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Feb
14
How To – Template Sharing Part Two
Filed Under Bento Basics, Bento Tips
As promised, today we’ll talk about importing “dirty” Bento Templates.
As a reminder, a dirty Template mostly includes unwanted Collections and Forms from iCal and/or Address Book.
Most important tip:
don’t just import a Template into your main (maybe only) database file!
For this purpose I keep a “fresh” Bento 3 database file on hand, in my Bento back-up folder. Then I save (back up) my current data and revert to the fresh database. Then I import the Template. Since I’m not using any Address Book Collections, I don’t have to worry about them. If you are using Collections (Groups), then make a list of them first, so you can check which new ones are added during import.
If you don’t have a fresh Bento database file, here is how to create one:
back up your current database file, quit Bento. Find the main database file at: user/library/application support/bento. Delete the bento.bentodb file. Re-start Bento; a fresh database file is automatically created. Now back up that file and call it “Freshbento3Data” or something similar. Now you can revert to a fresh database file any time you need to.
After you import a Template into a fresh Bento database file, check for strange Collections in Address Book and iCal. After you make sure which ones might be used by the Template, delete the stray Collections. Same goes for Forms.
In addition, you might get all Address Book/iCal Fields from the creator’s Bento. It’s too much work to deal with that issue in detail, just don’t be surprised if you run into some strange Field names once in a while…
Now you can re-export the cleaner Template and import it into your main database or any sub-set you’re using.
Happy templating…
Comments
3 Responses to “How To – Template Sharing Part Two”
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Hi, I have been searching for the following . I’m wondering if it is possible to have a checklist with a starting due date that when completed (checked off) would be able to calculate the next due date based on the completed date or on the start date. This new due date would generate the event and produce a new task in ical.
Thank you for any suggestions
K,
what you want to occur would require scripting, and Bento doesn’t allow that. There are two things you can do, relating to your request, but they might not really help you:
You can have all checked-off records go into a Smart Collection; and you CAN use checkbox fields in a calculation field: when it’s checked, the value is “1,” unchecked “0.”
Just started using Bento because of my iPad, and came across your blog. Thanks for this excellent resource! Looking forward to going through your archives for tips.
Debbie