importing .ics file from Exchange into iCal v2 for Tiger

Upgrading to Leopard will not overcome this challenge. I have the same challenge in 10.5.3. From what I've been able to learn the issue is:
+ There is an industry standard called iCal (not to be confused with Apple's iCal program) for the sending and receiving of calendar events ... similar to the vCard industry standard.
+ Microsoft's handling of iCal is slightly different from this standard the net effect is that Microsoft programs can read other's ics files but we can't read theirs.

So why doesn't Apple respond to this issue? I receive many email invites that include links to Exchange event files and the only way I can find to get the meeting into iCal is to type the information in manually. Pretty sad.

I've searched the Apple site, and the Internet, and I have yet to find a workable solution.

What's up Apple?

Hold on... The issue is caused by Microsoft not adhering to industry standards, and you're asking why Apple don't address it?!

Unfair isn't it? Reality is seldom fair - MS dominates the commercial world and MS Exchange is the predominant email server. MS likes proprietary solutions and, as the 800 lb gorilla, is unlikely to fix the problem.

So, either Apple finds a fix or it excludes iCal as a usable application in most corporate environments.

I wish it were otherwise. But I've been wishing this since 1984.

Hi,

YAI was written to try and fix these sorts of things. See http://www.nhoj.co.uk/youreinvited . It works as long as the invite email contains the iCalendar .ics file. If the .ics attachment is not there it will not work.

The Outlook user can set up Outlook so all their invites are readable beyond their local Exchange. This preference just adds the iCalendar .ics file to the email. See this Microsoft how-to: <http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HP052818711033.aspx>

I agree that Mail/iCal should be able to do this natively. Apple say Snow Leopard will (see http://www.apple.com/macosx/snowleopard/ ).

Thanks

John M

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Nice advert. Doesn't help.