How to get MOSS/WSS3 calendar events into MY Outlook calendar…

…and no, I'm not talking about using the default functions to view/sync a SharePoint calendar into Outlook and then use the overlay feature in Outlook 2007 to be able to view multiple calendars in a single view.

What I want to achieve is a way to get an calendar event which is created in SharePoint into my single, personal Outlook calendar.

So, at a base level I was thinking along the lines of possibly using a custom sharepoint workflow to send a copy of the sharepoint event as a meeting request.
Or perhaps as a feature for MOSS/WSS calendars to have a button on the event info toolbar to 'add event to my Outlook'… 

Well, as it happens there is already a default function that works-ish. It's not very smart, but it works. 

At the very basic level, there is a default 'export event' option on the MOSS/WSS calendar event toolbar. Default function opens a 'file download' dialogue asking if you want to 'open' or 'save' the current event. Selecting 'open' gives you a standard Outlook event window.
Then selecting 'Save & close' from the toolbar here saves it directly into your own Outlook calendar.
Job done.

To simplify this process slightly you can deslect the 'always ask me about this type of file' option in the 'file download' dialogue. The default action will then be to open the event file, then you can just save and close. :)

 

Now… to find a way to automate this if you are the one creating a calendar event in SharePoint, plus adding attendees…

 

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