iCal Sync Problems

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Level 1

12 points

iCal Sync Problems

What is the problem with iCal sync? I run it every night via a USB connection between my iMac (Intel i5, OS X 10.6.8) and my iPhone (4S, 5.1.1), because I am constantly updating my schedule on both machines. I am starting to lose track of the number of times the calendars on the two devices look different after syncing. The main problem seems to be with recurring events, which are the bulk of what I update. I will erase one occurrence of an event on one device, but it will still appear on the other. Or I will change one occurrence of an event on one device, and all subsequent occurrences of the event disappear on the other. Some recurring events, after being tweaked, mysteriously show up twice on one device (but not the other).

What is the story here?? I have been a mac/iPhone/iCal user for 3+ years, and I think all this stuff was fine until the last year or so. It might be time for me to switch to a different calendar system.

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Nov 28, 2012 10:02 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 29, 2012 10:14 AM in response to Tnedde

Maybe try the instructions posted here :

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3773522?start=0&tstart=0

It's in the seventh post down submitted by rorygilmore.

I've just fixed my iPad/iCal/iMac sync problems using his instructions.

Worth a go!

Joolster

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Answer 2

Tnedde Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 29, 2012 9:52 PM in response to The Joolster

Thanks for the tip. Step 6 says:

"Within the Advanced section of the Info tab for the Apple iPhone, check the box the overwrites/replaces the Calendar data on the Apple iPhone."

But I would prefer not to completely override my iPhone calendars by my desktop calendars, since I have several newer entries in the iPhone calendars. Is there a way to avoid this?

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Answer 3

Nov 30, 2012 3:39 AM in response to Tnedde

As far as I understand the sequence, there's no way to avoid overwriting your iPhone calendars, but I'm sure someone will put me right if I'm wrong.

Synchronising means causing something to occur or operate in unison. Therefore the whole point of "sync" is for your calendars to share their data so that they hold the same information. If you want your phone calendars to differ from those on your desktop then perhaps "sync" isn't what you need!

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Answer 4

Tnedde Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 30, 2012 7:25 AM in response to The Joolster

I certainly want the two calendars to be in unison. But sometimes I update the calendars on my phone, sometimes on my computer. That was all getting sorted out nicely via sync--it seems that it automatically implemented the most recent changes on both calendars, regardless of which device the change was entered on. And wherever there was a question of which calendar to follow, it presented me with a choice. This is my understanding of how sync should work.

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Answer 5

Nov 30, 2012 7:50 AM in response to Tnedde

Sorry I misunderstood you.

So, on the basis that you do want your calendars to sync...

First off, I think in order to fix the sync problems you've been having, you'll have to carry out the complete replacement of calendar information on your iPhone with data from your desktop.

For any unsynced entries in your phone, I'd suggest you note them down then enter them into your desktop calendars before overwriting. Alternatively, you could do your overwrite then re-enter them into your phone afterwards. Hopefully on your next sync they'll appear in your desktop calendars.

I don't know how many entries you have (hope not too many) but I can't see any other way around it.

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Answer 6

Tnedde Author

Level 1

12 points

Dec 10, 2012 10:23 PM in response to Tnedde

I finally got around to trying this, and nope, didn't work. Which is to say, the syncing process is still unpredictable. After resetting the sync history and restoring the old calendars, I tested the syncing process in two ways. On my iPhone, I added a new event, and I deleted all future occurences of a weekly event. After syncing with my iMac, the new event showed up on the iMac, but the recurring event continued to recur past its end date.

This is really ridiculous. Does anyone have any further ideas of how I can fix this? And why does Apple have such an obvious, shoddy bug in such a popular product? Is it fixed in newer versions of iCal? (I've been avoiding iPhone OS 6 because I hear that the new Maps app is bad.)

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Answer 7

Dec 11, 2012 1:35 AM in response to Tnedde

Sorry to hear it didn't work. I hope someone with more knowledge comes up with a solution for you.

Best of luck.

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