Update Novermber, 2023:

Finally, we are able to import using page ID, Now you can import events using your Facebook page ID. It will import events of the page you have owned/created.  We have updated our both plugins Import Facebook Event and WP Event Aggregator to support changes.

• Import by Page ID
  • Make sure you are an admin of the Facebook page.
  • Events are created using the same page.
  • It will not import events shared on a page from another page id.
• Import using iCAL URL.
  • It will import all events you mark as interested.
  • If you have created and authorized the Facebook app, it will import evet images and the exact location in the background.

If you want to import events of your pages only, you should use import by page ID. If you want to import all events of your account like events you marked as interested, saved, etc., then import by ical URL

Facebook API Changes Sept 2023

We want to share an important update regarding recent changes to Facebook  API, which have temporarily impacted the functionality of our plugins. In this article, we’ll explain the reasons behind this disruption and offer a solution for importing events using the iCal format in both plugins.

Problem:- Facebook API 

On September 09, 2023, Facebook made significant changes to its API to enhance user privacy and data security. However, these changes have affected event data API for all plugins. So with all other API users, we are also affected.  Some of users will not be able to import events using Page ID. Some scheduled imports also got affected. 

Solution:-  Import Facebook event using ical URL or Event ID 

We have been working on issues with Facebook and we will find some solutions as we have always since 2012. Till the issue got resolved you can keep your website with Facebook events using 2 methods.  As this API changes is more related to Facebook so we are not able to provide an exact time line when import using Page ID will start working. 

1) Get the calendar URL of your upcoming Facebook events

Currently (Sept 2023) it can be done this way, but Facebook might do minor redesigns in the future.

1. On the desktop go to your facebook event list.
2. Right-click the “Add to Calendar” button
3. Click “Copy Link Address” and paste it into the plugin’s ical URL

The URL should look similar to this: https://www.facebook.com/events/ical/upcoming/?uid=6246345&key=6SAh6345G5

2) Use this ical URL to import events using ‘Import Social Event’ or ‘WP Event Aggregator

You can import events using this ical URL. You can also schedule import using this iCAL URL and it will import all upcoming Facebook events you own or marked as interested. It will not import Facebook event images which you need to import manually.  We have given a detailed instrument below with a screenshot.

3) Import using Event ID.

Import using Event ID is still working so you can import using Event ID. You need to get the event ID of each event and import it.

Detailed Guidelines on how to get the ical URL and Import using Event ID.

Find your desired Facebook events, right-click the “Add to Calendar” button, and select “Copy Link Address.” This link contains data for all the events you’ve marked as interested.

Paste the Link:

Log in to your WordPress site with the Import Facebook Events plugin installed and activated. Go to “Import Facebook Events” and then “Facebook .ics Import.” Paste the copied link into the “iCal URL” field.

Choose Date Range:

Select the date range from which you want to import events.

Set Import Type:

Decide whether you want a one-time import or automatic import for future Facebook events.

Event Categories:

Optionally, assign an event category for the imported events. This category will be added alongside any existing categories.

Status: Before importing, choose the status for the events: Published (immediately visible), Draft (editable but not visible), or Pending (awaiting review).

Import:

Once everything is set up, click the “Import” button, and your events will be added to Facebook Events.

Temporary Solution: iCal Format Import Option for WP Event Aggregator:

For WP Event Aggregator users, here’s how you can temporarily address the issue:

Get the Facebook Calendar URL:

Select “Copy Link Address” to copy the event’s link. This link contains data for your chosen events.

Choose Import Type:

Within the “New Import” section, click on the “Import: iCalendar / .ics Scheduled Imports” tab.

Paste iCal URL:

In the “iCal URL” field, paste the secret iCal Address from your Google Calendar.

Select Date Range:

Choose the date range from which you want to import events.

Set Import Type:

Decide if you want this to be a one-time import or if WP Event Aggregator should automatically import events from WP Events.

Assign Event Categories:

Optionally, assign an Event Category for the imported events. This category will complement any existing categories defined by the feed itself.

Choose Event Status:

Before proceeding, set the WordPress status for the events when they are imported:

• Published: The content will be published on your site immediately.
• Draft: The content won’t be Published but will be available for editing after the import.
• Pending: The content won’t be Published or saved as a Draft but will be marked for review by a WordPress editor or administrator before publishing.

Click the Import button.

Conclusion:

We understand the challenges posed by Facebook’s API changes and are committed to restoring full functionality to our WP Event Aggregator and Import Social Events plugins. In the meantime, utilize the iCal format import option to continue seamlessly importing events to your WordPress websites.

Stay tuned for updates on our progress, and please reach out to our support team if you have any questions or need assistance with the iCal format import.

Thank you for choosing WP Event Aggregator and Import Social Events for your event management needs. We’re dedicated to serving you better in the future.