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Delete calendar event using iCalendar file import (Outlook 2003 problem)?


Is there a way for me to delete items from calendar by using iCalendar import?

I know that there is a METHOD:CANCEL, however when I tried it, it didn't do anything to the calendar event.

Here is what is in my iCalendar file. When I try to import it to Outlook, it just adds these events.

BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//DDay.iCal//NONSGML ddaysoftware.com//EN
METHOD:CANCEL
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20081210T155315Z
DESCRIPTION:
DTEND:20081213T093000
DTSTAMP:20081210T155315Z
DTSTART:20081213T093000
LOCATION:
ORGANIZER:MAILTO:[email protected]
SEQUENCE:1
SUMMARY:From FCS 13th
UID:20367b86-2123-4930-87ef-5c2a6626bd9f
BEGIN:VALARM
ACTION:DISPLAY
SUMMARY: Event 13th
TRIGGER:-PT30M
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20081210T155315Z
DESCRIPTION:
DTEND:20081211T093000
DTSTAMP:20081210T155315Z
DTSTART:20081211T093000
LOCATION:7 West
ORGANIZER:MAILTO:[email protected]
SEQUENCE:1
SUMMARY:Event 11th
UID:f212ab15-86c3-46c8-8592-af0716a40ea2
BEGIN:VALARM
ACTION:DISPLAY
SUMMARY:Event on 11th
TRIGGER:-PT30M
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT    
END:VCALENDAR

Solution

  • I forgot to add STATUS:CANCELLED

    Now this should cancel items according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICalendar#Events_.28VEVENT.29

    This works in Google Calendar but not in Outlook 2003. Outlook still creates duplicate entries.

    Here are modified "cancel" events with 'STATUS:CANCELLED'. (British spelling with two L's)

    BEGIN:VCALENDAR
    VERSION:2.0
    PRODID:-//DDay.iCal//NONSGML ddaysoftware.com//EN
    X-WR-RELCALID:928C8448-048A-4aa2-BE27-A920773AF3DC
    METHOD:CANCEL
    BEGIN:VEVENT
    CREATED:20081210T210344Z
    DESCRIPTION:
    DTEND:20081213T093000
    DTSTAMP:20081210T210344Z
    DTSTART:20081213T093000
    LOCATION:
    ORGANIZER:MAILTO:[email protected]
    SEQUENCE:1
    STATUS:CANCELLED
    SUMMARY:Event to export 1
    UID:20367b86-2123-4930-87ef-5c2a6626bd9f
    BEGIN:VALARM
    ACTION:DISPLAY
    SUMMARY:Event to export 1
    TRIGGER:-PT30M
    END:VALARM
    END:VEVENT
    BEGIN:VEVENT
    CREATED:20081210T210344Z
    DESCRIPTION:
    DTEND:20081211T093000
    DTSTAMP:20081210T210344Z
    DTSTART:20081211T093000
    LOCATION:7 West
    ORGANIZER:MAILTO:[email protected]
    SEQUENCE:1
    STATUS:CANCELLED
    SUMMARY:Event to export 2
    UID:f212ab15-86c3-46c8-8592-af0716a40ea2
    BEGIN:VALARM
    ACTION:DISPLAY
    SUMMARY:Event to export 2
    TRIGGER:-PT30M
    END:VALARM
    END:VEVENT
    END:VCALENDAR