Step-by-Step Guide to Display Multiple Calendars with KwizCom SharePoint Calendar Plus Web PartManaging events from multiple teams, projects, or data sources inside SharePoint can quickly become chaotic if each calendar is viewed separately. KwizCom SharePoint Calendar Plus Web Part lets you aggregate and display multiple SharePoint calendars (and other lists) in a single unified view with filtering, color-coding, overlays, and flexible layout options. This guide walks you through planning, installation (if needed), configuration, and best practices so you can display multiple calendars clearly and maintainably.
What you’ll achieve
- Combine events from several SharePoint calendars or lists into one consolidated view.
- Apply distinct colors and icons per calendar for instant visual differentiation.
- Use filters and grouping to control which items appear.
- Configure display modes (month, week, day, timeline) and responsive behavior for users on different devices.
Prerequisites
- SharePoint environment where the KwizCom Calendar Plus Web Part is supported (SharePoint Online/On-Premises versions compatible with the product).
- Site collection or site-level permissions to add and configure web parts (typically Edit or higher).
- Existing SharePoint calendar lists (classic or modern depending on your SharePoint version) or lists that contain event items with start/end date fields.
- KwizCom Calendar Plus Web Part installed in your tenant/site or available in the SharePoint App Catalog (if not installed, see vendor instructions for installation).
Step 1 — Plan the calendars and data sources to display
- Inventory calendars: list all SharePoint calendar lists or lists with events you want to display (site name, list name, URL).
- Identify key fields: ensure each source has at least a start date/time and (optionally) end date/time, a title, and any metadata (category, location, organizer) you’ll use for filters or display.
- Determine color and icon scheme: assign each calendar a color and optional icon to help users visually distinguish sources.
- Decide default view(s): choose which views you want users to see first (month, agenda/list, timeline) and whether users can switch views.
Step 2 — Add the KwizCom Calendar Plus Web Part to a page
- Go to the SharePoint page where you want the combined calendar.
- Put the page into Edit mode (Page > Edit).
- Click the area where you want to add the web part and choose “Add a web part.”
- Search for “KwizCom Calendar Plus” and add it to the page.
- Save or publish the page to preserve the placement.
Note: If the web part isn’t available, install it from your tenant’s App Catalog or contact your SharePoint admin.
Step 3 — Basic configuration: connect the first calendar source
- Open the web part’s configuration pane (edit the web part).
- In the Data Sources or Calendars section, click Add New Source (or equivalent button).
- Choose the source type: SharePoint Calendar List (or a generic SharePoint list that contains event-like items). For each source you’ll typically provide:
- Site URL (if different site)
- List name or list URL
- Field mappings (Start Date, End Date, Title, Description)
- Map fields correctly. If your list uses custom field names for dates, select those fields so Calendar Plus knows where to read event times.
- Save the source configuration.
Step 4 — Add additional calendars and set visual styles
- Repeat Step 3 for each calendar/list you want to include.
- For each added calendar, configure:
- Color: pick a color that contrasts with others for clarity.
- Icon (if supported): set an icon or small image to appear on events.
- Display name: a concise label users will recognize in legends and filters.
- Use consistent color logic (e.g., project A = blue, project B = green) and document it for your team.
Step 5 — Configure overlays, grouping, and filtering
- Overlays vs. merged: decide whether events from multiple sources should appear merged on one calendar or overlaid as separate layers the user can toggle.
- Configure legend and toggles: enable a legend that allows users to turn individual calendar layers on or off.
- Filters:
- Add filter controls (dropdowns, multi-selects, or text search) to let users restrict events by metadata such as project, category, location, or organizer.
- Configure default filters if you want the page to show only a subset initially (e.g., only “Team Meetings”).
- Grouping: If supported, group events by category, location, or other fields in agenda/list views.
Step 6 — Choose view modes and customize appearance
- Default view: set Month, Week, Day, Timeline, or Agenda as the default display.
- Allow user switching: enable controls so users can change view modes or set personal preferences.
- Item templates: customize how events render (show icons, truncated descriptions, location, organizer).
- Popups and details: configure the event detail popup to include fields you want visible without navigating away (description, attachments, links).
- Time zone handling: set whether event times respect the site time zone or each user’s local time.
Step 7 — Performance and paging for large data sets
- If you have many calendars or high item volume, enable caching or paging options if Calendar Plus provides them.
- Use server-side filters or limit the date range (for example, show +/- 90 days by default) to reduce load.
- Consider creating targeted views in source lists (e.g., “Active Events”) and point Calendar Plus to those views instead of the entire list.
Step 8 — Permissions and security considerations
- Calendar Plus displays items according to SharePoint list permissions—users see only items they have permission to view.
- Verify that source lists’ permission inheritance and item-level permissions are set as intended.
- When exposing calendars across site collections, confirm that users who need visibility have at least read access to the source lists/sites.
Step 9 — Testing and user acceptance
- Test with different user accounts (admin, typical user, limited user) to confirm visibility and behavior match expectations.
- Validate event creation, editing, and deletion (does Calendar Plus permit inline edit or redirect to list item forms? Test the workflow).
- Check responsiveness on mobile devices and in different browsers.
- Gather feedback and adjust colors, filters, or default view based on user preference.
Step 10 — Maintenance and troubleshooting
- Keep a short runbook documenting:
- Source lists and their locations
- Field mappings
- Color/icon assignments
- Any custom filters or views used
- Common troubleshooting tips:
- If events don’t appear, re-check field mappings and the site URL.
- If colors/icons aren’t showing, verify settings per source and clear any client-side cache.
- For slow load, reduce the date range or enable caching.
- Keep KwizCom web part updated to the latest supported version for performance, features, and security fixes.
Example configuration (concise)
- Sources:
- HR Calendar — Site: /sites/hr — List: HR Events — Color: #1E90FF
- Dev Sprints — Site: /sites/dev — List: Sprint Calendar — Color: #32CD32
- Company Holidays — Site: / — List: Holidays — Color: #FFA500
- Default view: Month
- Default filter: Show only events within +/- 90 days
- Legend: Enabled with toggles per calendar
- Event popup: Title, Start/End, Location, Description, Attachment links
Best practices summary
- Use consistent color/label conventions.
- Map fields precisely; create standardized event templates in source lists.
- Limit default date range to improve performance.
- Verify permissions to avoid exposing unintended items.
- Document your configuration so future editors can maintain the page.
If you want, I can:
- Provide an editable checklist you can paste into SharePoint for the setup.
- Generate the exact JSON/field mappings if you tell me your source list field names and site URLs.
Leave a Reply