GCalendar for Joomla is a great extension for displaying a Google calendar on a Joomla page or in a module position. Of course, if you have Joomla configured to allow iFrames, you can easily inset the Google Calendar iFrame code, but this method does not allow you to configure the calendar colors: you’re stuck with the Google blue outline of the calendar.
What’s Good
If you need the ability to make the Google calendar match your website theme, then GCalendar for Joomla is the answer. The default theme will probably blend in with your Joomla template theme, but if it doesn’t, you can modify the CSS to customize every aspect of the calendar display, something you can’t do if you use Google iFrame code.
In addition, the GCalendar has a Upcoming Events module. This is a very nice feature if you need the ability, say, to display a list of upcoming events on your home page in a module position.
And as a BIG bonus, it works in Joomla 1.5, 1,6, and 1.7!
What Could Use Improvement
I don’t like to complain too much about FREE software, but you need to know what to expect if you use this extension. GCalendar is pretty easy to set up…if you already know how to set it up. But if this is the first time you’ve used it, be prepared for some pain and misery. The documentation for this Joomla extension is outdated and very limited. It will point you in the right direction but leave you to trial and error to get it set up correctly.
For example, to add a Joomla calendar to GCalendar, you need to first make the calendar public, and then add your Google Calendar user id to Gcalendar. Unfortunately, the documentation does not explain what the user id is.
I’ll save you a LOT of time. If your Google calendar ID is jsmith@yahoo.com, then you add jsmith%40@yahoo.com into the Calendar ID field of the Calendar Details screen of GCalendar. Not very intuitive.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this GCalendar for Joomla: it works perfectly if you can figure out how to configure it :)