AW: Open .ics/.vcs attachments

FJR

posted Nov 11 '19 at 10:48 am

To avoid some of these problems with attachments of type iCalender and VCalendar, I've done this:

FILETYPE.PM added:

iCalendar,0,X,0,.ics
vCalendar,0,X,0,.vcs

MIME-MAP.PM

text/calendar = iCalendar

This should avoid the [Type unknown]. For PMICAL to open those attachments:

VIEWER .PM

1;.ICS;.ICS;pmical.exe
1;.VCS;.VCS;pmical.exe
2;text/calendar;.ics;pmical.exe

For the problem with the "Alternative message format" I do not have any solution. It arises with vCalender attached by webinterface of Exchange Server (don't know if Outlook too). The understanding of Microsoft is, because they put the text in "plain text" and "HTML Text" in addition into field description of their calenderfile, that a calenderfile is an alternative of that text. May be discussed ... but Pegasus does abviously not expect this to be an alternative and so simply marks it as text and not as an attachment. David would say, that this is another case where Pegasus has to correct problems arising by an mal programed mailprograms :-)

Bye Olaf

To avoid some of these problems with attachments of type iCalender and VCalendar, I've done this:FILETYPE.PM added:<blockquote>iCalendar,0,X,0,.ics vCalendar,0,X,0,.vcs </blockquote>&nbsp;MIME-MAP.PM<blockquote>text/calendar = iCalendar </blockquote>This should avoid the [Type unknown]. For PMICAL to open those attachments: VIEWER .PM<blockquote>1;.ICS;.ICS;pmical.exe 1;.VCS;.VCS;pmical.exe 2;text/calendar;.ics;pmical.exe</blockquote>For the problem&nbsp; with the "Alternative message format" I do not have any solution. It arises with vCalender attached by webinterface of Exchange Server (don't know if Outlook too). The understanding of Microsoft is, because they put the text in "plain text" and "HTML Text" in addition into field description of their calenderfile, that a calenderfile is an alternative of that text. May be discussed ... but Pegasus does abviously not expect this to be an alternative and so simply marks it as text and not as an attachment. David would say, that this is another case where Pegasus has to correct problems arising by an mal programed mailprograms :-)&nbsp;Bye &nbsp;&nbsp; Olaf

stuzz78

posted Aug 30 '19 at 5:45 am

Hello

I know pmical exists solely for opening .ics and .vcs files, and I can use it externally to Pegasus to open them, but I can't open them from within Pegasus by double-clicking on the attached file, since Pegasus doesn't recognise the attachment as an .ics or .vcs file.

For a long time I've had Content Viewer entries for the two filename extensions set to run pmical. I guess they worked sometime in the past when I set them up, but since Pegasus currently doesn't recognise that the attached files have any filename at all, double-clicking on the row in the attachment view has no effect (even setting the content viewer option to use 'Attachment type' information to Text doesn't help). To open them now, I save the 'Text' file outside of Pegasus, name it with the .ics extension, and then drag and drop it onto pmical.exe.

Is there something I can do to simply double-click and open an attached .ics/.vcs file with pmical? Is this even a Pegasus issue or has the problem already been caused by a particular set up of the email senders system?

Thanks for your help.

HelloI know pmical exists solely for opening .ics and .vcs files, and&nbsp;I can use it externally to Pegasus to open them, but I can't open them from within Pegasus by double-clicking on the attached file, since Pegasus doesn't recognise the attachment as an .ics or .vcs file.In the attachment view within message preview mode, the columns from left to right (| Type | File name | Description | ~Size |) show the files as follows: |&nbsp; Text&nbsp; |&nbsp; -&nbsp; |&nbsp; &nbsp; | 1.5kFor a long time I've had Content Viewer entries for the two filename extensions set to run pmical.&nbsp; I guess they worked sometime in the past when I set them up, but since Pegasus currently doesn't recognise that the attached files have any filename at all, double-clicking on the row in the attachment view has no effect (even setting the content viewer option to use 'Attachment type' information to Text doesn't help).&nbsp; To open them now, I save the 'Text' file outside of Pegasus, name it with the .ics extension, and then drag and drop it onto pmical.exe.Is there something I can do to simply double-click and open an attached .ics/.vcs file with pmical?&nbsp; Is this even a Pegasus issue or has the problem already been caused by a particular set up of the email senders system?Thanks for your help.&nbsp;

Brian Fluet

posted Aug 30 '19 at 7:02 pm

Do you have .ics and .vcs entries in the Pegasus Mail Content Viewer list (Tools/Options/Content Viewers)?

If not, this is a clip from the "To Install" section of the pmicalHelp.htm file:

4. Go into Pegasus Mail menu Tools/Options/Content Viewers

5. Add an entry for filename extension ".vcs" (and ".ics") and point to

the location where PmIcal.exe was stored.

Do you have .ics and .vcs entries in the Pegasus Mail Content Viewer list (Tools/Options/Content Viewers)?If not, this is a clip from the "To Install" section of the pmicalHelp.htm file:4.&nbsp; Go into Pegasus Mail menu Tools/Options/Content Viewers5.&nbsp; Add an entry for filename extension ".vcs" (and ".ics") and point to the location where PmIcal.exe was stored.&nbsp;

irelam

posted Aug 30 '19 at 7:47 pm

Hello,

The problem you are seeing is that the sender has forgotten to supply a filename when attaching a file. So the result is a dash, which correctly is not associated with Pmical.

All you need to do in these cases is to save the file with a name (like temp.ics) and use Windows Explorer to open the stream.

Martin

Hello,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The problem you are seeing is that the sender has forgotten to supply a filename when attaching a file. So the result is a dash, which correctly is not associated with Pmical.All you need to do in these cases is to save the file with a name (like temp.ics) and use Windows Explorer to open the stream.Martin&nbsp;

stuzz78

posted Sep 2 '19 at 3:46 am

Hello

Brian - Yes, I tried to explain that the content viewers are set, and I can confirm they are set according to the Pmical instructions.

Martin - So, I'm currently doing all I can do.

I've never used Outlook or Exchange server etc, but I get the impression that the sender doesn't create the email themself, attach any files, or have the option to supply a filename. I assume they create a meeting in their calendar, press the 'Invite' button, and emails send to the addresses of the invitees without any further user input. I further assume that those receiving these email/files with Outlook simply press a button, and the meeting is added to their calendar.

If the sender did have any more interaction, I would expect one or two of them would do it 'correctly'. I've had to use the workaround for the past several years from every sender that sends meeting requests. Thankfully this actually happens very infrequently, so hasn't been and isn't a problem.

The recent updates to Pmical prompted this question though, since I figure there's those using Pmical via a double-click on the Pegasus attachment view, and there might have been something obvious that I'm missing.

If it's of any help, the third line of the latest meeting file received is: PRODID:Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. There's no X-Mailer header in the email to determine the sending client.

I appreciate your feedback, and will mark this post as resolved.

HelloBrian&nbsp;- Yes, I tried to explain that the content viewers are set, and I can confirm they are set according to the Pmical instructions.Martin -&nbsp; So, I'm currently doing all I can do.I've never used Outlook or Exchange server etc, but I get the impression that the sender doesn't create the email themself, attach any files, or have the option to supply a filename.&nbsp; I assume they create a meeting in their calendar, press the 'Invite' button, and emails send to the addresses of the invitees without any further user input.&nbsp; I further assume that those receiving these email/files with Outlook simply press a button, and the meeting is added to their calendar.If the sender did have any more interaction, I would expect one or two of them would do it 'correctly'.&nbsp; I've had to use the workaround for the past several years from every sender that sends meeting requests.&nbsp; Thankfully this actually happens very infrequently, so hasn't been and isn't a problem.The recent updates to Pmical prompted this question though, since I figure there's those using Pmical via a double-click on the Pegasus attachment view, and there might have been something obvious that I'm missing.If it's of any help, the third line of the latest meeting file received is: PRODID:Microsoft Exchange Server 2010.&nbsp; There's no X-Mailer header in the email to determine the sending client.I appreciate your feedback, and will mark this post as resolved.&nbsp;

irelam

posted Sep 2 '19 at 6:09 am

Hello,

Firstly I will try to help you. First you must understand that Pmical only displays Exchange calendar events. The MsExchange server uses a database and some strange software called Mapi, that almost no-one else uses for mailing or inviting attendees. That being said not every thing is lost. Given that you or your staff are viewing an event, you can do the following:

A. Open Pmical by dropping an ICS file onto Pmical.exe then go to the Pmical menu and click on File, then click on 'Save event as'... Then give the Save dialog a file path and name. A file will be created with the path and filename you supplied (ie testInvite.ics). You can then use that file to open any calendaring application on your devices, such as Microsoft Outlook and import the ICS file which will create a calendar event. All calendaring software understands this standard filetype.

B. If the original sender added a keyword RSVP=YES, then you will get a short dialog asking if you want to accept or decline the invitation. Then a Pegasus Mail standard message dialog will popup with the invitation subject and sender email address filled in. You can then add other text or recipients, and then click Send.

Note that Pegasus Mail does not presently have a calendaring application builtin. But there are several alternatives. such as browsers that can handle ICS files. To be a fully operational invitation system, Pmical would have to be updated to maintain the original request and user responses to meeting invitations. And leading on from that it would need to be able to receive updates to a meeting, like time or data or location etc.

Note that I have most of this capability waiting for Pegasus Mail to release V5 with its database support, so I have not been in a rush to deliver these addition functions that Microsoft Outlook in Windows systems have. My problem is that I no longer have access to a Microsoft Exchange server to test with. So I cannot confirm when these functions will be available.

Finally a word of warning, Microsoft is continually changing its services, so emailing and calendaring have gone through several new generations with each one causing pain until updating is performed. So while users on Windows have little opportunity to try out other solutions, there are many mailers and contact manager apps on different platforms that could be employed(ie Apple,Samsung etc).

Let me know if I can help you further.

Martin

r

Hello,Firstly&nbsp;&nbsp; I will try to help you. First you must understand that Pmical only displays Exchange calendar events. The MsExchange server uses a database and some strange software called Mapi, that almost no-one else uses for mailing or inviting attendees. That being said not every thing is lost. Given that you or your staff are viewing an event, you can do the following:A. Open Pmical by dropping an ICS file onto Pmical.exe then go to the Pmical menu and click on File,&nbsp;then click on&nbsp;'Save event as'...&nbsp;&nbsp;Then give the Save dialog a file path and name.&nbsp; A file will be created with the path and filename you supplied (ie testInvite.ics).&nbsp;You can then use that file to open any calendaring application on your devices, such as Microsoft Outlook and import the ICS file which will create a calendar event. All calendaring software understands this standard filetype.B. If the original sender added a keyword RSVP=YES, then you will get a short dialog asking if you want to accept or decline the invitation. Then a Pegasus Mail standard message dialog will popup with the invitation subject and sender email address filled in.&nbsp; &nbsp;You can then add other text or recipients, and then click Send.&nbsp;Note that Pegasus Mail does not presently have a calendaring application builtin. But there are several alternatives. such as browsers that can handle ICS files. To be a fully operational invitation system, Pmical would have to be updated to maintain the original request and user responses to meeting invitations. And leading on from that it would need to be able to receive updates to a meeting, like time or data or location etc.Note that I have most of this capability waiting for Pegasus Mail to release V5 with its database support, so I have not been in a rush to deliver these addition functions that Microsoft Outlook in Windows systems have.&nbsp; My problem is that I no longer have access to a Microsoft Exchange server to test with. So I cannot confirm when these functions will be available.Finally a word of warning, Microsoft is continually changing its services, so emailing and calendaring have gone through several new generations with each one causing pain until updating is performed. So while users on Windows have little opportunity to try out other solutions, there are many mailers and contact manager apps on different platforms that could be employed(ie Apple,Samsung etc).Let me know if I can help you further.Martin&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;r&nbsp;

Brian Fluet

posted Sep 3 '19 at 12:08 am

stuzz78,

Do you use filters to detect .vcs and .ics attachments in messages as they arrive? If so, I'm curious whether they work on these unnamced attachments.

If not, here are mine should you want to consider this approach.

If expression body matches "BEGIN:VCALENDAR" Goto "vCalendar"
If expression body matches "Content-Type: text/calendar*" Goto "vCalendar"
If expression body matches "Content-type: Application/Octet-stream; name=\"-\"* type=Text" Goto "vCalendar"
If expression body matches "QkVHSU46VkNBTEVOREFS*" Goto "vCalendar"
.
.
.
Always Exit ""
Label "vCalendar"
Always Run "pmical.exe %s"
Always Highlight "4"
Always Exit ""

stuzz78,Do you use filters to detect .vcs and .ics attachments in messages as they arrive?&nbsp; If so, I'm curious whether they work on these unnamced attachments.If not, here are mine should you want to consider this approach.If expression body matches "BEGIN:VCALENDAR" Goto "vCalendar" If expression body matches "Content-Type: text/calendar*" Goto "vCalendar" If expression body matches "Content-type: Application/Octet-stream; name=\"-\"* type=Text" Goto "vCalendar" If expression body matches "QkVHSU46VkNBTEVOREFS*" Goto "vCalendar" . . . Always Exit "" Label "vCalendar" Always Run "pmical.exe %s" Always Highlight "4" Always Exit ""

stuzz78

posted Sep 3 '19 at 2:47 am

Hi Martin

I appreciate your help, but to be honest, I was quite happy with the state of play at my last reply. My only goal with this was to see if I could make it so a double-click on an attached file would open in Pmical, format nicely, and be more easily readable. I have no requirement to add details to any calendar software.

That being said...

Hi Brian - No, I've hardly used filters for anything before. I'll create one like yours and report back the results.

Hi MartinI appreciate your help, but to be honest, I was quite happy with the state of play at my last reply.&nbsp; My only goal with this was to see if I could make it so a double-click on an attached file would open in Pmical, format nicely, and be more easily readable.&nbsp; I have no requirement to add details to any calendar software.That being said...Hi Brian - No, I've hardly used filters for anything before.&nbsp; I'll create one like yours and report back the results.

Brian Fluet

posted Sep 3 '19 at 3:13 am

The new mail filter rules, if they detect a .ics or .vcs attachment, will invoke pmical when the message arrives, and each time the new mail folder is processed if that message marked as unread. Once the message is marked as read it will be ignored by the filter. Marking it as unread will again cause a trigger by the rule when the new mail folder is next processed.

The new mail filter rules, if they detect a .ics or .vcs attachment, will invoke pmical when the message arrives, and each time the new mail folder is processed if that message marked as unread.&nbsp; Once the message is marked as read it will be ignored by the filter.&nbsp; Marking it as unread will again cause a trigger by the rule when the new mail folder is next processed.

stuzz78

posted Sep 5 '19 at 5:11 am

I created the filter as per the one above and nothing happens. I can't see any of those expressions in the body of the email message, but it could be my inexperience in filter making too.

Maybe this particular email is special and a future email will trigger the actions. I'll keep the filter in place and see if that happens next time.

For now, let's all move on.

Thanks

I created the filter as per the one above and nothing happens.&nbsp; I can't see any of those expressions in the body of the email message, but it could be my inexperience in filter making too.Maybe this particular email is special and a future email will trigger the actions.&nbsp; I'll keep the filter in place and see if that happens next time.For now, let's all move on.Thanks&nbsp;

irelam

posted Sep 5 '19 at 6:20 am

Please forward to me (irelam17@telus.net) the message that isn't working for you, and I will try to sort it out.

Cheers,

Martin

Please forward to me (irelam17@telus.net)&nbsp; the message that isn't working for you, and I will try to sort it out.&nbsp;Cheers,&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Martin&nbsp;

euler

posted Sep 5 '19 at 6:49 pm

[quote user="stuzz78"]

I created the filter as per the one above and nothing happens. I can't see any of those expressions in the body of the email message, but it could be my inexperience in filter making too.

Maybe this particular email is special and a future email will trigger the actions. I'll keep the filter in place and see if that happens next time.

For now, let's all move on.

Thanks

[/quote]

I'm jumping in this thread a bit late, so please forgive me if I'm being redundant.

Rules works fine but in this case it is a must to be a "incoming new mail rule". So...

Tools > Mail filtering rules... > Edit new mail filtering rules... > Rules applied when folder is opened...

One of your first rules (if not the very first) should be:

Add rule > Always triggers... > Call label > Set... > PmIcal
.
...other rules
.
Add rule > Label… > PmIcal
Add rule > Attachments... > Only check the extension portion > And if it contains this... > .ics,.vcs > This string is a list of possible values, separated by commas > Goto label > Set... > vCalendar
Add rule > Expression… > If this regular expression > BEGIN:VCALENDAR > Body only > Goto label > Set... > vCalendar
Add rule > Expression… > If this regular expression > Content-Type: text/calendar* > Body only > Goto label > Set... > vCalendar
Add rule > Expression… > If this regular expression > Content-type: Application/Octet-stream; name="-"* type=Text > Body only > Goto label > Set... > vCalendar
Add rule > Expression… > If this regular expression > QkVHSU46VkNBTEVOREFS > Body only > Goto label > Set... > vCalendar
Add rule > Always triggers... > Return from call
Add rule > Label… > vCalendar
Add rule > Always triggers... > Run a program > Set... > C:\PMAIL\Programs\pmical.exe %s
Add rule > Always triggers... > Set message colour > Set... {optional}
Add rule > Always triggers... > Move > Set... > Calendar {optional}

Add rule > Always triggers... > Exit this rule set

These are the rules I'm using. Please make the adjustments like Pmical.exe path, etc.

If you'd like to just open .ics and .vcs through a mouse left-double-click just do it. Windows will ask you which application it needs to call. You just point it to pmical.exe and you're done. Remember to make an entry for each one into Tools > Options... > Content viewers. If you don't have any make empty dummies like dummy.ics and dummy.vcs.

[quote user="stuzz78"]I created the filter as per the one above and nothing happens.&nbsp; I can't see any of those expressions in the body of the email message, but it could be my inexperience in filter making too.Maybe this particular email is special and a future email will trigger the actions.&nbsp; I'll keep the filter in place and see if that happens next time.For now, let's all move on.Thanks&nbsp;[/quote]I'm jumping in this thread a bit late, so please forgive me if I'm being redundant.Rules works fine but in this case it is a must to be a "incoming new mail rule". So...<blockquote>Tools &gt; Mail filtering rules... &gt; Edit new mail filtering rules... &gt; Rules applied when folder is opened...</blockquote>One of your first rules (if not the very first) should be:<blockquote>Add rule &gt; Always triggers... &gt; Call label &gt; Set... &gt; PmIcal....other rules . Add rule &gt; Label… &gt; PmIcalAdd rule &gt; Attachments... &gt; Only check the extension portion &gt;&nbsp; And if it contains this... &gt; .ics,.vcs &gt; This string is a list of possible values, separated by commas &gt; Goto label &gt; Set... &gt; vCalendarAdd rule &gt; Expression… &gt; If this regular expression &gt; BEGIN:VCALENDAR &gt; Body only &gt; Goto label &gt; Set... &gt; vCalendarAdd rule &gt; Expression… &gt; If this regular expression &gt; Content-Type: text/calendar* &gt; Body only &gt; Goto label &gt; Set... &gt; vCalendarAdd rule &gt; Expression… &gt; If this regular expression &gt; Content-type: Application/Octet-stream; name="-"* type=Text &gt; Body only &gt; Goto label &gt; Set... &gt; vCalendarAdd rule &gt; Expression… &gt; If this regular expression &gt; QkVHSU46VkNBTEVOREFS &gt; Body only &gt; Goto label &gt; Set... &gt; vCalendarAdd rule &gt; Always triggers... &gt; Return from callAdd rule &gt; Label… &gt; vCalendarAdd rule &gt; Always triggers... &gt; Run a program&nbsp; &gt; Set... &gt; C:\PMAIL\Programs\pmical.exe %s Add rule &gt; Always triggers... &gt; Set message colour&nbsp; &gt; Set... {optional} Add rule &gt; Always triggers... &gt; Move&nbsp; &gt; Set... &gt; Calendar {optional} </blockquote><blockquote>Add rule &gt; Always triggers... &gt; Exit this rule set</blockquote>&nbsp;These are the rules I'm using. Please make the adjustments like Pmical.exe path, etc.If you'd like to just open .ics and .vcs through a mouse left-double-click just do it. Windows will ask you which application it needs to call. You just point it to pmical.exe and you're done. Remember to make an entry for each one into Tools &gt; Options... &gt; Content viewers. If you don't have any make empty dummies like dummy.ics and dummy.vcs.&nbsp;

-- Euler

Pegasus Mail 4.81.1154 Windows 7 Ultimate
IERenderer: 2.7.1.5 AttachMenu: 1.0.1.2
PMDebug: 2.5.8.34 BearHTML 4.9.9.6

stuzz78

posted Oct 2 '19 at 4:57 am

Oh, this thread is still going-ish!

As above, yes the Content Viewer that I have set is all that I want to work. As suggested, I just made myself a dummy.ics and sent an email to myself with it attached. The content viewer works as expected. I've come to the conclusion (as I think I did earlier in this thread), that the method which the sender of the email used to create and invite people to the requested meeting is what Pegasus can't deal with.

This is the screenshot of the offending email's attachment section which I tried to describe in my first post:

The contents of the "Text" part of that is a typical .ics/.vcs file that I've had experience with - it's first line is BEGIN:VCALENDAR. All the emails I can remember receiving look like the above shot, and they're all unable to be opened via a double-click to trigger a Content Viewer rule.

Below is the shot of the email I sent to myself from Pegasus, with the dummy.ics attached like any other attachment. The content viewer was happy to deal with:

In an attempt to help, I'll forward the non-working email to Martin as requested.

Thanks

&nbsp;Oh, this thread is still going-ish! As above, yes the Content Viewer that I have set is all that I want to work.&nbsp; As suggested, I just made myself a dummy.ics and sent an email to myself with it attached.&nbsp; The content viewer works as expected.&nbsp; I've come to the conclusion (as I think I did earlier in this thread), that the method which the sender of the email used to create and invite people to the requested meeting is what Pegasus can't deal with. This is the screenshot of the offending email's attachment section which I tried to describe in my first post: <img mce_src="https://i.imgur.com/Qd4xo2R.jpg" src="https://i.imgur.com/Qd4xo2R.jpg">The contents of the "Text" part of that is a typical .ics/.vcs file that I've had experience with - it's first line is&nbsp;BEGIN:VCALENDAR.&nbsp;&nbsp;All the emails I can remember receiving look like the above shot, and they're all unable to be opened via a double-click to trigger a Content Viewer rule.&nbsp; Below is the shot of the email I sent to myself from Pegasus, with the dummy.ics attached like any other attachment.&nbsp; The content viewer was happy to deal with: <img mce_src="https://i.imgur.com/kKfWbV7.jpg" src="https://i.imgur.com/kKfWbV7.jpg"> <div>&nbsp;</div><div>In an attempt to help, I'll forward the non-working email to Martin as requested.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Thanks&nbsp;</div>

stuzz78

posted Oct 3 '19 at 1:19 am

This is all sorted. The filter rule that Brian supplied does the job. I set it up some time ago but didn't test it until I sent the email to myself the other day. Pmical automatically appears when a meeting message like this - with no attachment filename - is received.

Resolved!

This is all sorted.&nbsp; The filter rule that Brian supplied does the job.&nbsp; I set it up some time ago but didn't test it until I sent the email to myself the other day.&nbsp; Pmical automatically appears when a meeting message like this - with no attachment filename - is received.Resolved!&nbsp;

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