---
name: "read-ical"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pilot-link"
version: "0.12.1-5"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/read-ical"
---

# read-ical(1)

Exports the DatebookDB and/or ToDo applications to ical format.

## NAME

read-ical - Exports the DatebookDB and/or ToDo applications to ical format.

## SECTION

pilot-link: Conduits

## SYNOPSIS

 *read-ical* \[**-p**\|**--port** \<**port**\>\] \[**--version**\] \[**-?**\|**--help**\] \[**-q**\|**--quiet**\] \[**--usage**\] \[**-d**\|**--datebook**\] \[**-t**\|**--pubtext**  **pubtext**\] \[**-f**\|**--file**  *file*\]

## DESCRIPTION

Note, this is not the same as the iCal calendar format.

 *read-ical* allows the user to retrieve the contents of the ToDo and Datebook databases on a Palm handheld, and convert their contents to an Ical calendar.

Note that the calendar file named by *filename* will be deleted, so do not use your main calendar. Instead, use a separate one for this purpose, and include it in your main calendar.

As *read-ical* works by passing a script to ical, the ical application must be in your $PATH.

## OPTIONS

### read-ical options

- **-d**, **--datebook**

  Datebook only, no ToDos

- **-t**, **--pubtext** **pubtext**

  Replace text of items not started with a bullet with **pubtext**

- **-f**, **--file** *file*

  This is the file in which the ical-formatted data should be saved. Note that this will be deleted, so do not use your primary calendar file. See *DESCRIPTION* for details.

### Conduit Options

- **-p**, **--port** *port*

  Use device file \<*port*\> to communicate with the Palm handheld. If this is not specified, *read-ical* will look for the *$PILOTPORT* environment variable. If neither are found, *read-ical* will print the usage information.

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Suppress 'Hit HotSync button' message

- **-v**, **--version**

  Display version of *read-ical* and exit without connecting.

### Help Options

- **-h**, **--help**.

  Display the help synopsis for *read-ical* and exit without connecting.

- **--usage**

  Display a brief usage message and exit without connecting.

## USAGE

The program will connect to a target device, retrieve the ToDo and Datebook databases (ToDoDB.pdb and DatebookDB.pdb respectively), then instruct *ical* to write a calendar file based on the retrieved information.

## AUTHOR

 *read-ical* was originally written by Kenneth Albanowski.

This manual page was converted to XML by Neil Williams \<linux@codehelp.co.uk\>

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs at: *http://bugs.pilot-link.org*

## COPYRIGHT

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.

## SEE ALSO

 [*pilot-link*(7)](/pilot-link/7.md)