PLEASE fix the 18 hour reminder! Won't anyone listen?

[mtb]

I have been woken up for the last 6 months at 6:00am the morning BEFORE an
all-day appointment. I have tried hard to figure it out. Finally, this
morning was enough. Finally I did a search on it and was so shocked to see
how many people have complained about this over the YEARS. Is anyone
listening? This is crazy! Why is microsoft not listening? It is such an
easy fix! Just make the default all day events reminder adjustable by the
user WHO BUYS THE PROGRAM! Did I say BUYS THE PROGRAM yet? Then everyone
can adjust the default to what suits them. Please fix this.

 

[N. Miller]

I have been woken up for the last 6 months at 6:00am the morning BEFORE an
all-day appointment. I have tried hard to figure it out. Finally, this
morning was enough. Finally I did a search on it and was so shocked to see
how many people have complained about this over the YEARS. Is anyone
listening? This is crazy! Why is microsoft not listening? It is such an
easy fix! Just make the default all day events reminder adjustable by the
user WHO BUYS THE PROGRAM! Did I say BUYS THE PROGRAM yet? Then everyone
can adjust the default to what suits them. Please fix this.

You sleep in the same room with a computer that is running?

 

[VanguardLH]

You sleep in the same room with a computer that is running?

Many users do. If they don't have a large enough living/dining room in
their 1-bedroom apartment, the computer desk ends up in their bedroom.
That's why when I used to hunt around for 1-bedroom apartments, I'd look
for those with a large main room (for the living & dining room areas).

If you were a single bachelor(ette) looking for cheap residence rather
than the higher cost of a mortgage on a home along with all the costs of
maintenance, you probably would be looking for 1-bedroom units, too.
Sometimes you can get lucky in finding a 1-bed unit that has a huge
living/dining room and/or a huge walk-in closet (provided you don't mind
computing inside a large closeted room). If you have a bit more
disposable income, you might look for a 2-bedroom unit.

Why do you think all those users are trying to find the quietest fans or
using water cooling to silence their computers? Would they care if it
were outside the bedroom and in a noisier room when they were fully
awake?

Seems like the OP needs to remember to hit the mute button on the
keyboard when going to bed and then unmute when getting up in the
morning. Alternatively, get a command-line mute program and add it to
the Task Scheduler: one event to mute when it's time to sleep and
another to unmute when it's time to wake. Nirsoft has their nircmd
utility that can run a command to mute the system audio. Just run
"nircmd.exe mutesysvolume (1|0)" (1 for mute on, 0 for mute off). Then
just add 2 events to the Task Scheduler to mute and then later unmute.
In Task Scheduler, you can even have it wait to run the event until the
host has been idle for some minimal amount of time. That way, it won't
run (to do the mute) until you leave the host for awhile during those
late-night sessions.

The OP is whining now about an alert from Outlook for a reminder. Just
imagine their wailing if they had VOIP telephone service with the
softphone popping up and ringing through their speakers while sleeping.
Or a crash or software conflict that results in some alarm sound. Or an
anti-virus program that is configured to make noise when a suspicious
file were found in a scan scheduled to run at night.

 

[mtb]

You're jumping to conclusions. No I don't sleep in the same room as my
computer. I have a Touch Pro Windows Mobile phone that acts as my alarm
clock. I sync to the computer during the day. It allows me to set
different wakup alarms for different days and thus is a great alarm clock.
However, why should I have to explain this. My post is asking why Microsoft
won't listen to all the people asking for this 18 hour default to be made
customizable.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

You can easily fix this yourself when setting up the item.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, mtb asked:

| I have been woken up for the last 6 months at 6:00am the morning
| BEFORE an all-day appointment. I have tried hard to figure it out.
| Finally, this morning was enough. Finally I did a search on it and
| was so shocked to see how many people have complained about this over
| the YEARS. Is anyone listening? This is crazy! Why is microsoft
| not listening? It is such an easy fix! Just make the default all
| day events reminder adjustable by the user WHO BUYS THE PROGRAM! Did
| I say BUYS THE PROGRAM yet? Then everyone can adjust the default to
| what suits them. Please fix this.

 

[Duncan McC]

Isn't it an easy job to change the alarm when you make a 'day'
appointment?


PS: I'd like to gripe about Nokia's PC Suite - the worlds largest
cellphone maker, can't write s/w that correctly integrates with Outlook,
or even write their own s/w that does SMS (text) messaging on many of
their own phone models, including new models.

 

[VanguardLH]

You're jumping to conclusions. No I don't sleep in the same room as my
computer. I have a Touch Pro Windows Mobile phone that acts as my alarm
clock. I sync to the computer during the day. It allows me to set
different wakup alarms for different days and thus is a great alarm clock.
However, why should I have to explain this. My post is asking why Microsoft
won't listen to all the people asking for this 18 hour default to be made
customizable.

You never mentioned WHICH version of Outlook that you are using. I use
Outlook 2002 (part of Office XP). There *is* a configurable option as
to the reminder before an all-day event.

I just created a new all-day event. There is a Reminder checkbox (to
select if I get a reminder or not). There is a drop-down listbox to let
me select how long to set the reminder. The default is 18 hours (as you
said) but it *can* be changed from 0 minutes to 2 weeks.

If the complaint is that the *default* is 18 hours, well, it's a
default. There are plenty of defaults in this dialog, including: blank
Subject, blank Location, start and end date, show time as
<free/tentative/busy/outofoffice>, None for label, blank contacts
associated with this event, blank category, and private checkbox not
selected.

No matter what default is selected, someone is going to complain that
they want some other value. If the reminder were set to 0 minutes then
there would be whining that the reminder is showing up at midnight when
they aren't around to see the reminder. Besides, a default on a
reminder doesn't make sense. If the event were for a meeting during the
day then you need a reminder maybe 5 minutes to an hour beforehand but
if the meeting were for tomorrow morning then you need the reminder the
day before. The only reason a default is even selected for the Reminder
listbox is that *some* value has to be shown in the listbox (an empty
entry would result in an invalid value type being selected when the
Reminder option was enabled which would result in a program error).

It's up to you to decide what each of these fields will have for a value
when you create the event. There are LOTS of defaults in the form for
an event that you will have to override.

You never mentioned WHICH version of Outlook that you use. I'm still
using OL2002. It is possible that a later version of Outlook did make
some changes.

 

[Duncan McC]

You never mentioned WHICH version of Outlook that you are using. I use
Outlook 2002 (part of Office XP). There *is* a configurable option as
to the reminder before an all-day event.

I just created a new all-day event. There is a Reminder checkbox (to
select if I get a reminder or not). There is a drop-down listbox to let
me select how long to set the reminder. The default is 18 hours (as you
said) but it *can* be changed from 0 minutes to 2 weeks.

If the complaint is that the *default* is 18 hours, well, it's a
default. There are plenty of defaults in this dialog, including: blank
Subject, blank Location, start and end date, show time as
<free/tentative/busy/outofoffice>, None for label, blank contacts
associated with this event, blank category, and private checkbox not
selected.

No matter what default is selected, someone is going to complain that
they want some other value. If the reminder were set to 0 minutes then
there would be whining that the reminder is showing up at midnight when
they aren't around to see the reminder. Besides, a default on a
reminder doesn't make sense. If the event were for a meeting during the
day then you need a reminder maybe 5 minutes to an hour beforehand but
if the meeting were for tomorrow morning then you need the reminder the
day before. The only reason a default is even selected for the Reminder
listbox is that *some* value has to be shown in the listbox (an empty
entry would result in an invalid value type being selected when the
Reminder option was enabled which would result in a program error).

It's up to you to decide what each of these fields will have for a value
when you create the event. There are LOTS of defaults in the form for
an event that you will have to override.

You never mentioned WHICH version of Outlook that you use. I'm still
using OL2002. It is possible that a later version of Outlook did make
some changes.

Great points - I never thought of that - indeed you could also... simply
make a new appointment, make put anything in it at all, perhaps (for the
OP) *just* the alarm reminder, and then save it as a Form! (ie
"template" it).

 

[mtb]

You never mentioned WHICH version of Outlook that you are using. I use
Outlook 2002 (part of Office XP). There *is* a configurable option as
to the reminder before an all-day event.

2002

No matter what default is selected, someone is going to complain that
they want some other value.

EXACTLY! EXACTLY! This is the whole point I am making. You CAN make
everyone happy by allowing them to CHOOSE their own default that works with
their schedule. It's just a matter of adding another combobox in the
options.

In the options you can change the default reminder time for any regular
appointment. Now all I and others are asking is to do the same with the All
Day appointments. Again, it's a simple way to make more people happy, while
not hurting anyone else. It's a win win.

It is possible that a later version of Outlook did make
some changes.

They haven't yet.

 

[mtb]

I'm sorry, I don't quite follow you. Could you please explain?

 

[Tom Willett]

My post is asking why Microsoft
: won't listen to all the people asking for this 18 hour default to be made
: customizable.

Guess you'll have to ask Microsoft that question. This is a peer-to-peer
newsgroup.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I'm sorry, I don't quite follow you. Could you please explain?

She means that since you must change other things when you create your all-day
event, just set the proper reminder as well before saving the event. It's
hardly any additional effort.

 

[VanguardLH]

Vanguard said:

2002

You're using Outlook 2002 and expect anything in its feature set to
change? Mainstream support ended back in 2006. That means no program
changes. Security updates will continue until the end of extended
support sometime in 2011.

EXACTLY! EXACTLY! This is the whole point I am making. You CAN
make everyone happy by allowing them to CHOOSE their own default that
works with their schedule. It's just a matter of adding another
combobox in the options.

No, it isn't. If one default can be user configurable then why not
EVERY default? Like I said, there are LOTS of defaults. Every field
or setting in the calendar event when creating it has a default. I
counted at least 22 items with a default value.

Have you tried Duncan's suggestion of creating a template form and
using that when you create new calendar events? That seems to give you
all the tweaking you could possibly want. I haven't done this. Create
a new event, set up all the fields with whatever default you want, and
then use File -> Save As to save it as a template (.oft file).
Thereafter you'll use File -> New -> Choose Form to open that template
(there might be an easier way to at the template; since I don't use
them, I don't know any shortcuts for using them).

They haven't yet.

You have a copy of OL2007 to check? You said you were still back on
OL2002 (like me).

 

[VanguardLH]

She means that since you must change other things when you create your all-day
event, just set the proper reminder as well before saving the event. It's
hardly any additional effort.

Actually if he could change the default, he would probably find he has
to change it as often as he does now. Considering it is a reminder
before the event and because different events requires differing lead
times for the reminder, a default for this value really doesn't make any
sense. However, it is a drop-down listbox of multiple values so one of
them gets picked as the default. Zero would've been just as valid a
default as is 18 hours.

 

[N. Miller]

N. Miller wrote:

Many users do. If they don't have a large enough living/dining room in
their 1-bedroom apartment, the computer desk ends up in their bedroom.
That's why when I used to hunt around for 1-bedroom apartments, I'd look
for those with a large main room (for the living & dining room areas).

Easy solutions would be: Turn off computer before going to bed. If computer
must be allowed to run, turn off speakers and monitor.

 

[F.H. Muffman]

I have been woken up for the last 6 months at 6:00am the morning

Easy solutions would be: Turn off computer before going to bed. If
computer must be allowed to run, turn off speakers and monitor.

Not everyone only gets their reminders on computers. Some of us have phones
that actually sync their calendars and are on call, so need our phones near
our bed.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Be happy the phone doesn't convert the reminders to midnight - apparently 1
phone's sync software does.

FWIW, My phone lets me turn off all sounds during certain hours.... no 6 am
reminders (or email alerts & calls)

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

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[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

You can't save a form with the reminder set to anything - as soon as you
choose all day event, the reminder is set for 18.

If you wanted all all day events to have the same reminder you could
probably use vba to set it or just get in the habit of setting the reminder
time when you create the appointment.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Many users do. If they don't have a large enough living/dining room in
their 1-bedroom apartment, the computer desk ends up in their bedroom.
That's why when I used to hunt around for 1-bedroom apartments, I'd look
for those with a large main room (for the living & dining room areas).

In that case they should switch off their desktop/laptop when they go to
sleep. They will not only save on power but also environment will
benefit. They will also have no need to complain on these newsgroups!!

 

[ANONYMOUS]

You're jumping to conclusions. No I don't sleep in the same room as my
computer. I have a Touch Pro Windows Mobile phone that acts as my alarm
clock. I sync to the computer during the day. It allows me to set
different wakup alarms for different days and thus is a great alarm clock.
However, why should I have to explain this. My post is asking why Microsoft
won't listen to all the people asking for this 18 hour default to be made
customizable.

You need to read the instructions carefully. Everything is
customizable. Programmers have given careful thought to requirements of
people like your goodself.!!