A Simple CSV to iCalendar Conversion Utility written in Ruby

BradTrupp.com -- Tags -- Code -- A Simple CSV to iCalendar Conversion Utility written in Ruby

A Simple CSV to iCalendar Conversion Utility written in Ruby
(2009/06/29)

Sometimes I want to import a lot of events into my calendar -- an example being a concert series -- and the information is not in a format that allows easy import into my calendars.

I accomplish this with a simple two step process.

1. Create a CSV file

First I copy the information and paste it piece by piece into a spreadsheet.

This allows me to export it as a CSV or comma-separated-value format file

2. Convert to an iCalendar file.

Next I convert it into iCalendar format using a simple ruby utility.

Once in iCalendar format, I can import it into many calendar programs such as Lotus Notes at work and Google Calendar for my personal schedule.

The CSV File

A sample entry in the CSV file would be

2009-08-01, 20:00, 23:00,"This is the title","There are the details"

The order of the fields are event date as year-month-day, start and end times in 24 hour format, the title, and the description.

The Utility -- csv2ical.rb --

This utility ports over the event date, start and end times, the title, and the description.

Usage is csv2ical.rb filename

The ".csv" extension on input filename is optional.

For example -- csv2ical dancedates will convert dancedates.csv into dancedates.ics.

Files should be in the current working directory.

###
### csv2ical.rb - A simple csv to iCal conversion utility written in Ruby
###

### sample CSV
###
### 2009-08-01, 20:00, 23:00,"summary 3 / description","location 3 is..."

require 'icalendar'
require 'csv'

$argvFile = ""; $CSVFile = ""; $iCalFile = "";

if ARGV[0] != nil then $argvFile = ARGV[0] end;

if $argvFile.size < 1 then puts "Error: No CSV file specified.Usage is: csv2ical CSVFile.csv"; exit; end

## drop .csv extensions if entered
ext = $argvFile.upcase[-4,4];
if ext != nil then if ext == ".CSV" then $argvFile=$argvFile[0,$argvFile.size-4] end end

# Build input file name
$CSVFile=$argvFile + ".csv"

# Build output file name
$iCalFile = $argvFile + ".ics"

puts "csv2ical - converting [#{$CSVFile}] to [#{$iCalFile}]"

if !File.exist?($CSVFile) then puts "Error: CSV file specified does not exist."; exit; end

cal = Icalendar::Calendar.new

CSV.open("#{$CSVFile}", 'r') do |row|

puts "processing #{row[0]} #{row[1]} #{row[2]} #{row[3]} #{row[4]} "

event = cal.event
event.timestamp = DateTime.now
event.summary = row[3]
event.description = row[3] + "\n\n" + row[4]
event.location = row[4]

start_date = Date.parse(row[0])
start_time = row[1]
event.start = DateTime.parse(start_date.to_s + " " + start_time)

end_date = Date.parse(row[0])
end_time = row[2]
event.end = DateTime.parse(end_date.to_s + " " + end_time)

end

tcfile = File.new("#{$iCalFile}", "w+");
tcfile.puts cal.to_ical
tcfile.close;

puts "csv2ical - complete"

The iCalendar gem will create and populate UID (unique ID) values for each task being imported.

The iCalendar gem --

The iCalendar gem provides an easy way to read in your iCalendar file.

Installing the icalendar gem

If you use RubyGems, run the following and select the newest version marked "ruby" --

gem install icalendar

Code Snippets

1. Sample CSV File

2. csv2ical.rb

### ### csv2ical.rb - A simple csv to iCal conversion utility written in Ruby ### ### sample CSV ### ### 2009-08-01, 20:00, 23:00,"summary 3 / description","location 3 is..." require 'icalendar' require 'csv' $argvFile = ""; $CSVFile = ""; $iCalFile = ""; if ARGV[0] != nil then $argvFile = ARGV[0] end; if $argvFile.size < 1 then puts "Error: No CSV file specified.Usage is: csv2ical CSVFile.csv"; exit; end ## drop .csv extensions if entered ext = $argvFile.upcase[-4,4]; if ext != nil then if ext == ".CSV" then $argvFile=$argvFile[0,$argvFile.size-4] end end # Build input file name $CSVFile=$argvFile + ".csv" # Build output file name $iCalFile = $argvFile + ".ics" puts "csv2ical - converting [#{$CSVFile}] to [#{$iCalFile}]" if !File.exist?($CSVFile) then puts "Error: CSV file specified does not exist."; exit; end cal = Icalendar::Calendar.new CSV.open("#{$CSVFile}", 'r') do |row| puts "processing #{row[0]} #{row[1]} #{row[2]} #{row[3]} #{row[4]} " event = cal.event event.timestamp = DateTime.now event.summary = row[3] event.description = row[3] + "\n\n" + row[4] event.location = row[4] start_date = Date.parse(row[0]) start_time = row[1] event.start = DateTime.parse(start_date.to_s + " " + start_time) end_date = Date.parse(row[0]) end_time = row[2] event.end = DateTime.parse(end_date.to_s + " " + end_time) end tcfile = File.new("#{$iCalFile}", "w+"); tcfile.puts cal.to_ical tcfile.close; puts "csv2ical - complete"

Tags: Code

Brad Trupp