Start/notes.ini Parameters/AddCalendarURL

AddCalendarURL

Parameter: AddCalendarURL
Short description: Push mechanism for calendar overlays on Notes clients (10+): a predefined Google Calendar, Notes Application, or iCalendar feed URL appears in the "Add a calendar" dialog the next time the calendar is opened and is accepted by the user with a single click.

Profile

Parameter
AddCalendarURL
Category
Client configuration
Component
Client
Available since
10.0
Supported versions
10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 14.0, 14.5, 14.5.1
GUI equivalent
Person document / Policy (Desktop Settings → Custom Settings)
Possible values
Full calendar URL: Google Calendar public URL, iCalendar feed URL (http(s)://…/.ics), or Notes Application URL (notes://server/db.nsf/view)

Description

Since HCL Domino 10, AddCalendarURL rolls out a calendar overlay to Notes clients without requiring users to add it manually. When the parameter is set via a Desktop Settings policy ("Custom Settings" tab) or directly in the client's notes.ini, the Notes client opens the "Add a calendar" dialog once on the next calendar invocation, with the configured URL pre-filled — the user only adds display name, color, and refresh options and saves.
Three source types are supported:
  • Google Calendar — the public "secret address in iCal format" of a Google Calendar
  • iCalendar feeds — any http(s)://…/.ics endpoints (CRM systems, helpdesk tools, school/club calendars)
  • Notes Application calendars — notes://server/database.nsf/<calendar-view>
For frequently changing iCal feeds, AddCalendarURL is typically combined with the companion parameter FeedRefreshInterval, which controls the refresh frequency of the overlay.

Example configuration

Directly in the client's notes.ini:
AddCalendarURL=https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/<key>%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Notes Application calendar as overlay:
AddCalendarURL=notes://app1.example.com/projects/teamcal.nsf/calendar
Via Desktop Settings policy (Domino Directory → People & Groups → Settings → Desktop Settings → Custom Settings → Notes.ini):
Item:  AddCalendarURL
Value: https://intranet.example.com/feeds/holidays.ics

Notes & pitfalls

  • Works only with the Notes client (HCL Notes 10+) — on older clients without calendar overlay support the parameter is ignored.
  • Only one URL per notes.ini — for multiple overlays, stack multiple policies or let the user add additional overlays manually later.
  • The display options (name, color, refresh frequency) are set by the user in the "Add a calendar" dialog; the parameter only fills the URL line.
  • Refresh behavior of iCal feeds remains controllable via FeedRefreshInterval (default 3600 s) — the user must additionally tick "Refresh this calendar frequently", otherwise the global default frequency applies.
  • Notes-to-Notes Application overlays use the regular Notes open/replication mechanism, not iCal polling — FeedRefreshInterval has no effect there.
  • HTTPS endpoints with untrusted certificates may not work in the Notes client depending on the trust store configuration — provision cross-cert / trusted root in advance.

Sources (HCL Product Documentation)