I have recently come across a very nice set of Calendar applications created by Mozilla.org.

I work on a PC, so I do not have the ability to use an application such as Apple’s iCal. If you use Microsoft’s Outlook, it has a nice built in calendar feature. However, again, I don’t use that application other then when I am at work.

So, I am left with few options, that I know of. Here are 2 possible products to use for Mozilla’s Calendar Applications.

Calendar

The first application requires the use of other Mozilla products, such as Mozilla Application Suite, Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird.

I am personally using it with Mozilla Firefox, my personal web browser of choice.

Sunbird

Sunbird is the 2nd Mozilla application known as a “stand alone” version. You can install and run this application on your local machine versus using it within your web browser (like I personally use).

Both versions have great functionality and a great user interface. Note the screenshot below:

Synchronize

One great feature of using the Mozilla Calendar application is the ability to share a calendar via your web server. An example is my personal use. I have setup my calendar functionality here at home, but I want to access the calendar while at work and keep them sychronized. You can setup your Mozilla Calendar to synchronize via a web server following these steps:

1. Open the Calendar application (if you are using Mozilla Firefox, go to TOOLS > CALENDAR)
2. Click the CALENDARS tab on the upper left (above the actual calendar). Default calendar is “My Calendar”
3. Right Click and choose EDIT Calendar.
4. Feel free to rename your calendar name. I call mine “Bryans Calendar”
5. You should now see a section called “REMOTE SERVER URL”. Enter your remote server address. It should be in FTP form such as
   ftp://username:password@ftp.domainname.com/wwwroot/nameoffile.ics
6. Your specific REMOTE Addresss may be different then that format. nameoffile.ics can be named whatever you want as long as ICS is on the end.
7. Checkmark the “Automatically Publish….” box.
8. When you have made your calendar, right click on the calendar name and choose PUBLISH ENTIRE CALENDAR. Make sure the Publishing URL is the ftp remote address. Click PUBLISH. Then CLOSE.
9. If you are like me, you now want to access this calendar from another location, such as work. Follow the next set of instructions.

Accessing and publishing to the same calendar

Now that you have setup your remote calendar at your home computer, you want to access and publish to this calendar from work or another location. Simple!

1. First, download and install the Mozilla Calendar application for Firefox
2. Once it is installed, you have restarted your browser, and gone to TOOLS > CALENDAR, you are ready to synchonize your calendars.
3. Go to FILE >SUBSCRIBE TO REMOTE CALENDAR
4. Give your calendar a name, preferrably the same name as the one at home.
5. Make sure you enter the SAME Remote Server URL that you did for the one at home, so it can access the same Calendar file (remember nameoffile.ics)
6. Again, checkmark the box labeled AUTOMATICALLY PUBLISH….
7. Click OK. Now, your calendar should update with your home changes. When you are done making edits, choose the CALENDARS tab again, highlight the “subscribed” calendar name that you made, then right click and choose PUBLISH ENTIRE CALENDAR. Click PUBLISH, and then CLOSE.
8. Simply keep the calendars fresh at home or at work by choosing RELOAD REMOTE CALENDARS. Make sure you always PUBLISH your latest version to keep them updated.

I hope Mozilla Calendar will make your life easier and more efficient. Let us know if your setup was successful.