 | |
"Save to Outlook" Feature
|
|
|
FEATURE SYNOPSIS |
|
Feature At-a-Glance: | | That neat "Save to Outlook" feature is everywhere these days. How can I provide a "Save to Outlook" download for my event? |
Application: | | Microsoft Outlook |
Conditions: | | This does not work in Microsoft Outlook Express. |
Search Strings: | | create .vcs file, how to create "Save to Outlook" file, create vCalendar appointment file, how to share Outlook appointment |
|
|
BOOK YOUR CALENDAR WITH ONE CLICK
Whether online or available as an email attachment, VCS files are popping up everywhere as a quick and easy alternative for people entering appointments into their MS Outlook calendars. Just click the button once, and it gets entered with no additional typing required.
Try it yourself by clicking on this example file:
 | | Joe and Jane's Wedding: Save to Outlook
This is the same file used in the step-by-step illustration below. |
If your MS Outlook is installed properly, the event information will pop onto the screen, and you can simply save it as is or make changes as you desire before saving. The appointment is then stored and accounted for in your Outlook calendar.
SETTING IT UP MANUALLY
There are number of techniques to automate this process, which is helpful for websites that wish to process this feature for an excessive number of events; we have not personally used any such application, so we regret we can't provide any recommendations at this time. Our particular guide is aimed at the user who wishes to set up a file manually.
There are five simple steps to creating your "Save to Outlook" file:
- Open MS Outlook to the Calendar area, using the Calendar icon along the left-hand side.
- Under Actions, select New Appointment.
- Enter your event information as completely as possible in the fields provided.
- Once you're done, go to File and then select Save As.
- When the Save As prompt comes on the screen, type in the file name and set the "Save as type" area to "vCalendar Format (*.vcs)" as shown in the illustration below.
If you're having trouble with creating this file, please contact your network administrator, that computer-savvy neighbor, or a middle school student.
WHAT IS THIS, ANYWAY?
What you're relying on is vCalendar technology, which is a cross-platform, cross-browser, cross-application technology that allows you to sync appointment information with the majority of today's computer users. The vCalendar format is flexible and easy to understand, and therefore it is no surprise why it is the premiere datatype used in the top calendar applications currently available.
As cool as this "Save to Outlook" function is, it is only scratching the surface of the potential vCalendar technology offers. This programming is responsible for allowing users to publish their entire appointment calendar online, for encouraging organizers to synchronize events, and holding team members accountable for the timeline set on their projects. More information about vCalendar can be found here.
POST-RELEASE NOTES
Since this article was written, we've found one excellent resource:
- Share your Outlook appointments with vCalendar—without an Exchange Server, CNET Asia, IT Manager
|
