iCalendar (ICS)

What is iCalendar (ICS)?

iCalendar (ICS) is a widely supported file format for sharing calendar data, such as events and bookings, between different software applications.

Files in this format usually carry the ".ics" extension, and the format is supported by most major calendar applications, including Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and Apple Calendar. It provides a standard way to exchange events, appointments, and other scheduling data.

What is iCalendar used for?

iCalendar is commonly used in two ways. A single ".ics" file can be attached to an email so a recipient can add an event to their own calendar with one click. Alternatively, a live iCalendar "feed" (a subscription URL) can be published so that a calendar application automatically stays up to date as events change.

iCalendar and MIDAS

The optional "Data Feeds" add-on for MIDAS can generate live iCalendar (ICS) feeds of your upcoming bookings. Users can subscribe to these feeds in their preferred calendar application, so their personal calendars automatically reflect the latest bookings from your MIDAS system. This sits alongside the RSS feeds MIDAS can also produce.