Overview
The 7.1.7 patch release will replace the current Add to Calendar implementation with an integration to the AddEvent service.
The change affects how the Add to Calendar links are displayed on the confirmation page.
The change also affects how Add to Calendar appears in emails.
Customers with a Virtual Test Environment (VTE) can preview and test the functionality before release to production.
If no changes are made, the existing Add to Calendar functionality will continue to work.
Add to Calendar Configuration - Account Level
In the upcoming 7.1.7 release, a new account-level configuration option will be available under Account Settings > Management > Add to Calendar > Add to Calendar Display Settings.
Account administrators can select third-party calendar options that will display in events within that account.
By default, the only enabled calendar is the desktop version of Outlook, which was the previously supported calendar.
Account administrators can update the label displayed next to each calendar's icon and enable additional calendars by selecting the "Display?" option and saving.
Add to Calendar Configuration - Event Level
Configuration of the Add to Calendar link label and default icon will continue to be driven by the label defined in each area displayed below for agenda items, sessions, and events within forms.
The default calendar icon can be overridden with a custom icon uploaded in these areas.
The appointment subject, body, and reminder time, etc., will continue to be configured in these areas.
Attendee Facing Forms
Agenda Items
To display the Add to Calendar link on the confirmation page for agenda items, include the Add to Calendar field as a Field to Display under Forms > Agenda > Agenda Display Options > Personal Agenda Settings.
On display, the Add to Calendar link will appear in the Personal Agenda section.
The old Add to Calendar link is replaced by a new Add to Calendar button.
When the user hovers over the Add to Calendar button, the calendar options menu will display.
The registrant will then select the desired calendar to be launched, adding the calendar appointment assuming they are logged in.
If not logged in, the registrant will be prompted to login.
Sessions
To display the Add to Calendar link on the confirmation page for sessions, there are two configuration options under Forms > Sessions > Session Display Options > My Sessions: Verify & Confirm.
Option 1: Include the Add to Calendar field as a Field to Display, which will add the Add to Calendar button as a column in the tabular view summary of the registered sessions.
Option 2: If Replace Table Layout with Session Template is selected, the selected template will be leveraged in place of the table layout. The session template can be configured to include the Add to Calendar DDF under Forms > Sessions > Session Templates. Upon landing on the confirmation page, the session template will render for each registered session displaying the Add to Calendar button.
For both options, the only change in behavior is that instead of clicking a link to open a .ics calendar file, a button will display. On hover, the calendar options menu configured for the account will appear. The registrant will select the calendar to be launched, adding the calendar appointment assuming they are logged in. If not, login will be prompted.
Events
To display the Add to Calendar link on the confirmation page for events, you must select Show link to add to calendar under Forms > Confirm > Settings.
Under Show link to add to calendar, editable areas include: Link Text; Calendar icon; Appointment Subject; Appointment Location; Append (Select Data Fields); Appointment Body (including HTML formatting); Reminder Time.
The change in behavior for registrants is the same as above: a button displays, and on hover the calendar options menu appears. The registrant will select the desired calendar to launch, adding the calendar appointment if they are logged in; otherwise, login is prompted.
The AddEvent integration in emails differs from registration forms in that the Direct URL Method is used to dynamically create a URL with appointment details.
When included in an email as a DDF, or in the Personal Agenda section for agenda items or the My Sessions section for sessions, the Add to Calendar link will display like the images below.
Event Add to Calendar DDF
This describes how the old Add to Calendar DDF looked in email.
This describes how the new Add to Calendar DDF will look in email.
Custom Implementations
If the localization for Add to Calendar was implemented with the Professional Services team, some updates may be required.
If that is the case, please contact Certain for guidance.
Session Catalog
Previously, the Session Catalog provided a link to Download Calendar for registrants viewing the My Schedule page.
The download included a single ICS file with an appointment for each registered session.
That link will continue to be available temporarily.
The new Add to Calendar option using AddEvent will display in the Catalog for Registered sessions after clicking into each session.
The option to enable or disable the Add to Calendar option and to configure the body of the appointment can be configured by editing the Design Elements of the Catalog and clicking the Add to Calendar tab.
This opens the Edit Buttons & Icons drawer where the Add to Calendar tab can be navigated to.
That should cover it!
Questions? Comments? Feedback? Please email help@certain.com.