n95/Outlook Calendar 'Reminder'/Display Functionality.

[ian_h]

Hi all.. Newbie (here and with the n95), from Sussex. Ex-PDA user, using our 'n95' as an all round workhorse for work and play.
My plea for help comes from the Nokia/Outlook calendar reminder functionality.
1.. My Outlook calendar has "All day" events setup.. e.g. Birthdays, Campaigns etc..
2..Using the "Reminder" function (in Outlook), I've set n hours (e.g.182.5), before an event, as using hours gives greater flexability than days.
3.. Sync'd up my 'n95' with Outlook. As this is an "All Day" event, it takes this event natrually from <set date> 00:00 hrs to <next day> 00:00hrs.
4.. My 'n95' now see's the event as a "Memo", not a calendar appointment. With an Alarm/Reminder set. The little ringing bell icon" displayed.
Ok... now the issue.
A).. Alarm goes off at 00:00hrs if set nDays/hours before an event that's set .. doh!
"So, set it to be different then in the 'n95', you may say"¬
B).. 'Memo' function in the Nokia does not let you set 'reminders', only if it is a bona fide appointment.... I think this is correct, if not please help?
Workaround.. make Outlook events.. "Birthdays"..AKA.. "All Day" events as Timed Appointments Start / End date and Time. Sync' up, and now the entry can be set as a configurable reminder in the 'n95!. But the entry in Outlook & Nokia calendar displays not as nice looking when done like this! :(
Phew...
Next, when there is more than 1 appointment/event on that day, it seems to show them all, and sometimes only one of these appointments. Sure there is a rule or condition to explain why, but I can't see it.
Any ideas/Tips and Tricks on how I/We can squeeze out all of the Nokia/Calendar usage? Not keen on 3rd party downloads as the only option, but would consider if recommended.
In anticipation, a genuine thanks to you all.. Ian. H

[bainsworld]

Ian, I assume we are talking about the Active Standby display.

Regarding birthdays: I have my default alarm in Outlook set to 30 mins before so if I have the phone on at 11:30pm then it will remind me that it is someone's birthday the next day. If it isn't on, then next time I turn on the phone (I am pretty sure that) it then notifies all the alarms that are due that haven't been notified. So if I turn it off in the early evening (I don't like to be called late at night) then I am reminded in the morning. And you don't need to manually change all those birthdays and anniversary items that are automatically set up for you by entering dates into the contact records. Just go with the way it works!

Regarding items displayed: I'm not sure about the exact rule but by observation it seems to display up to 8 lines (could show more if you don't have any to-do items - 1 line - or if your WLAN scanning display is hidden - 1 line - so perhaps max 10 lines) of calendar stuff being:
* the All Day items for today (memo and anniversary items)
* if there is room, any appointments for today that are current or in the future (appointments with an end time before NOW are hidden)
* and if there is still room, any appointments for tomorrow

That's not definitive, just my observations.

[gordonshowers]

Hi Ian, if you re-create all your birthdays on the N95 (and set each alarm for the date & time you want) then it syncs perfectly with Outlook. But as you have discovered it doesn't sync very well the other way round.

It's gonna be a pain to duplicate all your birthdays on the phone, but (I think) worth it in the long term.

It is also possible on the N95 to set the alarm for any date & time (it doesn't have to be the same date as the birthday).

[ian_h]

Hi Chaps,
many thanks... I like your idea Mr G. I hade a try at something similar, and yes it seems to be a lot better that way around.
It's only a few words, but really appriciate the time and effort put in by you all to respond. :)
Only hope I can reciprocate sometime in the future.
Cheers..
Never forget "There are two chances in life... Some Chance and No Chance".