You are using Google calendar for scheduling along with the mail program Thunderbird. Both are free of cost and deliver sufficient performance for your requirements. Unfortunately, they work separately, so you cannot simply use the calendar from Google in Thunderbird.

Thunderbird can be extended using a few tricks such that you can integrate feeds from Google calendar and benefit from an Outlook-type scheduler in your email client. You first need a calendar extension called Lightning, since Thunderbird does not have a calendar. The latest v.ersion 0.8 is available from. Right-click the download link and select the 'Save as .. .' context command, in order to save the XPI file to your hard disk. Then start Thunderbird and click 'Tools I Add-ons'. Click 'Install' and navigate to the saved XPI file in the next dialog. Now click 'Open' and 'Install now'. Finally, restart Thunderbird.

Lightning now checks whether calendar data is available on any other program your system and offers to import it. Follow the steps as shown. Lightning Calendar is now integrated into Thunderbird as a new sidebar on the right side of the program window. The extension also adds a toolbar to your list of folders: you can use it to quickly switch between the components.

Name: Synchronizing schedule information with Thunderbird.jpg Views: 50 Size: 31.0 KB

In order to read your Google calendar data, you also need the free extension 'Provider for Google calendar' from Download and install it the same way as with Lightning. Restart Thunderbird again.

Now, in order to link your Google calendar, first open it in the browser. There, click the 'Settings' link. In 'Calendar settings', change to the 'Calendar' tab. Click the desired calendar in order to view the details. Now search for the 'XML' icon in the 'Private address' section, right-click it and select 'Copy link address'. Then switch to Thunderbird and activate the Lightning view.

Open 'File I New I Calendar'. In the first step of the wizard that pops up, select 'In the network' and click 'Next', As 'Format', select 'Google calendar' and click in the corresponding input field. Use the key combination '[Ctrl]+[V]' to paste the copied link of the feed and confirm the step with 'Next'. In the next dialog, you have to enter the passw.ord for your Google calendar. Then define the 'Name' and 'Color' for the new calendar, click 'Next' and finally click 'Finish'.

The link is now set up and the data from Google is visible in Thunderbird. All future synchronization takes place automatically.