About This Feature
Syncing Disco events with a personal calendar ensures that attendees never miss important community events. By integrating Disco with your calendar service, or by using ICS files in event emails, users can conveniently manage their schedules and receive reminders.
How It Works
Disco offers two methods for syncing events with personal calendars:
- Direct Calendar Integration: Users can connect their Google or Outlook account to Disco. Upon RSVPing, events are automatically written to their calendar without needing ICS files. This is the preferred method if you use Google or Outlook calendars.
- ICS Files: For users not using Outlook or Google, Disco sends an ICS file via email upon RSVPing. This file can be added to any calendar that supports ICS files, ensuring the event is synced. This is the default option, until a Google or Outlook calendar is connected.
How To Add Events to your Calendar
Option 1: Connect Your Calendar to Disco
This is the recommended method to sync events to your calendar for those who use Google or Outlook for their email and calendar.
Connecting an External Calendar
- From the Events page, click the ⋮ in the top-right corner, and click “Connect External Calendar”. The Profile Setting screen will open. (Alternatively, click your avatar in the bottom left, and click “My Profile” to navigate to this screen.)
- Under the “Connections” tab, select your calendar provider.
- Follow the prompts to grant the necessary permissions. Note that some permissions may appear intrusive, but they are required for full functionality.
- Once connected, when RSVPing to an event, Disco will automatically add the event to the user's calendar calendar, and update the calendar if the event is updated.
Disconnecting an External Calendar
- Click your avatar in the bottom left, and navigate to “My Profile”, then the “Connections” tabs.
- Click the ⋮ next to the calendar to be removed.
- Select “Disconnect Calendar”.
- Decide whether you would like to keep existing events on your calendar, or remove them. Click “Disconnect”.
Option 2: Leverage ICS Files in Event Emails
This is the default option, until you connect an external calendar. This is the preferred method if you are using Apple Calendar.
- When RSVPing to an event, an email will be sent confirming attendance. This email contains an attachment, with file format ICS. This attachment creates an event on the user’s calendar.
- If an event is updated or canceled, an email will be sent with an updated ICS file, and this change will be reflected in the calendar.
Important Considerations
- Outlook and Google Permissions: The permissions required for integration to an external calendar may appear intrusive, but they are necessary for full functionality.
- When connecting an external calendar, only events that the user has RSVP'ed to will appear in the calendar. The user will not see calendar events for events they have been invited, but not RSVP'ed to.
FAQs
Q: What happens if I disconnect my external account from Disco?
A: When disconnecting an external, you will have the option to either remove all upcoming events from their calendar or leave them. Once you disconnect, you will start receiving ICS files for future events.
Q: Can I sync events from multiple communities to different calendars?
A: Currently, all events from different communities will be synced to the same calendar.
Q: Will I receive updates if an event changes or is canceled?
A: Yes, whether you are using the external calendar connection or receiving ICS files via email, if an event is updated (or canceled), your calendar will be updated.
Q: Can members set up their calendar during onboarding?
A: Yes, as part of member onboarding, members can be prompted to connect an external calendar. Admins can configure whether they want members to see the calendar connection step by going to Admin > Members > Onboarding, and toggling on/off the "Connect calendar" step. We strongly recommend turning this on.