This article explains how calendar events are interpreted and exported when syncing with external calendar applications (Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, etc.). Following these guidelines ensures events appear on the correct day and at the correct time.
1. Timezone Settings (Important)
Calendar exports use the parish timezone when it is set.
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The timezone is configured under:
Administration → Profile -
If a timezone is set, timed events are exported using that timezone.
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If a timezone is not set, the calendar export omits timezone information to avoid incorrect shifts caused by UTC defaults.
Recommendation:
Always set the correct parish timezone to ensure consistent behavior across all calendar applications.
2. All-Day Events
Events without a time are treated as all-day events.
Example:
All-day events do not appear in hourly time slots and are not affected by timezone settings.
3. Timed Events
Events that include a time are exported as timed events and will appear in the appropriate time block in external calendars.
Supported single-time formats (no spaces)
Example:
If only a start time is provided, the system automatically assigns a 1-hour duration.
4. Time Ranges
You may optionally specify a start and end time using a hyphen.
Supported range formats
Example:
Important notes:
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Use a hyphen (
-), not an em dash -
Do not include spaces inside times
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If the end time is earlier than the start time, the event is assumed to continue into the next day
5. Formatting Rules to Follow
For proper exporting, please follow these rules:
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Do not include spaces in times
Correct:7pm
Incorrect:7 pm -
Use a hyphen for time ranges
Correct:5:00-6:00pm
Incorrect:5:00–6:00pm -
Place evening services in the evening block
Events intended for the evening should include an explicit evening time. -
Always include times for timed services
Events without times will be treated as all-day events.
6. How Times Appear in External Calendars
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Events with only a start time occupy the correct hour block.
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Events with explicit start and end times occupy the full time range.
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Incorrect formatting may cause events to appear in the wrong time slot or shift by an hour.
If an event appears to be shifted in an external calendar, the most common causes are:
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Missing or incorrect timezone settings
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Use of unsupported punctuation
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Spaces inside time values
7. Recommended Best Practices
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Always set the parish timezone
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Use clear, consistent time formatting
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Prefer explicit time ranges when possible
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Avoid special characters in event titles and times