iCal/Outlook

I've been trying to do the same thing. I export my calender from Ical and try to import it to Outlook but everytime I try to import the Ical file, Outlook gives me a message that the file is corrupt.

I thought Ical was compatible with Outlook or so Apple says?

I'm using Outlook2Mac to import calendar information from Outlook into my iCal. However, it doesn't work in the other direction. So, I tried copying new calendar entries in iCal into an e-mail and copy it from the e-mail into Outlook. However, the .ics files are always empty, i.e. there is no text/content in them.

iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

I get the same type of issue. I send a calendar event to someone and if they are running outlook they get a message saying they can't import the event. Very annoying. But probably MS doing their thing!

Anyone find a solution to this issue?

Outlook requires a line in the ics file that ical doesn't use. According to the iCalendar specs, it's not a required value, but MS apparently decided that it is.

Add this after the BEGIN line

METHOD:PUBLISH

And Outlook will then import the file.

method is already set to publish just at line 5... and it is not very convenient to paste this line everytime you send an invitation...

I also found that Outlook doesn't like time zone data such as:

DTSTART;TZID=US/Eastern:20020912T114500

If you remove the ";TZID=US/Eastern", it's okay but if you're dealing with a time zone different to Outlook's settings, your times will be off.

I agree, it's not convenient at all. Outlook also doesn't update events, so if you change an event and re-import it, it's added as a new event (even though the event has a unique identifier).

This is how Outlook works - it requires optional data, it doesn't understand standard data and it doesn't implement the features called for in the spec.

I like how the message from Outlook says that the file is corrupt when in actuality, it's the program that's corrupt.

PowerBook G4 12" & PowrMac G4 "Mystic" Mac OS X (10.4.5)

I finally figured it out. I use outlook at work and ical at home. If you have an iPod you can do it.

Her are the steps:
1. Download iAppoint from the web. Follow the directions
If you can't find it, let me know.
2. Sync your ipods calendar at home on your mac.

That's it. Let me know if this worked.

Today strated to use a mio a701 pda with gps based on windows mobile 5, the ical invitation send to my pc now is synched to my pda automatically.. if i open the attached ics attachement it now opens without a hitch... and funny enough it is then automatically synchronised with my outlook at the pc... so where outlook 2003 will occasionally open (with wrong times!) but in general refuses to open ics files from ical, the windows mobile 5 version does it flawless...

I am using two laptops, on pc, one mac, because neither one is perfect. Microsoft understood how important compatibility was from the beginning, because they gave their earliest os's away for free, knowing the subsequent incompatibility issues could make their software the industry standard without having to be the best quality. Might not end during my lifetime, but I've gotten to the point where I don't expect it to. There has been zero solutions to Outlook proprietary mail and calendar problems in these forums. My suggestion is, it is Springtime, go mow the lawn, all mowers are compatible with all lawns.

I am looking at this as one patch
Just thought I would share:
http://remotecalendars.sourceforge.net/