Setup Mozilla Sunbird with Google Calendar

Finding the Right Calendar Solution

Selecting a suitable calendar application can be a lengthy process, as I discovered. While I appreciated the comprehensive features of desktop calendars such as Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Sunbird, I also valued the convenience and portability of online calendars like 30Boxes, Yahoo Calendar, and Google Calendar.

Ultimately, I opted for Google Calendar’s web-based accessibility, sacrificing some desktop functionality. For approximately a year, I accessed Google Calendar online directly. However, a key limitation is the requirement for an internet connection on your computer or mobile device to view or modify your Google Calendar.

Recently, I began using Mozilla Sunbird for the first time and was immediately impressed. Its minimal resource usage, compared to Outlook, and its efficient layout for managing entries and tasks were particularly appealing. Exploring Sunbird, I realized I missed having my entire schedule synchronized with Google Calendar for full mobile access.

Synchronizing Sunbird and Google Calendar

A significant advantage of Mozilla products is the availability of numerous add-ons and extensions. While browsing the Sunbird add-on library, I found the “Provider for Google Calendar” add-on, which establishes a read/write connection between Sunbird and Google Calendar.

The add-on is downloaded as an xpi file. Unlike Firefox add-ons, it isn't launched by double-clicking; instead, it must be selected from within Mozilla Sunbird for installation. Ensure you have the latest version of Sunbird, as this add-on requires version 1.0 or higher. Navigate to Tools and Add-ons within Sunbird, then click Install.

A dialog box will appear, allowing you to locate the downloaded xpi file.

After installing the add-on, a Sunbird restart is necessary to activate its features.

Retrieving Your Google Calendar XML Address

While Sunbird restarts, log into your Google Calendar account, as you’ll need specific information to connect it to Sunbird. Within your Google Calendar account, go to Settings, then Calendar Settings. Select the "Calendars" tab and click "Share this Calendar."

In the subsequent section, click the "Calendar Details" tab and scroll down to find the necessary buttons.

Here, you can integrate Google Calendar with various applications. For connecting Sunbird, you require the XML URL found under "Private Address." Click the orange XML button, highlight, and copy the unique URL. With your Google Calendar URL obtained, you can proceed to sync Sunbird.

Configuring Sunbird for Google Calendar Access

With your unique XML address ready, you can enable direct synchronization between the two applications. This allows you to utilize the desktop Sunbird application whenever you're using your computer or laptop, without concern about updates being lost. The need for manual calendar file exports and imports is eliminated. Open Sunbird and select File, then New Calendar, choosing the "on the network" option. You will then see a new screen.

Select "Google Calendar" and paste the previously copied XML address into the "Location" field. You will be prompted to enter your Google Calendar ID (your Gmail address) and password. It’s recommended to enable the password manager to save your login information for future use.

If Sunbird successfully connects to your Google Calendar account, you may receive notifications for any existing alerts or events. Simply dismiss these to return to the main window, where you can view all your scheduled events from Google Calendar.

One limitation of the plugin is that Google Calendar Task List items are not synchronized. However, as my primary use of Google Calendar is for scheduling and planning, the ability to sync events is invaluable. I no longer need to keep a browser tab open constantly, or even have Firefox running – Sunbird provides instant access to my Google Calendar.

Even when away from home, you can still access and update your calendar online, leveraging Google Calendar as a cloud-based scheduling solution. At home, you can utilize the more feature-rich Sunbird desktop application, confident that all changes will automatically synchronize with your Google Calendar account.

Have you attempted to synchronize Google Calendar with Sunbird or other desktop calendar applications? What are your thoughts on Mozilla Sunbird as a Google Calendar front-end? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below.