[kde-linux] KDE-4.8 "public Beta"

[Duncan]

James Tyrer posted on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:27:05 -0700 as excerpted:

> When I start KAlarm, I get 3 error messages [see attached] for:
> 
> 	template.ics expired.ics calendar.ics
> 
> I tried following the instructions and the result is that the 2 alarms
> are now in the KOrganizer calender.  I found another small bug.  A
> reminder with length 0 at 12:00 AM is not visible in the: "Agenda".
> 
> I tried resetting KAlarm by deleting:
> 
> .../share/apps/kalarm .../share/config/kalarmrc
> 
> Didn't work.  So, the files no longer exist but the error messages still
> persist.
> 
> Tried making empty files.  I still get the three error messages.
> 
> Current status is that I am not able to create new alarms in KAlarm.
> 
> KAlarm doesn't work.  This appears to be a REGRESSION.  Why isn't it a
> show stopper?

kalarm is part of kdepim, meaning it's probably akonadi-based problems 
you're seeing (that dialog indicates a problem with the akonadi upgrade 
resource conversion process, as well).  Based on my own experience with 
the akonadi based kdepim reliability downgrade masquerading as an upgrade 
(tho here I don't use kalarm/korganizer and it was akonadified kmail/
kaddressbook that I finally got fed up with), I'd recommend you find 
another solution and uninstall anything kdepim or akonadi related.

Alternatively I'd suggest deleting that akonadi resource and recreating 
it.  Hopefully new scheduled alarms work without issue, but the 
unreliability of the new akonadi database-backed services are why I 
recommend finding a different solution, thus relieving yourself of this 
headache entirely, and if you choose to stay with it, I'd caution you to 
expect unreliability and service interruptions until it's stable, which I 
don't expect until late 4.8 at the earliest, more likely 4.10 or never.

Yet another alternative if you're going to try to keep akonadi is to try 
a different akonadi backend.  Originally the mysql backend was the only 
one far enough developed and thus the default, but AFAIK, the sqlite 
backend is the newer default.  However, existing user configurations will 
remain on the old one unless specifically changed, so unless you 
switched, you're probably still on mysql, which might be fine for 
dedicated-admin database-server applications where the admin expects to 
spend time tuning and tweaking, but wasn't designed for and isn't well 
suited to simple user usage scenarios, where it often produces problems 
that users are ill-equipped to handle.

But I really do recommend switching to something else, preferably 
something without the database-managed complexity of akonadi and thus the 
new akonadi-based kdepim.  Honestly, your data will probably be safer and 
thus your life far less stressful as a result. =:^0  Mine surely is! =:^)

-- 
Duncan - List replies preferred.   No HTML msgs.
"Every nonfree program has a lord, a master --
and if you use the program, he is your master."  Richard Stallman