iCalendar integration into workeffort

[Chris Snow-3]

When I use a calendar application (sunbird) to access my iCalendar and
create an event, the event doesn't show in the ofbiz calendar.  Looking
though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar implementation
only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.  I was expecting to be able to
see externally scheduled items appear in the ofbiz calendar and vice versa.

Have I understood this correctly?

Many thanks in advance,

Chris

[Jacques Le Roux]

Hi Chris,

I have no time right now, but I remember when Adrian implemented it, there were few examples and they shown correctly in RemiderFox.
Did you try with the demo data?

Jacques

From: "Christopher Snow" <[hidden email]>

> When I use a calendar application (sunbird) to access my iCalendar and create an event, the event doesn't show in the ofbiz
> calendar.  Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.
> I was expecting to be able to see externally scheduled items appear in the ofbiz calendar and vice versa.
>
> Have I understood this correctly?
>
> Many thanks in advance,
>
> Chris
>

[Chris Snow-3]

Hi Jacques,  I had tried with demo data, and on demo.ofbiz.org.

Many thanks,

Chris

Jacques Le Roux wrote:

> Hi Chris,
>
> I have no time right now, but I remember when Adrian implemented it,
> there were few examples and they shown correctly in RemiderFox. Did
> you try with the demo data?
>
> Jacques
>
> From: "Christopher Snow" <[hidden email]>
>> When I use a calendar application (sunbird) to access my iCalendar
>> and create an event, the event doesn't show in the ofbiz calendar.  
>> Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar
>> implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData. I was
>> expecting to be able to see externally scheduled items appear in the
>> ofbiz calendar and vice versa.
>>
>> Have I understood this correctly?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance,
>>
>> Chris
>>
>
>

[Adrian Crum]

Chris,

Make sure Sunbird is authenticating to OFBiz and that the user has the
correct permissions. According to the iCalendar spec, in order to update
a calendar, the user must be the calendar owner or a delegate.

-Adrian

Christopher Snow wrote:

> When I use a calendar application (sunbird) to access my iCalendar and
> create an event, the event doesn't show in the ofbiz calendar.  Looking
> though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar implementation
> only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.  I was expecting to be able to
> see externally scheduled items appear in the ofbiz calendar and vice versa.
>
> Have I understood this correctly?
>
> Many thanks in advance,
>
> Chris
>

[Adrian Crum]

Christopher Snow wrote:
> Looking
> though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar implementation
> only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.

That is not correct. Here are the processes:

Store iCalendar
---------------
   1. Parse iCalendar data into an internal Java structure
   2. Parse internal Java structure, create/update associated work
effort entities
   3. Save iCalendar data in WorkEffortIcalData

Get iCalendar
-------------
   1. Parse WorkEffortIcalData data into an internal Java structure
   2. Update internal Java structure from work effort entities
   3. Convert internal Java structure to iCalendar data

-Adrian

[Chris Snow-3]

Hi Adrian,

I think I had to associate a child event to the iCalendar workeffort
before I could create events in Sunbird.  - I can't remember exactly I
have tried so many combinations of things now!

Many thanks,

Chris

Adrian Crum wrote:

> Chris,
>
> Make sure Sunbird is authenticating to OFBiz and that the user has the
> correct permissions. According to the iCalendar spec, in order to
> update a calendar, the user must be the calendar owner or a delegate.
>
> -Adrian
>
> Christopher Snow wrote:
>> When I use a calendar application (sunbird) to access my iCalendar
>> and create an event, the event doesn't show in the ofbiz calendar.  
>> Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar
>> implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.  I was
>> expecting to be able to see externally scheduled items appear in the
>> ofbiz calendar and vice versa.
>>
>> Have I understood this correctly?
>>
>> Many thanks in advance,
>>
>> Chris
>>

--
Chris Snow - CEng MBCS CITP MBA (Tech Mgmt) (Open) CISSP

Tel: [phone]
Mob: [phone]
Www: www.snowconsulting.co.uk

[Chris Snow-3]

Adrian,

This seemed to only start working after I associated a child work
effort.  Maybe I have mis-read the docs?

Many thanks,

Chris

Adrian Crum wrote:

> Christopher Snow wrote:
>> Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar
>> implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.
>
> That is not correct. Here are the processes:
>
> Store iCalendar
> ---------------
>   1. Parse iCalendar data into an internal Java structure
>   2. Parse internal Java structure, create/update associated work
> effort entities
>   3. Save iCalendar data in WorkEffortIcalData
>
> Get iCalendar
> -------------
>   1. Parse WorkEffortIcalData data into an internal Java structure
>   2. Update internal Java structure from work effort entities
>   3. Convert internal Java structure to iCalendar data
>
> -Adrian
>
>

--
Chris Snow - CEng MBCS CITP MBA (Tech Mgmt) (Open) CISSP

Tel: [phone]
Mob: [phone]
Www: www.snowconsulting.co.uk

[Adrian Crum]

If you can reproduce the problem, then please create a Jira issue with
details.

-Adrian

Christopher Snow wrote:

> Adrian,
>
> This seemed to only start working after I associated a child work
> effort.  Maybe I have mis-read the docs?
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Chris
>
> Adrian Crum wrote:
>> Christopher Snow wrote:
>>> Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar
>>> implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.
>>
>> That is not correct. Here are the processes:
>>
>> Store iCalendar
>> ---------------
>>   1. Parse iCalendar data into an internal Java structure
>>   2. Parse internal Java structure, create/update associated work
>> effort entities
>>   3. Save iCalendar data in WorkEffortIcalData
>>
>> Get iCalendar
>> -------------
>>   1. Parse WorkEffortIcalData data into an internal Java structure
>>   2. Update internal Java structure from work effort entities
>>   3. Convert internal Java structure to iCalendar data
>>
>> -Adrian
>>
>>
>
>

[Adrian Crum]

It can be tricky getting things set up correctly, but once they are
everything should work as expected.

Some notes on using Sunbird:

1. Setting alarms on an OFBiz iCalendar means the alarms will be shared
by everyone accessing the calendar. So, if one user dismisses the alarm
it is dismissed for everyone. This has been reported to Mozilla, and
they are in no hurry to do anything about it.

2. If Sunbird attempts to refresh the screen and the OFBiz server is
temporarily unavailable, Sunbird will set the OFBiz iCalendar to
read-only mode. It must be manually changed back to read/write.

-Adrian

Christopher Snow wrote:

> Hi Adrian,
>
> I think I had to associate a child event to the iCalendar workeffort
> before I could create events in Sunbird.  - I can't remember exactly I
> have tried so many combinations of things now!
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Chris
>
> Adrian Crum wrote:
>> Chris,
>>
>> Make sure Sunbird is authenticating to OFBiz and that the user has the
>> correct permissions. According to the iCalendar spec, in order to
>> update a calendar, the user must be the calendar owner or a delegate.
>>
>> -Adrian
>>
>> Christopher Snow wrote:
>>> When I use a calendar application (sunbird) to access my iCalendar
>>> and create an event, the event doesn't show in the ofbiz calendar.  
>>> Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar
>>> implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.  I was
>>> expecting to be able to see externally scheduled items appear in the
>>> ofbiz calendar and vice versa.
>>>
>>> Have I understood this correctly?
>>>
>>> Many thanks in advance,
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>
>

[Chris Snow-3]

Thanks for the tips Adrian,

I'm only using sunbird while testing.  For production we have a flex
developer who will be creating a flex UI for the calendar, we still have
many questions to answer such as whether to access the calendar
information using iCalendar, or to expose the workeffort services using
REST.

Many thanks,

Chris

Adrian Crum wrote:

> It can be tricky getting things set up correctly, but once they are
> everything should work as expected.
>
> Some notes on using Sunbird:
>
> 1. Setting alarms on an OFBiz iCalendar means the alarms will be
> shared by everyone accessing the calendar. So, if one user dismisses
> the alarm it is dismissed for everyone. This has been reported to
> Mozilla, and they are in no hurry to do anything about it.
>
> 2. If Sunbird attempts to refresh the screen and the OFBiz server is
> temporarily unavailable, Sunbird will set the OFBiz iCalendar to
> read-only mode. It must be manually changed back to read/write.
>
> -Adrian
>
> Christopher Snow wrote:
>> Hi Adrian,
>>
>> I think I had to associate a child event to the iCalendar workeffort
>> before I could create events in Sunbird.  - I can't remember exactly
>> I have tried so many combinations of things now!
>>
>> Many thanks,
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> Adrian Crum wrote:
>>> Chris,
>>>
>>> Make sure Sunbird is authenticating to OFBiz and that the user has
>>> the correct permissions. According to the iCalendar spec, in order
>>> to update a calendar, the user must be the calendar owner or a
>>> delegate.
>>>
>>> -Adrian
>>>
>>> Christopher Snow wrote:
>>>> When I use a calendar application (sunbird) to access my iCalendar
>>>> and create an event, the event doesn't show in the ofbiz calendar.  
>>>> Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar
>>>> implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.  I was
>>>> expecting to be able to see externally scheduled items appear in
>>>> the ofbiz calendar and vice versa.
>>>>
>>>> Have I understood this correctly?
>>>>
>>>> Many thanks in advance,
>>>>
>>>> Chris
>>>>
>>
>>

--
Chris Snow - CEng MBCS CITP MBA (Tech Mgmt) (Open) CISSP

Tel: [phone]
Mob: [phone]
Www: www.snowconsulting.co.uk

[Adrian Crum]

I will share with the mailing list my employer's use case, and maybe it
can provide inspiration or insight into the iCalendar integration.

We are a manufacturing company, and we have a lot of fixed assets in
need of maintenance, so we use the OFBiz Asset Maintenance application.
The application is able to create maintenances automatically - based on
time intervals or meter readings. Those automatically-generated
maintenances appear in various iCalendars. Maintenance workers can check
their calendar with a calendar client like Sunbird, or with a mobile
device like a Blackberry or iPhone.

Our office workers use Thunderbird + Lightning. Calendars are shared
using the OFBiz server.

We have iCalendars set up for our two conference rooms. Office workers
can check conference room availability before scheduling a meeting.

We have a calendar set up for vacations/time off. Office workers can
check that calendar for scheduling conflicts or availability.

All of these things *could* be done through the Work Effort web UI, but
it is really convenient to have the ability to use calendaring clients
(desktop or mobile) instead.

-Adrian

Christopher Snow wrote:

> Thanks for the tips Adrian,
>
> I'm only using sunbird while testing.  For production we have a flex
> developer who will be creating a flex UI for the calendar, we still have
> many questions to answer such as whether to access the calendar
> information using iCalendar, or to expose the workeffort services using
> REST.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Chris
>
> Adrian Crum wrote:
>> It can be tricky getting things set up correctly, but once they are
>> everything should work as expected.
>>
>> Some notes on using Sunbird:
>>
>> 1. Setting alarms on an OFBiz iCalendar means the alarms will be
>> shared by everyone accessing the calendar. So, if one user dismisses
>> the alarm it is dismissed for everyone. This has been reported to
>> Mozilla, and they are in no hurry to do anything about it.
>>
>> 2. If Sunbird attempts to refresh the screen and the OFBiz server is
>> temporarily unavailable, Sunbird will set the OFBiz iCalendar to
>> read-only mode. It must be manually changed back to read/write.
>>
>> -Adrian
>>
>> Christopher Snow wrote:
>>> Hi Adrian,
>>>
>>> I think I had to associate a child event to the iCalendar workeffort
>>> before I could create events in Sunbird.  - I can't remember exactly
>>> I have tried so many combinations of things now!
>>>
>>> Many thanks,
>>>
>>> Chris
>>>
>>> Adrian Crum wrote:
>>>> Chris,
>>>>
>>>> Make sure Sunbird is authenticating to OFBiz and that the user has
>>>> the correct permissions. According to the iCalendar spec, in order
>>>> to update a calendar, the user must be the calendar owner or a
>>>> delegate.
>>>>
>>>> -Adrian
>>>>
>>>> Christopher Snow wrote:
>>>>> When I use a calendar application (sunbird) to access my iCalendar
>>>>> and create an event, the event doesn't show in the ofbiz calendar.  
>>>>> Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar
>>>>> implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.  I was
>>>>> expecting to be able to see externally scheduled items appear in
>>>>> the ofbiz calendar and vice versa.
>>>>>
>>>>> Have I understood this correctly?
>>>>>
>>>>> Many thanks in advance,
>>>>>
>>>>> Chris
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>

[Chris Snow-3]

Issue raised - OFBIZ-3398

Adrian Crum wrote:

> If you can reproduce the problem, then please create a Jira issue with
> details.
>
> -Adrian
>
> Christopher Snow wrote:
>> Adrian,
>>
>> This seemed to only start working after I associated a child work
>> effort.  Maybe I have mis-read the docs?
>>
>> Many thanks,
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> Adrian Crum wrote:
>>> Christopher Snow wrote:
>>>> Looking though the ofbiz code, it looks as though the iCalendar
>>>> implementation only stores data in WorkEffortIcalData.
>>>
>>> That is not correct. Here are the processes:
>>>
>>> Store iCalendar
>>> ---------------
>>>   1. Parse iCalendar data into an internal Java structure
>>>   2. Parse internal Java structure, create/update associated work
>>> effort entities
>>>   3. Save iCalendar data in WorkEffortIcalData
>>>
>>> Get iCalendar
>>> -------------
>>>   1. Parse WorkEffortIcalData data into an internal Java structure
>>>   2. Update internal Java structure from work effort entities
>>>   3. Convert internal Java structure to iCalendar data
>>>
>>> -Adrian
>>>
>>>
>>
>>

--
Chris Snow - CEng MBCS CITP MBA (Tech Mgmt) (Open) CISSP

Tel: [phone]
Mob: [phone]
Www: www.snowconsulting.co.uk