Calendar sync - old fart needs 'DUMMIES' style help!

[tjsilver]

Hello!

In anticipation of taking delivery of a new Windows laptop I'm exploring how to export my existing Firefox and Thunderbird 'stuff' - that bit's easy.

On reading-up on syncing calendars I have become most confused by conflicting information and now not knowing what/who to believe e.g. one post I read stated that '.ics files are no longer used' - not so as that's what I've just imported into my Yahoo calendar!

All I want to achieve is to share one calendar between two computers (one Windows 10 and the other Ubuntu but both with Thunderbird installed) and it not matter which computer I use to update the calendar.

Would someone please point me to a definitive, 'DUMMIES'/idiot-proof, guide.

Thanks,

Tim

[tanstaafl]

The problem with trying to point you to a dummies guide is that there are multiple solutions , and the differences can matter. The default solution that most people would point you to is probably overkill for your situation. You're generally best off using as simple a configuration as possible (that meets your needs).

The basic idea is to import a calendar from a *.ics file into Lightning and then share the calendar as a remote calendar that other computers can use and sync with. Most users use a remote calendar service such as Google Calendar to do that . If you do that you need to sign up for that service beforehand. Lightning can use either the Provider for Google Calendar add-on or the CalDAV protocol to access the remote calendar.

However, another possibility is to just share a *.ics file on a file share. That file share could be created using windows explorer on your windows PC. If you have two PCs at home and just want them to share a calendar using a file share instead of a remote calendar service avoids a lot of potential issues. See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/ex ... a-calendar for more information about doing that.

Otherwise see:
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Calendar:Using ... _Calendars
http://www.ubuntubuzz.com/2017/07/how-t ... ccess.html might help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTxeC8kYIS0 (youtube tutorial for lightning/google provider add-on)

Lightning is bundled with Thunderbird and is by far the most popular calendar add-on, with the most features. However don't overlook using the ReminderFox add-on instead if you basically just need a simple calendar based to do/task list. For example, if you don't need to deal with invitations. Its much simpler, more reliable and uses far less resources. Both calendar add-ons support importing/exporting *.ics files. In Lightning's case it uses the local.sqlite database internally to store the calendar, but still supports *.ics files.

There are also add-ons to let you use google calendar in a tab within Thunderbird. The google calendar add-on at https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunde ... endar-tab/ would be the simplest solution, it doesn't even require Lightning. It does limit you to one calendar. Another possibility is https://addons.mozilla.org/af/thunderbi ... ogle-tabs/

Basically the first decisions you need to make are

(*) Are you going to use Lightning?
(*) Use remote calendar over the Internet or just share a *.ics file on a local file share?
(*) If you decide to use Google calendar with Lightning do you want to use the google provider add-on or the more generic solution using the CalDAV protocol?

Once you decide that it would be easier to point you to the closest thing we can find to a dummies guide.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Calendars_-_Thunderbird
https://pureinfotech.com/setup-network- ... indows-10/ (how to create file share using windows 10)

[tjsilver]

tanstaafl,

Thank you for such a prompt reply.

In summary, I think all I need is to just share the .ics file - there'll be no invitations or anything like that - just me being able to check what I'm supposed to be doing and get any alarms I've set regardless of which laptop I'm using. Initially, I had assumed (wrongly!) that I could simply plonk the required file on, say, Dropbox, point both Lightning's to that and 'job done'! And yes, I will be using Lightning - I'm a great fan of it.

Whilst I do have a Google account in my Windows 'life' I intended my Ubuntu life to be as Google-free as possible (but that's just me - I have a love/hate relationship with Google) which is why I mentioned my Yahoo calendar.

Tim

[Daifne]

Moving to the Calendar Forum

[tanstaafl]

See http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... &t=2983313 for a thread about how to get the Yahoo calendar to work with Lightning using CalDAV. If you have problems see http://notesofaprogrammer.blogspot.com/ ... rbird.html