daxdavies
Level 1 (8 points)
Mac OS X

Q: iCal on my mac then merging with iCloud

I would like to use iCal to automate a task every evening, which I have tried to do through iCal. I want iCl to open a specific program to back up my photography catalog at a specific time (whilst I am asleep), then close it in the morbibg before I wake up. I have used the custom alert to do this, which works for a day or two, then iCloud deletes the custom alert and all I am left with is a reminder with no action.

 

Ideally I would like to create a reminder only 'on my mac' as I don't want this reminder popping up on my other Apple devices as it is only relevant to my iMac 27 (my work computer).

 

I have tried to create a calendar that is only 'on my mac' which I have done by turning off iCloud, making a calendar, creating the custom reminder with the custom alert, then turning it back on again. The only problem is iCloud absorbs that new 'on my mac' calendar and subsequently turns off the custom alert, so I am no further forward by doing this.

 

Please can someone help as this is so annoying. Why have you done this Apple? Not everybody wants everything in the iCloud all the time!

 

Thanks in advance.

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 18, 2016 12:16 PM

by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer
Barney-15E Barney-15E
Level 8 (49,784 points)
Mac OS X
A:

I have tried to create a calendar that is only 'on my mac' which I have done by turning off iCloud, making a calendar, creating the custom reminder with the custom alert, then turning it back on again.

That isn't the way to do it.

If you do not have Birthdays calendar enabled, do that temporarily.

Select the Birthdays calendar in the Calendar List.

Right-click below the Birthdays calendar in the Calendar List and choose New Calendar. That will create a local calendar.

Disable the Birthdays calendar if not wanted.

Posted on Aug 20, 2016 11:58 AM

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daxdavies

Q: iCal on my mac then merging with iCloud

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  • Helpful answers

  • by becky_s22,

    becky_s22 becky_s22 Aug 19, 2016 9:01 AM in response to daxdavies
    Community Specialists
    Aug 19, 2016 9:01 AM in response to daxdavies

    Hello daxdavies,


    Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities. I know having an issue with the Calendar app on your Mac is not what you expect. If I understand correctly, you are unable to make and keep an “On My Mac” calendar, as when you enable iCloud, the “On My Mac” gets merged with the iCloud calendar and gets synced to your other devices. I personally tested this and was not able to replicate, so here is what I suggest to narrow down and resolve your issue:


    1. Use Safe Mode to start up your Mac so that it performs certain checks, delete system cache files, verifies your startup disk, and attempts to repair directory issues if needed. Test this issue by disabling your iCloud calendar and creating the “On My Mac” calendar and event, then restarting your Mac and re-enabling the iCloud calendar.


    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up
    Limited graphics performance in OS X recovery or safe mode


    2. If you're still having an issue, you can figure out if unexpected behavior is related to user file or setting by trying to reproduce the issue from another user account. This process includes creating a new user account, logging in to it, and testing for the issue.

    How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac


    Cheers!

  • by daxdavies,

    daxdavies daxdavies Aug 20, 2016 3:49 AM in response to becky_s22
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 20, 2016 3:49 AM in response to becky_s22

    Hi becky_s22

     

    I tried the above methods and both times the iCloud merged the on my mac calendar into the iCloud list and subsequently deleted the custom actions I had set for that calendar.

     

    I have attached a few screen grabs for you...

    Screen Shot 2016-08-20 at 11.41.22-1440.png

     

    The yellow scheduled task calendar as shown here is one I created with my principal iCloud account and had been subsequently moved to the iCloud server.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-08-20 at 11.42.18-1440.png

     

    The purple calendar under iCloud here is the one I created in the new user account, then when I logged in using my iCloud account it uploaded it to the server without asking me.

     

    Any ideas?

     

    Thank you for helping me with this - it is so frustrating. I wish Apple would create a standalone scheduler that didn't involve your calendar - this seems messy and outdated.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Aug 20, 2016 4:47 AM in response to daxdavies
    Level 8 (49,784 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 20, 2016 4:47 AM in response to daxdavies

    That method has been replaced with Automator Calendar Alarms.

    When you create the Calendar Alarm in Automator, it will create a local calendar called "Automator" and create a single event which you can copy.

     

    If you need help creating the steps in Automator, just ask.

  • by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Aug 20, 2016 11:58 AM in response to daxdavies
    Level 8 (49,784 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 20, 2016 11:58 AM in response to daxdavies

    I have tried to create a calendar that is only 'on my mac' which I have done by turning off iCloud, making a calendar, creating the custom reminder with the custom alert, then turning it back on again.

    That isn't the way to do it.

    If you do not have Birthdays calendar enabled, do that temporarily.

    Select the Birthdays calendar in the Calendar List.

    Right-click below the Birthdays calendar in the Calendar List and choose New Calendar. That will create a local calendar.

    Disable the Birthdays calendar if not wanted.

  • by daxdavies,

    daxdavies daxdavies Aug 20, 2016 5:41 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 20, 2016 5:41 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Thanks Barney-15E - that seems to have solved the problem!