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[ccaramel]

In the future, is this possible to integrate public calendar or ical synchronisation. It will dramaticcally help me. thanks

[wbell]

I've been questioning this myself.  It doesn't seem like the development team wants to listen to JCal's users.

SEE MY POST HERE!


WBELL

[d2dpcs]

WBELL, develop these features that you want yourself or pay them to do custom work for you.

[ccaramel]

If I've missed nothing, category "feature Request" is made for requests about Jcal project?
What is the problem with .ics file integration? I think it is not an exotic kind of calendar file, but, maybe the most popular.
I'm not opposed tu support Jcal team work, even with donation, but for the moment I don't use Jcal because it doesn't integrate .ics compatibility. I've developped only 3 joomla based website and I'm still looking for a "good" calendar component (with .ics compatibility).
regards.

[wbell]

I agree, ccaramel.  ICS it the standard for calendars, and it should be integrated into JCal.

Here is part of what V-man said in my thread:

Hi guys,

The reason I don't think this import is the killer feature is that there are many more requests/views on the forum threads for things like robust recurring events (like the 3rd thurdays of every month except Dec 25) and event registration.

That said, the reason we created an import infrastructure was not only to allow easy extcal upgrades, but also to add more filters in the future. Our hope was that persons like yourself would be willing to sponsor the writing of these filters. $40-50/filter is all we are looking for to get this type of feature request off the bottom of the roadmap and into the users hands.

You can see and join in on the thread, by clicking HERE.

He also mentioned, later on, that for $50 in donations, they could implement an import feature of ICS files.  Then, in the next build release, all JCal users would be able to use this feature.



WBELL

[V-man]

I've developped only 3 joomla based website and I'm still looking for a "good" calendar component (with .ics compatibility).

I believe Thyme has ICS compatibility.

In any event, if you don't appreciate how much we listen to JCal Pro users, I can't change that. But i do suggest you look at the features that have been added and the bug fixes on the changelogs.

We will continue to donate our time and effort and improve the code the best way we can. We are not trying to please everyone, nor could we ever succeed at this goal. And since we offer the software for free, we don't really feel 'pressure' from the community in terms of feature requests. The pressure we feel is to create a product that functions as expected with a minimum of bugs. We have put the feature request board up as a courtesy, not as a committment.

While a variety of import functions would be great, we simply don't see it as a priority right now. In fact, the opposite is more realistic...this feature is a luxury. It is important for your clients, but we have to consider larger issues (such as what is best for the project and it's future). Since your clients don't pay us, we frankly don't value their input. In addition, your input is biased by your clients needs.

There are at least 10 features i could list which are vastly more important than an array of import filters. And this is besides the fact that the original code is a beast, and major re-writes will be necessary to get anywhere near compatibility with Joomla 1.5. If you were considering these issues and not those of your clients, i doubt you would be continually posting about them. Other calendar developers seem to share our opinion since this feature is, by your own admission, elusive.

Of course, feel free to take the code and generate your own fork where import filters are the priority. Better yet, create the filters, post them here so we can add them to the codebase. We need all the hands we can get.

But here is my favorite solution. Take some $$ out of your own pocket (that your clients are giving you) and send it our way. I personally bank-rolled the inital JCal Pro fork to the tune of $1000.00 USD (here is the original ad at Joomlancers), and i hope this serves as an example. If you want us to care about your clients needs, there is a sure fire way to get us interested: "Show me the money".

[van]

Wow ... what a discouraging thread. Definitely makes me feel like spending more time at the park instead of in front of the keyboard. ICS is coming ... along with a hundred other things ... as long as we don't destroy the team's enthusiasm.

[BBS]

Wow ... what a discouraging thread.

I agree. As much as I'd like to see import capabilities for my community calendar, it certainly doesn't merit the above. JCal Pro is an excellent product that I'm glad to have. Don't be afraid to hit the Donate button with whatever you can afford.

[lownotesb]

I'm willing to put $50 of my client's dough or whatever it takes to put ICS on the radar.  Is there someone willing to take it on?  Do you suggest I look to joomlancers?  I'd rather pay you guys, but don't want you spread to thin.  Then you'd be like me.

[wbell]

Well...  still no progress. 


WBELL

[elgabito]

Well...  still no progress. 


WBELL

hmm... not the best attitude towards this, however I AM willing to put my money where my mouth is as it seems many others are. That is what the admins seem to be pushing for, how come the offer is not being taken up?

[V-man]

We are more than willing, but we are very busy trying to get the first 1.6 beta to the testers. As we've discussed, what is being asked for is a big undertaking. If you can organize the appropriate payment amongst your selves, i will be happy to contract one of the dev team for this job. We have too much to do include this feature at the expense of all the work we have put into the next release.

[BrotherPhil]

While a variety of import functions would be great, we simply don't see it as a priority right now. In fact, the opposite is more realistic...this feature is a luxury. It is important for your clients, but we have to consider larger issues (such as what is best for the project and it's future). Since your clients don't pay us, we frankly don't value their input. In addition, your input is biased by your clients needs.

OK... I'm a little froggy, so I'll jump!

MY website, for MY school where *I* teach NEEDS the import function for .ics compatibility. How's that? My input isn't biased by my clients needs, because I AM the freakin client. And why in God's name would you invent an import feature to import another component's database into yours and NOT consider the implementation of the MOST POPULAR file format around for calendaring? That's sorta like developing a component that translates from every language except English into every language except Swahili. (No offense meant toward any Swahili-speaking friends out there, just a point about usability and popularity).

I find it very hard to understand why you would develop a feature in your component and then not even CONSIDER how your users would respond to that feature not being a value, an added value, or even a feature worth the download bandwidth for the few lines of code that implements the useless (as it now is)import feature to start with.

[V-man]

The import feature was designed to allow extcal users to upgrade easily. Extcal is the predecessor to JCal but the project died. The only way to allow extcal users to continue easily was to provide the import feature.

Of course things have changed since i wrote that bit about priorities. Since users are now paying for a subscription, we are trying to accommodate people/features as is feasibly acceptable. We will provide a CSV import feature in the next version, and hopefully more formats in subsequent versions. There are so many calendars (the minority of which use the ICS standard), we decided to try and accommodate as many as possible with the generic CSV.

[wiersbr]

This is an awesome component! My clients love it.

Importing and exporting to/from ical would make this component an excellent way to communicate dates/schedules with site users. Most of my site users use Outlook as well. I need desperatly a way to go to/from Outlook and JCAL. Sure would like to see this feature available in the 18+ sites I am currently managing and which use JCAL PRO, I would be willing to upgrade my subscription for it.