Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

0 points

Merge/import older iCal files to newer iCal?

I'm trying to merge/import old iCal files from a circa-2005 iMac to my MacBook Pro (purchased in Dec. 2010). The files were pulled directly from the iMac onto an external hard drive, before the failing iMac stopped working completely. My iCal won't recognize the old files for importing. I just came back from the local Apple store Genius Bar, and the person there was stumped in whatever he tried. Is there a method for resurrecting these older iCal files? Thanks very much in advance for any help offered.

Posted on Feb 16, 2012 9:32 AM

19 replies

MrMur Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 7, 2012 8:56 AM in response to John Maisey

Holy smoke, John, it worked! Ran like a top! Your magic script took all those iCal files and plugged the info into all the dates. I now have valuable reference points in my calendar going back to 2006 -- kind of like a personal history refresher course!

I am both in awe and in your debt. I suspect you took much time to figure out that scripts, and I am very grateful. If you plan to be in the States at some point, I will buy you a pint.

MrMur

Mar 7, 2012 10:24 AM in response to MrMur

I'm glad you found it helpful.

MrMur wrote:

If you plan to be in the States at some point, I will buy you a pint.

I'll have to take you up on that some day. 🙂

GaleK14

Level 1

0 points

Jan 31, 2013 3:22 PM in response to John Maisey

Hey John,

I am having a similar problem and hoped you might be able to assist. I am x-fering all of my data from my MacBook OS X (V 10.4.11) to my new MacBookPro (V.10.8.2) I have been able to move over all of my data, but I am having issues importing my iCal .ics file. I have tried exporting "home.ics" and "corestorage.ics" when I import them onto the new laptop I receive the following error "Calendar can't read this calendar file. No events have been added to your calendar." Additionally, the laptop is rather old so it does not have iCloud so I cannot move over the files in that manner, I have tried both veritations of your script and have received the following error "0 of 0 events recovered."

Lastly, iCal on old laptop is v 2.0.5 and Calendar on new MacBookPro is v 10.8.2

Thank you in advance,

-G

Jan 31, 2013 4:20 PM in response to GaleK14

Hi Gale,

The scripts above are for a particular type of file that iCal used to make, not .ics files. It will not work on .ics files.

It is going to be hard to find out what is stopping your .ics files transferring without looking at them.

You could try making a calendar on the old machine with a single event in and exporting the calendar and re-imorting it into Calendar on the new mac. If that works it os probably due to some corruption in the data of the other files.

Best wishes

John M

Merge/import older iCal files to newer iCal?