When guests click Add to calendar or In agenda on an online invitation, a so-called calendar file is used. This file has the extension .ics and is a standard format that almost all calendar apps understand.
Thanks to this file, calendars such as Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook can automatically create an event with the correct details.
The calendar feature automatically takes time zones into account. Guests who add the event to their calendar will therefore always see the correct local time, even when they are in another country.
What is included in an .ics file
The calendar file contains the most important details of the event. For example:
- the name of the event
- the date and time
- the location
- a link to the online invitation
When a guest adds the event to their calendar, these details are automatically copied into the calendar entry.
When the calendar file is used
The .ics file is automatically used when guests add the event to their calendar via the Add to calendar button. The calendar app reads the file and creates a new calendar entry.
The calendar entry also contains a link to the online invitation. Guests can open this later from their calendar to view the most up-to-date information.
Why this is useful
Using an .ics file allows guests to add the event to their calendar quickly without entering the details manually. Date, time and location are filled in automatically.
This reduces the chance of mistakes and makes it easier for guests to include the event in their schedule.