Creating a Custom Field for the Reminder Time

Outlook doesn't have a way to print the reminders, but you can create a custom view and print it. Tasks uses the Reminder time field, Flagged messages use the Due by field. The calendar uses the Remind Beforehand field. The only problem is you see the reminder as minutes before, as in 15 or 45, not a specific time of day, like 9:15 AM.

If you want to see the reminder time using a date and time format ("Wed 12/1/2007 2:45 PM") you can create a custom field and enter a formula that converts the minutes before to a date.

The formula you need is

DateAdd("n",-[Remind Beforehand],[Start])

For best results, I recommend you create a custom view.


  1. Figure1    From the View menu, find the menu for Define views.
  2. Click New.
  3. Type in a Name for the new view and select Table view. Choose who can use the view and which folders it can be used in then click Ok.
  4. Remove any fields you don't need in the view or print out and Add the Remind Beforehand field.
  5. Click the New Field button.
  6. Enter a name for the field and select Formula from the Type drop down (or press F after tabbing out of the name field)


    Figure2
  7. Type or paste the formula in the Formula field and click Ok. (Click in the text box below to select, then Ctrl+C to copy.)
  8. Make any other changes to the view as desired and press Ok to exit the screens and the Apply the view.


Figure3

Notes:

Recurring appointments will show the reminder as of the starting date, not the next (or any future) recurrences.

Carl's Birthday     Mon 4/23/1923 12:00 AM     15     Sun 4/22/1923 11:45 PM

As with anything recurring, this only works as expected for the first occurrence, but it works as expected for individual appointments. Oh, and it won't show the new reminder time on snoozed reminders.

Tip: the three line AutoPreview setting and in-cell editing is under Other Settings, if you want to disable either option.