Here is some info I recently read in the June 17, 2003 edition of Woman's Day:
"Don't take more than 500 mg (from food or supplements) at one time. That's the highest amount your body can absorb at one time." - This one really got me thinking, so why are my supplements 600 mg? 
"Do take it with a small amount of food. This will stimulate acid secretion, which is necessary for absorption." - I always take mine at the end of my meal.
"Don't take it with foods that are high in fiber or iron, since these nutrients can bind with the calcium and interfere with absorption. For the same reason, you shouldn't take a vitamin or mineral supplement that contains iron at the same time you take calcium." - Well, there's not much getting around the fiber on this one with Eating for IBS!  I tell myself that's why the calcium supplements are 600 mg, to help make up for losing some to fiber.  But, I take my fiber supplement at a different time, just to be safe. My doc recently told me to take meds either 1 hour before or 2 hours after my fiber supplement. Also, I take my multi at a different time because of the iron.
Also, it notes all women should consume no more than 2,500 mg of calcium a day. So, if you need to find out how much calcium is in a food you're eating, multiply the percent listed on the nutrition label by 1,000 (the standard daily value for calcium). So, if something says it has 25% calcium on the label, it would be 250 mg.
Hope that helps!
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Re: calcium timing question
