[Kde-pim] Kontact and Groupware - features

[Markus Feilner]

Am Sonntag 26 August 2007 20:18:42 schrieb Tobias Koenig:
> On Sat, Aug 25, 2007 at 04:44:31PM +0200, Roland Wolters wrote:
> > Hi,
>
> Hi Roland,
>
> > The main question is: where does Kontact store the Groupware
> > configuration data?
>
> Since Kontact consists of all the single PIM applications, each
> application stores the data in its own configuration/data directory.
>
> KMail:
>   Config: $HOME/.kde/share/config/kmail*
>   Data: $HOME/.kde/share/apps/kmail/
>         $HOME/Mail or $HOME/.Mail (depends on the distribution :/)
>
> KOrganizer:
>   Config: $HOME/.kde/share/config/korganizerrc
>   Data: $HOME/.kde/share/apps/korganizer/std.ics
>
> KAddressBook:
>   Config: $HOME/.kde/share/config/kaddressbookrc          (app settings)
>           $HOME/.kde/share/config/kaddressbook_addrconfig (contact specific
> settings) $HOME/.kde/share/config/kabcrc                  (global
> addressbook settings, e.g. 'who am I' entry)
> $HOME/.kde/share/config/kabldaprc               (ldap connection settings)
> Data: $HOME/.kde/share/apps/kabc/std.vcf
>
> The other PIM applications follow a similar approach, just take a look
> at these directories.
>
> > Imagine an admin who wants to alter some options or the configuration,
> > where does he/she has to look, how can these data be accessed and
> > altered?
>
> The config files are standard KDE config files, so all mechanisms of
> KConfig (e.g. KIOSK mode) apply to them.
>
> > And of course, which data can be managed there, which are tricky to
> > manage and what is impossible - allfrom the point of view of an
> > administrator?
>
> Hmm, explaining all this would fill the whole article already ;)
>
> Lets make it short:
>
>   KMail: Don't touch the index files in $HOME/Mail, if they get
>   corrupted, KMail will have a problem.
>
>   KOrganizer: The data are stored in standard iCal format, so you can
>   edit them with a text editor.
>
>   KAddressBook: The data are stored in standard vCard format, so you can
>   edit them with a text editor as well.
>
> > Also, how is the current, real state of the Groupware connection? I guess
> > really interested people should only use the Enterprise branch and I read
> > that there is the Scalix connector development going on at the moment.
> > Also, there is of course the Kolab connector and quite some hotos around
> > describe eGroupware and Kontact. So, the question is how well do all
> > these connectors work in real life, how well are they integrated?
>
> Best integration has Kolab with the following features:
>   - Support for Events, Todos, Notes, Contacts, EMails
>   - Support for shared calendars, address books, note books
>   - Support for FreeBusy functionality
> Also take a look at the kolab.org site for more information, they are
> up-to-date so far.
>
Hi Roland, 

Don't forget: another groupware that works perfectly with Kontact: 
Citadel. http://www.citadel.org,
One of the oldest existing Free Software projects (founded 1982!)

Citadel Groupware.
- All of the above works, plus support for instant messaging.
- Uses free protocols, like Groupdav  ... 

Citadel is pretty cool, because it supports replication among servers, Chat, 
IM, Mobile Sync, webclient, web admin, admin Cli and more. 
And I hear rumours that some folks are working on VOIP Integration with 
Asterisk ... 

We had an Article on Citadel in the german linux magazine some weeks ago, and 
last year there was one in the english mag.
:-)

> The next better integration will have the Scalix connection, as it is
> based on the Kolab connection.
>   - Support for Events, Todos, Notes, Contacts, EMails
>   - Support for shared calendars, address books, note books
>   - Support for FreeBusy functionality
>
> Both groupware connections offer a wizard for easy setup of the
> Kontact.
>
> The eGroupware connector doesn't really work, you should use the 'Remote
> Network Resource' in KOrganizer together with the eGroupware icalserv
> functionality instead.
>
> The OpenGroupware connector should work so far (never tested myself).
>
> > And what are the technical differences between the connectors? While
> > Scalix and Kolab work with IMAP e-mail attachments (as far as I
> > understood it) what about the others?
>
> eGroupware uses an XML-RPC based approach, OpenGroupware uses a webdav
> based protocol, where iCal/vCard files are stored.
>
> Ciao,
> Tobias



-- 

Best Regards - Mit freundlichen Gruessen
Markus Feilner

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