But you can, if you add Scrivener to your workflow. Just sync AT3 metadata to Scrivener, then use Scrivener to compile the metadata into markdown files. You can even write the metadata to YAML if you want.
In disclosure, I’ve only confirmed this with the Scrivener folks, but haven’t done this step because I came up with another approach that I’ve already written about: AT3, Scrivener, and Obsidian - Q & A - Aeon Timeline
Yes, it is interesting to see how such an LLM generates code. However, I found some unmotivated refactoring, as well as scattered changes where, for example, instance variables were replaced by parameters, which is a difficult source of errors to find.
Also, an obvious hallucination that wouldn’t go unnoticed with a decent IDE.
Original:
self._write_file(f'{self.folderPath}/__index.md', text)
LLM:
self._write_file(f'{selfaveringfolderPath}/__index.md', text)
Then the LLM contradicts itself: In the first iteration, it claims that the problem is the scan function and replaces it with a regex function. However, in the follow-up comment, it recommends replacing regex with a scanner. In the last iteration, I then see a scanner, which is a cumbersome variation of my code. I also see a test for Zipfile, which seems completely unnecessary to me.
Something like this shows me that with the LLM we have a counterpart who pretends to have superior knowledge, but in reality understands nothing.
The final version of the code is quite pimped out and a bit opaque and may or may not work for a particular example, but I don’t want to have to look for bugs in it. Instead of fiddling around with the code until it somehow works, I still stick with the good old programming skills.
Whatever the case, can you use it to convert the “Murder on the Orient Express” example satisfactorily?
Everything you’re saying is completely true. I’ve had LLMs (like Cody) take me down some pretty insane rabbit holes when trying to learn a new technology. It seems to get worse the longer the conversation goes on. Often just starting fresh will make it think clearly again.
One time it tried building for me some truly absurd generic JSON parsing methods in C# when I explained that our API endpoints all returned vastly different fields. It got the bright idea that we could make a generic import that would try to determine field names and set up a series of rules on what to do with them. Ended up wasting hours before I gave up and made my own solution.
But despite its flaws, I have to say it’s invaluable in specific cases. It’s superb at writing quick SQL queries to give you a custom result set you’re after if you just give it some example relationships and say “now make it do this”. It’s also really good at giving a summary of a new tech you’ve never used just to get you up to speed.
One Python script it made for me from scratch via me explaining a really customized video editing need and going through 10 versions to get it perfected is a script I’ve used hundreds of times since. It just works.
But ultimately, if you don’t have a technical brain that can take over for it once it starts going off the rails, it’s going to just make a huge mess of everything.
The same is true for writing fiction, for what it’s worth.
LLMs are awful at generating story prose. Like don’t even bother. But what it’s actually quite good at is giving honest feedback (if you ask it to be honest) on your story text. The prompts have to be worded in specific ways or you’ll get nothing but garbage flattery of course. But I’ve had some incredibly helpful conversations with LLMs to give feedback on my writing techniques.
As far as story feedback is concerned, it often helps to read the story out loud to yourself. I also have a screen reader plugin in LibreOffice that reads the text to you in a rather monotonous way, which can lead to surprising insights.
Anyway, by now I’ve spent almost the whole Sunday with aeon3obsidian, so I almost feel like programming the necessary changes for the new .timeline version. It won’t be that much, but I’m missing a valid reference file.
Would you mind saving the “Murder on the Orient Express” sample project and putting it in the attachment, or emailing it to me offlist? .aeon files should be allowed in the forum, unlike other file types.
Sure, no problem!
Clicky.
If you’re looking for a good free text-to-speech solution, try loading up Microsoft Edge (yeah the one we all disable when we install Windows).
Then go to the following URL:
data:text/html,<html contenteditable>
Paste text into the blank page it gives you.
Then press CTRL-SHIFT-U
On the upper right corner, you’ll find Voice Options where you can pick from a bunch of different voices. I prefer Microsoft Brian Online.
Thanks for the file and the information about the screen reader. Anyway, the LibreOffice plugin connects to the Windows system text reader.
I will now take a closer look at the new file format and return as soon as there are satisfying results.
Cheers,
Peter
Fantastic! I’d be happy to provide feedback on the results as I will probably have a lot of ideas on the usefulness of the Obsidian notes. I’ve got a pretty complex use case that will no doubt stretch the limits.
Most of the work was done quickly, but the relationships are still missing, which now have to be unraveled anew. I also still have to work on the narrative, which is no longer a complete tree but a kind of multi-linked list. But it’s just a bit of busywork that I want to do on the side over the next few days.
Just for the record: Which AT3 version did you use to save the reference project?
The file format version is indicated as 15, and the AT3 version 3.5 has already been announced, which should bring extensive innovations, which will probably also be reflected in the file format.
I did some investigation last year (as you might remember @Peter_T ), and the conclusion then was that the file format might change without warning (it is not stable, for better or worse) and there are quite a few cross references. It was the latter that made me give up because it is a lot of reverse engineering is needed. I think deducing the cross references without support from the Aeon team would be painful.
Having some kind of python library to read the files would be beneficial to Aeon IMHO and something the Aeon team should help support. This would greatly help integration with any other application and in the long run grow Aeon’s customer base. All IMHO of course. 
Just for the record: Which AT3 version did you use to save the reference project?
Aeon Timeline
Version: 3.4.20
Shell Version: 3.4.20
Operating System: Windows 10
You say it. In the meantime, I lost track of my system of lookup lists. Now I’m experimenting with a new data model.
I don’t think this will ever happen because, as mentioned in previous discussions, it would require too much maintenance and support.
It will probably remain a puzzle game for nerds.
@Recon: Thanks. I’ll mention the AT3 verison on the project’s home page. It will be outdated soon, I’m afraid.
I am currently building the program from scratch, and introducing an object-oriented data model that does not depend on the changing representation in the different .aeon file formats.
But there is one thing that worries me: It was mentioned elsewhere that AT3 keeps deleted items in its files. Of course, this must now be taken into account. I would therefore like to know how to recognize this. I already have a guess: under collection/allItemIds the UIDs are listed together with Boolean values. I assume that true means that the corresponding item has not been deleted.
@Recon: Could you please verify this with your simple example project?
Yep, when I delete something I get a notification.
Download Link
Look for an event called DeletedEvent.
[edit]
It’s worth noting that DeletedEvent still shows up in the spreadsheet view. I think it just deletes the date from the event, thus removing it from the timeline view.
From the spreadsheet view, you can right click and choose to delete (again). It asks if you’re sure. Then it vanishes from the spreadsheet view. It might be gone for real.
Link to updated project
Thank you. However, this doesn’t seem to be what I’m looking for. If I’m not mistaken, you just removed an item from a particular view. The thing is, if you really delete the item itself, it seems to remain in the file.
See: How does Aeon handle waste management
My goal is to find out how deleted items are flagged in the file.
Re-reading the thread mentioned above, I came upon this:
If this means that AT3 stores its projects in OS-dependent formats, then my endeavour is futile anyway.
I realized after I posted that the delete function just removed the date but kept it in the spreadsheet view.
See edited post above for 2nd link that has the event I actually deleted from the spreadsheet view.
I found two items in your example file: “NewEvent” and “Bob”, but no “DeletedEvent”.
I can’t find any indication that the file could contain more than two items.
Maybe deleted items are kept by the Mac version, but not under Windows?
Reverse-engineering this file format without even having the application is better than any puzzle game.
Indeed.
I suspect because the software uses the term “delete” when in the context of the timeline view, to remove the dates from the event, that the rumor you heard was simply that the event is still in your project but only visible in the spreadsheet view.
Whereas if you “delete” the event from the spreadsheet view, it’s really gone. Which is good news for your project.
Yes, that’s how you would normally see it. However, judging by the discussion mentioned above, it doesn’t seem to be quite so simple.
Anyway, version 2 of aeon3obsidian is progressing well. In the meantime, I have decoupled the input and output through a data model, so that the adaptation to a future file format should be much easier.
I wonder if it’d be possible to generate a Timeline Chronology note in Obsidian when your script runs, connecting all the events together. In Obsidian that would look a lot like a MOC, being a huge hub in the graph view but tying stuff into a list of events that are in the proper sequence.
Just thinking about any way to leverage Obsidian’s strengths with the AT3 output.