Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

cgc · Oct 27, 2010, 04:00 PM

Does anyone know an easy way to migrate calendars from iCal to Outlook 2011? I can think of a few ways but they're definitely not straightforward and I'd like something simple if possible. Why can't iCal export a .csv?

Spheric Harlot · Oct 27, 2010, 04:29 PM

Turn on syncing in Outlook's preferences?

Or did they remove that feature in 2011?

cgc · Oct 27, 2010, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

Turn on syncing in Outlook's preferences?

Or did they remove that feature in 2011?

That only synced the Outlook's Addressbook with the OSX one.

cgc · Oct 27, 2010, 07:27 PM

Found the solution:

1. Export iCal calendars as .ics files
2. Go to the Calendar in Outlook
3. Drag and drop the .ics file on to the Outlook calendar and it imports it

If Apple wrote Outlook I'd have expected this behavior...good job MS (but it still should be in the Import dialog thing...sheesh).

mrrwthird · Jan 10, 2011, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by cgc

Found the solution:

1. Export iCal calendars as .ics files
2. Go to the Calendar in Outlook
3. Drag and drop the .ics file on to the Outlook calendar and it imports it

If Apple wrote Outlook I'd have expected this behavior...good job MS (but it still should be in the Import dialog thing...sheesh).

-No, this doesn't work. Does anyone have a real working solution to export iCal calendars to Outlook 2011, since iCal seems deliberately written to make migration/export difficult?

Spheric Harlot · Jan 10, 2011, 05:57 PM

Actually, in my experience, it's always been Outlook that tries its very damndest to discourage people from actually using it.

cgc · Jan 10, 2011, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by mrrwthird

-No, this doesn't work. Does anyone have a real working solution to export iCal calendars to Outlook 2011, since iCal seems deliberately written to make migration/export difficult?

This works like a champ; I've done it numerous times and I just did it again. I think you're overlooking the fact it's added as "uncategorized" and the calendar is not ticked or active. Once you add the calendar by dragging the .ics file onto the actual (monthly) calendar in Outlook 2011, you need to go to the calendar listing on the left-hand column and check the box next to "uncategorized" and it should show up. I can make a screen recording if you'd like but it should be simple once you look at the right spot.

nityad · Apr 23, 2011, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by cgc

This works like a champ; I've done it numerous times and I just did it again. I think you're overlooking the fact it's added as "uncategorized" and the calendar is not ticked or active. Once you add the calendar by dragging the .ics file onto the actual (monthly) calendar in Outlook 2011, you need to go to the calendar listing on the left-hand column and check the box next to "uncategorized" and it should show up. I can make a screen recording if you'd like but it should be simple once you look at the right spot.

Thank you for this post, but I would love some more help. After dragging the .ics files into the calendar grid/list, I knew it worked due to some alarms that popped up. But I cannot find the place to select "uncategorized" events. Could you please let me know where this is located. There is no option on the left hand column for me.

nityad · Apr 23, 2011, 04:25 PM

You have to make sure you have not checked the option to Hide the "On My Computer" folders. Once you make them visible, the .ics files you drag/dropped will appear.

Outlook > Preferences > General
Make sure to uncheck the box next to "Hide On My Computer folders".

cgc · Apr 24, 2011, 08:00 AM

If you install the Office 2011 Service Pack you can sync iCal and Outlook. Syncrospector should be in your Utilities folder...