Cuma, Nisan 20, 2007

How to use "Google Calendar Notifications" with "Google Groups"

The wish: If a Google employee reads this blog I wish him/her not report this solution :))

The case: You have a community in Google Groups and want to use Google Calendar Notifications. But you can't.

The Solution by Example:
Birthdays of High School Classmates.
They use hclassmate@googlegroups.com to communicate
The member who stores Birthday records in his Google Calendar is johndoe@gmail.com

1- Tell John Doe to create the birthday records in his Google calendar including specific keywords. Like "Birthday (HighSchool) - Janet Doe". The important part is "Birthday (HighSchool)"
2- Tell John Doe to create a filter in his Gmail account with following specifications.
From: calendar-notification@google.com
Subject: Birthday (HighSchool)

Forward it to : hclassmate@googlegroups.com

3- Well it is not over since the forwarded messages don't seem to come from neither johndoe@gmail.com. nor calendar-notification@google.com. Also calendar-notification@googlegroups.com is a restricted address so you can't add it to Google Groups members. There is a combination of both e-mail addresses like below:
johndoe+caf_=calendar-notification=googlegroups.com@gmail.com

I found it while examining the message header of a forwarded the notification message to a normal e-mail address.

Now the Moderator should add following addresses directly as Group members.
johndoe+caf_=calendar-notification=googlegroups.com@gmail.com
calendar-notification@google.com

Don't forget to check No email - Web-only participation option in invite members page.

4- Please don't forget to modify the given examples due to your e-mail and group addresses.

5- Thats all :)). I hope it works for you also. We are using it for a while. If you get stuck just drop me an e-mail.

6- Enjoy also other Google technologies :))