This article describes how to use Google calendars together with Lightning. You can use Google calendars in two ways. You can either have read-only access to public calendars or you can use a bi-directional calendar, with both read and write-access. = Read access = If you only need read-access to a Google calendar, you can use the link of the public ICS file which is provided by Google, as indicated on this Google Help article: [http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=37648 View from other applications] = Read and write access = == Downloading Provider for Google Calendar == If you need both read and write access to your calendar, you need to install the Provider for Google Calendar from addons.mozilla.org. #Open the [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/4631/ Provider for Google Calendar] addon website. #Download the file by right-clicking on the ''Download now'' link and choosing {menu Save as}. == Installing and configuring the add-on == #To install the add-on, select the {menu Tools} menu from the Thunderbird menu bar and click the {menu Add-ons} menu item. #In the ''Add-ons'' panel, click the settings icon, then select {button Install Add-on From File...} button. #Locate the downloaded file on your machine and Click the {button Open} button. # You will be prompted to install. Click {button Install Now} to complete the installation. == Getting an XML link to your calendar == To access your calendar data, you need to retrieve your private XML URL from the Google Calendar UI: # Open your Google Calendar by going to [http://www.google.com/calendar the Google calendar website]. # Select {menu Settings} from the top and select the {menu Calendars} link at the top of the settings page. A list of Google calendars will be displayed. # Click on the Calendar you would like to use in Lightning. # On the {menu Calendar details} page of your calendar, scroll down until you see ''Calendar address'' and ''Private address''. # Right-click the {button XML} button of one of the two options and select {menu Copy link location}. Note that the provider does not directly use your private url. The Calendar is still accessible when you reset your private url. You may now use this url as the Location in the new remote calendar wizard. The private link will look something like: [http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/username%40gmail.com/private-1ba218e6a25bfc32b25a4eb3f9ee6d96/basic http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/username%40gmail.com/private-1ba218e6a25bfc32b25a4eb3f9ee6d96/basic]. Be sure not to use the ics-link but the XML-link! == Importing the calendar into Lightning == To import the calendar into Lightning: #Go to the Thunderbird's {menu File} menu and select {menu New}. From the sub menu select {menu Calendar}. #Once the wizard opens, select {menu On the network} from the available options and {for win}click {button Next}{/for}{for linux,mac}click {button Continue}{/for}. #Choose Google Calendar from the available types of calendars and paste or enter the URL to your calendar. {for win}click {button Next}{/for}{for linux,mac}click {button Continue}{/for}. #In this pane, you can select an existing session or enter your Google email address to create a new session. Click {for win}click {button Next}{/for}{for linux,mac}click {button Continue}{/for} to continue. #A popup appears in which you will enter your GMail username (with or without the @gmail.com part) and password and choose whether you want Lightning to save your password. Once you click {for win}click {button Next}{/for}{for linux,mac}click {button Continue}{/for}, Lightning will give you an option to select calendars and tasks you would like to subscribe to. #After selecting tasks and calendars, {for win}click {button Next}{/for}{for linux,mac}click {button Continue}{/for} and your calendar will be created providing you with two-way access to your google-calendar. There's still some limitations with using the google-calendar, please see the [http://wiki.mozilla.org/Calendar:GDATA_Provider#Bugs_and_Limitations GData provider page on wiki.mozilla.org].

This article describes how to use Google calendars together with Lightning. You can use Google calendars in two ways. You can either have read-only access to public calendars or you can use a bi-directional calendar, with both read and write-access.

Read access

If you only need read-access to a Google calendar, you can use the link of the public ICS file which is provided by Google, as indicated on this Google Help article: View from other applications

Read and write access

Downloading Provider for Google Calendar

If you need both read and write access to your calendar, you need to install the Provider for Google Calendar from addons.mozilla.org.

1. Open the Provider for Google Calendar addon website.
2. Download the file by right-clicking on the Download now link and choosing Save as.

Installing and configuring the add-on

1. To install the add-on, select the Tools menu from the Thunderbird menu bar and click the Add-ons menu item.
2. In the Add-ons panel, click the settings icon, then select Install Add-on From File... button.
3. Locate the downloaded file on your machine and Click the Open button.
4. You will be prompted to install. Click Install Now to complete the installation.

Getting an XML link to your calendar

To access your calendar data, you need to retrieve your private XML URL from the Google Calendar UI:

1. Open your Google Calendar by going to the Google calendar website.
2. Select Settings from the top and select the Calendars link at the top of the settings page. A list of Google calendars will be displayed.
3. Click on the Calendar you would like to use in Lightning.
4. On the Calendar details page of your calendar, scroll down until you see Calendar address and Private address.
5. Right-click the XML button of one of the two options and select Copy link location.

Note that the provider does not directly use your private url. The Calendar is still accessible when you reset your private url. You may now use this url as the Location in the new remote calendar wizard.

The private link will look something like: http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/username%40gmail.com/private-1ba218e6a25bfc32b25a4eb3f9ee6d96/basic. Be sure not to use the ics-link but the XML-link!

Importing the calendar into Lightning

To import the calendar into Lightning:

1. Go to the Thunderbird's File menu and select New. From the sub menu select Calendar.
2. Once the wizard opens, select On the network from the available options and click Nextclick Continue.
3. Choose Google Calendar from the available types of calendars and paste or enter the URL to your calendar. click Nextclick Continue.
4. In this pane, you can select an existing session or enter your Google email address to create a new session. Click click Nextclick Continue to continue.
5. A popup appears in which you will enter your GMail username (with or without the @gmail.com part) and password and choose whether you want Lightning to save your password. Once you click click Nextclick Continue, Lightning will give you an option to select calendars and tasks you would like to subscribe to.
6. After selecting tasks and calendars, click Nextclick Continue and your calendar will be created providing you with two-way access to your google-calendar.

There's still some limitations with using the google-calendar, please see the GData provider page on wiki.mozilla.org.