Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att-cb!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!ucsd!sdcsvax!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hpda!hpsemc!bd
From: bd@hpsemc.HP.COM (bob desinger)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: office automation tools available for unix systems
Message-ID: <570010@hpsemc.HP.COM>
Date: 25 Mar 88 01:32:59 GMT
References: <12508@brl-adm.ARPA>
Organization: HP SEMC, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 34

John Sangster (jhs@mitre-bedford.arpa) writes:
> We are trying to set up some utility tools on a unix system to keep track of
> meetings, do calendar management and conference room scheduling, track action
> items, and the like.

The AT&T Toolchest has a time-management program that helps your group
schedule common meeting times and publicize their whereabouts.  I
don't remember what it's called, and you should dial up the Toolchest
anyway to look around.  You'll be glad you did.  Perhaps someone can
post something describing how to dial up the Toolchest machine (I
don't know that, either...boy, some help I am, eh?)

Reflecting on parts of the task like conference room scheduling,
sometimes the best tool for the job isn't a computer.  In his new book
_More_Programming_Pearls_, Jon Bentley describes how editor Peter
Denning keeps track of his articles with a looseleaf binder.  His
arguments for using this tool in this situation are compelling, but I
won't restate them here.  Buy the book; that's another thing you'll be
glad you did.  ("What's the best way to balance a checkbook using a
computer?  One elegant solution is to sell the computer and deposit
the money.")

> Also of use would be indirect pointers, i.e. where to look for advertisements
> of applicable products.  Unix World is one that I am aware of, for example.

Try Unix Review, too.  In fact, go to your favorite technical
bookstore or big-huge bookstore and look in their magazine rack
in the C language section, besides the Unix section.

Unix hardware vendors typically have a big catalog of programs written
by their customers that run on the vendor's iron.  Call your vendor
and ask about their "third-party software catalog."

-- bd