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[wbell]

Hey!  I've searched the forums, and looked through numerous posts about this, but I can never seem to find a definitive answer.

----- Will we ever be able to import iCal, ICS, CSV, or Google Calendar entries? -----

I saw one post where someone (I think V-Man) said that CSV files will be too difficult to import.  I personally would love to see ANY of the above, but I think iCal and ICS are the most important.

You guys have a GREAT project going.  But if you can't implement a good import feature, I see it dying FAST, and I'd hate for that to happen.

So, what's the verdict?



WBELL

[V-man]

'dying fast' ?? Maybe u overestimate the importance of this feature. The upcoming community builder support will likely ensure the longevity of this project. You may not know but the JCal predecessor extcal was used for years in the absence of any support or development.

In any event, we do plan to support importing of other calendars, but until we get robust recurring event support, we will be limited in the calendars we support.

Once we complete the feature set described above, we will start looking into other calendars. Outlook and other Joomla calendars will be our first priorities.

[javelin200]

Just wanted to put in my opinion, too.  I think you have a great piece of software going here and I use it on several of my sites.  I'm really looking forward both to CB integration and Outlook calendar importing.  Both of those additions will be a HUGE plus.  I predict many, many more years of goodness coming from JCal Pro.  Thanks for all your hard work.  Web geeks, but non-coders, like me are extremely grateful for your work.

[V-man]

Cheers! BTW, if you are using JCal, please show your support by donating.

[wbell]

'dying fast' ?? Maybe u overestimate the importance of this feature...

Please, don't take this the wrong way.  Like I said, you guys have a GREAT project going, and I praise the quality of it to many people.  But, I don't think I'm "overestimating the importance of this feature."  Everyone needs to manage their time.  I guess I'm trying to look at it from a personal AND business perspective.

-----  Who are your target users?  -----

If your target user is a business professional:  This feature (importing and exporting of .ics, .csv, etc. files) would allow an Outlook, Sunbird, iCal, or other major calendaring program user to save/export their calendar (.ics), deliver it to their IT partner, and import it into their business website's JCal Pro installation.

If your target user is a standard computer user:  This feature could be a great time-saver.  Imagine browsing to your favorite sports website, downloading their entire sports schedule (.ics), and importing it directly into your current Outlook calendar schedule.  It would save hours of typing time.  Then, navigate to the "business professional's" website, download, and integrate your work schedule too.

...The upcoming community builder support will likely ensure the longevity of this project...

True, but Community Builder will not solve JCal's missing calendar features.  It will, however, add a whole new depth to your project.  Users should then be able to manage personal calendars, as well as, group calendars.

...You may not know but the JCal predecessor extcal was used for years in the absence of any support or development...

I am familiar with ExtCal  And again... What you say is true, but JCal has taken ExtCal to an entirely different level.  And since JCal established this level of change, users will expect JCal to also adapt to change.

"The only constant is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be."
— Isaac Asimov

...In any event, we do plan to support importing of other calendars, but until we get robust recurring event support, we will be limited in the calendars we support...

Could you possibly elaborate on this a little more, so I can understand the strategy better?  Thanks.

...Once we complete the feature set described above, we will start looking into other calendars. Outlook and other Joomla calendars will be our first priorities.

I'm not quite sure what you mean here either.  Outlook integration?  Other Joomla calendars?  This sounds very much like what people are looking for JCal to do.  Am I missing something?




Thank you, for your concerns.  I'll be waiting to hear back from you.

WBELL

[schnoober]

This does indeed appear to be a great com, but to say that the need for import features is overstated is - well - i disagree.

Such features are sorely missed as I evaluate this com. In so many other ways it is what's needed, but to tell my users that they have to retype all their calendars is a hard thing for me to do. My users invariably already have rather detailed calendars.

To be fair I should mention that I have yet to see a good calendar com that does .ics import well.

If you have one ready made that you sell I would probably pay for it, assuming that I choose your component for my current site.

Thanks for your good works.

[wbell]

...to tell my users that they have to retype all their calendars is a hard thing for me to do. My users invariably already have rather detailed calendars...

That is what is happening here. We're trying to look towards the future, and move on to bigger and better things.  I think JCal Pro has this potential, but it will need this feature, for seamless integration.

...To be fair I should mention that I have yet to see a good calendar com that does .ics import well...

I agree!  JCal Pro is, without a doubt, visually pleasing, but it needs some help in the area of functionality.

...If you have one ready made that you sell I would probably pay for it...

Again, I agree!  I would be willing to pay for this add-on, as long as it would be supported.



WBELL

[V-man]

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.

[wbell]

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.

We're not arguing this fact; we realize that the recurring events feature is important.  However, you're missing a HUGE market share, by putting the import feature at "the bottom of the roadmap."  Plus, it seems as if you are continually getting more requests for the import feature.

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.

So, if we contribute $40-50, you'll implement an ICS import/export feature?  This seems reasonable.  Will you make this available to all users?  If so, I could probably get you the $40 soon!  How soon would the feature be available?



WBELL

[V-man]

This type of sponsored feature will be added to the codebase and available to all JCal Pro users in the next release.

The sponsor of course will get the current SVN revision including the new import filter.

Some effort from you will be necessary of course. A sample ICS file for instance and some beta testing.

Also, we have not designed an export imfrastructure such that a new filter can simply be plugged in. $50 gets an import filter, that's it.

However, we have some clients interested in per-event export features. This might open the door for an export infrastructure.

Interested parties should use the contact form to finalize project details before donating directly.

[wbell]

I'm always willing to help out a great project, but if you're going charge $50 for an import feature, and I'm not going to be able to export that data too, that's a little pricey!  I'll need to really think this one over.  Maybe, since it will be available to other users, they could help chip in too.?

On a side note... For those of you, who want this feature now... I came across Thyme Calendar (http://www.extrosoft.com), a while back.  By the screenshots, it looks really nice, and it even has a Joomla! integration feature (Joomla! Studio).  Thyme will import ICS and Outlook CSV files. Also, you can enable the RSS feature to subscribe to it, and it will allow you to export the entire calendar in the ICS standard format.

I've been extensively testing both Thyme and JCal, on several levels.  Thyme has MANY features that JCal does not, but JCal seems to have a better visual appearance.

If there is anyone out there that is interested in contributing to the import feature fee that V-man is suggesting, please feel free to post a reply here, or send me a private message.  Thanks!



WBELL

[V-man]

Keep in mind the cost is quite low in comparison. You are competing with clients spending hundreds and even more for some high-end features, which will also be donated to the code base.

It's important for everyone to carefully analyze what they need in a calendar and then decide what solution is best. We certainly can't make JCal Pro work for everyone.
Wbell, sounds like Thyme suits you're needs. Maybe JCal will eventually be sufficient for you. Untill then, we certainly wish u the best and appreciate you're input here on the forum.

[wbell]

...Some effort from you will be necessary of course. A sample ICS file for instance and some beta testing.
...
Interested parties should use the contact form to finalize project details before donating directly.

Okay, so I have created three (3) sample ICS files and attached them.  One was created in Microsoft Outlook, another in Mozilla Sunbird, and the last in Apple's iCal.  Each have the same events: an All-Day Test Event, a Reoccurring Test Event, and a 2-Hour Test Event.

If we can get "the ball rolling", on this feature, I am willing to donate the $50 myself. By the way, which "contact form"?

Let me know what else I can do for you.



WBELL

[van]

It's not about the money. If it was, I would tell you the price is $750, and you'd have a full-featured ICS import/export capability by next week. That's a reasonable estimate of what I think it would take to develop and test, at a rate of half what the developers' time is worth.

Very few can afford to "purchase features" ... but it only takes a few sponsors with a common interest to generate some financial attention that is hard to ignore. There is no question that the team gives priority to feature requests from the folks who support the project financially. It is only right that the gratitude should flow both ways between those in the community who support the project in various ways.

The effort that has already been put into this project merits a donation ... whether anyone's favorite feature ever appears or not. If donations were what was keeping this project alive, it would be dead ... and yet it keeps getting better every day. I would encourage everyone to continue to make their feature interests known to the team ... and to also show their appreciation for the work that has already been done.

[V-man]

aaaah, the soothing voice of reason