurences exist in the future and create new ones if it is less than the number you have defined.

If the base is done date, it will create a new task when you check the task done.

But it is possible that there is a bug. I only tested that the background test ran afetr start-up. I will test if I leave TR running overnight.

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Claire
ThinkingRock Analyst and Tester

I have also been struggling with recurrence. I guess I was expecting the model used to be something like iCal or Google Calendar, but it clearly isn't.

I was hoping to do recurrence by day and well as date - "the first Friday of every month" for example, but it seems that this isn't possible - something for the final release perhaps?

Also, I'm not too sure what the "Generate x occurrences in advance" is all about. It's probably just me being a bit dim

Tony

The number of occurences in advance exists so that we don't have 50 (or more) actions added to your list as soon as you create a recurrent action. In a calendar, you review by month, here you can review the whole list. This is why we choose to limit how many actions get created in the future. You can change the default number in the preferences.

Regarding the recurrence by day, it will be added but not sure if it will make it to 2.0.

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Claire
ThinkingRock Analyst and Tester

OK, so if I accept the default recurrence of every 1 day and generate 7 occurrences in advance I can see that 7 new items appear. After what time do other occurrences appear? Sorry if I'm labouring this but I just want to try and understand exactly what will happen.


OK, I can live without it for a while. I do seem to have quite a few recurrences by day in my diary though - even a "first Monday of every third month" for a quarterly review that I need to do.

Thanks,

Tony

The next day, an extra occurence should be created. The procedure should ensure that there is always 7 in the future. If you don't open TR for a few days, the 'missing' ones will be created + x number to keep it to 7 in the future.

This was the 'theory'. But I will create the data tonight to ensure this is what TR does.

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Claire
ThinkingRock Analyst and Tester

OK, I think I've got it now


I'll have a play around myself as well.

Thanks.

Tony

Should I be able to have a weekly recurrence with 0 occurrences generated in advance?

With a weekly recurrence set to 1 generated in advance I get the original item plus the one "in advance". I have several weekly tasks that I don't need to see in my task list in advance so it would be neat to have the next one automatically generated when I tick off the one outstanding one (if that makes any sense!).

Thanks,

Tony

Claire,

I've tested this a bit further in real time on windows XP. The creation of a new action occurs as planned when you check off a task with a recurrence derived from the done date.

For me, the recurring tasks derived from start date do not get generated. It does not seem to matter if I have selected terminate never, or terminate after X occurrences. No new recurring tasks are generated after the initial batch.

Let me know if you need more info or if something I've typed isn't clear.

Just tested and it works on the Mac. I will test it on PC this evening.

Just a missing piece of information: do you keep TR open all the time or not?

Claire (under Jeremy's login)

What is the minimum number of occurrences to generate in advance that makes sense? I have tried 0 thinking a new occurrence will be generated only when I tick off the outstanding action but nothing seems to get generated?

I really do seem to be struggling with this!

Thanks,

Tony

1 is the minimum. If you put 0, process will not generate any.

You can have action created when previous action is done by using the base done date but then the recurrence will be calculated from the done date: instead of checking the box to indicate that the action is done, you can select the done date through the date picker (if the done date is prior to today).

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Claire
ThinkingRock Analyst and Tester

To answer your question from above:

I typically open TR at the beginning of my day and shut it down 8 hours later.