Importing Hebcal entries into PDA or desktop calendar program

This page tells you how to import Jewish Calendar data from the hebcal.com website into your desktop calendar program.

• Outlook CSV
• Outlook - Removal of Hebcal entries
• Outlook - incorrect dates for events
• Apple iCal
• Palm Date Book Archive (DBA)
• USA Holidays for Palm DBA
• Lotus Notes 6

Outlook CSV [#csv]

First, you'll need to download an Outlook CSV file from hebcal.com:

1. Go to http://www.hebcal.com/hebcal/
2. Fill out the form with your preferences and click the "Get Calendar" button
3. Click on the "Export calendar to Palm, Outlook, iCal, etc." link
4. In the "Export Outlook CSV file" section, click on the hebcal_DATE_LOCATION_usa.csv or the hebcal_DATE_LOCATION_eur.csv link (depending on whether you want USA or European date formats).
5. When prompted, specify a convenient name and location for the hebcal_DATE_LOCATION.csv file in the "Save As" dialogue box. We recommend saving the file on the Desktop

Next, import that file into Outlook:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook
2. Select the File -> Import and Export... menu option
3. Select "Import from another program or file" and click Next
4. Select "Comma Separated Values (Windows)" and click Next
5. Find the hebcal_DATE_LOCATION.csv file you downloaded and select "Do not import duplicate items" and click Next
6. Selct Calendar and click Next. This will import your chosen file
7. (optional) Synchronize your Pocket PC or Palm handheld with Outlook

For specific instructions for a particular version of Outlook, please see the "How to Import Text Data" section of one of these articles:

• Outlook 97
• Outlook 98
• Outlook 2000
• Outlook 2002 and 2003

Outlook - Removal of Hebcal entries [#csv-remove]

When hebcal exports to CSV format, it puts the text "Jewish Holidays" in the Location field. That is there to make it easy to remove entries from your calendar if you got the wrong settings. For example, if you were using candle-lighting times but entered the wrong zip code, you could follow these instructions to remove all of the incorrect entries:

1. Open your Calendar and on the View menu point to Current View and click Events
2. Click the Location column heading to sort the list of holidays by Location (you should see "Jewish Holidays" in the location field for the holidays that you imported from CSV)
3. Click to select the first holiday you want to delete
4. Hold down SHIFT and click the last holiday you want to delete
5. Press DELETE to remove all the selected holidays from your Calendar

1. Open your Calendar and on the View menu point to Current View and click Active Appointments
2. Do steps 2-5 above

Outlook - incorrect dates for events [#outlook-dateformat]

Some users have a mismatch between the date format they are downloading (USA vs. European) and the setting you're using in your control panel. This usually results in events that were supposed to take place, for example, on September 2nd instead showing up on February 9th (i.e. the date "9/2" vs. the date "2/9").

To find out if you've got a mismatch, go to "Regional Options" Control Panel and pick "Date", and compare the date format you're using. For example:

If it says "M/d/yyyy" like mine does, download the USA format from hebcal.com. If it says "dd-MMM-yy", be sure to download European format from hebcal.com.

Apple iCal [#ical]

Here is how to subscribe to an iCalendar ICS file from hebcal.com:

1. Go to http://www.hebcal.com/hebcal/
2. Fill out the form with your preferences and click the "Get Calendar" button
3. Click on the "Export calendar to Palm, Outlook, iCal, etc." link
4. Click on the "subscribe" link in the "Apple iCal (and other iCalendar-enabled applications)" section
5. Apple iCal will start up
6. Click Subscribe in the "Subscribe to:" dialog box
7. Click OK in the next dialog box
8. (optional) Use iSync to synchronize data to your Palm or iPod

If you're looking for a 10-year iCal feed, see also our Jewish Calendar downloads for Apple iCal page.

Palm Date Book Archive (DBA) [#dba]

First, you'll need to download a Palm DBA file from hebcal.com:

1. Go to http://www.hebcal.com/hebcal/
2. Fill out the form with your preferences and click the "Get Calendar" button
3. Click on the "Export calendar to Palm, Outlook, iCal, etc." link
4. In the "Palm Desktop for Windows" section, click on the "Export Palm Date Book Archive: hebcal_DATE_LOCATION.dba" link
5. When prompted, specify a convenient name and location for the hebcal_DATE_LOCATION.dba file in the "Save As" dialogue box. We recommend saving the file on the Desktop

Next, import that file into Palm Desktop:

1. Open Palm Desktop for Windows version 2.0 or greater
2. Go to the Date Book view
3. Select the File -> Import menu option
4. Find the hebcal_DATE_LOCATION.dba file and choose Open. This will import the chosen file
5. HotSync data to your Palm handheld

USA Holidays for Palm DBA [#dba-usa]

Some folks have asked about USA holidays such as Thanksgiving, Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc.

Download DateBook+ Holiday updater from PdaWax.com and follow the instructions enclosed in the zip file.

Lotus Notes 6 [#lotus-notes]

Lotus Notes is not supported by hebcal.com. These instructions were provided by hebcal.com user Bruce Kahn. Your mileage may vary.

1. Start Notes
2. Create a new mail memo
3. Attach the iCalendar file you just downloaded and save the memo as Draft
4. Open the Draft memo up and right click on the attachment
5. From the popup select "View" to see all entries in the file
6. Select those you wish to import and then click on Import Selected or Import All
7. Delete the Draft mail memo

Unfortunately there is no direct Import ability for iCalendar data so the steps above are necessary for now. Hopefully this will change in the future.