Talking Outlook reminders, VBA, Free Talking Alarm Clock, source code

I figured out how to use VBA in Outlook 2003 Professional with Microsoft Speech SDK Text-to-speech to speak the reminder subject.  We use it on a cheap, old laptop (low power consumption) as a flexible talking alarm clock to get our kindergartner up, dressed, breakfast down, teeth brushed, shoes on, and out the door, on weekdays and never wakes us up early on weekends.  I just found and tried this freeware talking alarm clock and think its probably much easier than going through these steps http://www.cinnamonsoftware.com/alarm_clock.htm but here's what I did before I found the freeware;



1). download Microsoft's free Speech SDK.  I don't have the link handy but Google it.

2). Go into Outlook and find Tools, Macros, VBA Editor (or something like that)

3). Go into Project, References, and find MS Speech, and check the box

4). In a VBA editor window paste the code below.



I know I haven't described all the steps in great detail.  Reply if you're interested and need more details.  Also, depending on your Outlook version and security settings you might need to digitally sign the macro to get Outlook to start with it enabled all the time.  Google to find those instructions.



'Code



Option Explicit

Dim Voice As SpeechLib.SpVoice









Private Sub Application_Reminder(ByVal Item As Object)

Set Voice = New SpVoice

Set Voice.Voice = Voice.GetVoices.Item(2)

Voice.Speak Format(Now, "dddd, d-mmmm-yyyy HH:mm AMPM")

Voice.Speak Item





End Sub