Allow users to add events to the calendar

[Phil]

@Shire_Talk Similarly, events for our website are community ones, and that relies on me to find them and then add them. Using contact form / form builder functionality, could a submission generate a CSV or XML file that feeds the event calendar rather than sending an email? This would be a game-changer for sure.

Otherwise, waiting on replies for workarounds.

[Shany_Porras1 (Shany Porras)]

I agree. Even if the forms were dumped into an excel file that we could upload into Calendar…

[Max]

Hey there @Shany_Porras1, @Shire_Talk, @Phil

At the moment, we don’t have a workaround for this case, but we have a request for the synchronization with Google Sheets - Sync events to Google sheet.

If this feature is released, you’ll be to collect events from users using the Form Builder, pull them to Google Sheets and then connect the Event Calendar with this spreadsheet. This way, the submitted events will automatically appear in the widget.

So, feel free to upvote the idea if you’d like to see it released

[Shire_Talk]

looks like this is miles away then.

[Phil]

There is a method here to link Google Sheets to Google Calendar, see youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GA0L69i7kI&t=30s

Would Elfsight devs work on the code for this workaround for those that want to attempt this method? Give us copy and paste code that we can adapt locally as needs.

Also, if the form builder had a starting template that was for the purpose of linking to Google Sheets > then to Google Calendar, that would be useful.

A general question. What happens to images that accompany events that could be created like this? would they be missing or would that be a task to do separately.

[Max]

@Shire_Talk yep, the idea got few moments, but we’ll keep tabs on it and try to think it over in the future.

@Phil a huge thank you for sharing this workaround. I’ll discuss if it’s possible to connect the Google Calendar with the Google Sheets in our widgets using the method suggested and will update you once I have their response

[Max]

Hi there, @Phil, @Shany_Porras1, @Shire_Talk

Our devs looked into importing events from form submissions to Google Calendar and suggested using Zapier instead of Google Sheets for this. This way, you would connect your Form widget to Zapier, and then submitted events will automatically be added to Google Calendar via Zapier.

Would this Zapier-based solution work for you, or do you specifically need the Google Sheets integration?

[Phil]

Hi @Max

Would it be possible to have in Form Builder a template, preferably on page 1 of the templates, for a form that is set up specifically for events? Then also, would it be possible to have instructions for the Zapier side, or better still, a walkthrough video? This would be great.

One question: how would uploaded images work and reach the events calendar? Would Elfsight generate a URL for the image and so pass this through to the calendar event?

Cheers

Phil

[Shany_Porras1 (Shany Porras)]

Hi Max,

I am not familiar with Zapier, but I headed over to their site to check it out. Unfortunately, the site gave all sorts of errors and I wasn’t able to play around with it.

But, to answer your question, I need a way to review the information on the forms before it gets committed to the calendar. So, if that means that there is an interim step where I have to check the Google Sheets, and then initiate a transfer from G-S to the Elfsight Calendar, then that would work. Being able to check the quality of the information that folks are submitting through Forms is key.

I am not tied to using Google Sheets, but I can see how it would be an easy solution to use.

Hope this helps.

Shany

[Max]

Hey everyone

We deeply apologize for the long wait!

While this feature isn’t available yet, our devs came up with a workaround that lets you collect events via Form Builder.

Check this guide to see how you can do this - Event Calendar: How to Collect and Approve Event Submissions via Form Builder.

[Connect_Downtown_Joh (Connect Downtown Johnson City, Inc.)]

Agreed! I would purchase this calendar if the option for people to add their own event was an option.

[Max]

Hi there, @Connect_Downtown_Joh

Thank you so much for supporting the idea! Let’s hope the devs will be able to consider this request in the future updates.

If anything changes, we’ll immediately inform you here