I thought iCalendar was a format?

I believe that Google Calendar and Apple iCal can both import data in 
the iCalendar format.

But I'm no expert in these things, maybe I'm confused.  There is 
definitely some format that both Google Calendar and Apple iCal can 
import--given a URL, they will even import this information "live", 
updating as updates occur. Whatever this format is, I suggest you should 
use it. :)  I thought it was iCalendar. But determining exactly what 
this format is will, as they say, be left as an exersize for the reader.

Jonathan

Cloutman, David wrote:
> Thanks. Again, we're not looking so much for an application, but a
> _format_ that we can publish from our existing CMS in such a way that we
> could reasonably expect other organizations to import into their
> systems. Because it is likely that some of our community partners will
> need to create the importing capability, I need the format to be well
> documented and easy to build software for. I would prefer something XML
> based because one can almost always write some XSLT to turn the data
> into something that can work with their system, regardless of target
> software or programming language.
>
> What about xCal (iCalendar based XML format)? Does anyone use this
> technology? It is possible to do it with Atom Feeds? Other ideas?
>
>
>
> ---
> David Cloutman <[log in to unmask]>
> Electronic Services Librarian
> Marin County Free Library 
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> John Fereira
> Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 4:04 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Calendar Data Exchange
>
>
> Miriam Goldberg wrote:
>   
>> I'd go with icalendar. It plays nicely with most major calendar
>>     
> applications.
>   
>> also, at the risk of sounding like a shill, I'm helping develop a web
>> app (www.fusecal.com) that'll make it easier for web publishers to get
>> their calendar information into users personal calendars and keep the
>> information up to date as the calendar changes.
>>     
>
> I'd also take a look at Bedework (http://www.bedework.org)
>
> The problem that I have with Calendar systems is not technical but a 
> social issue.  We've got several calendar systems at our campus, but 
> other than the Oracle Calendar system that is used to schedule meetings 
> I don't use them.
>
> The problem is that, in the case of events, while the person responsible
>
> to announcing the event might put it into a calendar, they also try to 
> advertise the event as far and wide as possible so they post a notice to
>
> all of the relevant mailing lists that they can think of.  Since I'm on 
> a lot of mailing lists, I might get 5-6 copies of an announcement of an 
> event I have no desire in attending, then get reminders on those same 
> list a few days prior to the event.  Then there may be someone reading a
>
> mailing list, see the announcement and think that it should be forwarded
>
> to another mailing list they read (which I'm also on) so I get more 
> copies of the event announcement in my email inbox.   Unless it's 
> mandated by an institution that events and other calendar related 
> announcements should *only* go on the institutional calendaring system 
> and not be distributed on mailing lists there really is no point in 
> consuming calendar events from the calendaring system if I'm just going 
> to get them pushed into my email inbox anyway.
>
> Email Disclaimer: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/nav/misc/EmailDisclaimer.cfm
>
>   

-- 
Jonathan Rochkind
Digital Services Software Engineer
The Sheridan Libraries
Johns Hopkins University
410.516.8886 
rochkind (at) jhu.edu