Recover & Repair ICS file to fix iCalendar File (.ics) Errors

ICS or iCalendar File is an application supported by various Email Clients. This article will give brief information about how a user can repair ICS file. There are various methods that are explained in this article. All methods are based on how user can manually fix .ics file.

About iCalendar and How to Fix ICS File

iCalendar is a file format that helps users to save a task, request a task, share and send the task to another user. ICS is an extension use by iCalendar to store information like Events, To-do List, Journal entry, Free/Busy time. These Extensions also help to recover ICS file data. Since this file has a complex structure it is tedious to repair ICS File. This file is supported by the various application like Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Yahoo! Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, eM Client, Novell GroupWise, IBM Notes, Evolution, Mozilla Lightning extension for SeaMonkey and Thunderbird. Hence, To recover ICS file data a user can use these applications to fix ICS file errors.

Application that uses ICS File

To understand how to repair ICS file a user need to understand the structure of this file. First, we will learn a brief about its structure and applications that use this file. We need to see the features that need to recover when a user fix ICS file.

Structure and Technical Specification of ICS File

ICS file Structure can be explained by Image is given below. It shows that an ICS file contains various features like alarm, Event, Calendar, Journal, Todo, Free-busy (free and busy time) etc. These features and their internal structure must be understood to repair ICS file.

The ICS File Technical Specification and Core Detail

An iCalendar file consists of various features that help the user in different ways. This specification also helps the user in understanding why errors are caused and why does a user need to fix ICS file.
This image given below is basic format followed by ICS file. This format belongs to Internet Mail Consortium for creating a vCalendar file. The below images belong to the basic file structure of vCalendar and iCalendar file.

The vCalendar File:

The Sample iCalendar File (based on vCalendar file):

All features are ICS file is based on sequence. A user needs to understand the features of an ICS file because most errors are caused by these features. If the user has a brief idea about these structures then they can easily repair ICS file. The features of an ICS file and sequence is explained below:

Errors in ICS file

Error 1: ICS file attachment error

A common error that is caused in Outlook calendar. This is caused when features of one calendar don't match with another calendar which leads to unable to repair ICS file data.

Error 2: Outlook and Apple Calendar(iCal) file doesn’t work

This is an error caused due to different features and a sequence code. This error is caused when user try to use a file from Outlook or Apple Calendar while configuring email(Gmail) into it. To repair ICS file of this type follow methods that are given.

Error 3: Import .ics file results in MODIFICATION_FAILED error

This error is caused when you configure your email client and that account contains ICS file. This error can be easily solved.

Error 4: Processed Zero Events

This error is caused when an ICS file is imported. It is caused when there is an error in DTSTAMP of code of a file.

Error 5: File format not supported

This error doesn't allow the user to fix ICS file. This error is caused when ICS file is not supported by Application calendar due to following reasons:

1. Older version of Email client is used that doesn’t support ICS files type
2. Corrupt ICS files

If these errors occur then or repairing ICS file a user can follow methods given below. These methods will help the user to recover ICS file.

Methods to Repair ICS File

Method 1: Method to recover ICS file attachment

Follow the steps given below to open and fix ICS file in Outlook.

1. Download that attachment in System
2. Open default calendar in Outlook
3. Go to File > open
4. Now, Select option of Import/Export file
5. Now, In Import/Export window browse and select iCalendar file
6. Save this file
7. Again open the Outlook default calendar

Method 2: Method to Fix ICS File Outlook and iCal File Error

To perform this repair user need to download all calendar files from its previous email client or application. Once it's done then follow the steps given below:

• Open google calendar online versions
• Login with your credentials(username and password)

• Now, Go to the top right. Select Settings

• Now Select Calendars tab from top right corner

• Now, Select Import calendar

• Import the calendar file(.ICS) you have downloaded from another email client

Note: This Method Might make some changes when user fix ICS file. These changes are done on the file uploaded to google calendars

Method 3: Method to Repair ICS File MODIFICATION_FAILED Error

To recover ICS file data during this error a user can follow these steps:

1. Go to email client to which file belongs
2. Open default calendar of that client
3. Now Export file from that Email Client
4. Now, Import this file in your new email client or email

Note: If you were using IBM Lotus Notes then export file from that account. Similar for other email clients like Mozilla Thunderbird, SkyMonkey etc to fix ICS file.

Method 4: Method to Fix Processed zero Event Error

This error can be repaired by changing the code of DTSTAMP. Perform the following procedure to repair ICS file.

• Open ICS file as a text document
• Now, Let say the code look like a code given below

• Now Change the DTSTAMP code into code given below

• Now save this file. That’s all a user has to do to fix ICS file. If this doesn't work then to repair ICS file. Move to next step.
• Import that file on google calendar then Export it.
• Then import it in email client you want to use it for.

Method 5: Methods to Fix ICS File Format Not Supported Error

When your file is not supported by any Email client. Then to recover ICS file follow the steps given below

• First Import that files on Google calendars using Method 2
• Now, Go to Settings

• Select Calendar tab

• Click on Export calendars

• Your calendar file will be downloaded automatically
• Now, Import this calendar in your email client to recover ICS file data.

Conclusion

Above article describe how a user can repair ICS file. This can be done by various methods mentioned above. This article is used if user want to convert ICS file into CSV. This article cover all possible errors that are caused by ICS file. To fix ICS file error by manually, Some methods are explained above which help user to recover ICS file data.