Using iCalendar to Generate Meeting Requests, Tasks and Contact Cards

iCalendar is a file format that allows Internet users to send meeting requests, contacts and tasks through email and other digital methods.

• iCalendar file formats store event, list and contact information.
• The file extensions used include .ics for iCalendar / iTodo and .vcf for vcards (contacts).
• Popular uses of iCalendar and vcards include sharing events, to-do lists, and contact information as file attachments in electronic communications like email and text messaging.

System Supported Email Attachments

• 3 email attachments types are supported: "ievent", "itodo" and "icard".
• The SmartSimple email engine will look for email contents that have ievent, itodo, and icard objects. The contents of these objects are assembled and added as email attachments.
• The email engine will process iCalendar objects using the following syntax:
  • "@@ievent"
  • "@@itodo"
  • "@@icard"

Sample iCalendar Objects

ievent Object

@@ievent
UID:@owner.email@
ORGANIZER;CN=@company@
DTSTART:TO_UTC(@startdate@ @starttime@)
DTEND:TO_UTC(@enddate@ @endtime@)
LOCATION:Lee parry
SUMMARY: @QA TEST MAX@
DESCRIPTION: @description@
@@

itodo Object

@@itodo
UID:@owner.email@
ORGANIZER;CN=@company@
DUE:TO_UTC(@startdate@)
STATUS:NEEDS-ACTIONLOCATION:Lee parry
SUMMARY: @QA TEST MAX@
DESCRIPTION: @description@
@@

icard Object

@@icard
FN:@owner.fullname@
ORG:@company@
TITLE:@name@
TEL;TYPE=WORK,VOICE:@owner.phone@
TEL;TYPE=HOME,VOICE:(404) 555-1212
ADR;TYPE=WORK:;;100 Waters Edge;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America
LABEL;TYPE=WORK:100 Waters Edge\nBaytown\, LA 30314\nUnited States of America
ADR;TYPE=HOME:;;42 Plantation St.;Baytown;LA;30314;United States of America
LABEL;TYPE=HOME:42 Plantation St.\nBaytown\, LA 30314\nUnited States of America
EMAIL;TYPE=PREF,INTERNET:forrestgump@example.com
@@

Details

• Dates and times are represented in UTC time format - YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss:ss - ex.2015-10-23 10:00:00:00

Adding iCalendar Objects to a workflow email

1. Create an acknowledgement workflow - additional details here
2. Add an acknowledgement workflow task - additional details here
   
3. Within the body of the Message Template include: an ievent, itodo, or icard object
   
4. To add multiple iCalendar objects, add each object to a separate task within the workflow
   

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