Using Lightning with Google Calendar | How to | Thunderbird

users
#1

Occasionally on this list, someone asks about open source email &
calendar that can be used with LibreOffice. Here are instructions for
using Google Calendar with Thunderbird. You can use the Thunderbird
Add-Ons manager to install both Lightning and "Provider for Google
Calendar", instead of going to a web site and downloading the package.
This also works with the email program in Seamonkey, but Thunderbird
works better with LO.

https://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/using-lightning-google-calendar

#2

Just be aware that it isn't perfect.

The main problem is working with invitations from others.

If someone sends you an invite, yes, you can accept it and it gets added to your calendar.

But, if that same someone then sends an UPDATE to the existing event, and you UPDATE it, it spams ALL of the attendees with a BRAND NEW invite from YOU for the new/updated event.

It is basically non workable in a corporate environment.

This is why we are currently working on getting SOGo set up locally. If you are technically inclined, while more work, it is a MUCH better way to go if you are using the Calendar for anything other than personal use.

For personal use, it works well, although it still has issues occasionally...

#3

Hi :slight_smile:
Is that 
http://www.sogo.nu/english.html

I might be interested in trying to get that working in a couple of weeks but first need to see some screen-shots and stuff so i will hunt around their site later.  So far i have been stuck on trying to get Evolution to work because it's practically a drop-in replacement for Outlook but unfortunately i got into a big row on their forum/mailing list.  
Thanks and regards form 
Tom :slight_smile:

#4

Hi all,

Occasionally on this list, someone asks about open source email &
calendar that can be used with LibreOffice. Here are instructions for
using Google Calendar with Thunderbird. You can use the Thunderbird
Add-Ons manager to install both Lightning and "Provider for Google
Calendar", instead of going to a web site and downloading the package.

Also bear in mind that the Google Data provider and Lightning extension are said not to work with the newest version of Google's calendar communication protocol API meaning that if nothing is done about it, the whole thing will become a white elephant.

Alex

#5

I am curious as to how the Provider works.
Thank you for telling us about it.
I installed Provider in Thunderbird last night and see that I now have a tab for Google Calendar next to my tab for Lightening.
My Google calendars display, and I was able to add an event to Google calendar from the Thunderbird window, but it is not showing up in the Thunderbird/Lightening calendar. The "synchronize" button is now active on the Lightening tab, but nothing seems to happen when I click it.

So I guess what I am asking is does the Provider add-on just let me see/update Google Calendar in a tab in the Thunderbird window, or is there a way to use it to synchronize the Google calendars with the Lightening calendars?
Ruth Ann, Cincinnati, OH USA

#6

Ruth Ann wrote:

I am curious as to how the Provider works.
Thank you for telling us about it.
I installed Provider in Thunderbird last night and see that I now have
a tab for Google Calendar next to my tab for Lightening.
My Google calendars display, and I was able to add an event to Google
calendar from the Thunderbird window, but it is not showing up in the
Thunderbird/Lightening calendar. The "synchronize" button is now
active on the Lightening tab, but nothing seems to happen when I click
it.

So I guess what I am asking is does the Provider add-on just let me
see/update Google Calendar in a tab in the Thunderbird window, or is
there a way to use it to synchronize the Google calendars with the
Lightening calendars?

I'm not sure how you got that. I have a calendar tab next to the tab.
The calendar shows my own personal Google calendar, along with that for
a group I belong to. I don't have a separate "Google Calendar" tab.
Lightning syncs with both my own and the group calendar. I'm not sure
what you did wrong. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to remove the
provider & Lightning and start over.

#7

I have been using Lightening and Google both for a long time.
In the past, I have always just made separate entries in both calendars - synchronized them manually so to speak.
So, I have always had a "Calendar" tab next to my email tab in Thunderbird. Then last night, when I installed the Provider add-on, I got a third tab that says "Google Calendar" and shows all the events It looks like it belongs there. Are you saying that I should just have the one "calendar" tab?
Ruth Ann, Cincinnati, OH USA

#8

Ruth Ann wrote:

I have been using Lightening and Google both for a long time.
In the past, I have always just made separate entries in both
calendars - synchronized them manually so to speak.
So, I have always had a "Calendar" tab next to my email tab in
Thunderbird. Then last night, when I installed the Provider add-on, I
got a third tab that says "Google Calendar" and shows all the events
from my Google calendars.
It looks like it belongs there. Are you saying that I should just have
the one "calendar" tab?

Yes. Installing Lightning enables the calendar tab. After installing
the provider, I was then able to add the Google calendars to that tab.
So, when I look at Thunderbird, I see a tab for email and one for
calendar. When I go to the calendar tab, I see the 2 Google calenars I
use listed on the left side, below the month calendar. I can add as
many different calendars as I wan't, including a local one there. To
create a new calendar, I just right click in the area at the left and
select new calendar and I go from there.

#9

Hi :slight_smile:
I really like the sound of all that.  Really tightly integrated and that 'should' make it much easier for my colleagues to understand.  Hopefully even easier than outlook which is looking more and ore clunky compared to what you are describing.

I've only just about got Evolution working but might switch over to what you describe in a couple of weeks.  The one or 2 bits i am having trouble with in Evo are things i can't ask about on their lists anymore.  I really shot myself in the foot over there! :frowning:

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#10

Hi Ruth,

I have been using Lightening and Google both for a long time.
In the past, I have always just made separate entries in both calendars
- synchronized them manually so to speak.
So, I have always had a "Calendar" tab next to my email tab in
Thunderbird. Then last night, when I installed the Provider add-on, I
got a third tab that says "Google Calendar" and shows all the events
from my Google calendars.
It looks like it belongs there. Are you saying that I should just have
the one "calendar" tab?

The Google Calendar tab extension is separate and different from the Gdata provider extension. You need the Gdata provider extension in order to be able to set up and sync your Google Calendar within the Lightning tab, it isn't automatic.

Please also note that the Gdata provider 0.25 currently causes Thunderbird to hang, requiring the user to restart TB in safe mode.

How-to set it up anyway, for the brave :

https://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/using-lightning-google-calendar

Alex

#11

Alex Thurgood wrote:

Please also note that the Gdata provider 0.25 currently causes
Thunderbird to hang, requiring the user to restart TB in safe mode.

I haven't had that problem with the "Provider for Google Calendar" on
either Linux (version 24.0) or Windows (v17.0.3). It just works.
However, I also wonder if Ruth has something else installed, such as
Google Calendar Tab.

#12

Tom Davies wrote:

Hi :slight_smile:
Is that
http://www.sogo.nu/english.html

No, nothing to do with it. This is Google calendar in Thunderbird.

#13

Alex Thurgood wrote:

Also bear in mind that the Google Data provider and Lightning
extension are said not to work with the newest version of Google's
calendar communication protocol API meaning that if nothing is done
about it, the whole thing will become a white elephant.

Does the new protocol precluded them leaving the existing methods in place?

#14

Oh, so now I think I understand.
As I said in a previous post, I have just been creating duplicate calendars on both Google and Lightening.
So - my two tabs for Calendar (local) and Google Calendar (Google) each show just "their" calendars, which happen to be pretty much the same since I have been making dual entries.

To make my life easier and just need one entry per event, I can close the Google Calendar tab and just use the Lightening Calendar tab if I create a network calendar in the Lightening Calendar tab and give it my Google address - which should then make it a Google calendar.
THAT is why the instructions for the Provider add-on described how to find the Google calendar URL !
OK, now I think I understand.
Before I can change to just the one tab though I guess I need to re-think how I organize my calendars. That should not be too difficult.
Thank you for explaining.
Ruth Ann, Cincinnati, OH USA

#15

Thank you to everyone.
It was late last night after a very long day and I was sure I had installed the Google Calendar Provider.
But after James' email below, I actually went in and checked. Turns out I really had installed the Google Calendar tab - which is probably why I was seeing the separate Google Calendar tab :wink:
So, thanks to all your information and instructions, I have now installed the Google Calendar Provider add-on.
I created a test calendar on Google and successfully imported it to Lightening tab. Then I created an event in Google, and another one in Lightening, and both events show up in both Google and Lightening.
Now that is pretty nifty! :wink:

As for the Google Calendar Tab - well, I think I will keep it for a while as I suspect it will come in handy while I transition from two sets of calendars into just the one set.

This has turned out to be a very productive day.
Thank you!
Ruth Ann, Cincinnati, OH, USA

#16

Ruth Ann wrote:

Now that is pretty nifty! :wink:

You can also connect to Google Calendar with your tablet or smart
phone. I also use gcontact sync to sync my address book with GMail. Of
course, my tablet and phone contacts are synced too.

#17

I deleted my local calander in the end, I didn't want a calander that I could only use in front of the PC and I kept making the mistake of putting appointments in the local calander I could not see during the day.
As Jame says, your phone syncs with google calander, I have stuck with Samsungs preloaded S Planner that syncs fine. My Apple calander thing on my macbook syncs fine and thunderbird on Win/Lin syncs fine. Appointment reminders come up everywhere.
Steve

#18

That was the thought I had also.
I have been setting up two new computers, and it was soooooo much easier this time than last when I just downloaded and installed a few software programs, entered a few user names and passwords, and then let (mostly) Google just synchronize all my data.
Well, I did have some data to transfer, but I long ago formed the habit of storing all my personal data in just one or two folders. So for backup or transfer, I just have a couple of folders to remember.

#19

Alex Thurgood wrote:

Please also note that the Gdata provider 0.25 currently causes
Thunderbird to hang, requiring the user to restart TB in safe mode.

I haven't had that problem with the "Provider for Google Calendar" on
either Linux (version 24.0) or Windows (v17.0.3). It just works.
However, I also wonder if Ruth has something else installed, such as
Google Calendar Tab.

#20

Alex Thurgood wrote:

Please also note that the Gdata provider 0.25 currently causes
Thunderbird to hang, requiring the user to restart TB in safe mode.

I haven't had that problem with the "Provider for Google Calendar" on
either Linux (version 24.0) or Windows (v17.0.3). It just works.
However, I also wonder if Ruth has something else installed, such as
Google Calendar Tab.