SPD Workflow: How to send a reminder a few days before the start date of a calendar entry?

A. Introduction As the title conveys, in this article I would like to show how one can create a workflow (using SharePoint Designer), which sends notifications to a list of recipients 7 days before the start date of a calendar entry. B. Preparations Create a Calendar, which we would attach the workflow to. For this demo, I have created a Calendar called Team Meetings. C. Workflow - Open Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007. - Click File > Open Site. - Enter the URL of the site containing our calendar called Team Meetings. - Now click File > New > Workflow. - On the Define your new workflow page, enter the following data: --- Name: ReminderForMeetings --- Attachment List: Team Meetings --- Start Options: Automatically start this workflow when a new item is created and Automatically start this workflow whenever an item is changed - Click Next, in order to start designing the workflow steps. - Enter Calculate the reminder date as the Step Name. - In the Actions section, select the action Add Time to Date. - Click the 0 link and type -7. - Click the minutes link and select days. - Click the date link and then click fx. For the source select Current Item and for the field select Start Time. - Click OK. - Click the output link and create a new variable called ReminderDate of type Date/Time. - Click OK. - Click Add workflow step in the right panel, in order to create another workflow step. - Enter Check whether a pause is needed as the Step Name. - In the Conditions section, select Compare any data source. - Click the value link, then click fx. For the source select Workflow Data and for the field select ReminderDate. - Click the equals link and select is greater than. - Click the value link. Click the ellipsis, select Current Date and click OK. - In the Actions section, select the action Pause Unit Date. - Click the this time link and click fx. For the source select Workflow Data and for the field select ReminderDate. - Click Add workflow step in the right panel, in order to create another workflow step. - Enter Send reminder as the Step Name. - In the Actions section, select the action Send an Email. - Click the this message link and configure the different e-mail settings. - Click Finish, in order to save and publish the workflow. D. Test the solution 1. Create a new calendar item, whose Start Date is less than 7 days. -- Check that the ReminderForMeetings workflow has completed successfully. -- Check that you receive a notification now. 2. Create a new calendar item, whose Start Date is greater than 7 days. -- Check that the ReminderForMeetings workflow has started successfully. -- Check that you receive a notification on the right date.