👉Convert events into Ellie tasks
Convert any calendar event into an Ellie task and optionally sync them.
Overview
Ellie's External Calendar Events feature allows you to seamlessly convert events from your connected calendars (Google, Apple, or Outlook) into Ellie tasks. This feature helps you manage your calendar events alongside your tasks in one unified workflow.
The feature is available on web/desktop and iOS after you connect a calendar and turn on Create tasks from calendar events in Calendar settings.
Getting Started
Prerequisites
An active Ellie subscription
At least one connected calendar (Google, Apple, or Outlook)
Enabling the Feature
Connect a Google, Apple, or Outlook calendar. On web/desktop, go to Settings → Calendar accounts. On iOS or iPadOS, go to Settings → Connected Calendars.
Under Calendar event settings on web or Event Sync on iOS, turn on Create tasks from calendar events.
Choose how changes to linked tasks should sync back to calendar events.
Open a calendar event and select Add as Task.
How to Create Tasks from Calendar Events
Method 1: From the Calendar View
Open a calendar event in Ellie.
Select Add as Task.
Ellie creates a task with the event details preserved.
Sync Settings
The sync settings control how changes to tasks created from calendar events are handled. You can find them below Create tasks from calendar events under Settings → Calendar accounts on web/desktop or Settings → Connected Calendars → Event Sync on iOS or iPadOS.
Sync Mode Options
1. Keep task and calendar event separate (Default)
What it does: Changes you make to the task in Ellie won't update the original calendar event
When to use: When you want to manage the task independently from the calendar event
Example: You reschedule a task in Ellie, but the original meeting time in your calendar remains unchanged
2. Sync time changes only
What it does: When you reschedule the task in Ellie, the calendar event will automatically move to the new time
What it doesn't sync: Title and description changes remain independent
When to use: When you want time changes to stay in sync but maintain separate titles/descriptions
Example: Moving a task to 3 PM will also move the calendar event to 3 PM
3. Sync all changes
What it does: Any changes you make to the task (title, description, or time) will automatically update the original calendar event
When to use: When you want the task and calendar event to remain fully synchronized
Example: Renaming a task "Weekly standup" to "Team sync" will also rename the calendar event
Important Notes about Sync Settings
These settings only apply to tasks created from existing calendar events
Regular tasks created in Ellie are not affected by these settings
Deleting a task does not delete the original calendar event (for safety)
Visual Indicators
Calendar Event Icon
Tasks created from calendar events display a small calendar icon on the task card, indicating:
📅 Google Calendar events
🍎 Apple Calendar events
📧 Outlook Calendar events
Time Mismatch Indicator
When the task time differs from the original calendar event time, you'll see an orange "Different from timebox" indicator. This shows:
The current time difference between task and event
Why the difference exists based on your sync settings
When the times will be synchronized (if sync is enabled)
Best Practices
Choose the right sync mode:
Use "no sync" for one-time events you want to manage separately
Use "time sync" for recurring meetings where only timing matters
Use "full sync" for events you want to keep completely aligned
Calendar organization:
Consider creating a dedicated calendar for tasks you want to import
Use calendar categories/colors to organize which events become tasks
Time management:
Tasks inherit the time and duration from calendar events
You can adjust task timing independently based on your sync settings
Time zone handling is automatic based on your calendar settings
Troubleshooting
"Add as task" button not appearing
Ensure you have an active subscription
Check that the calendar integration is properly connected
Refresh the page if the button doesn't appear immediately
Sync not working as expected
Allow up to 30 minutes for sync changes to propagate (should be sooner or instant if you manually sync)
Check your sync mode settings are configured correctly
Ensure the calendar account has proper permissions
Time differences between task and event
This is normal if you have "no sync" mode enabled
Check the time mismatch indicator for details
Verify your time zone settings in both Ellie and your calendar
Privacy and Security
Ellie only accesses calendar data you explicitly grant permission for
Event data is encrypted and stored securely
You can revoke calendar access at any time from Settings
Deleting tasks does not affect original calendar events
FAQ
Q: Can I create tasks from recurring calendar events? A: Yes but they will NOT be recurring tasks
Q: Will deleting a task delete my calendar event? A: No, for safety reasons, deleting a task never deletes the original calendar event.
Q: How quickly do sync changes appear? A: Changes from a task to the calendar event are instant. Changes from the event to the task can take up to 30 minutes OR instantly if you manually sync.
Q: Can I convert multiple calendar events at once? A: Currently, events must be converted one at a time by clicking "Add as task" on each event.
Q: Do calendar attachments transfer to tasks? A: Only the event description, notes and time are synced (for now)
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