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apps:independence [2019-11-09 11:22] – [Nextcloud/ownCloud] Updated link jensapps:independence [2024-04-12 14:13] (current) – [Thunderbird with CardBook] jens
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 ====== Independence ====== ====== Independence ======
  
-Although you find this in the Applications section, this is certainly not an application. It is actually a complete solution consisting of the integration of several applications. I call it //Independence// because this makes you a little more independent from providers like Google and their data mining.+Although you find this in the Applications section, this is certainly not an application. It is actually a complete solution consisting of the integration of several applications. I call it //Independence// because this makes you a little more independent from big Tech providers and their data mining.
  
-This solution will enable you to have a central calendar and address book (contact list) and share them between your desktop installations of Thunderbird, the web interfaces of Nextcloud/ownCloud and Roundcube and finally even your (Android) mobile phone. It may of course also work with other applications and iOS but I have not tested that.+This solution will enable you to have a central calendar and address book (contact list) and share them between your desktop installations of Thunderbird, the web interfaces of NextcloudRoundcube and finally even your (Android) mobile phone. It may of course also work with other applications and iOS but I have not tested that.
  
 If you use all of this in combination with the most excellent [[https://workaround.org/ispmail|ISP mailserver]] solution, you reach a great deal of independence.  If you use all of this in combination with the most excellent [[https://workaround.org/ispmail|ISP mailserver]] solution, you reach a great deal of independence. 
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 Although strictly speaking his site is aimed at personal use, this could even be interesting for small companies. Although strictly speaking his site is aimed at personal use, this could even be interesting for small companies.
  
-===== Nextcloud/ownCloud ===== +===== Nextcloud ===== 
-Next to the earlier mentioned mail server solution, the basis for this to work well is an installation of either [[https://nextcloud.com/|Nextcloud]] or [[https://owncloud.org/|ownCloud]] and its CardDAV/CalDAV capabilities.+Next to the earlier mentioned mail server solution, the basis for this to work well is an installation of [[https://nextcloud.com/|Nextcloud]] and its CardDAV/CalDAV capabilities.
  
-I will not explain the installation and configuration of Nextcloud/ownCloud here as these products are well documented. However, you should be aware of a few prerequisites: +I will not explain the installation and configuration of Nextcloud here as this product is well documented. However, you should be aware of a few prerequisites: 
-  * All steps described here are based on Nextcloud. At the time of writing this is still interchangeable with ownCloud, but that could change in future.\\ Personally I prefer Nextcloud because some nasty ownCloud bugs are fixed in Nextcloud and also it offers some more nice features. +  * The applications "Contacts" and "Calendar" need to be activated (they were deactivated by default on my initial installation).
-  * The applications "Contacts" and "Calendar" need to be activated (they are deactivated by default).+
   * It is advisable (though not necessary) to do some [[https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/stable/admin_manual/installation/server_tuning.html?highlight=performance%20tuning|performance tuning]]. This mainly involves having a well tuned database server ([[http://mysqltuner.com/|mysqltuner]] and table defragmentation/optimization can help) as well as using memcache/[[https://redis.io/|Redis]].   * It is advisable (though not necessary) to do some [[https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/stable/admin_manual/installation/server_tuning.html?highlight=performance%20tuning|performance tuning]]. This mainly involves having a well tuned database server ([[http://mysqltuner.com/|mysqltuner]] and table defragmentation/optimization can help) as well as using memcache/[[https://redis.io/|Redis]].
  
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 As mentioned earlier, the calendaring app needs to be enabled. As mentioned earlier, the calendaring app needs to be enabled.
  
-Next, you have to find out the link for your calendar, To do this go to your Nextcloud webinterface to the calendar app. In the lower left corner you have a small cog icon (called "Settings & Import"), click that and you will find your "Primary CalDAV Address"+Next, you have to find out the link for your calendar, To do this go to your Nextcloud webinterface to the calendar app. When hovering over the calendar icon, you can click on the pen to edit the calendar. There you can find the "Internal Linkspecific to that calendar.
  
-If you don't want to connect to all calendars that are accessible to you, click on the three dot menu next to the calendar you want and chose "Link" which will give you the link to that specific calendar.+Instead of connecting to a specific calendar and if your application supports it, you can also connect to all calendars which are available to you. In that case you will need the generic URL.
  
 The generic link usually looks like this: The generic link usually looks like this:
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 <code>https://<your.cloud.url>/remote.php/dav/calendars/<username>/<calendarname>/</code> <code>https://<your.cloud.url>/remote.php/dav/calendars/<username>/<calendarname>/</code>
  
-==== Thunderbird with Lightning ==== +==== Thunderbird ==== 
-To make use of the calendar in [[apps:thunderbird|Thunderbird]] Lightning extensionIn Debian this is easy to installjust run ''apt install lightning'' and restart Thunderbird afterwards.+Before, you needed to install the Lightning extension to use a calendar in Thunderbird. Nowadays that is no longer necessaryit is integrated by default.
  
 Next, follow these steps to connect your Nextcloud calendar. Next, follow these steps to connect your Nextcloud calendar.
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   - Open the calendar within Thunderbird (using the icon or menu).   - Open the calendar within Thunderbird (using the icon or menu).
-  - Right-click the existing calendar to create a new one.+  - Click the "New Calendar" button on the bottom left.
   - Choose "On the network" as your new calendars location.   - Choose "On the network" as your new calendars location.
   - Choose "CalDAV" as calendar type.   - Choose "CalDAV" as calendar type.
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 You can now delete the default (local) calendar if you wish. To create new entries just double-click somewhere in the calendar view, the rest is pretty self-explanatory. Don't forget to also check out the other options! You can now delete the default (local) calendar if you wish. To create new entries just double-click somewhere in the calendar view, the rest is pretty self-explanatory. Don't forget to also check out the other options!
  
-Thunderbird will synchronize the calendar(s) on startup and shutdown, also every 30 minutes (default setting) while running. If you wish to manually synchronize the calendar(s) right-click on any calendar and choose "Reload Remote Calendars" in the menu, or use the "Synchronize" button. See also the first screenshot above.+Thunderbird will synchronize the calendar(s) on startup and shutdown, also every 30 minutes (default setting) while running. If you wish to manually synchronize the calendar(s) right-click on any calendar and choose "Synchronize" in the menu, or use the "Synchronize" button. See also the first screenshot above.
  
 You can also add more calenders. e.g. create one shared calendar and one personal calendar for every person in your household. You can also add more calenders. e.g. create one shared calendar and one personal calendar for every person in your household.
 +
 +<WRAP INFO round>
 +Note that you should set automatic calendars like your Contact Birthdays to read-only in their properties, otherwise it will not be possible to dismiss any reminders and notifications!
 +</WRAP>
  
 ==== CalDAV on Android ==== ==== CalDAV on Android ====
-{{ :apps:acaldav.png?direct&200|}} +I am not aware of any good free CalDAV app for Android, also as far as I know it does not come with integrated CalDAV support, If you know any good, free app please let me know!
-There are paid apps that add CalDAV support of course. But reading reviews these apps have problems especially with Nextcloud CalDAV connections. If you have any experience with these paid apps please let me know, but as long as I cannot test the apps I will rely on freely available apps for now. These apps are unofficial though.+
  
-So went to look for a workable solution which I can either test first or which is free and I discovered [[https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=de.we.acaldav|aCalDAV]] from [[https://f-droid.org/|F-Droid]]. The installation is pretty straight forward and well documented.+Generally would recommend the use of [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.bitfire.davdroid|DAVx⁵]]. It costs a few bucks but is absolutely worth it.
  
-The downside is that you have to allow the installation of apps from untrusted sources. If you are willing to do that and also handle the updates yourself, you will get a FOSS CalDAV connector for your Android phone (and many more FOSS apps) which you can use to synchronize your calendar app with your Nextcloud installation. +In any case, the specific or generic URL'from above can be used in any CalDAV app as well.
- +
-You can add your CalDAV account using the "Accounts" option in your Android phone. As opposed to Sunbird here it does not matter if you use the generic link or sync with specific calendars.+
  
 ===== Contacts ===== ===== Contacts =====
 Instead of managing your address book in Thunderbird and RoundCube and synchronizing your contacts with your Google account you can also choose to manage your contacts within Nextcloud and then access that address book from Thunderbird, RoundCube and your mobile device. All contacts available everywhere! Instead of managing your address book in Thunderbird and RoundCube and synchronizing your contacts with your Google account you can also choose to manage your contacts within Nextcloud and then access that address book from Thunderbird, RoundCube and your mobile device. All contacts available everywhere!
 +
 ==== Nextcloud Contacts ==== ==== Nextcloud Contacts ====
 As mentioned earlier, the contacts app needs to be enabled. As mentioned earlier, the contacts app needs to be enabled.
  
-Next, you have to find out the link for your contacts, To do this go to your Nextcloud webinterface to the contacts app. In the lower left corner you have a small cog icon (called "Settings"), click that and you will find the link to your address book.+Next, you have to find out the link for your contacts, To do this go to your Nextcloud webinterface to the contacts app. In the lower left corner you have a small cog icon (called "Settings"), click that and you will find the settings for your address books. In the 'dot'-menu to the right of its name you can choose to copy the link.
  
 Usually it looks like this: Usually it looks like this:
-<code>https://<your.cloud.url>/remote.php/dav/addressbooks/users/<username>/default/</code>+<code>https://<your.cloud.url>/remote.php/dav/addressbooks/users/<username>/<addressbook>/</code>
  
 ==== Thunderbird with CardBook ==== ==== Thunderbird with CardBook ====
-To use the Nextcloud CardDAV address book in Thunderbird you need the extension [[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/thunderbird/addon/cardbook/|CardBook]] (just install it using the integrated Add-Ons function). Although it does not present your data as nice as e.g. RoundCube it is a decent address book and integrates well.+To use the Nextcloud CardDAV address book in Thunderbird you finally no longer need an extension, Thunderbird natively supports CardDAV now.
  
 {{gallery>:wiki?cardbook*.png&2&1366X768&lightbox&titlesort}} {{gallery>:wiki?cardbook*.png&2&1366X768&lightbox&titlesort}}
  
-  * After installing CardBook, open it using the corresponding icon. Using the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburger_button|Hamburger Menu]] you can chose "Address Book --> Add Address Book"+  * Choose the small down arrow next to the button "New Address Book" on the top left corner in the Contacts app
-  * Chose "Remoteand click Next.+  * Choose "Add CardDAV Address Book"
   * After validation (using the button "Validate") you can press Next.   * After validation (using the button "Validate") you can press Next.
   * Give a name and color to the address book, Press Next and believe it or not, you are done already.   * Give a name and color to the address book, Press Next and believe it or not, you are done already.
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 I recommend using a short synchronization interval, not the suggested hour but e.g. 5 minutes (you can edit that after saving). I recommend using a short synchronization interval, not the suggested hour but e.g. 5 minutes (you can edit that after saving).
 +
 ==== CardDAV on Android ==== ==== CardDAV on Android ====
 As opposed to CalDAV there are free CardDAV apps available in the Play Store. Just install any app you want and fill in the credentials you should know by now (URL, user name and password). In the account settings, disable the synchronization of your Google contacts and you are done already. Nice and easy :-) As opposed to CalDAV there are free CardDAV apps available in the Play Store. Just install any app you want and fill in the credentials you should know by now (URL, user name and password). In the account settings, disable the synchronization of your Google contacts and you are done already. Nice and easy :-)
  
 ===== More comfort on Android ===== ===== More comfort on Android =====
-If you don't mind spending a few bucks and want a more comfortable setup of your CalDAV/CardDAV setup on Android I can recommend the app [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.bitfire.davdroid|DAVx⁵]] (formerly DAVdroid). Just one app for Calendar and contacts, even tasks if you want. Just use your NextCloud username and password ad give <code>https://<your.cloud.url>/remote.php/dav</code> as base URL. DAVdroid will discover everything else automatically. You just have to tell it which address books and calendars to synchronize and you are done.+If you don't mind spending a few bucks and want a more comfortable setup of your CalDAV/CardDAV setup on Android I can recommend the app [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.bitfire.davdroid|DAVx⁵]] (formerly DAVdroid). Just one app for Calendar and contacts, even tasks if you want. Just use your NextCloud username and password ad give <code>https://<your.cloud.url>/remote.php/dav</code> as base URL. [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.bitfire.davdroid|DAVx⁵]] will discover everything else automatically. You just have to tell it which address books and calendars to synchronize and you are done.
apps/independence.1573294941.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019-11-09 11:22 by jens