Publish iCal Calendars Without MobileMe Or An OS X Server
Sharing Your Calendar: Beyond MobileMe and CalDAV
Previously, we explored methods for synchronizing iCal calendars with Google Calendar, benefiting users who maintain their schedules across several devices.
The ability to publish and subscribe to iCal feeds is invaluable for staying informed about the schedules of others.
The Challenge of Calendar Publication
Traditionally, publishing your own calendar via iCal necessitated either a paid MobileMe account or a server running specialized CalDAV software for Mac OS X.
However, alternative solutions exist to circumvent these requirements.
Workarounds for Publishing iCal Calendars
We will examine two approaches to publish your calendar without incurring subscription costs or needing a dedicated CalDAV server.
These methods involve utilizing free online services or leveraging your existing web server space.
Utilizing Free Online Services
Several free online platforms facilitate the publication of iCal calendars, eliminating the need for server-side configuration.
These services typically provide a unique URL that you can share, allowing others to subscribe to your calendar.
Benefits of Online Services
- Ease of Use: Simple setup and management.
- Cost-Effective: No subscription fees.
- Accessibility: Calendars are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
Leveraging Your Own Server Space
If you possess your own web server, you can publish your iCal calendar directly from it.
This approach requires some technical expertise, but offers greater control and customization.
Requirements for Server-Side Publishing
To publish an iCal calendar from your server, you'll need:
- A web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx).
- The ability to upload an .ics file (the iCal format).
- Proper configuration of your server to serve the .ics file with the correct MIME type (text/calendar).
Proper configuration of the MIME type is crucial for calendar applications to correctly interpret the file.
By employing these workarounds, you can effectively share your calendar information without relying on proprietary services or complex server setups.
Utilizing Box.net for iCalendar Publication
Box.net functions as a complimentary personal data storage solution, comparable to the well-regarded Dropbox platform. Registration for the free 'Lite' tier provides 1GB of storage capacity and a file size restriction of 25MB. This allocation is sufficient for hosting one or more calendars.
As anticipated, Box.net incorporates CalDAV support, facilitating the seamless publication of your calendars. The process is designed to be straightforward and efficient.
You have the option of publishing either a single calendar or an entire calendar collection. When publishing a group, its constituent calendars will be consolidated.
To initiate publication, right-click on the desired calendar or group and choose the Publish option. From the subsequent drop-down menu, select 'A private server'.
Then, input the following base URL:
https://www.box.net/dav
along with your account credentials. Ensure the checkbox for automatic updates is selected to ensure any modifications to the calendar are reflected in the published feed. The remaining checkboxes are optional, based on your individual preferences.
Subscribing to the Published Calendar
To subscribe to the calendar, navigate to Calendar -> Subscribe... within iCal. Enter the following URL:
http://www.box.net/dav/filename.ics
Remember the name you assigned to the calendar during the publishing process? This name serves as the 'filename' (for example, Home.ics). With this step completed, the subscription is established.
Utilizing Standard Server Space for Calendar Files
For users who desire full control over their calendar data, or prefer to avoid creating additional online accounts, leveraging existing server space is a viable option – similar to how one might host a WordPress installation. However, since these servers typically lack native calDAV support, the process is somewhat more involved. This guide necessitates a Google Calendar account.
Begin by locating the calendar you wish to share. Right-click either a specific calendar or a calendar group and choose the Publish function. It’s important to note that publishing an entire group will consolidate its individual calendars into a single, unified calendar.
Assign a descriptive name to your calendar to ensure easy identification. From the provided options, select 'A private server'. The base URL should be your server’s FTP address, with www/ appended to designate the website’s root directory.
To maintain organization, consider creating a dedicated folder for your calendars (for example, ical) instead of placing them directly in the root. This folder must be created via your web server’s file manager prior to publishing. Your FTP login details will then be required.
Enable the first checkbox to ensure automatic updates to the calendar feed whenever changes are made. The remaining checkboxes offer optional customization based on your preferences.
Access your Google Calendar account. If you do not currently have an account, registration is required. Within the left sidebar, under Other calendars, select Add -> Add by URL.
Input the URL for your iCal publication at this point. Google Calendars will import the calendar regardless of whether your server supports CalDAV. Crucially, the URL should use http instead of ftp, and omit the www/ directory. The filename will correspond to the name you assigned to your calendar, resulting in a URL ending in filename.ics.
The calendar is now integrated into Google Calendar. Synchronization with iCal is then straightforward. Navigate to iCal -> Preferences -> Accounts -> "+" and enter your Google credentials.
If you utilize multiple calendars within Google Calendar, enable them individually under the Delegation tab.
We are interested in learning how you utilize your calendar subscriptions. Share your experiences in the comments section below!
