Calendar

Overview

Calendar is one of those core Google apps that integrates into the many parts of the Google ecosystem. In addition to being accessed on a web interface, it can also be accessed through a mobile device using an app. It can also be integrated to a device's calendar service (iOS and Android). This tutorial describes Google Calendar while being accessed through the web interface.

Opening Google Calendar

Like all Google applications, the easiest way to open the App is through the Google home page (www.google.com). In the top right hand corner, there will be an icon that I refer to as the Google waffle because it has three rows of three cubes resembling a waffle. This is a quick way to access any native Google app. It does not work for apps that are not created by Google.

Clicking on the Google waffle, opens up a list of Google Apps that are available on your user account. If the app that you are looking for does not show up, it is possible that it is on a secondary page. Click on More at the bottom of the selection. Additional apps will display.

It is possible to rearrange the order of the Apps in a fashion that is more convenient for your usage. Simply drag the icon (click and hold on it with your mouse/trackpad) and move it to the desired spot. It is possible to move apps from the lower section to the upper section.

Open Calendar by clicking on the icon. Another way to navigate to Calendar is by typing the website in directly (calendar.google.com). It is also possible to bookmark the Gmail homepage as a shortcut.

Startup Page

The splash page for Calendar will vary depending on the view that is selected. This can be changed by clicking the arrow next to the magnifying glass. In the image above, the calendar view is set to weekly. To the immediate right of the calendar view is the settings icon, the Google waffle for accessing other Google apps and the notifications icon.

The top left hand corner is always going to display the month of the day that has been selected. For example, if November 11, 1944 is chosen, the month displayed will be November 1944. To the right of the monthly calendar is the Today button which takes you to the current date immediately. To the right of that are the previous and next buttons which advance the calendar forward or backwards whatever unit of view is selected. In the example above, the buttons will move the week forwards or backwards. Next to the navigation arrows is the name of the month and year. In a week which straddles two months, both months will be listed.

Below the monthly calendar are additional calendars which can be added or have already been added. In the example above, there are optional calendars available to be displayed but which have not been checked (Birthdays and Tasks). These calendars can be deleted by clicking the 'X' button to the right of the calendar name. Even further to the right are additional options for each calendar.

The main part of the calendar display shows the various dates and appointments for those dates. If the current date is within the range, it will be shown in blue.

What is not shown is the red '+' symbol located in the bottom right hand corner. This is the icon for adding a new event (see below).

Adding a New Event

There are different components to adding a new event. Not all details need to be added but at the very least, a title and a date and time should be included. For events that have no start or end time but last for the entire day, check the "All day" box. Instead of straddling over specific times, the event will be created immediately below the date. Some events repeat and this can be indicated by checking the drop down box currently indicated in the image below as "Does not repeat." Repeat options include the following:

• Does not repeat
• Daily
• Weekly on <currently selected day of week>
• Monthly on the <currently selected day of month>
• Annually on the <currently selected day of the year>
• Every weekday (Monday to Friday)
• Custom

Once a title and time has been selected, the event can be created by clicking the blue SAVE button. Further options can also be added including:

• a location for the event
• adding conferencing using Hangouts
• a notification time X minutes/hours/days/weeks before the event is scheduled
• the calendar that the event is assigned to (if multiple calendars exist) and the colour representing that calendar
• a tag indicating busy/free
• whether the event is visible privately or publicly
• a section to add notes to the event and formatting options for the text

In the event creation page, it is also possible to add guests (essentially a sharing option) who can modify the event, invite others, or see the guest list (when given the appropriate permissions). Once the event has been created, it will show up at the specified date and time (unless it is an all day event) in the corresponding calendar colour. Created events can be modified by double clicking them or moved by dragging them to a different date or time slot.

Another way to create an event is to simply double click an area of the calendar. This automatically generates the date and time for the event which can be manually modified.