With smart phones, PDA’s, work schedules, personal schedules, kids’ schedules, and all the other stuff that is juggled around our busy days, we sometimes end up with our work appointments on our Outlook calendars and our personal and kids’ schedules on a Google calendar.

Avoid Overlap: Sync your Data

Two calendars can sometimes get confusing and important events can get lost between the two. Help is here, because now you can get your Google calendar and your Outlook calendar to sync up with each other. That makes finding your free time much easier.

Step by Step

1. Be sure that you have a version of Outlook that is supported.
   • 2003 or 2007
   
   
   • Windows XP 32 bit or Vista, sorry XP 64 bit is not supported
   
   
2. Download the calendar sync tool at http://dl.google.com/googlecalendarsync/GoogleCalendarSync_Installer.exe


3. When the pop up box appears, select Save File


4. Confirm that it is an executable file (that it has a .exe ending)


5. Read the terms of service and select I Agree to continue


6. Follow installation prompts and click on install


7. That installs the synchronizer
   • The Google calendar window will open


8. In the settings window
   • Enter your Gmail address and password
   
   
   • Choose the sync settings you prefer
   
   
   • Set the time interval for synching.
   
   
   • 10 minutes is the minimum amount of time between synchronization
9. If you need to adjust your settings, you can do so in the Window Systems Tray (bottom right of the screen)
   • Double click on the calendar icon to open Google sync settings
   
   
   • Change settings to new preferences

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Don't worry if your settings aren't perfect the first go around. Once the sync is in place, you can always adjust settings as needed, the key is to be aware of the essentials that you want to transfer from one calendar to another. Remember that part of what makes Gmail and Outlook Express so useful is their ability to be customized.