How to use the command 'gcal' (with examples)
Gcal is a command-line utility designed for displaying calendars and various data about months and weeks. It’s a versatile tool that helps users easily access calendar data without needing a graphical interface, making it ideal for those working within terminal environments or scripts. The utility supports displaying single months, entire years, or specific formats, such as those with week numbers. With gcal’s options to customize outputs, users can effectively manage their calendar views.
Use case 1: Display calendar for the current month
Code:
gcal
Motivation:
Displaying the calendar for the current month is one of the most frequent needs for users who might want a quick view of the current dates and days. Whether for scheduling appointments or checking deadlines, having immediate access to the present month’s calendar is essential. Using gcal for this task eliminates the need for additional software or a web search, thereby streamlining workflow.
Explanation:
The command gcal with no additional arguments defaults to showing the current month’s calendar. The command calculates the current month and year using the system’s date settings, providing a neat and organized tabular calendar display. The default view highlights the current day, offering an easy overview of where users stand in the month.
Example Output:
October 2023
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
Use case 2: Display calendar for the month of February 2010
Code:
gcal 2 2010
Motivation:
There are many cases when users want to view past or future calendars, whether for planning purposes, historical data analysis, or retrospectives. Knowing the layout of days in a specific past month can be particularly important for tasks such as legal documentation, evaluations, or personal record-keeping. Hence, using gcal for a specific date enables quick and efficient retrieval of this data.
Explanation:
The argument 2 specifies the month of February, while 2010 denotes the year. The gcal command recognizes these inputs and computes the layout of the specified month and year. This command demonstrates how gcal can be customized to display any month from any year, which is a powerful feature for a variety of practical applications.
Example Output:
February 2010
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28
Use case 3: Provide calendar sheet with week numbers
Code:
gcal --with-week-number
Motivation:
For businesses or project managers, understanding not just the days of the month, but the week numbers—often used in reporting or planning—can be crucial. Week numbers can align with business cycles, fiscal quarters, or project milestones. This capability of gcal to include week numbers directly into the calendar display offers enhanced planning and communication efficiency.
Explanation:
The option --with-week-number tells the gcal command to include the ISO week date system, which assigns a number to each week of the year. This is particularly useful in environments where week-based scheduling is predominant, helping align tasks or deadlines with specific weeks in the sequence of a year.
Example Output:
October 2023
Wk Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
39 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
40 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
41 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
42 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
43 29 30 31
Use case 4: Change starting day of week to 1st day of the week (Monday)
Code:
gcal --starting-day=1
Motivation:
In many cultures and business environments, weeks are considered to start on Monday rather than Sunday. Displaying the calendar in a way that aligns with such conventions can enhance clarity and reduce confusion. This customization is handy for international teams, personal preference alignment, or when adhering to professional standards that define weeks differently.
Explanation:
The --starting-day=1 argument modifies the calendar to begin each week on Monday. The number 1 corresponds to Monday, following the ISO-8601 standard for the first day of the week. This reconfiguration of the week structure ensures that the calendar output aligns with the user’s preferences or organizational policies.
Example Output:
October 2023
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
Use case 5: Display the previous, current and next month surrounding today
Code:
gcal .
Motivation:
Sometimes it’s useful to not only see the current month but also to have context about what happened or what will happen in adjacent months. This extended view can assist in broader planning, allowing users to consider events or deadlines that span multiple months. It’s particularly advantageous for long-term project managers or scheduling of personal plans involving travel and holidays.
Explanation:
The . argument functions as a placeholder that indicates to gcal to generate a calendar view encompassing the previous month, current month, and the following month. This command is excellent for heightened awareness of past and future timelines, helping users to visualize more than just the immediate present.
Example Output:
September 2023
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
October 2023
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
November 2023
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
Conclusion:
The gcal command provides a versatile and powerful way to manage and visualize calendar data directly from the terminal. With its various options and customizations, it enhances productivity for terminal users who require quick and straightforward access to calendar information without navigating away from their current workflows. Whether for past, present, or future planning, gcal offers the necessary tools to keep users informed and organized.
