How can I programmatically create an iCal event in the default calendar? - iphone

Question

How can I use Objective-C to programmatically create an iCal event in the default calendar? I want to check whether the event already exists and set the button state accordingly.

Answer 1

An example of how to programmatically create an iCAL event in the default calendar, using Objective-C. The code checks if the event already exists, and sets the button state accordingly. Here is the code by #codeburger:
-(void)initCalendar {
// An array of 1 dictionary object, containing START and END values.
NSMutableArray* pvDict = [[NSMutableArray alloc] initWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString:PV_URL ]];
// Check if the private view event already exists in the default calendar.
// Then set the calendar button state.
// Get a entry point to the Calendar database.
self.store = [[EKEventStore alloc ] init ];
// Get an array of all the calendars.
NSArray *calendars = store.calendars;
// Get the default calendar, set by the user in preferences.
EKCalendar *defaultCal = store.defaultCalendarForNewEvents;
// Find out if this calendar is modifiable.
BOOL isDefaultCalModifiable = defaultCal.allowsContentModifications ;
// Create an event in the default calendar.
self.event = [ EKEvent eventWithEventStore:store ];
self.event.title = CHELSEA_SPACE ;
self.event.location = CHELSEA_ADDRESS ;
NSDateFormatter *dateFormatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
[dateFormatter setDateFormat:#"yyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.S"];
NSString *startString = [[ pvDict objectAtIndex:0] objectForKey:#"starts" ];
NSDate *dateStart = [dateFormatter dateFromString:startString];
NSString *endString = [[ pvDict objectAtIndex:0] objectForKey:#"ends" ];
NSDate *dateEnd = [dateFormatter dateFromString:endString];
self.event.startDate = dateStart;
self.event.endDate = dateEnd;
self.event.calendar = defaultCal ;
// Alternative code to add 2.5 hours to start time.
// [[NSDate alloc] initWithTimeInterval:9000 sinceDate:event.startDate];
// Search for events which match this date/time start and end.
// Compare the matched events by event TITLE.
NSPredicate *predicate = [store predicateForEventsWithStartDate:event.startDate
endDate:event.endDate calendars:calendars];
NSArray *matchingEvents = [store eventsMatchingPredicate:predicate];
self.calendarButton.enabled = NO;
if( ! isDefaultCalModifiable ) {
// The default calendar is not modifiable
return ;
}
if ( [ matchingEvents count ] > 0 ) {
// There are already event(s) which match this date/time start and end.
// Check if this event is the PV
EKEvent *anEvent;
int j;
for ( j=0; j < [ matchingEvents count]; j++) {
anEvent = [ matchingEvents objectAtIndex:j ] ;
if([ CHELSEA_SPACE isEqualToString: anEvent.title ]) {
// PV event already exists in calendar.
return;
}
}
[ anEvent release ];
}
self.calendarButton.enabled = YES;
[ pvDict release ];
}
-(void)addEventToCalendar:(id)sender {
NSError *error;
BOOL saved = [self.store saveEvent:self.event span:EKSpanThisEvent error:&error];
NSLog(#"Saved calendar event = %#\n", (saved ? #"YES" : #"NO"));
self.calendarButton.enabled = NO;
}
I've seen this question with no answer and felt like it should be edited giving full credit to #codeburger.

Answer 2

EKEventStore *eventStore = [[EKEventStore alloc] init];
EKEvent *event = [EKEvent eventWithEventStore:eventStore];
NSDate *date = [[NSDate alloc ]init];//today,s date
event.title = #"remainder";//title for your remainder
event.startDate=date;//start time of your remainder
event.endDate = [[NSDate alloc] initWithTimeInterval:1800 sinceDate:event.startDate];//end time of your remainder
NSTimeInterval interval = (60 *60)* -3 ;
EKAlarm *alarm = [EKAlarm alarmWithRelativeOffset:interval]; //Create object of alarm
[event addAlarm:alarm]; //Add alarm to your event
[event setCalendar:[eventStore defaultCalendarForNewEvents]];
NSError *err;
NSString *ical_event_id;
//save your event
if([eventStore saveEvent:event span:EKSpanThisEvent error:&err]){
ical_event_id = event.eventIdentifier;
NSLog(#"%#",ical_event_id);
}
for more info check this link
sample for EKEvent