....I'd prefer an automated solution so as anniversary is added, it's added to calender.
That is why I wrote the application Dates to iCal. It does this as well as adds alarms to the events and shows the age in years on the event.
Best wishes
John M
John -- I just downloaded Dates to iCal after reading several references to it in forums because I need a way to add anniversaries to my contacts list on my Mac and have those anniversaries show up in my iCal. I downloaded and installed it and I see the "Anniversaries" calendar now appearing in iCal. However, it's not clear to me now how I add an anniversary date within my address book for a contact and then have it automatically appear in iCal. I know I can edit my addressbook template to add an Anniversary field, but is that what I need to do?
I appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Doug
OK, I sorted it out.
In Address Book, go to Preferences/Template. Add field/Dates and anniversary is there.
Any data added in automatically syncs with iCal through Dates to iCal.
Not obvious, but there you are.
Thanks Matt - does this run in the background or do you need to run it manually?I've found the best tool for getting any reoccurring birthday and anniversary into iCal. http://www.zencat.de/bsx/index.html
I've tried several free scripts, reduced capability free software,etc but the Zencat Birthday Scanner is the best, and very easy to use.
It give you control over format of presentation. Free. Clean. No errors after two years of use.
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This allows you to see the Anniversary field in the address card but it DOES NOT add it to iCal.
This allows you to see the Anniversary field in the address card but it DOES NOT add it to iCal.
That's weird because mine shows "Anniversary" as a possible field tat you can add to the template. It also shows up when I create a new blank card.
Yes, it IS weird, but you've seen the evidence...
Got it figured out.
When you go to Preferences:Template:Add Field .....
What you are selecting in the drop down list is not THE field that you want to show, but the TYPE of field that you want to display.
So you want to select a field of the type "Dates" so select "Dates" that and you will see a new field TYPE listed in your template. One of the options for that field type is .... Anniversary.
Let me know if that works for you.
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Wait, that will get you so that you can have the Anniversary FIELD show up in Address Book.
Now getting back to your initial question ....
To have these show up automatically in iCal is a bit trickier. iCal by default will allow you to show "Birthdays" as a calendar. But I don't think it will let you show your new "Anniversaries" field as its own calendar. To do that you need a 3rd party too called "Dates to iCal 2".
Here is a little blurb about it:
http://download.cnet.com/Dates-to-iCal-2/3000-2124_4-188441.html
Its also handy because it "can add up to five alarms for each birthday in iCal and the same number for anniversaries". Thats very convenient.
I know this thread is ancient, but I find myself in need of a solution to this problem that doesn't require OS X. I use Dates 2 iCal with my MacBook and it works flawlessly, but when my mother asked me to setup something similar on her iPhone, I couldn't figure out a solution. How would one accomplish this if they don't use an actual computer with their iOS device? I feel like a dinosaur these days since I still sync my phone with my Mac with a USB cable.