Export file can't be importet to Thunderbird because of wrong escape sequences #899
Description
Checklist
- I can reproduce the bug with the latest version given here.
- I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
- I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
- I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
- I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
- This issue contains only one bug.
- I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.
Affected app version
1.8.1
Affected Android/Custom ROM version
Android 16
Affected device model
Samsung Galaxy Flip 5
How did you install the app?
Google Play Store
Which calendar service or provider do you use, if any?
No response
Which sync adapter app do you use for calendar synchronization, if any?
No response
Steps to reproduce the bug
Create appointments containing several line brakes in the DESCRIPTION.
Export all existing appointments to an ics.* file (in my case several hundreds)
Try to import it into Thunderbird.
Expected behavior
Thunderbird imports the appointments and other data.
Actual behavior
Thunderbird shows: "No importable data in file"
Screenshots/Screen recordings
No response
Additional information
I searched the import file for errors and found this exported entry:
DESCRIPTION:Hello Mr. Miller
\nHere are your dates!\n
\nTue 26.
08.2025 \n13:35 KG (Person1) \n13:55 MLD30 (Person2) \n\nFr 29.08.2025
\n09
:45 KG (Person1) \n10:05 MLD30 (Person2) \n\nWe 03.09.2025 \n09:20 KG (Person1
)
n09:40 MLD30 (Person2)
The problem is: A backslash () must be escaped with another backslash (\n) in the ICS format if it is to be displayed as text. Fossify exports \n here, which Thunderbird interprets as an escape sequence and gets confused.
It doesn't happen to all appointments containing several lines. I found three of them in more than hundred but I can't find a difference causing this error.