Is Importing really 'impossible'? - Backpack Customer Forum

Feb 23, 2008 2:49pm

Cameron 2 posts

A recent conversation with 37Signals support has left me breathless. It can’t be true… Thoughts?

Read from the bottom up:

Sarah,

Something MUST be getting lost in translation here. I exporrt/import iCal files all the time so it certainly can be done. Let’s try and get back to the original issue and see if we can think about the problem another way:

I would like to migrate my organization from MS Exchange to Backpack & Google Apps. I want them to use the Backpack group calendar. I’ll be an enterprise customer of yours and one crucial item is importing the existing calendars from Exchange to Backpack, but I can’t figure out how to do that. We’ll need to “flip the switch” overnight on these systems, so the exchange calendars will go away. I’ll need to export them to a file (like a .ics or something), then I’ll need to do a one-time import to 37Signals. I just don’t see anywhere that I can import a file.

-
~Cameron >=)

On Friday, February 22, 2008, at 12:56PM, “37signals Support” <support@37signals.com> wrote:
>It’s not possible. This isn’t a restriction we’re imposing on you,
>this is a restriction of the iCal file format.
>
> – Sarah
>
>On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 11:54 AM, Cameron Champion wrote:
>> Sarah,
>>
>> I think that’s it.
>>
>> I do NOT want to import a FEED. I do want to import a FILE to
>> Backpack calendar. So, is that what you’re saying is impossible?
>> Because if it is, then it sounds like that’s a brick wall that would
>> prevent us from being an enterprise customer of yours. If it is
>> possible, how do I actually do it?
>>
>> ~Cameron
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Feb 22, 2008, at 12:43 PM, 37signals Support wrote:
>>
>> > You can’t import a iCal feed to Backpack and then delete the
>> > originating file. iCals don’t really work that way. You can’t do a raw
>> > export of the file and upload it to your calendar.
>> >
>> > – Sarah
>> >
>> > On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 11:38 AM, Cameron Champion
>> > wrote:
>> >> Sarah,
>> >>
>> >> I did read that prior to emailing you, but I didn’t understand
>> >> how it
>> >> applies to my specific situation. The exchange calendars will go
>> >> away. I’ll export them to a file (like a .ics or something), then
>> >> I’ll need to do a one-time import to 37Signals. I don’t see
>> >> anywhere
>> >> that I can import a file.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >>
>> >> ~Cameron
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Feb 22, 2008, at 12:03 PM, 37signals Support wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Here’s a bit about that straight from our Help section:
>> >>> http://backpackit.com/help/calendar/#add_ical
>> >>>
>> >>> – Sarah
>> >>>
>> >>> On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 10:54 AM, Cameron Champion
>> >>> wrote:
>> >>>> I think I can!
>> >>>>
>> >>>> If so, how do we get them imported. We’ll need to “flip the
>> >>>> switch”
>> >>>> overnight on these systems.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> ~Cameron
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> On Feb 21, 2008, at 2:02 PM, 37signals Support wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> Hi Cameron,
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Can you export your Exchange calendars in iCal format?
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> – Sarah
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> On Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM, Cameron Champion
>> >>>>> wrote:
>> >>>>>> I would like to migrate my organization from MS Exchange to
>> >>>>>> Backpack &
>> >>>>>> Google Apps. I want them to use the Backpack group calendar.
>> >>>>>> I’ll be
>> >>>>>> an enterprise customer of yours and one crucial item is
>> >>>>>> importing
>> >>>>>> the
>> >>>>>> existing calendars from exchange to Backpack, but I can’t
>> >>>>>> figure out
>> >>>>>> how to do that. Please help!
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Thanks,
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>> Cameron
>> >>>>>> (404) 474-0598
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>
>

Feb 23, 2008 5:38pm

Sarah Hatter Administrator 378 posts

Breathless or not, it’s still true, Cameron.

I think you’re a bit misled about how iCal subscriptions work. You can’t import a calendar feed and then delete the source of that feed, or upload a file to the Backpack calendar. You can only subscribe to iCal feeds that originated in other programs. If you delete that original feed, the subscription in Backpack can no longer update, since it has nothing to pull the feed from anymore.

What you’re wanting to do unfortunately isn’t going to be possible, since you want to delete the source of the iCal feed. There are only two options for adding calendars to the Backpack calendar: You create the calendar within Backpack, or you import a feed to an external calendar.

Feb 24, 2008 12:22am

Cynion 2 posts

Just a thought… Would it be possible to export the calendars to an ics file, upload them to a BP page and subscribe to that file? That way everything would at least be on the same server. Maybe a work-around?

Feb 28, 2008 5:06am

Cameron 2 posts

I swear that I still don’t understand. If I have a perfectly good .ics file that has hundreds of entries, why does BackPack require that I create a new calendar and manually enter those hundreds of entries? Why am I not able to import that .ics file into a new calendar?! Why can’t we import to BackPack calendar (like we can on every other calendar app)?

Like here:
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/import_my_ical_calendar_to_google_calendar.html

and here:
http://www.google.com/support/a/users/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=37097

Feb 28, 2008 2:10pm

Derick 138 posts

You can subscribe to a feed and then later delete the source file. BP will import everything the 1st time it updates, but (obviously) it won’t be able to continue to update. Try sticking your ics file on a server and subscribing to it and see what happens.

Apr 23, 2008 12:52pm

bryanwebster 20 posts

I can import a .ics file into google calendar. So why not backpack?

Jun 1, 2008 6:08am

JMac 41 posts

You’re not actually “importing” an iCal calendar – you are copying a URL and then pasting that into Backpack, correct? All Backpack does is read that information every so often (apparently it is currently days) and thus refreshes that information from the iCal source. If the iCal source disappears, obviously Backpack will at any point after that see that nothing is there.

I am not certain exactly what happens after the original calendar goes away. Either it will just keep the information from that calendar but not be able to refresh, or it will blank out all that info once the original calendar is deleted.

Jim

Jun 1, 2008 1:28pm

jonezy 99 posts

You could just import your ics into google calendar and then subscribe to that in backpack?

Jun 3, 2008 7:59pm

JMac 41 posts

Hi jonezy.

the OP wants to delete the original iCalendar after subscribing to it. I am not completely certain that deleting it will also remove the events from Backpack, but since it is only a subscription I believe it will. The OP wants to literally copy over all the events by “importing” them, rather than subscribing. Sarah is telling him he will lose all the events if he deletes the original iCalendar. At least that is how I’m reading it.

I do believe that Sarah is correct and that you can only subscribe to iCal, not truly import it.

Jim

Jul 22, 2008 3:01pm

SMattson 1 post

I have read the details and tried them myself. Importing is not possible. The question is …..Will they allow importing of calendar files in the future, and if so when?

Feb 23, 2008 2:49pm Cameron 2 posts	A recent conversation with 37Signals support has left me breathless. It can’t be true… Thoughts? Read from the bottom up: Sarah, Something MUST be getting lost in translation here. I exporrt/import iCal files all the time so it certainly can be done. Let’s try and get back to the original issue and see if we can think about the problem another way: I would like to migrate my organization from MS Exchange to Backpack & Google Apps. I want them to use the Backpack group calendar. I’ll be an enterprise customer of yours and one crucial item is importing the existing calendars from Exchange to Backpack, but I can’t figure out how to do that. We’ll need to “flip the switch” overnight on these systems, so the exchange calendars will go away. I’ll need to export them to a file (like a .ics or something), then I’ll need to do a one-time import to 37Signals. I just don’t see anywhere that I can import a file. - ~Cameron >=) On Friday, February 22, 2008, at 12:56PM, “37signals Support” <support@37signals.com> wrote: >It’s not possible. This isn’t a restriction we’re imposing on you, >this is a restriction of the iCal file format. > > – Sarah > >On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 11:54 AM, Cameron Champion wrote: >> Sarah, >> >> I think that’s it. >> >> I do NOT want to import a FEED. I do want to import a FILE to >> Backpack calendar. So, is that what you’re saying is impossible? >> Because if it is, then it sounds like that’s a brick wall that would >> prevent us from being an enterprise customer of yours. If it is >> possible, how do I actually do it? >> >> ~Cameron >> >> >> >> >> On Feb 22, 2008, at 12:43 PM, 37signals Support wrote: >> >> > You can’t import a iCal feed to Backpack and then delete the >> > originating file. iCals don’t really work that way. You can’t do a raw >> > export of the file and upload it to your calendar. >> > >> > – Sarah >> > >> > On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 11:38 AM, Cameron Champion >> > wrote: >> >> Sarah, >> >> >> >> I did read that prior to emailing you, but I didn’t understand >> >> how it >> >> applies to my specific situation. The exchange calendars will go >> >> away. I’ll export them to a file (like a .ics or something), then >> >> I’ll need to do a one-time import to 37Signals. I don’t see >> >> anywhere >> >> that I can import a file. >> >> >> >> Thanks, >> >> >> >> ~Cameron >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Feb 22, 2008, at 12:03 PM, 37signals Support wrote: >> >> >> >>> Here’s a bit about that straight from our Help section: >> >>> http://backpackit.com/help/calendar/#add_ical >> >>> >> >>> – Sarah >> >>> >> >>> On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 10:54 AM, Cameron Champion >> >>> wrote: >> >>>> I think I can! >> >>>> >> >>>> If so, how do we get them imported. We’ll need to “flip the >> >>>> switch” >> >>>> overnight on these systems. >> >>>> >> >>>> ~Cameron >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> On Feb 21, 2008, at 2:02 PM, 37signals Support wrote: >> >>>> >> >>>>> Hi Cameron, >> >>>>> >> >>>>> Can you export your Exchange calendars in iCal format? >> >>>>> >> >>>>> – Sarah >> >>>>> >> >>>>> On Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 10:37 AM, Cameron Champion >> >>>>> wrote: >> >>>>>> I would like to migrate my organization from MS Exchange to >> >>>>>> Backpack & >> >>>>>> Google Apps. I want them to use the Backpack group calendar. >> >>>>>> I’ll be >> >>>>>> an enterprise customer of yours and one crucial item is >> >>>>>> importing >> >>>>>> the >> >>>>>> existing calendars from exchange to Backpack, but I can’t >> >>>>>> figure out >> >>>>>> how to do that. Please help! >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> Thanks, >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> Cameron >> >>>>>> (404) 474-0598 >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >

Feb 23, 2008 5:38pm Sarah Hatter Administrator 378 posts	Breathless or not, it’s still true, Cameron. I think you’re a bit misled about how iCal subscriptions work. You can’t import a calendar feed and then delete the source of that feed, or upload a file to the Backpack calendar. You can only subscribe to iCal feeds that originated in other programs. If you delete that original feed, the subscription in Backpack can no longer update, since it has nothing to pull the feed from anymore. What you’re wanting to do unfortunately isn’t going to be possible, since you want to delete the source of the iCal feed. There are only two options for adding calendars to the Backpack calendar: You create the calendar within Backpack, or you import a feed to an external calendar.

Feb 24, 2008 12:22am Cynion 2 posts	Just a thought… Would it be possible to export the calendars to an ics file, upload them to a BP page and subscribe to that file? That way everything would at least be on the same server. Maybe a work-around?

Feb 28, 2008 5:06am Cameron 2 posts	I swear that I still don’t understand. If I have a perfectly good .ics file that has hundreds of entries, why does BackPack require that I create a new calendar and manually enter those hundreds of entries? Why am I not able to import that .ics file into a new calendar?! Why can’t we import to BackPack calendar (like we can on every other calendar app)? Like here: http://www.askdavetaylor.com/import_my_ical_calendar_to_google_calendar.html and here: http://www.google.com/support/a/users/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=37097

Feb 28, 2008 2:10pm Derick 138 posts	You can subscribe to a feed and then later delete the source file. BP will import everything the 1st time it updates, but (obviously) it won’t be able to continue to update. Try sticking your ics file on a server and subscribing to it and see what happens.

Apr 23, 2008 12:52pm bryanwebster 20 posts	I can import a .ics file into google calendar. So why not backpack?

Jun 1, 2008 6:08am JMac 41 posts	You’re not actually “importing” an iCal calendar – you are copying a URL and then pasting that into Backpack, correct? All Backpack does is read that information every so often (apparently it is currently days) and thus refreshes that information from the iCal source. If the iCal source disappears, obviously Backpack will at any point after that see that nothing is there. I am not certain exactly what happens after the original calendar goes away. Either it will just keep the information from that calendar but not be able to refresh, or it will blank out all that info once the original calendar is deleted. Jim

Jun 1, 2008 1:28pm jonezy 99 posts	You could just import your ics into google calendar and then subscribe to that in backpack?

Jun 3, 2008 7:59pm JMac 41 posts	Hi jonezy. the OP wants to delete the original iCalendar after subscribing to it. I am not completely certain that deleting it will also remove the events from Backpack, but since it is only a subscription I believe it will. The OP wants to literally copy over all the events by “importing” them, rather than subscribing. Sarah is telling him he will lose all the events if he deletes the original iCalendar. At least that is how I’m reading it. I do believe that Sarah is correct and that you can only subscribe to iCal, not truly import it. Jim

Jul 22, 2008 3:01pm SMattson 1 post	I have read the details and tried them myself. Importing is not possible. The question is …..Will they allow importing of calendar files in the future, and if so when?
	Signup or login to post a reply.