We are all busy with day to day appointments, meetings, and places to be. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to check on a friend or colleague's schedule before trying to hook up with them? Well, today there are several ways to create a calendar online, that you can share (if you want). The advantage of having an online calendar is that a) its available for those you want to see it, and b) you can update it from anywhere you can access the internet via a computer.
AOL, Yahoo, Microsoft, Hotmail, and most major email providers now have versions of online calendars that you can use, and they're free. Simply sign in to your email (or register for a new email account at the site), and you are ready to go!
The system I have found very convenient is provided by Google. I will show how to set up a Google Calendar since I use theirs, but the above mentioned sites all work in a similar fashion.
All set? Here goes...
The 1st thing to do is go to www.google.com/Calendar. Once there, you can click on the "Take a tour of Google Calendar", or get right at it, setting up your calendar. If you already have a GMail account, just long in with it to get started. If you do not, click on the "Create an Account" button.
Creating an Account:
- Enter your email address in the 1st boxFill in remaining information
- Hit enter.
- Check your email account, and look for a Verification email from GCalendar.
- Once you click on the verification link you are now a proud owner of a Google Calendar (or GCalendar as us "tekkies" refer to it!) :-)
- Click on the calendar day you want to put the apointment on (calendar at left).
- The window will change to that day. Note, if you have a multi-day event, drag your mouse across the days you want in the calendar at the left, and those days will show in the window for you to select.
- Let's say you have a 3 day vacation planned for Labor Day, so Click on Aug. 30th, and drag across to Sept. 1st, and those 3 days appear
- Next, drag your mouse across the 3 boxes at the top (just onder the dates (Sat 8/30, Sun 8/31, and Mon 9/01)
- You'll see a little window pop up. Click on "edit event details". This will open a window where you can put in all the details of your 3 day event (Event Name, Whether it repeats, Location, Description (here you can list itinerary, contact numbers, etc.), Options (want a reminder sent to you? Want to be shown as "busy" during this time?)and sharing (Want this to be shared, or kept private?)
- Hit Save, and that's it!
OK, so what about "sharing your calendar? As you saw, the options allow you to determine what can be shared, and what will remain private. Let's say you wanted your spouse, or say, your investment club to be able to see your calendar. Here's how you do that.
Sharing a Calendar:
On the LH side of your calendar, you'll see "My calendars". Your name should be there. Click on the "Settings" link just below it. Here you will now be able to determine who can see the calendar. Simply do the following to provide them access:
- Enter the person's email address
- Determine the level of access you want them to have (click on "down" arrow in the white box underneath PERMISSION SETTINGS)
- Click on "Add Person" button
Other "Tweaks"
There are some other cool things you can do. If your friends also have GCalendars, you can add them to yours so you can see their schedules right next to yours. Simply do the following:
- Click on the "Add" link underneather the "Other Calendars" box on the left
- Select the option you want (choose a person's email address), and hit "Add"
- This sends them a request to add their calendar to your calendar. If they are not a GCalendar user, it will ask them if they want to create one.
- If they do add theirs to your list, it will show up in your list of "My Calendars" on the Left. It will be a different color, and their events will now show in that color on your calendar.
- You have the option to turn their calendar "on" or "off" any time (use "settings" under "Other Calendars".
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