# Tickler

### What it is

The file tickler.mdb is a self-contained Microsoft Access database that
emulates an old fashioned Tickler File. A Tickler File is simply a set
of folders, generally 12 folders for months and 31 folders for days
where repeating tasks are filed. As each task is accomplished, it is
filed into the correct folder for when it is next due.

Tickler files are useful when the performance of a task early or late
affects the next due date. Our password changes make a good example of
such a task. If you perform a 90 password change 5 days early, you do
not get 95 days for the next one. The next due date is entirely
dependent upon when the task was last performed.

The Tickler database program was developed primarily for tracking
password changes, but may be used for tracking any repeating task.

### Installation

![](media/image1.png){width="2.5625in" height="3.5in"}Because
tickler.mdb is a Microsoft Access database file, it will only run on PCs
that have Microsoft Access installed.

You may place the file anywhere you choose. Since the information you
will be filing in the database may be sensitive, it is recommended that
the file be located in an accessed restricted directory.

Depending on your personal preference, you may create a desktop icon, a
menu shortcut, or an icon on the quick launch toolbar. The target of the
shortcut is the tickler.mdb file, and the properties on the shortcut
should be set to run minimized. Right clicking a shortcut brings up a
menu that allows you to open up the Properties Dialog.

The image to the right shows how this is set on my system. My S: drive
is a secure location on the server, so I placed tickler.mdb under it.
Run minimized has been set, this keeps Access from opening full screen.

### Setting up a Digital Signature

Clicking on the shortcut opens the tickler.mdb file inside of Microsoft
Access. There will be a warning that pops up about macros if your Access
Security is set to medium or high. Do not lower your Access security
settings to get rid of this warning. You can create a digital signature
file and associate it with tickler.mdb to eliminate this warning without
exposing yourself to Access macro viruses.

Instructions for how to create a local digital signature file on your PC
can be found at:
<http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/odeopg/html/deovrsigningvbaproject.asp>

Instructions on associating that digital signature to tickler.mdb can be
found at:
<http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP010446121033.aspx>

You do not have to do any of these steps to use tickler.mdb, as long as
you don't mind having to okay the security warning every time you start
it up.

### Using Tickler

![](media/image2.png){width="5.645833333333333in" height="2.40625in"}

The Tickler database keeps track of Tickler Targets. A Tickler Target is
simply a task that has a period of repetition. The main Tickler dialog
box displays a listing of Tickler Targets, sorted by which one is due
next. If you click on a target in the list, it will pop up an edit
dialog for that target.

You may also use the buttons on the left hand side of the dialog to open
up the edit dialog for the entire target database, or open up the edit
dialog in a new blank target (Add Target).

The Refresh Listing button is used to update the Next Due listing after
changes have been made. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the list to
auto update reliably after an edit was made, so the button is there to
force it manually.

The button with the printer icon will print a listing of all targets,
sorted by next due, and the button with the door icon will exit Tickler.

![](media/image3.png){width="4.666666666666667in" height="3.34375in"}

When adding or editing a tickler target, the above dialog box will
appear. It is in this dialog box that you manage all aspects of the
particular target displayed.

ID: This field is a unique identifier assigned to the target. You cannot
have 2 targets with the same ID.

DESC: This field is a textual description of what the target is. For
simple targets like password changes, the box should be large enough for
a full description. For more complicated tasks at my office, I've
created checklists, and the description refers me to the proper
checklist for the task.

FREQ: and TYPE: The frequency and type are used together by Tickler to
determine a next due date for a target. Type can be days, weeks, months
or years, and frequency is simply a multiplier against the type. I've
preloaded the deployed tickler.mdb file with examples of each of the 4
types.

DUE: Is the current when next due for this target. You can type a date
into this box directly, but it is usually easier to let the "Set Next
Due" button do it for you.

Set Next Due Button: This button simply takes the FREQ, TYPE and today's
date and calculates when the target is next scheduled. After you
complete a tickler target, you just click this button to set the next
due date.

The navigation buttons are really only useful if you opened the dialog
using the Edit button in the main dialog. You can hardly navigate
between targets when you are filtered to a single one. The icons on the
navigation buttons are fairly common. If you don't know what each
represents you can hover the mouse pointer over each for a tooltip.

The Delete button is the one with the red X on it. This will remove the
current target from the database.

The Close button has the door icon on it. This button will automatically
save any changes made to the target and return you to the main tickler
dialog.