Overview

Events and tasks can be set up to display a desktop alert reminder type. Desktop alerts will display in a small window in the lower right corner of the screen, similar to the alert that some email programs show when a new email arrives. An example desktop alert is shown below.

To enable a desktop alert reminder, check the "Show a desktop alert" box in the list of available actions on the Event Editor or Task Editor window. This will allow the desktop alert options to be viewed or modified as described below.

 

Desktop Alert Settings

Before Event Start / Before Task Due

 

• You can specify the amount of time before the event or task that the desktop alert should be first displayed.
• The time can be between 0 minutes and 12 months before the event starting time or task due date.
• The value can be typed in or selected from a drop-down list.  When typing in a value, the number must come first, followed by a space and then the unit of time (minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months). Example: "1.5 hours".
• Enter a negative value to make the reminder appear after the event or task start. For example "-1 hour" will make the reminder appear at 1 hour after the start time.

At Specified Date/Time

If you prefer to specify an exact date and time for the reminder to appear, you can use these fields. Any changes made here will automatically adjust the "Before event start" value, and vice versa. The values can be selected using the drop-down button or typed in with the keyboard.

Automatically Snooze

• Desktop alerts can be automatically snoozed. This feature could be used if you're away from your computer but within hearing distance, since desktop alerts can also play a sound.
• When automatic snoozing is selected, the desktop alert will be displayed for the amount of time specified. It will then be snoozed and will reappear and replay its sound after the specified snooze time has been reached.
• In the example image above, the desktop alert will be displayed for 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, it will automatically snooze for 5 minutes.
• You can select a time from the drop-down list, or type in your own value.

Display a Picture Thumbnail

• Desktop alerts can include a thumbnail image. You can select any image, it will automatically be scaled to fit in the small desktop alert window. For best results, use images that have the same width and height.
• The path to the picture can either be typed in, or you can select the "..." button to browse for a picture.
• You can click the drop-down arrow to access a list of recently used pictures.

Play a Sound

• You can play a system sound or a specific sound (wav) file when the desktop alert is displayed. 
• This sound will play each time the alert is displayed, including after it has been automatically snoozed.
• To choose a system sound, select the "Play system sound" option, and then select a system sound from the drop-down list.
• To choose a wav file, select the "Play sound file (wav)" option. A path to a sound file can either be typed in, or you can select the "..." button to browse for a sound file. You can also click the drop-down arrow to access a list of recently used sound files. The "Loop" box can be checked to make the wav file continuously repeat until the desktop alert is snoozed or dismissed.

Play Voice Reminder

When the "Play voice reminder" option is used, a text-to-speech voice will recite the associated reminder text, and repeat the specified number of times or until the reminder is snoozed/dismissed. This can be useful if you're often away from your desk, but within hearing distance. When the reminder appears, the computer will recite the reminder, so you won't need to look at your monitor to find out what the reminder is about. By default, the voice reminder will state the name of the event/task and when it is scheduled to begin. A voice template can be used to customize the recited text. A number of dynamic tags are also provided. For example, when the template includes a tag of [Description], any text entered on the Description tab will be recited. The default template can be specified in the Event Defaults tab of the Calendar Properties window.

Reminder Sharing

Reminder sharing options will be displayed if the reminder is associated with an event belonging to a calendar that is shared or published. These options allow you to choose whom should see the reminder. You can also choose to not have the reminder shown to yourself.

• Use the "Show reminder to event creator" checkbox to control whether you want to see a reminder for this event. For example, if the event is being delegated, you might not want to see a reminder for it.
• Use the "Share reminder"' checkbox to allow other people to see the reminder. When checked, two additional options will be displayed for tailoring how the reminder will be shared.
  • To show the reminder to everyone that is sharing the same calendar, select the "Show reminder to everyone" option.
  • To show the reminder to certain people based on their Windows user login name, select the "Show reminder to user names" option. A text box will be displayed where the user names can be entered. Separate the user names with spaces or commas.

Preview

• You can preview what the desktop alert will look like by clicking the Preview button.
• An example preview is shown below.  The desktop alert's menu, pin, and snooze options are not available in the preview.
  

 

Copyright © 2008-2011 VueSoft LLC. All rights reserved. Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft SQL Server are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Google Calendar is a trademark of Google Inc. This documentation is subject to change without notice.