Manage Google Calendars using Gmail Client

Add, Edit and Delete Gmail Calendars

Aspose.Email allows applications to manage the Gmail calendars using IGmailClient which provides features like adding, deleting and updating Gmail calendars. This client class returns a list of ExtendedCalendar type objects which contain information about the Gmail calendar items. IGmailClient class exposes the following functions for calendars:

• CreateCalendar It can be used to insert new calendar
• ListCalendars It can be used to get the list of all calendars of a client
• DeleteCalendar It can be used to delete a calendar
• FetchCalendar It can be used to fetch particular calendar of a client
• UpdateCalendar This function is used to insert back a modified calendar of a client

To Access the calendars, GoogleTestUser is initialized using gmail account credentials. GoogleOAuthHelper is used to get the access token for the user which is further used to initialize IGmailClient.

Insert, Fetch and Update Gmail Calendars

For inserting a calendar, initialize a Calendar type object and insert it using CreateCalendar() function. CreateCalendar() returns the id of the newly inserted calendar. This id can be used to fetch the calendar from the server. The following code snippet shows you how to insert, fetch and update calendar.

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET
// Get access token
GoogleTestUser User2 = new GoogleTestUser("user", "email address", "password", "clientId", "client secret");
string accessToken;
string refreshToken;
GoogleOAuthHelper.GetAccessToken(User2, out accessToken, out refreshToken);

using (IGmailClient client = GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, User2.EMail))
{
    // Insert, get and update calendar
    Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar calendar = new Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar("summary - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString(), null, null, "America/Los_Angeles");
    
    // Insert calendar and Retrieve same calendar using id
    string id = client.CreateCalendar(calendar);
    Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar cal = client.FetchCalendar(id);

    //Match the retrieved calendar info with local calendar
    if ((calendar.Summary == cal.Summary) && (calendar.TimeZone == cal.TimeZone))
    {
        Console.WriteLine("fetched calendar information matches");
    }
    else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("fetched calendar information does not match");
    }

    // Change information in the fetched calendar and Update calendar
    cal.Description = "Description - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
    cal.Location = "Location - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
    client.UpdateCalendar(cal);
}

Delete Specific Google Calendars

For deleting a particular calendar, we need to get the list of all the calendars of a client and then delete as required. ListCalendars() returns the list of ExtendedCalendar which contains Gmail calendars. The following code snippet shows you how to delete particular calendar.

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET
// Get access token
GoogleTestUser User2 = new GoogleTestUser("user", "email address", "password", "clientId", "client secret");
string accessToken;
string refreshToken;
GoogleOAuthHelper.GetAccessToken(User2, out accessToken, out refreshToken);

using (IGmailClient client = GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, User2.EMail))
{
    // Access and delete calendar with summary starting from "Calendar summary - "
    string summary = "Calendar summary - ";

    // Get calendars list
    ExtendedCalendar[] lst0 = client.ListCalendars();

    foreach (ExtendedCalendar extCal in lst0)
    {
        // Delete selected calendars
        if (extCal.Summary.StartsWith(summary))
            client.DeleteCalendar(extCal.Id);
    }
}

Calendar Access Control

Aspose.Email provides full control over the access to the calendar items. ListAccessRules() function is exposed by IGmailClient which returns the list of AccessControlRule. Individual rule information can be retrieved, modified and saved back for the calendar of a client. IGmailClient contains the following functions for managing the access control rules.

• ListAccessRules This function provides the list of AccessControlRule
• CreateAccessRule This function creates a new access rule for a calendar.
• UpdateAccessRule This function is used for updating an access rule.
• FetchAccessRule It can be used to fetch particular access rule for calendar of a client
• DeleteAccessRule This function is used for deleting an access rule.

The following code snippet shows you how to use functions for managing the access rules:

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET
GoogleTestUser User2 = new GoogleTestUser("user", "email address", "password", "clientId", "client secret");
string accessToken;
string refreshToken;
GoogleOAuthHelper.GetAccessToken(User2, out accessToken, out refreshToken);

using (IGmailClient client = GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, User2.EMail))
{
    // Retrieve list of calendars for the current client
    ExtendedCalendar[] calendarList = client.ListCalendars();

    // Get first calendar id and retrieve list of AccessControlRule for the first calendar
    string calendarId = calendarList[0].Id;
    AccessControlRule[] roles1 = client.ListAccessRules(calendarId);

    // Create a local access control rule and Set rule properties
    AccessControlRule rule = new AccessControlRule();
    rule.Role = AccessRole.reader;
    rule.Scope = new AclScope(AclScopeType.user, User2.EMail);

    // Insert new rule for the calendar. It returns the newly created rule
    AccessControlRule createdRule = client.CreateAccessRule(calendarId, rule);

    // Confirm if local created rule and returned rule are equal
    if ((rule.Role == createdRule.Role) && (rule.Scope.Type == createdRule.Scope.Type) && (rule.Scope.Value.ToLower() == createdRule.Scope.Value.ToLower()))
    {
        Console.WriteLine("local rule and returned rule after creation are equal");
    }
    else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Rule could not be created successfully");
        return;
    }

    // Get list of rules
    AccessControlRule[] roles2 = client.ListAccessRules(calendarId);

    // Current list length should be 1 more than the earlier one
    if (roles1.Length + 1 == roles2.Length)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("List lengths are ok");
    }
    else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("List lengths are not ok");
        return;
    }

    // Change rule and Update the rule for the selected calendar
    createdRule.Role = AccessRole.writer;
    AccessControlRule updatedRule = client.UpdateAccessRule(calendarId, createdRule);

    // Check if returned access control rule after update is ok
    if ((createdRule.Role == updatedRule.Role) && (createdRule.Id == updatedRule.Id))
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Rule is updated successfully");
    }
    else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Rule is not updated");
        return;
    }

    // Retrieve individaul rule against a calendar
    AccessControlRule fetchedRule = client.FetchAccessRule(calendarId, createdRule.Id);

    //Check if rule parameters are ok
    if ((updatedRule.Id == fetchedRule.Id) && (updatedRule.Role == fetchedRule.Role) && (updatedRule.Scope.Type == fetchedRule.Scope.Type) && (updatedRule.Scope.Value.ToLower() == fetchedRule.Scope.Value.ToLower()))
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Rule parameters are ok");
    }
    else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Rule parameters are not ok");
    }

    // Delete particular rule against a given calendar and Retrieve the all rules list for the same calendar
    client.DeleteAccessRule(calendarId, createdRule.Id);
    AccessControlRule[] roles3 = client.ListAccessRules(calendarId);

    // Check that current rules list length should be equal to the original list length before adding and deleting the rule
    if (roles1.Length == roles3.Length)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("List lengths are same");
    }
    else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("List lengths are not equal");
        return;
    }
}

Calendar Client Settings and Color Information

Aspose.Email supports accessing the Client settings by using IGmailClient.GetSettings(). It returns the list of settings as given below:

1. dateFieldOrder
2. displayAllTimezones
3. hideInvitations
4. format24HourTime
5. defaultCalendarMode
6. defaultEventLength
7. locale
8. remindOnRespondedEventsOnly
9. alternateCalendar
10. userLocation
11. hideWeekends
12. showDeclinedEvents
13. weekStart
14. weather
15. customCalendarMode
16. timezoneLabel
17. timezone
18. useKeyboardShortcuts
19. country

Similarly color info for clients can also be retrieved using IGmailClient.GetColors(). This color info object returns the list of Foreground colors, background colors and update date and time.

Access Client Settings

The following code snippet shows you how the functions can be used for accessing the client settings:

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET
GoogleTestUser User2 = new GoogleTestUser("user", "email address", "password", "clientId", "client secret");
string accessToken;
string refreshToken;
GoogleOAuthHelper.GetAccessToken(User2, out accessToken, out refreshToken);

using (IGmailClient client = GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, User2.EMail))
{
    // Retrieve client settings
    Dictionary<string, string> settings = client.GetSettings();
    if (settings.Count < 1)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("No settings are available.");
        return;
    }

    // Traverse the settings list
    foreach (KeyValuePair<string, string> pair in settings)
    {
        // Get the setting value and test if settings are ok
        string value = client.GetSetting(pair.Key);
        if (pair.Value == value)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Key = " + pair.Key + ", Value = " + pair.Value);
        }
        else
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Settings could not be retrieved");
        }
    }
}

Access Color Information

The following code snippet shows you how the functions can be used for accessing the client color settings.

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET
GoogleTestUser User2 = new GoogleTestUser("user", "email address", "password", "clientId", "client secret");
string accessToken;
string refreshToken;
GoogleOAuthHelper.GetAccessToken(User2, out accessToken, out refreshToken);

using (IGmailClient client = GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, User2.EMail))
{
    ColorsInfo colors = client.GetColors();
    Dictionary<string, Colors> palettes = colors.Calendar;

    // Traverse the settings list
    foreach (KeyValuePair<string, Colors> pair in palettes)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Key = " + pair.Key + ", Color = " + pair.Value);
    }
    Console.WriteLine("Update Date = " + colors.Updated);
}

Manage Google Calendar Appointments

Aspose.Email provides features for working with Appointments in Google calendars. The following tasks can be performed on appointments in google calendar:

1. Add Appointments.
2. Retrieve list off appointments.
3. Retrieve particular appointment.
4. Update an appointment.
5. Move appointment from one calendar to another.
6. Delete appointment.

IGmailClient provides functions like CreateAppointment, FetchAppointment, UpdateAppointment, ListAppointments, MoveAppointment and DeleteAppointment.

Add Appointments to Google Calendar

The following code sample demonstrates the feature of adding an appointment in a calendar. To achieve this, follow the steps:

1. Create and insert a calendar.
2. Retrieve the list of appointments from a new calendar.
3. Create an appointment.
4. Insert an appointment.

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET

                GoogleTestUser User2 = new GoogleTestUser("user", "email address", "password", "clientId", "client secret");
                string accessToken;
                string refreshToken;
                GoogleOAuthHelper.GetAccessToken(User2, out accessToken, out refreshToken);

                // Get IGmailclient
                using (IGmailClient client = GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, User2.EMail))
                {
                    // Create local calendar	
                    Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar calendar1 = new Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar("summary - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString(), null, null, "Europe/Kiev");

                    // Insert calendar and get id of inserted calendar and Get back calendar using an id
                    string id = client.CreateCalendar(calendar1);
                    Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar cal1 = client.FetchCalendar(id);
                    string calendarId1 = cal1.Id;

                    try
                    {
                        // Retrieve list of appointments from the first calendar
                        Appointment[] appointments = client.ListAppointments(calendarId1);
                        if (appointments.Length > 0)
                        {
                            Console.WriteLine("Wrong number of appointments");
                            return;
                        }

                        // Get current time and Calculate time after an hour from now
                        DateTime startDate = DateTime.Now;
                        DateTime endDate = startDate.AddHours(1);

                        // Initialize a mail address collection and set attendees mail address
                        MailAddressCollection attendees = new MailAddressCollection();
                        attendees.Add("[e-mail]");
                        attendees.Add("[e-mail]");

                        // Create an appointment with above attendees
                        Appointment app1 = new Appointment("Location - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString(), startDate, endDate, User2.EMail, attendees);

                        // Set appointment summary, description, start/end time zone
                        app1.Summary = "Summary - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
                        app1.Description = "Description - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
                        app1.StartTimeZone = "Europe/Kiev";
                        app1.EndTimeZone = "Europe/Kiev";

                        // Insert appointment in the first calendar inserted above and get back inserted appointment
                        Appointment app2 = client.CreateAppointment(calendarId1, app1);

                        // Retrieve appointment using unique id
                        Appointment app3 = client.FetchAppointment(calendarId1, app2.UniqueId);
                    }
                    catch (Exception ex)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
                    }
                }

Retrieve and Update Google Calendar Appointments

Here retrieving and updating of calendar is demonstrated as follows:

1. Rerieve particaulr appointment.
2. Modify the appointment.
3. Update the appointment in calendar.

It is assumed that a calendar with id “calendarId” and appointment unique id “AppointmentUniqueId” are already extracted. The following code snippet shows you how to retrieve and update an appointment.

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET
GoogleTestUser User2 = new GoogleTestUser("user", "email address", "password", "clientId", "client secret");
string accessToken;
string refreshToken;
GoogleOAuthHelper.GetAccessToken(User2, out accessToken, out refreshToken);
             
// Get IGmailclient
using (IGmailClient client = GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, User2.EMail))
{
    string calendarId = client.ListCalendars()[0].Id;
    string AppointmentUniqueId = client.ListAppointments(calendarId)[0].UniqueId;

    // Retrieve Appointment
    Appointment app3 = client.FetchAppointment(calendarId, AppointmentUniqueId);
    // Change the appointment information
    app3.Summary = "New Summary - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
    app3.Description = "New Description - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
    app3.Location = "New Location - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
    app3.Flags = AppointmentFlags.AllDayEvent;
    app3.StartDate = DateTime.Now.AddHours(2);
    app3.EndDate = app3.StartDate.AddHours(1);
    app3.StartTimeZone = "Europe/Kiev";
    app3.EndTimeZone = "Europe/Kiev";
    // Update the appointment and get back updated appointment
    Appointment app4 = client.UpdateAppointment(calendarId, app3);
}

Move and Delete Appointments in Google Calendar

Appointment can be moved by providing the source calendar, destination calendar and the unique id of an appointment in the source calendar. The following code snippet shows you how to move and delete an appointment.

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET
GoogleTestUser User2 = new GoogleTestUser("user", "email address", "password", "clientId", "client secret");
string accessToken;
string refreshToken;
GoogleOAuthHelper.GetAccessToken(User2, out accessToken, out refreshToken);

// Get IGmailclient
using (IGmailClient client = Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, User2.EMail))
{
    string SourceCalendarId = client.ListCalendars()[0].Id;
    string DestinationCalendarId = client.ListCalendars()[1].Id;
    string TargetAppUniqueId = client.ListAppointments(SourceCalendarId)[0].UniqueId;

    // Retrieve the list of appointments in the destination calendar before moving the appointment
    Appointment[] appointments = client.ListAppointments(DestinationCalendarId);
    Console.WriteLine("Before moving count = " + appointments.Length);
    Appointment Movedapp = client.MoveAppointment(SourceCalendarId, DestinationCalendarId, TargetAppUniqueId);

    // Retrieve the list of appointments in the destination calendar after moving the appointment
    appointments = client.ListAppointments(DestinationCalendarId);
    Console.WriteLine("After moving count = " + appointments.Length);

    // Delete particular appointment from a calendar using unique id
    client.DeleteAppointment(DestinationCalendarId, Movedapp.UniqueId);

    // Retrieve the list of appointments. It should be one less than the earlier appointments in the destination calendar
    appointments = client.ListAppointments(DestinationCalendarId);
    Console.WriteLine("After deleting count = " + appointments.Length);
}

FreeBusy Query for Google Calendar

Aspose.Email provides querying mechanism to check whether an appointment is due or not as per the criteria. FreebusyQuery class is provided for this purpose which allows to prepare a query for a particular calendar.

This code sample demonstrates the feature of querying a calendar. The following tasks are performed in this sample:

1. Create and insert a calendar
2. Create an appointment
3. Insert appointment
4. Prepare a FreeBusyQuery
5. Get the FreebusyResponse

// For complete examples and data files, please go to https://github.com/aspose-email/Aspose.Email-for-.NET

// Use the GoogleUser and GoogleOAuthHelper classes below to receive an access token
using (IGmailClient client = GmailClient.GetInstance(accessToken, user.Email))
{
    // Initialize calendar item
    Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar calendar1 = new Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar("summary - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString(), null, null, "Europe/Kiev");

    // Insert calendar and get back id of newly inserted calendar and Fetch the same calendar using calendar id
    string id = client.CreateCalendar(calendar1);
    Aspose.Email.Clients.Google.Calendar cal1 = client.FetchCalendar(id);
    string calendarId1 = cal1.Id;
    try
    {
        // Get list of appointments in newly inserted calendar. It should be zero
        Appointment[] appointments = client.ListAppointments(calendarId1);
        if (appointments.Length != 0)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Wrong number of appointments");
            return;
        }

        // Create a new appointment and Calculate appointment start and finish time
        DateTime startDate = DateTime.Now;
        DateTime endDate = startDate.AddHours(1);

        // Create attendees list for appointment
        MailAddressCollection attendees = new MailAddressCollection();
        attendees.Add("[e-mail]");
        attendees.Add("[e-mail]");

        // Create appointment
        Appointment app1 = new Appointment("Location - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString(), startDate, endDate, "[e-mail]", attendees);
        app1.Summary = "Summary - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
        app1.Description = "Description - " + Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
        app1.StartTimeZone = "Europe/Kiev";
        app1.EndTimeZone = "Europe/Kiev";

        // Insert the newly created appointment and get back the same in case of successful insertion
        Appointment app2 = client.CreateAppointment(calendarId1, app1);

        // Create Freebusy query by setting min/max timeand time zone
        FreebusyQuery query = new FreebusyQuery();
        query.TimeMin = DateTime.Now.AddDays(-1);
        query.TimeMax = DateTime.Now.AddDays(1);
        query.TimeZone = "Europe/Kiev";

        // Set calendar item to search and Get the reponse of query containing 
        query.Items.Add(cal1.Id);
        FreebusyResponse resp = client.GetFreebusyInfo(query);
        // Delete the appointment
        client.DeleteAppointment(calendarId1, app2.UniqueId);
    }
    finally
    {
        // Delete the calendar
        client.DeleteCalendar(cal1.Id);
    }
}