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August 8, 2016

Ubuntu synchronise Google calendar and contacts and view & edit google drive files with GNOME applications

If you are using Ubuntu 16.04 then you can easily integrate Google apps experiences into your Ubuntu Desktop by using GNOME desktop applications. Which means you can easily view and edit your Google account calendars and contacts books right from your Ubuntu desktop without needing to open-up a web browser and sign-in to google account every-time you have to amend something.

Now fire up a terminal and put the following command into to install GNOME control center, Calendar, and Contact applications and GNOME online accounts package:


sudo apt-get install gnome-control-center gnome-contacts gnome-calendar gnome-online-accounts


If everything is installed properly, you should be able to find corresponding applications icons into Dash applications tab. Now, in the Dash search for Settings icon and click to launch All Settings window like shown below:





Now goto Online Accounts and click on the plus sign which will open Add Account dialog. Select Google and sign into your google account. Finally, click Allow button to give GNOME applications access to your Google services. Now you should see which Google services will be synchronised with the GNOME applications like shown below:





From here you can easily toggle the services you do not like to be synchronised with the Desktop applications. Turn on Calender, Contacts and Files which will in turn let you access Google Calender, Contacts and Drive from GNOME Calender, Contacts and File applications.


Accessing Google Calendar:


Search for Calendar icon in the Dash and open it. Click on the Manage your Calendar icon and select Calendar Settings from the popup menu. Now in the Calendar Settings dialog window click add button and select from web if your Google account calendars are not showing in the Calendars list like shown below:









Every time you change calendars you have to click Synchronize from the GNOME Calender application.


Accessing Google Contacts:


Search for Contacts icon in the Dash and open it. From Change Address Book dialog window select your Google account, like shown below:





The application will automatically synchronise your contacts upon change.


Accessing Google Drive files:


When you open Nautilus file manager (GNOME Files), you should be able to see your Google account email with other storage drives like shown below:





With GNOME Files, you will be able to access Google Drive files just like any other local disk partitions. To reflect any changes to the Google Drive do not forget to Unmount from the GNOME Files application.