Import iCal files

Use Import iCal in Event Manager to bring in multiple events at once from a calendar export — for example product launches, outages, policy changes, or other milestones you want to show on Insights timelines and reports.

What this feature does

If you already track important dates in Outlook, Google Calendar, or another calendar tool, you can export them as an iCal file (usually ending in .ics) and import them into TrustMinder as Insight events.

Once imported, those events can appear in:

• Event Manager (table or calendar view)
• Insights report timelines (when events are enabled on a report)

This saves you from adding each event manually.

Who can use it

• You need access to Insights and the Event Manager tab.
• You must be able to create and edit events. Users with view-only access (for example some Analyst accounts) can see events but cannot import them.
• If you do not see Import iCal, contact your TrustMinder administrator.

Before you start

Export a calendar file from your calendar app

Most calendar tools let you export one or more events as an .ics file.

Google Calendar (example)

1. Open the event or calendar you want to export.
2. Use the export or download option for iCal format (.ics).
3. Save the file to your computer.

Outlook (example)

1. Open the calendar or event.
2. Choose Save as or Export.
3. Select iCalendar format (.ics).

Tip: If you only need certain events, export just those rather than an entire calendar with hundreds of entries.

Supported file types

• .ics
• .ical

How to import events

Step 1 — Open Event Manager

1. Log in to TrustMinder.
2. Go to Insights.
3. Open the Event Manager tab.

Step 2 — Start the import

1. Click Import iCal.
2. Select your .ics file from your computer.

TrustMinder reads the file and opens a review screen before anything is saved.

Step 3 — Review the import summary

On the review screen you will see:

• File name — the calendar file you selected
• X to import — events that will be created
• X skipped — entries that will not be imported (with reasons)

Review this carefully before continuing.

Step 4 — Choose import settings

Before you confirm, set:

Category for imported events

Choose the category that best fits the events you are importing, for example:

• Product Release
• Technical Incident
• Policy/Pricing
• External Market
• Support/Success
• Internal Ops
• Other (you can add a custom label, e.g. “Calendar import”)

Apply to

Choose where the imported events should apply:

• All campaigns — events appear across your Insights context (default)
• One campaign — limit events to a single survey/campaign
• One label — limit events to campaigns with a specific label

Step 5 — Check the preview

The preview table shows the first few events that will be created, including:

• Title
• Start date
• End date

Use this to confirm the import looks correct.

Step 6 — Review skipped entries (if any)

If some entries were skipped, expand Skipped entries to see why. Common reasons are listed in the troubleshooting section below.

Step 7 — Confirm the import

1. Click Import X events.
2. Wait for the import to finish.
3. Your new events will appear in Event Manager.

You can switch between Table and Calendar view to check them.

What gets imported from the calendar file

TrustMinder reads standard calendar event details:

• Single-day events are imported as one-day events.
• Multi-day events are imported with a start and end date.
• All imported events use the category and Apply to settings you choose in the review screen.

What does not get imported

Some calendar entries are skipped automatically:

If everything in the file is skipped, you will see 0 to import and the import button will be disabled.

Re-importing the same file

You can safely import the same .ics file again. TrustMinder checks for existing events and does not create duplicates when the title, start date, and end date already match an event in Event Manager.

Only new events from the file will be imported.

After import — viewing and editing events

In Event Manager

• Table view — sort and manage events in a list
• Calendar view — see events on a month calendar
• Click an event (if you have edit access) to update title, dates, category, or scope
• Use the delete action to remove an event

On Insights reports

Imported events can appear on report timelines when events are enabled on that report. If you do not see them on a chart, check that events are turned on for the report and that the event dates fall within the report date range.

Tips for a successful import

1. Export only what you need — smaller files are easier to review.
2. Use clear event titles in your calendar — these become TrustMinder event names.
3. Review the preview before confirming — especially the first time you import from a new calendar.
4. Pick the right “Apply to” scope — use All campaigns for organisation-wide events, or scope to one campaign/label when the event only affects specific surveys.
5. Re-import safely — updating your calendar and importing again will only add new events, not duplicates.

Troubleshooting

“No new events to import from this calendar file”

All events in the file were skipped. Expand Skipped entries to see why. Often this means the events are already in Event Manager.

“No valid events found in this file”

The file may be empty, corrupted, or not a valid iCal export. Try exporting again from your calendar app.

I do not see Import iCal

You may not have permission to create events. Contact your administrator.

Recurring meetings are missing

Repeating calendar series are not imported as a full recurrence. Export or create individual occurrences if you need each date in TrustMinder.

Event dates look wrong

TrustMinder stores dates only (not times). All-day calendar events usually import cleanly; timed events use the calendar date. Check the preview before confirming.

Too many events skipped as duplicates

Events already in Event Manager with the same title and date range are skipped on purpose. Edit or delete existing events if you need to re-import them under different details.

Frequently asked questions

Can I import from Google Calendar, Outlook, or Apple Calendar?
Yes, as long as you can export an .ics / .ical file.

Will import affect live surveys or contacts?
No. Import only adds context events for Insights. It does not send surveys or change contact data.

Can I import events for one campaign only?
Yes. In the review screen, set Apply to to One campaign and choose the survey.

Is there a limit on how many events I can import?
Large files are supported, but very large imports may take longer. If you have hundreds of events, consider splitting into smaller calendar exports.

Can Analysts import events?
Usually not. Analysts can typically view events but cannot create or import them.

Related articles

• Event Manager — creating and editing events manually
• Insights reports — showing events on timelines
• Understanding event categories and scope

Need help?

If an import fails or the skipped reasons are unclear, contact TrustMinder support and include:

• The calendar app you exported from
• Approximately how many events you expected
• A screenshot of the import review screen (especially Skipped entries)

Do not attach calendar files that contain sensitive personal information unless your organisation’s support process allows it.