How to use the command 'khal' (with examples)

Khal is a text-based calendar and scheduling application for the command-line. It allows users to manage their calendars, schedule events, and view upcoming appointments. Below are examples of different use cases of the khal command.

Use case 1: Start Khal on interactive mode

Code:

ikhal

Motivation: Starting Khal in interactive mode allows users to have a more user-friendly and interactive interface for managing their calendars. It provides a visual representation of the calendar and makes it easier to navigate and perform actions.

Explanation: The ikhal command starts Khal in interactive mode, where users can interact with the calendar using various commands. This mode provides a set of options and commands that users can use to perform actions.

Example output: The output of this command will be the Khal interface, where users can see their calendar and perform actions such as adding events, deleting events, and viewing upcoming appointments.

Use case 2: Print all events scheduled in personal calendar for the next seven days

Code:

khal list -a personal today 7d

Motivation: By printing all events scheduled in the personal calendar for the next seven days, users can have a quick overview of their upcoming appointments and plan their schedule accordingly. This is particularly useful when users want to see all their commitments and avoid conflicts.

Explanation: The khal list -a personal today 7d command instructs Khal to list all events from the “personal” calendar starting from today and for the next seven days. The -a personal flag specifies the calendar name to filter events from.

Example output: The output of this command will be a list of events scheduled in the personal calendar for the next seven days, including the date, time, and description of each event.

Use case 3: Print all events scheduled not in personal calendar for tomorrow at 10:00

Code:

khal at -d personal tomorrow 10:00

Motivation: This use case helps users identify any conflicting events scheduled in other calendars at a specific time. By printing all events not in the personal calendar for tomorrow at 10:00, users can ensure they have no overlapping commitments and plan their day effectively.

Explanation: The khal at -d personal tomorrow 10:00 command requests Khal to list all events from calendars other than “personal” for tomorrow at 10:00. The -d personal flag excludes events from the specified calendar.

Example output: The output of this command will be a list of events scheduled in calendars other than “personal” for tomorrow at 10:00, including the calendar name, date, time, and description of each event.

Use case 4: Print a calendar with a list of events for the next three months

Code:

khal calendar

Motivation: Printing a calendar with a list of events for the next three months allows users to have a comprehensive view of their schedule over an extended period. This can be useful for planning ahead, identifying busy periods, or tracking long-term commitments.

Explanation: The khal calendar command generates a calendar view with a list of events for the next three months. This view provides users with an overview of their schedule and helps them visualize the distribution and timing of their events.

Example output: The output of this command will be a calendar view showing the next three months, with dates, weekdays, and events marked on the respective days. Users can scroll through the calendar to see the events scheduled on specific dates.

Use case 5: Add new event to personal calendar

Code:

khal new -a personal 2020-09-08 18:00 18:30 "Dentist appointment"

Motivation: Adding a new event to the personal calendar allows users to keep track of upcoming appointments, meetings, or any other engagements. This helps ensure they don’t miss important commitments and can plan their time accordingly.

Explanation: The khal new -a personal 2020-09-08 18:00 18:30 "Dentist appointment" command creates a new event in the personal calendar for September 8th, 2020, from 18:00 to 18:30. The -a personal flag specifies the calendar to add the event to.

Example output: The output of this command will be a confirmation message indicating that the “Dentist appointment” event has been successfully added to the personal calendar with the specified date and time.

Conclusion:

In this article, we explored different use cases of the ‘khal’ command, a text-based calendar and scheduling application. Starting Khal in interactive mode provides users with a more user-friendly interface for managing their calendars. Printing events from specific calendars allows users to get an overview of their schedule, check for conflicts, and plan their time effectively. Additionally, Khal’s ability to provide a calendar view and support adding new events helps users stay organized and keep track of their commitments.