Importing Macintosh iCal calendar

Important note: This article assumes the use of Mac OS X 10.5.x and Ubutntu 9.04, Jaunty Jackalope.

Use these steps to import contacts from the Macintosh iCal calendar.

1. In iCal on your Macintosh, select the calendar you wish to export.
2. Select File > Export and specify what you want to name the exported file and where you want to save it. The exported file will be saved as a .ics file.
3. Transfer this file to your home directory on the computer running Ubuntu.
4. Launch Evolution on the computer running Ubuntu.
5. Select File > Import. The Evolution Import Assistant appears.
6. Click the Forward button.
7. Select the Import a single file option and click the Forward button.
8. Select the file you transferred in step three, above. Evolution will automatically recognize this as a iCalendar (.ics) file; if not, select the iCalendar (.ics) option from the File type: drop-down menu.
9. Select the Personal option and click the Forward button.
10. Click the Import button to begin the importing process. Your calendar will appear in the Calendars pane of Evolution.

Ubuntu notes

Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distributions available. It’s available at no charge, is open source, and has relatively modest resource requirements.

The process for installing Ubuntu is fairly straightforward; this is how ARTS & FARCES does it.

Macintosh OS X migration

• Importing Macintosh email
• Importing Macintosh address book
• Importing Macintosh iCal calendar

Importing Macintosh address book

Important note: This article assumes the use of Mac OS X 10.5.x and Ubutntu 9.04, Jaunty Jackalope.

Use these steps to import contacts from the Macintosh Address Book.

1. In Address Book on your Macintosh, select all of the contacts you wish to export.
2. Select File > Export > Export vCards…. and specify what you want to name the exported file and where you want to save it. The exported file will be saved as a .vcf file.
3. Transfer this file to your home directory on the computer running Ubuntu.
4. Launch Evolution on the computer running Ubuntu.
5. Select File > Import. The Evolution Import Assistant appears.
6. Click the Forward button.
7. Select the Import a single file option and click the Forward button.
8. Select the file you transferred in step three, above. Evolution will automatically recognize this as a VCard (.vcf) file; if not, select the VCard (.vcf) option from the File type: drop-down menu.
9. Select the Personal option and click the Forward button.
10. Click the Import button to begin the importing process. Your Address Book contacts will appear in the Contacts pane of Evolution.

Importing Macintosh email

Important note: This article assumes the use of Mac OS X 10.5.x and Ubutntu 9.04, Jaunty Jackalope.

We use IMAP for email, so no importing was necessary.

In any case, Mac OS X stores email in the Unix-standard .mbox format which can be imported directly by both Evolution and Thunderbird on Ubuntu.

Installing Ubuntu

Here are the steps that we use to wipe and reinstall an Ubuntu installation. It can also be modified for an initial installation.

1. Export Firefox bookmarks > /home/name/Documents/bookmarks.html
• Bookmarks > Organize Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Export HTML
2. Export Evolution contacts > /home/name/Documents/contacts.vcf
• Contacts > File > Save Address Book As VCard
3. Export Evolution calendar > /home/name/Documents
• cd home/name/.evolution/calendar/local/system
• cp calendar.ics /home/name/Documents/calendar.ics
• Or use SFTP
4. Copy Evolution signatures > /home/name/Documents
• cd /home/name/.evolution
• cp -R signatures /home/name/documents/signatures
• Or use SFTP
5. SFTP /home/name/Documents to backup/temporary storage.
6. Unplug USB drive.
7. Install Ubuntu.
8. Set static IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers.
• System > Preferences > Network Connections > Wired > Edit > IPv4 Settings
9. Configure wireless network connection.
• System > Preferences > Network Connections > Wireless > Edit >
10. Install SSHD: sudo apt-get install openssh-client openssh-server
11. Install Samsung ML-2571N driver.
12. Install Dropbox.
• Add Dropbox repository.
13. Install TimeVault.
• Install .deb file
• System > Preferences > Startup Applications
• Add /usr/bin/timevault-notifier to command box
14. Install Samba: sudo apt-get install samba samba-tools system-config-samba
15. Configure Samba using these instructions.
16. Install Kontact: sudo apt-get install kontact
17. Install SpamAssassin: sudo apt-get install spamassassin
18. Install restricted extras: sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
19. Install Dia: sudo apt-get install dia
20. Install Skype: sudo apt-get install skype
21. Install MPlayer: sudo apt-get install mplayer
22. Install SMPlayer: sudo apt-get install smplayer
23. Update repositories and upgrade installed packages.
• sudo apt-get update
• sudo apt-get upgrade

To get started, click the “Categories” or “Title List” navigation element in the left column.

• Toward a user experience strategy
• Adventures with the naked Mac Mini Server
• Ubuntu notes