Where is the iCalendar support (module) in OS 4.5.1g?

[jspencer]

I am trying to simplify the process of getting calendar items (calls/meetings/tasks) from SugarCRM OS 4.5.1g into Outlook 2003 without the need to install a connector program. I have seen lots of mention of a vCal module, but so far I can't find a way (button) to create the iCal that will allow a user to fairly easily import items into Outlook. I have also seen some iCal posts, but it doesn't sound like that is what I want.

What I am looking for is a button just like the vCard button next to the name in the contact details page, but on an event details page instead...

Any suggestions?

[Angel]

There is no iCalendar module per se, but there is a way to get ICS files that correspond with a user's set of activities.

To view the corresponding publishing URL for a given user, click "My Account" while logged in as that user and scroll to the Calendar Options section.

[jspencer]

So there is no appointment vCal support (with a quick button to download a specific entry) for emailing/importing into a third party calendar app (like Outlook)? Kinda big hole to me, why have vCard contact button without a vCal appointment one?

Anyway, going with your suggestion I looked into using iCal. But now my question, how to get that iCal published info into my "PRIMARY" Outlook Calendar so that it will automatically sync to my handheld ppc?

So far I see two options:
1) Install some type of 3rd party plugin (sugarsync, grinmark, outlander, etc).

2) Install RemoteCalendars or similar and sync via iCal. Not sure how this will work with outlook reminders or mobile syncing.

Any other options or better ways to do 1 or 2 above?

[Angel]

If you save the ics file on your computer, you should be able to import it into Outlook via Outlook's Import/Export capabilities and be placed onto your calendar. I would think that would allow it to sync to your PDA.

Doesn't hurt to try it. The drawback is that you can't directly import ics files, you have to save it first.

[jspencer]

Just to make sure, you aren't referring to a quick "iCal button" are you (say on a call detailview screen)?

Assuming not, then the steps you suggest are to visit the published iCal, copy/paste the text into a file saved to the desktop, then open and import this file in Outlook?

So far I have tested your original suggestion and it sounded promising (I haven't tried the file save/import method you just suggested), but when I visited the site listed on my user admin page all I got was a text view of my published iCal (which led me to look into the RemoteCalendars software to make it easier for my sales force). But setting up RemoteCalendars could be a chore and I was looking for a web centered way to get the data into outlook (for example clicking on the vCard button pops up an outlook contact with the info copied over, then the user just has to hit save and it is in their primary outlook contacts area ready for pda sync).

I know this is possible because I have also set up an intranet site using Microsoft DotNetNuke and the calendar module in there has a simple "Click here" and it creates an appt in Outlook. Basically if there isn't a button that works like the vCard button in contacts I doubt my users will take advantae of it (and just continue to complain of the lack of functionality).

[roblaus]

Angel,

You lost me here. As far as I know there is no ics file created by Sugar thus the original ical patch. Or did I overlook something? What you describe is the standard vcal output that isn't understood by ical devices.

rgds
rl

[jspencer]

Angel,

You lost me here. As far as I know there is no ics file created by Sugar thus the original ical patch. Or did I overlook something? What you describe is the standard vcal output that isn't understood by ical devices.

rgds
rl

Can you suggest a way to use the ical patch to do what I need?

And is there an ical patch that works with 4.5.1h?

[roblaus]

Hi,

As far as I understand there is a fundamental difference between vcal and ical. ical is used by e.g. Apple, Google or Sunbird/Lightning. If you apply the ical patch (I tested it only until 4.5.1c I think) and do as suggested in the release notes then your Sugar calendar can be read and displayed (amongst others) by aforementioned programs. Outlook is not so easy on ics files, please check here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICalendar) for an overview.

I will install the ical patch on "h" and will report back but I have given up on Outlook a long time ago thus I will be only able to tell you whether the patch works in principle.

rgds
rl

[jspencer]

Thanks for the replies. I can live with the Outlook issues as we're all on 2003 so it should be OK. I did another search and found these posts from v3.x (I ignored them in my previous replies because they were so old). They describe exactly what I need. I can't believe this wasn't included in the code in v4.x or 5.x!!??

http://www.sugarcrm.com/forums/showt...ight=iCalendar
http://www.sugarcrm.com/forums/showt...ight=iCalendar

and in a similar but sounds useful post

http://www.sugarcrm.com/forums/showt...ight=iCalendar

Is there any easy way to add this functionality in the current 4.5.1g or 5.0 branches? Let me know how your install goes, I may try it myself if I get time (I'm working on scrubbing our data for import and getting the bread and butter of the system working right now

[roblaus]

Great that you found a solution.

As promised I installed the ical patch on h and it works more or less like expected - you can read (but not write) Sugar entries in an ical compatible tool (Thunderbird/Lightning in my case). Google doesn't like it (although it did until not too long ago) - either the url is wrong or it cannot be parsed or Google simply doesn't do anything. Kind of strange.

What is definitely not done as you noticed correctly - there is no button anymore that generates a message or an ics file to be downloaded. This is sad because the Sugar calendar is quite frankly a shame compared to the functionality of other modules.

rgds
rl