Google Docs has three types of document sharing. Public to anyone with the link and viewable in search results; only viewable to those you invite to it; and the compromise: viewable only to anyone with the link but not available in search.
Does this compromise also exist for Google Calendar?
I don't seem to find it. I can add people to a calendar so they can see it. I can make it public (This calendar will appear in public Google search results.) and give people the link to it. But I cannot share the link without making it searchable. (I get You do not have access to [calendar name]'s calendar when adding the link.)
There is a private iCal and XML link for the calendar, but those are not addable to another Google Calendar account, the calendar ID (somecode@group.calendar.google.com) is needed for that. Any of the following would fix this issue:
- Is there a way to get a private calendar ID?
- Or to give people with the ID access to the calendar without making it publicly available in search?
- Or to add a calendar to Google Calendar using the iCal or XML link?
Best Answer
The private link can be used to share the calendar with non-Google Calendar users (e.g. Outlook or Yahoo Mail). It appears that Google does extra checking and doesn't allow a private link to be added if you weren't granted access (with Share with specific people setting).
If you mirror the file to a new URL or simply use an URL shortener (like goo.gl) you can import it into Google Calendar with no problem, bypassing the checks.
Other than that you have correctly outlined the options available. The Calendar ID is the same for the private and public links.