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Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Mat Newman  June 8 2016 18:43:29
The topic of Shared or Group Calendars has come up a lot recently during discussions with Customers.  The main requirement is a calendar which can have multiple people assigned to managing the Calendar content, in addition to this Calendar having full Calendaring and Scheduling (C&S) functionality for things like sending meeting invitations to Internal or External recipients, receiving replies, sending update notifications, reschedules, repeats, etc.  In other words, a "Generic" Calendar that doesn't belong to a specific person, and can be managed by any number of people.

The other requirement was to make this Calendar visible when accessed by users out of the office on their mobile device. In a future blog, I'll share how to add this newly created calendar to anyone's IBM Traveler/Verse Mobile calendar who needs to see the calendar when they're mobile.

This functionality isn't difficult to create (of course! it's Notes!), but I couldn't find the steps for it anywhere for the customers to follow, hence ... here it is.

In our demonstration below, the calendar will simply have the title "The Group Calendar".

The Steps: an Overview
  1. Create a Mail-In Database document to control the Database (calendar) profile,
  2. Create the Database,
  3. Change the "Owner" of the Database in the Profile,
  4. Change the "Launch" option for the database,
  5. Add users through the Calendar Profile "Access and Delegation" who will be able to Read/Edit the Calendar Content.

It's as simple as that. Now for the Details.

1. Create a Mail-In Database document to control the Database (calendar) profile:

The Mail-In Database document is required for two reasons:
  • It enables the Domino Server to understand that your Shared Calendar has it's own Internal and External (if required) address for the purposes of C&S routing,
  • The "Name" used in the Mail-In database document can be assigned as the Calendar Profile "owner" in the database, hence Meeting Invitations, etc, that are created by the calendar will come from this "Name", ie: "The Group Calendar" mentioned earlier

Your calendar can have any name you require, for example if you are creating a calendar for your Marketing department, you might call it "Marketing Calendar", IT: "IT Calendar", etc...

The huge tip here is that the "Name" assigned in the Mail-In Database document must be in canonical (ie: Notes) format, otherwise you will not be able to choose this name later when assigning it as the "Owner" of the database.

To create the Mail-In Database configuration document:
  • Navigate to the "Mail In Databases and Resources" view in your Domino Directory,
  • Choose "Add Mail In Database" (note: you may require Administrator access to add this type of record),
  • Complete the fields to configure the Mail In Database,
  • Save and Close.

Figure 1: The Mail In Database and Resources view from the Domino Directory
Figure 1: The Mail In Database and Resources view from the Domino Directory


Figure 2: The Mail In Database document with all fields completed
Figure 2: The Mail In Database document with all fields completed

The key fields in the Mail In Database document are the Name, whether it has an internet address assigned, and then the Domino mail routing information that will enable the database to receive Email/C&S notices.
FIELD EXAMPLE DESCRIPTION
Mail-in Name The Group Calenda/yourorganisation
Description (Optional) Why this record exists
Internet Address thegroupcalendar@your.internet.com Required if you want to send or receive C&S information with users outside of your corganisation
Internet Message Storage No Preference Determines if message conversion will be done by the server
Encrypt Incoming Mail No No recommended in this instance
Mail Server Settings
Domain YourDomain The Notes Domain within which this database resides
Server yourserver/yourorganisation The "Home" mail server which will be used to host this database
File name: mail\thefilename.nsf The actual Database File Name


Once you have completed the fields in the Mail In Database document, Save and Close the record.

2. Create the Database:

Now it's time to create the database itself.
  • On your Keyboard, [Ctrl]+[N], or from the menu in IBM Notes or IBM Domino Adminstrator [File] -> [Application] -> [New],
  • Complete the Database choices in the New Database dialog box,
  • Choose OK

Figure 3: The New Application dialog, with all options completed
Figure 3: The New Application dialog, with all fields completed

Option EXAMPLE DESCRIPTION
Server Your server/yourorganisation This should match the Server used in step 1
Title The Group Calendar This is the descriptive name for this shared calendar, it will be visible to anyone browsing applications on the server, and in Domino features such as the "Application Catalog"
File Name mail\thefilename.nsf The actual location of the database on the (Server), Note: This should match the location specified in the Mail In Database record created earlier
Template server can be LOCAL or SERVER Both the local Notes software and the Domino server host the "Mail" template
Template Mail (R9) The Mail Template will be used for this database since it contains all the required C&S Functionality



3. Change the "Owner" of the Database in the Profile:

Upon opening the Database for the first time, the creator will be prompted to change the "owner" value in the "Mail File Preferences"

Figure 4: Prompt to change the owner
Figure 4: Prompt to change the owner

To complete this step:
  • From the Database "Action Bar", choose [More] -> [Preferences],
  • Next to the "Owner" field choose [Change],
  • Choose [Yes] to confirm the Owner Name Change,
  • Browse through your Domino Directory to locate the Mail In Database name created at Step.1.
  • Choose [OK] to confirm the Name,
  • Choose [OK] to modify the Mail File Preferences


Figure 5: Accessing the Database Preferences
Figure 5: Accessing the Database Preferences


Figure 6: Changing the Owner
Figure 6: Changing the Owner


Figure 7: Confirm - "Owner Name Change'
Figure 7: Confirm - 'Owner Name Change'


Figure 8: Select the 'Mail In Database' created earlier at step 1 as the new owner
Figure 8: Select the 'Mail In Database' created earlier at step 1 as the new owner



4. Change the "Launch" option for the Database:

This one is pretty simple. You've created the database for the purpose of Shared Calandering, right? So it only makes sense that when the database is opened (whether from a Notes open dialog, or by accessing it using one of the many Notes calendar features available) that the Database should open automatically to the Calendar view, rather than the Mail view.

The process for changing the database to open to the Calendar, rather than the Mail view is really simple:
  • Access the Database Properties, [File] -> [Application] -> [Properties] ( or [Alt]+[Enter] on your Keyboard),
  • Switch to the "Launch" Tab,
  • Change the Notes Launch options from "MailFS" (the default) to "CalendarFS"
  • Close the Database Properties dialog
  • Close the Database

When re-opened, the database should now open directly into the "Calendar" view, as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 9: Accessing the Database Properties
Figure 9: Accessing the Database Properties


Figure 10: Changing the 'Launch' option from Mail (MailFS) to Calendar (CalendarFS)
Figure 10: Changing the 'Launch' option from Mail (MailFS) to Calendar (CalendarFS)


Figure 11: The newly configured Shared Calendar database, opening directly to the Calendar View
Figure 11: The newly configured Shared Calendar database, opening directly to the Calendar View



5. Add users through the Calendar Profile "Access and Delegation" who will be able to Read/Edit the Calendar Content:

Finally, managing access to the new shared calendar is pretty straight forward, and can be done without modifying the Database Access Control List (ACL), simply by changing the delegation options within the Database Profile to include the users or groups who will have the ability to Manage the calendar content, or to simply Read the content of the shared Calendar.

To Add or Remove people from the Calendar's "Access and Delegation" list, follow these steps:
  • From the Database "Action Bar", choose [More] -> [Preferences]  (see Figure 5: Accessing the Database Preferences, above),
  • Go to the Access and Delegation Tab of the Database Preferences,
  • Next to "Delegate access to these people or groups:", Choose the [Add...] button
  • In the "Add People/Groups" dialog, Choose an Individual or group who you are assigning access, choose whether they will be able to create/manage or only read the Calendar,
  • Choose Ok
  • Choose Ok to close the Calendar Preferences

Figure 12: The Database 'Access and Delegation' dialog
Figure 12: The Database 'Access and Delegation' dialog


Figure 13: Adding a User or Group to the Calendar access profile
Figure 13: Adding a User or Group to the Calendar access profile



And that's IT!

You now have a Database configured as a shared calendar, which can be accessed by anyone who is added to the Calendar Delegation Profile, and which can send an receive Calendar Invitations and Notices with full IBM Notes C&S functionality.

In the next blog, I'll show you how to set up this calendar as an overlay in your own Notes client, and how you can then access the shared calendar when on a mobile device with IBM Traveler/Verse mobile.

Enjoy!!




Comments

1Robert Read  06/09/2016 13:36:08  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Thank you for this greatly appreciated.

Can see a great use putting staff leave into it from another application so everyone can have in their calendar who is away.

Rob

2Mat Newman

06/09/2016 16:03:57  Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

@1, Rob: Exactly one of the use cases expressed by another customer mate. Others included a central reservation system which integrated into a room booking tool, and another was the ability to see who within a team was meeting with a certain vendor. Certainly anyone who works with a team normally has a requirement to see a single view of all the meetings their team is scheduling and/or attending. A shared calendar - which includes full C&S capabilities - makes it easy for everyone to simply invite the shared calendar to automatically publish their schedule to the wider team.

Mat Newman IBM Champion

3Lars Berntrop-Bos  06/10/2016 18:03:10  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Thanks mate! Great howto, just what I needed.

Keep up the good work!

4Robert Read  06/13/2016 19:41:07  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

So can Outlook do this? Or does Notes get a win here?

5Mat Newman

06/16/2016 14:29:18  Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

@4: Rob, it is possible to do this in an Outlook/Exchange environment, it's configured and managed very differently though. For example, due to the combination of Database ACL and Delegation through the Notes database profile, it's possible to have much more granular access to the features that can be controlled by different users. Once an Admin hands off ACL access to a Person or Group, they no longer need to be involved in access and delegation. The same isn't true for Outlook/Exchange, where requests for modification need to go back to the Admins. Also, mobile access is much easier to shared or delegated calendars created in a Notes environment, an Outlook user has to constantly copy calendars to see them on Mobile, Notes does it automatically. So yes, I'd call that a win :-)

Mat Newman IBM Champion

6Vilius  06/28/2016 0:53:01  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Mat, the same can be accomplished with Outlook/Exchange. There is such thing as delegation in MS environment since 1995. And what a ton of bullshit about mobile access to calendars. ActiveSync protocol does sync your and shared calendars with all your mobile deviced by default and does this in open specified manner so you can choose whatever email client you like.

Let's be honest here, MS does all of that, except that you don't have to use a battery draining fooliness Traveler is.

7Mat Newman

06/29/2016 16:06:09  Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

@6, Vilius: I did say clearly that Outlook has Delegation. I also stated that the combination of Notes Database ACL AND Delegation provided more granular control over access compared with Outlook.

As for syncing calendars, if could enlighten me as to how this is done? My own experience is confirmed by Microsoft MVP Diane Poremsky on her blog HERE, where she states: "You cannot see other user's calendar's on an iPad (or iPhone, Windows Phone, Android, or BlackBerry) as these devices only sync your own calendars. You will need to copy the calendar to a folder in your mailbox in order to see it on the device." And further: "This is a copy of the calendar as of the day you copied it and it does not sync with the original calendar. "

Mat Newman IBM Champion

8Imran  09/21/2016 23:16:37  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Can You Please share how to add this newly created calendar to anyone's IBM Traveler/Verse Mobile calendar who needs to see the calendar when they're mobile.

9Igor Makrovic  10/03/2016 5:42:22  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Hi,

Thank You a lot for this, It was very helpful.

I need advice how to set this shared or group calendar to be like default calendar for any user, or how to set my own calendar to copy to this shared?.

I hope that You understand what i mean.

Best regards.

10Dennis  01/05/2017 11:11:36  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Hi,

is there somewhere a blog about how to access the shared calendar when on a mobile device with IBM Traveler/Verse mobile?

11Pat  03/01/2017 1:22:56  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Hi,

I was following your instructions to set up the shared group calendar in Lotus Notes, however, I keep running into a problem when I reach the steps that say "Change the owner of the database in the profile". The error message says "The owner's name must be entered in hierarchical format because the current owner's ID is hierarchical". I have researched the error message to understand what the problem is but haven't found any solution as yet. Would you be able to tell me why it is giving that error message?

12Yusof   03/01/2017 18:57:13  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Can you show hw to set up this calendar as an overlay in your own Notes client, and how you can then access the shared calendar when on a mobile device with IBM Traveler/Verse mobile.

Thank you.

13Matt   04/03/2018 23:24:22  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Matt,

When I try to add the calendar to my calendar as a Notes User Calendar it says "Calendar Unavailable: Do not have access to either the Notes calendar events or the Free/Busy Time schedule information".

I am a manager on the database and I am also a member of the group I added in the Access and Delegation section like you suggested. Do you know why I am getting this error?

14Filip  10/03/2018 20:04:26  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Matt,

I have the same problem:

"otes User Calendar it says "Calendar Unavailable: Do not have access to either the Notes calendar events or the Free/Busy Time schedule information"

Do you know why I am getting this error?

thx

15Pavel Zhe  06/07/2019 0:57:42  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Matt, can you explain why IBM is not recommended to do shared Calendar in your way? See

https://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21090950

Accordingly to document, 'Due to many different issues that may arise, this setup is neither recommended nor supported' and 'A valid Notes ID along with a valid Person Document must be registered with that mail file'

WBR, Pavel

16Mat Newman

06/10/2019 22:04:56  Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

@15, Pavel: The article you link to in your comment is for a very old version of Notes, and was written in 2008. The warnings it mentions about issues arising from Delegation settings have been remedied in more recent releases of Notes. You will notice that the new Team Calendar template, part of Notes 10, uses my configuration with a Mail-In Database document in the same manner that my article uses (including the Canonical name for the Mail-In Database Document). In addition, the new Team Calendar removes the requirement to change the standard mail templates launch option from the Mail Frameset to the Calendar Frameset. https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSKTWP_10.0.0/wn_team_calendar.html

Hope this helps.

Mat Newman IBM Champion

17Pavel Zhe  06/10/2019 22:35:42  
Shared or Group Calendars in IBM Notes

Thank you, Mat! Glad to know a right way.

Mat Newman

THE Notes (formerly IBM/Lotus Notes) Guy. Productivity Guru. Evangelist. IBM Champion for IBM Collaboration Solutions, 2011/2012/2013. Former IBMer. HCLite. Views are my own.

#GetProductive #GetHCLNotes

Mat Newman




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