Question about Outlook.com

[Scott]

I asked this question (twice) on the Outlook group, but with no
takers. The group does not seem to be particularly active - perhaps a
reflection of views on Microsoft Outlook! I wondered if anyone in the
wider Windows 7 audience could assist?

I have been using Outlook.com for my calendar because it synchronises
with my mobile phone (cellphone). As I understand it, the data is
stored on Skydrive. I am starting to wonder how to back up the
calendar. I cannot see any obvious way of backing up or exporting the
calendar.

Thanks
Scott

 

[Paul]

I asked this question (twice) on the Outlook group, but with no
takers. The group does not seem to be particularly active - perhaps a
reflection of views on Microsoft Outlook! I wondered if anyone in the
wider Windows 7 audience could assist?

I have been using Outlook.com for my calendar because it synchronises
with my mobile phone (cellphone). As I understand it, the data is
stored on Skydrive. I am starting to wonder how to back up the
calendar. I cannot see any obvious way of backing up or exporting the
calendar.

Thanks
Scott

I'm not going to track down all the permutations of stuff
that works or doesn't work. But there is a hint here. Some of
the previous Microsoft solutions no longer work, so lots of
things you see on the web, don't actually work. Why, it's almost
as bad as it was fifteen years ago, when if comes to calendars.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...endar-in/a0b8aca0-47b6-4166-bb22-3894b67cf06d

If you use Export/Import to a standard format, then that's your
"backup" solution. And in that thread, realizing that
Share = Export, is the key. They couldn't just use
"Export to ICS" as a terminology.

"iCalendar data files are plain text files with
the extension .ics"

If you manage to get an ICS file, try temporarily changing
the file extension to .txt and open with Wordpad or Notepad.
Then see how easy it is to examine the calendar.

Depending on Microsoft's sense of humor, perhaps a
calendar entry marked "private", might result in no
entry in the .ics. If that was the case, that would
suck big time, and ruin the whole idea of doing backups.
The .ics should have *everything* in it, to be useful.
Do an Export, and examine it carefully, for "data loss".
You can't depend on these people, to do the right thing.
Better to hold your calendar "hostage" in the Cloud.

Good luck,
Paul

 

[Ann Watson]

I asked this question (twice) on the Outlook group, but with no
takers. The group does not seem to be particularly active - perhaps a
reflection of views on Microsoft Outlook! I wondered if anyone in the
wider Windows 7 audience could assist?

I have been using Outlook.com for my calendar because it synchronises
with my mobile phone (cellphone). As I understand it, the data is
stored on Skydrive. I am starting to wonder how to back up the
calendar. I cannot see any obvious way of backing up or exporting the
calendar.

Are you confusing MS Outlook, the e-mail/PIM program (which is
still well respected), with Outlook.com, the rebranded
e-mail/skydrive/calendar/contacts cloud service provided by
Microsoft? As far as I know you can't back up the calendar in
the cloud version; if it's always there, you shouldn't need to
(unless you are without internet access or Outlook.com is down!).

Perhaps the Windows Live Mail program in Windows Live Essentials,
if it's still available, can sync with and back up the
Outlook.com calendar?

AW

 

[Scott]

I'm not going to track down all the permutations of stuff
that works or doesn't work.

Yes, we could be here for a long time if you offered a thesis on the
pros and cons of Microsoft over the years

But there is a hint here. Some of
the previous Microsoft solutions no longer work, so lots of
things you see on the web, don't actually work. Why, it's almost
as bad as it was fifteen years ago, when if comes to calendars.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...endar-in/a0b8aca0-47b6-4166-bb22-3894b67cf06d

Thanks for the link. I found the 'Share' button but - along with the
first person to answer - did not appreciate exactly what is was. I
shall investigate further.

If you use Export/Import to a standard format, then that's your
"backup" solution. And in that thread, realizing that
Share = Export, is the key. They couldn't just use
"Export to ICS" as a terminology.

"iCalendar data files are plain text files with
the extension .ics"

If you manage to get an ICS file, try temporarily changing
the file extension to .txt and open with Wordpad or Notepad.
Then see how easy it is to examine the calendar.

Depending on Microsoft's sense of humor, perhaps a
calendar entry marked "private", might result in no
entry in the .ics. If that was the case, that would
suck big time, and ruin the whole idea of doing backups.

You must have a more exciting diary than I have

The .ics should have *everything* in it, to be useful.
Do an Export, and examine it carefully, for "data loss".
You can't depend on these people, to do the right thing.
Better to hold your calendar "hostage" in the Cloud.

Good luck,
Paul

Thanks.

 

[Scott]

Are you confusing MS Outlook, the e-mail/PIM program (which is
still well respected), with Outlook.com, the rebranded
e-mail/skydrive/calendar/contacts cloud service provided by
Microsoft? As far as I know you can't back up the calendar in
the cloud version; if it's always there, you shouldn't need to
(unless you are without internet access or Outlook.com is down!).

No, I hope not. I would have preferred to sync the mobile phone with
the 'real' Outlook but I have not found a way of doing this.

Perhaps the Windows Live Mail program in Windows Live Essentials,
if it's still available, can sync with and back up the
Outlook.com calendar?

I think this is approximately Paul's suggestion.

Thanks.

 

[Ken Blake]

I asked this question (twice) on the Outlook group, but with no
takers. The group does not seem to be particularly active - perhaps a
reflection of views on Microsoft Outlook!

The Outlook newsgroup is about Outlook, not Outlook.com. Outlook
(Outlook.exe) is a component of Microsoft Office. It and Outlook.com
are two completely different things. Once again, Microsoft has done us
all a disservice by naming two such different things so similarly and
confusing enormous numbers of people.

 

[mick]

No, I hope not. I would have preferred to sync the mobile phone with
the 'real' Outlook but I have not found a way of doing this.

there are loads of ways when I searched on google
try: sync mobile to outlook

 

[mick]

The Outlook newsgroup is about Outlook, not Outlook.com. Outlook
(Outlook.exe) is a component of Microsoft Office. It and Outlook.com
are two completely different things. Once again, Microsoft has done us
all a disservice by naming two such different things so similarly and
confusing enormous numbers of people.

because their agenda is to get everyone on Outlook.com
they want to control everything you do.

 

[Ken Blake]

because their agenda is to get everyone on Outlook.com

Considering that Outlook sales bring income to Microsoft and
Outlook.com is free, that's *highly* unlikely.

 

[Scott]

there are loads of ways when I searched on google
try: sync mobile to outlook

Looking at all this again, without much success. I have already
sync'd the phone to Outlook.com which works so I don't want to risk
that. I have many months of data on Outlook.com. I am reluctant to
start again.

I cannot believe I am the only person who wants to make a back-up of
the calendar in Outlook.com. It seems that sharing it with myself
then making a copy is the way to go but despite the helpful
suggestions I have still not managed to fathom this out. Is there a
simpler way?