Reminder for future appointment.

[pguild]

I would like to create a Winbatch executable that would let me create a reminder for future date, so I don't forget an appointment or presentation. Example: a stock trading webinar held on June 18th 2025 at 3PM.

Does such a Winbatch script or application already exist?  Or do you have any tips on how to create one?

[kdmoyers]

I don't know of an existing winbatch program, but you could check the Tech Database (link above)

You could certainly write such a thing in winbatch, and make it as bespoke and feature rich as you like.  Sounds like a fun exercise!👍 

One thing is, the program would have to be running all the time, but you can certainly do that in winbatch too, in multiple ways.  You could even make it a windows service that runs in the background.

Another option is to write it so that the windows Task Scheduler runs it again every minute.  Then it can just check the time, do it's thing and exit.


(( You didn't ask this, but, it's a famous problem, and has been solved in many ways over the years.  So unless you have specific requirements, maybe you could find it already written by someone else?  maybe Google for "reminder utility program windows".  But you probably already thought of that.))

[spl]

Does such a Winbatch script or application already exist?  Or do you have any tips on how to create one?

Automate Outlook Calendar

[pguild]

Thanks for your reply! I am now writing a Reminder program myself. It has 2 parts.

Part one is to allow the user to create the text for a reminder and pick a date on which they want the reminder to appear and create a "reminder file" based on the date of the reminder, for example "2025-06-18.txt" The user will entering the details of any reminders on that date and the details will go into the "reminder file."

Part Two involves using the current date to build the name of a potential reminder file. The system then uses fileexist to see if a reminder file exists for the current date. If it finds one, it displays that file to the user. I currently use Run(notepad.exe,Filename) to do that.

Part Two will be a standalone .exe and will be invoked automatically each morning at 7am by Windows Scheduler.

I'll use my iPhone to schedule an alarm, say, 10 minutes before the actual time of the reminder. Note that Siri cannot schedule an alarm for more than 1 day ahead. I could schedule a reminder at any time ahead using Siri, but I want the reminder to have lots of details and easy for the user to paste details into the reminder file.

I see that there are several free reminder programs available, such as:

• Efficient Reminder.
• Remember the Milk
• Hott Notes
• WinAlarm

I guess I like reinventing the wheel. :)

[kdmoyers]

Sounds like a cool set up! 👍