[Orgmode] Re: Monthly events based on count of specific weekdays

[Matt Lundin]

Ben Finney <address@hidden> writes:

> Matt Lundin <address@hidden> writes:
>
>> Ben Finney <address@hidden> writes:
>>
>> > How can I set an event in Org mode that repeats every month, on a
>> > specific weekday, on a week counted from the start of the month?
> […]
>
>> > Taking “first Tuesday of the month”, if I set it this month on
>> > <2009-11-15 Sun>, it should next repeat on <2009-12-20 Sun> and so
>> > on each month.
>>
>> From the org manual:
>>
>> ,----[8.1. Timestamps, deadlines, and scheduling]
>> | DIARY-STYLE SEXP ENTRIES
>> |      For more complex date specifications, Org mode supports using the
>> |      special sexp diary entries implemented in the Emacs calendar/diary
>> |      package.  For example
>> | 
>> |           * The nerd meeting on every 2nd Thursday of the month
>> |             <%%(diary-float t 4 2)>
>> `----
>
> Ah. Where can I find documentation on “the special sexp diary entries
> implemented in the Emacs calendar/diary package”?

http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Sexp-Diary-Entries.html

You can also type C-h i inside emacs and navigate to "Calendar/Diary".

>
>> Here's how to schedule the examples above:
>>
>> * First Tuesday of month
>> <%%(diary-float t 2 1)>
>>
>> * Third Sunday of month
>> <%%(diary-float t 0 3)>
>>
>> * First or third Wednesday of month
>> <%%(or (diary-float t 3 1) (diary-float t 3 3))>
>
> Hmm. That makes the entry unreadable as a date+time. One of the main
> advantages of the usual Org date+time specifications is they're
> perfectly readable even to people who know nothing about Org, Emacs, or
> Lisp. 

Well, yes. But not for every possible niche usage. Org-mode provides
human readable syntax for the majority of scenarios, but allows power
users to harness the capabilities of emacs and elisp for the rest.

> Is there a way to get a readable format that still behaves as I
> described?

Not that I know of. But since this is org-mode, you could add a note
under the diary sexp explaining what it represents.

You'd have to ask Carsten to implement a new timestamp syntax. What
would you propose as a more readable designation?

- Matt