How do I change default reminder times in Outlook?

Q I use Microsoft Outlook 2010 as my email program, and I also use it to manage my calendar. I find that it is very handy and use it pretty much every day. However, when I want to add a reminder to an appointment on the calendar, I find that my options are a little limited.

There seems to be a set selection of reminder times for me to choose from, with no way to use anything other than the pre-defined defaults. What happens if I want to have a reminder sound 15 hours ahead of an appointment, or three weeks? There are no options presented to me.
Matthew Foster

A The quick answer here is that it is possible, though the method is not entirely obvious. If you do not see a reminder schedule that suits you, just create your own.

If you want to be reminded of an appointment three weeks before it happens, first select a default that is close to it, such as ‘2 weeks’. Now select the text and simply type in whatever figure you want. The same technique can be used with minutes, hours, or any other time increment.