Big picture questions about setting up Date + Calendar

I've time to answer part of this:

* I need to have 3-4 different categories displayed on the calendar. So do I create a different content type for each one so they can have different fields? If so would they all be "event" but just have different "names"? So one would be "rides" and one "meeting" etc?

create an event content type
use taxonomy to create a vocabulary and terms (categories) and associate them with the event content type.

* We want to have people fill the form out but have it not post until approved by admin. How does one do that or is it possible?

investigate the modr8.module

> * I need to have 3-4 different categories displayed on the calendar. So do I create a different content type for each one so they can have different fields? If so would they all be "event" but just have different "names"? So one would be "rides" and one "meeting" etc?

This can be accomplished with taxonomy and creating content types. Create a new content type for each label, and then you can set up a vocabulary to use exclusively with the calendar, and then create a view as described in the screencast for each taxonomy term. For instance, create a vocabulary and put your terms 'rides', 'meetings', 'names', etc. Then have the view filter according to these terms.

> * Will I be able to color code each type so they display differently?

This can be accomplished with theming: I'm not a big themer, so hopefully someone else can contribute here.

> * We want to have people fill the form out but have it not post until approved by admin. How does one do that or is it possible?

This is accomplished with workflow: I use the Workflow module for this. It's pretty tough to get accustomed to, but IMHO it is more flexible than Rules or Workflow-ng.

You are all awesome. Thanks so much for all the tips. This will be my weekend project. I already have another question. As I start to create a second event type form, is there a way to re-use parts of the first form? Actually, there's two parts to that question. 1) can I copy the first form and adapt it? 2) Is it even possible to have fields in the second form that were in the first or must the date and contact fields have new names in the second form?

Also, if I want there to be a field called email is there a way to validate that the text entered has the @ symbol? I thought that'd be a choice but it wasn't.

And if I have a set of radio buttons and the last one is other is there a way for there to be a text box to complete what "other" is?

I'm finding this process less than intuitive. It also appears there's not a way to do recurring events (ie: every Monday or the first Monday of every month)?!

Thanks again. And if this is all outlined somewhere, please point me in the right direction.

I hope it's OK to keep this same thread going. I'm no longer looking at big picture questions, I'm down to nitty gritty.

I've successfully created two kinds of events with emails, overlapping fields, setup taxonomy and have the calendar view working to display the 3 events I've added in May:
http://criticalmassjazz.com/calendar/2009-05

I was pleased to have figured out how to change the page heading and add the photo and text above the calendar.

YIKES...I've been playing with the Modr8 module. I've posted elsewhere for help with it. However... I hadn't realized until now that I never tested if my events were showing up when I was NOT logged in... and they're NOT. I don't think this is related to the moder8 module because I haven't got that going yet AND nothing shows up in the Content Management Moderated Content area. SO... where do I go to turn this on so the stuff Admin posts is visible on the calendar via view immediately? Somewhere it must think I only want it to display if logged in. I want to use moder8 so that a ride leader can login and complete a ride and that won't get displayed until approved. Am I heading in the right direction or what else am I missing?

Thanks!
Sheila