Data Serialization to XML, JSON, iCal

Making preparations

To activate such functionality, enable the serialize extension.

scheduler.plugins({
    serialize: true
});

Export to XML

To serialize scheduler data to an XML string, use the toXML method:

var xml = scheduler.toXML(); //xml string

Export to JSON

To serialize scheduler data to a JSON string, use the toJSON method:

var json_string = scheduler.toJSON(); //json string

Note, the method returns a JSON string, not object. If you need to get a JSON object - use the getEvents method.

Export to iCal

To serialize scheduler data to an ICal string, use the toICal method:

var ical_string = scheduler.toICal(); //ical string

Also, there is an external script for iCal import-export operations

Attributes in serialization

The following technique is not applicable to the iCal format.

By default export will include only standard attributes(properties):

id
text
start_date (format of serialization is defined by the date_format property)
end_date

If you need to include some custom attributes, you can redefine the data_attributes method. In the simplest case it will look as in:

scheduler.data_attributes = function(){
    return [
        ["id"],["text"],["date_start"],["date_end"],
        ["custom_attribute"]
    ];
};

Basically, the method defines a list of attribute names.

But you can define the formatting function, which describes how attribute data needs to be processed before serialization.

It can be useful for dates that need converting before being placed in XML

scheduler.data_attributes = function(){
    return [
        ["id"],
        ["text"],
        ["start_date",scheduler.templates.format_date],
        ["end_date",scheduler.templates.format_date]];
}

Serializing recurring events

Below technique is not applicable for the iCal format.

If you are using the "recurring" extension, you need to define extra attributes, which are used by recurring events:

scheduler.data_attributes = function(){
    var empty = function(a){ return a||""; }
    return [["id"],
        ["text"],
        ["start_date",scheduler.templates.xml_format],
        ["end_date",scheduler.templates.xml_format],
        ["rec_type",empty],
        ["event_length",empty],
        ["event_pid",empty]];
}

Saving data in an XML file

Serialization allows you to implement a simple routine of data saving, which doesn't require DB - data will be stored in an XML file.

First of all, enable the serialize extension:

scheduler.plugins({
    serialize: true
});

Then, place a hidden form for data saving on the page:

<form id="xml_form" action="xml_writer.php" method="post" target="hidden_frame" >
    <input type="hidden" name="data" value="" id="data">
</form>

Place the "Save" button on the page

<input type="button" name="save" value="save" onclick="save()" >

function save(){
    var form = document.getElementById("xml_form");
    form.elements.data.value = scheduler.toXML();
    form.submit();
}

On server side, write the data in an existent file. xml_writer.php could be as follows:

<?php
    file_put_contents("./data.xml",$_POST["data"]);
?>

the empty data.xml is:

<data></data>

That's all, now scheduler can be loaded from data.xml, pressing "save" button will serialize the current state of the scheduler to xml and save back to the file.

So, on next loading the scheduler will load events that have been saved previously.

Troubleshooting

If during data saving, you face unwanted data escaping (in the saved data), make sure that "magic_quotes" is disabled in php configuration.