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CalDAV Guide

Note: This help article applies to Surf Mail, Mailhosting and Hosted Exchange. The available calendar features vary depending on the email service. If you are not sure which email service you are using, you can find more information in the following article.

https://www.green.ch/en/which-email-service-do-i-use

 

CalDAV, CardDAV and ICS

CalDAV is a protocol for editing and bidirectional synchronisation of calendar data. The calendar data is transferred in iCalendar format.

CardDAV is the corresponding protocol for contacts and address books.

An ICS file or ICS feed is not a CalDAV endpoint. An ICS feed generally provides calendar data only for viewing or subscribing. Changes are not transferred back to the original calendar.

  • CalDAV synchronises calendars and appointments between a server and connected devices.
  • CardDAV synchronises contacts and address books between a server and connected devices.
  • ICS, or iCalendar, is a file format for calendar data.
  • VCF, or vCard, is a file format for contact data.
  • IMAP synchronises emails and mail folders, but not calendars or contacts.

 

Requirements for Synchronisation

For complete and bidirectional synchronisation, you need an accessible CalDAV server for calendars or a CardDAV server for contacts. You also need the correct server address and valid login credentials.

Alternatively, you can use a service that synchronises calendars and contacts using Exchange technologies such as MAPI or ActiveSync. Depending on the mailbox type, these include Hosted Exchange and Microsoft 365.

Support for CalDAV or CardDAV by a calendar application alone is not sufficient. An application or extension cannot create a CalDAV or CardDAV endpoint from a readable ICS feed.

 

Displaying the Calendar Address in Webmail

Webmailer 2020

  1. Log in to Webmailer.
  2. Switch to the calendar view.
  3. Open the menu with the three vertical dots to the right of the desired calendar.
  4. Select «Links to this Calendar».
  5. Copy the displayed calendar address.

webmail.swisshosting.ch/SOGo/

Note: A calendar address displayed in Webmailer is not automatically a fully usable CalDAV endpoint. Check whether the address is intended only for a read-only ICS subscription or whether it also supports changes and bidirectional synchronisation.

 

Consumer Mail or Surf Mail

  1. Log in to Consumer Mail Webmail.
  2. Switch to the calendar view.
  3. Open the menu with the three vertical dots next to «Calendar».
  4. Select «Show URL».
  5. Copy the displayed calendar URL.

https://webmail.mail-ch.ch/

 

The displayed calendar URL is a readable iCalendar feed in ICS format and not a CalDAV endpoint. You can use the feed to view or subscribe to the calendar. However, changes made in an external calendar application are not written back to the Webmail calendar.

Bidirectional calendar or contact synchronisation is not possible with Consumer Mail addresses such as greenmail.ch and epost.ch. Consumer Mail Webmail does not provide a CalDAV or CardDAV server.

 

Using an ICS Feed in a Calendar Application

  1. Display the calendar URL in Webmailer.
  2. Copy the complete URL.
  3. In your calendar application, open the function for subscribing to an Internet calendar or a calendar via a URL.
  4. Paste the copied URL.
  5. Complete the setup.

The subscribed calendar is generally intended for read-only use. You can view appointments. However, changes made in the external application are not transferred back to the original calendar.

Depending on the application, accepting, declining, rescheduling or automatically updating meetings may also be restricted or completely unavailable.

 

CalDAV and CardDAV in Outlook

The «Internet Calendar» function in classic Outlook for Windows does not support authentication with a username and password when adding a calendar URL. Outlook therefore does not prompt for login credentials. A password-protected calendar cannot be subscribed to in this way.

Outlook can be connected to an existing CalDAV or CardDAV server using an additional extension such as Outlook CalDAV Synchronizer. The extension synchronises events, tasks and contacts between Outlook and a suitable server.

According to the available documentation, Outlook CalDAV Synchronizer supports Microsoft 365 as well as Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2007.

https://caldavsynchronizer.org/de/

Note: Outlook CalDAV Synchronizer is a third-party product. Green does not provide support for this extension. The extension requires a genuine CalDAV or CardDAV server and cannot convert a readable ICS feed into a CalDAV endpoint.

 

CalDAV and CardDAV in Thunderbird

Thunderbird has supported CalDAV and CardDAV directly since version 102. Additional extensions such as TbSync are not required.

Thunderbird also requires a genuine CalDAV or CardDAV endpoint. A readable ICS feed does not provide bidirectional synchronisation.

 

CalDAV on Apple Devices

Apple devices generally support CalDAV directly. To set it up, you need the server address and login credentials of a suitable CalDAV server.

The ICS address displayed in Consumer Mail cannot be used as a fully functional CalDAV endpoint.

 

CalDAV and CardDAV on Android

Android does not support CalDAV and CardDAV through its standard features in all use cases. Depending on the device and calendar app used, an additional synchronisation app may be required.

Such an app also requires a genuine CalDAV or CardDAV server. Bidirectional synchronisation is not possible with a read-only ICS feed.

 

Calendar and Contact Synchronisation at Green

Web and Mail Hosting as well as Mailhosting

Regular Web and Mail Hosting products provide POP3 and IMAP for emails. MAPI and ActiveSync are not supported.

Calendars and contacts can be created in Webmailer. However, the available calendar links are ICS feeds and not CalDAV endpoints. Bidirectional synchronisation of calendars or contacts via CalDAV or CardDAV is therefore not possible.

Consumer Mail or Surf Mail

The calendar links available in Webmail are ICS feeds. They are used to view, subscribe to or export calendar data and do not support CalDAV synchronisation.

Bidirectional synchronisation of calendars or contacts is technically not possible with these services.

ePost

The calendar links available in Webmail are not CalDAV or CardDAV interfaces. Bidirectional synchronisation of calendars or contacts is therefore not possible.

Hosted Exchange

Hosted Exchange uses Exchange, MAPI and ActiveSync technologies. Depending on the mailbox type, different calendar, contact and synchronisation features are available.

  • Hosted Exchange Lite is a POP- and IMAP-based solution without full Exchange functionality.
  • Hosted Exchange Lite Plus is an Exchange-based solution with calendar and contact synchronisation.
  • Hosted Exchange Full provides full Exchange functionality with calendar, contact and mobile synchronisation.

Hosted Exchange Lite must not be confused with Hosted Exchange Lite Plus or Hosted Exchange Full.

 

Operating Your Own WebDAV, CalDAV or CardDAV Applications

CalDAV is based on WebDAV. A customer-operated CalDAV or CardDAV application therefore requires the necessary WebDAV functions and HTTP methods.

Green's server and web hosting configuration is not designed for operating customer-owned WebDAV, CalDAV or CardDAV applications. This applies, for example, to applications that require specific WebDAV modules, handlers or HTTP methods.

To operate your own WebDAV, CalDAV or CardDAV application, you need your own server, for example a VPS, on which you can manage the required server modules and settings yourself.

Note: WebDAV modules or restricted server areas cannot be adjusted or disabled by customers on regular web hosting. Use a suitable dedicated server for your own WebDAV, CalDAV or CardDAV application.

 

Common Causes of Failed Setup

  • The address used is an ICS feed and not a CalDAV endpoint.
  • The calendar is read-only.
  • The application used does not support authentication for password-protected Internet calendars.
  • The server address is incomplete or incorrect.
  • The username or password is incorrect.
  • The Green product used does not provide a CalDAV or CardDAV server.
  • The calendar application does not support CalDAV or CardDAV directly and requires an additional extension.
  • A customer-owned WebDAV, CalDAV or CardDAV application is being operated on regular web hosting that is not designed for these server functions.

 

Checking Synchronisation Problems

  1. Check which Green email service you are using.
  2. Check whether the calendar address is a genuine CalDAV endpoint or merely an ICS feed.
  3. Check whether the application used supports CalDAV or CardDAV.
  4. Check the complete server address as well as the username and password.
  5. Check whether the same account is configured on all devices.
  6. Check whether synchronisation is enabled on all devices.
  7. In Outlook, check whether you are subscribing to an Internet calendar or setting up a connection to a genuine CalDAV server.

Note: If it is still unclear whether a calendar address supports CalDAV, contact Support and provide details of the Green product used, the calendar application and the displayed calendar address.

 

Further Information

Basics and further information about CalDAV:

https://www.green.ch/en/all-about-caldav

Further information about CalDAV and CardDAV:

https://www.green.ch/en/caldav-/-carddav-explained