Changing the default data location for iCal calendars

Question

Is there any way to tell iCal to pull its calendar data from a different location other than ~/library/calendars ? I realize that this would probably require some app hacking, but if anyone knows how it would allow me to create an incredibly easy and efficient sync solution that I'd be happy to share. This also goes for apps like Address Book, Mail, etc. All I need to do is tell iCal to look for its "Calendars" folder in, for example, ~/Desktop/Calendars

Answer 1

OK. Move ~/Library/Calendars to your new Drop Box. This will ('cos it is a separate volume) leave a copy in ~/Library, so delete the Calendars folder there.
In terminal you will need a command something like
ln -s /Volumes/Drop\ Box/Calendars/ Library/Calendars
A couple of notes:
the first argument after the -s is the "source" - the folder that is being linked to; the next is the linking file or directory
terminal provides some auto-completion, so type as far as the -s /Vo then press tab and it will fill in as far as the next /, then type Dr and tab again and it should complete the first arg (make sure there is a trailing /) then type the space and Li and tab and then you will have to type in Calendars yourself 'cos terminal can't guess what you want
the last Calendars don't get a trailing /
If it has worked and you use Finder to look at ~/Library/Calendars you should see (apparently) the normal set of calendar files in it. Make sure your Drop Box is read and write accessible by both users.
AK