The available web space for Google Sites under individual Google accounts is 100 MB whereas it is 10 GB under Google Applications account.
If you run out of space on Google Sites you can register a domain and apply for standard edition of Google Applications for free.
After getting the Google Applications account invite the Google Applications account as owner to your Google Site and log out.
Then sign-in to your Google Site with Google Applications account. Use More_actions/Manage_site/General/Copy_site and complete the form.
This will copy the entire site to your Google Applications Domain where the new storage capacity is 10 GB.
You can also set the www CNAME record of the domain to ghs.google.com and map the site to www.yourdomain
27 August 2009
Uploading custom Presentation Template for use on Google Docs.
The members of our domain were using a particular background on Office presentations. I made a blank slide using that background, saved it as ppt, uploaded it to Google Docs and opened it for editing. It was just a background for slides without any text boxes. First I tried to insert a text box but it needed to be resized on the slide.
Then I clicked to insert a new slide and it asked me to chose the slide layout. After choosing the layout the text boxes appeared with the text "Click to add title" and "Click to add subtitle". I added one more slide with the next layout and it had the text boxes with "Click to add title" and "Click to add content". I deleted the blank slide and saved the file as "Standard_Template".
I shared the file with all the members of the domain and told them to copy the file for their use and leave the template file as empty.
Now they are motivated to use Google Presentation.
Then I clicked to insert a new slide and it asked me to chose the slide layout. After choosing the layout the text boxes appeared with the text "Click to add title" and "Click to add subtitle". I added one more slide with the next layout and it had the text boxes with "Click to add title" and "Click to add content". I deleted the blank slide and saved the file as "Standard_Template".
I shared the file with all the members of the domain and told them to copy the file for their use and leave the template file as empty.
Now they are motivated to use Google Presentation.
24 August 2009
Project Website on Company Intranet
We created a new site on Google Sites with the name of the project and choosing a good theme. On Home Page I inserted a Table with one row and two columns. On left side column I entered the Project Code, Project Duration and the name of the Client and on right side column the names of Project Team Members.
Below the table I copied the Objectives.
Then we created following pages under Home:
In the Planner page we inserted the Project Calendar made in Google Calendar. In File Cabinet we uploaded the project related file. In Task Monitor a Task List was created for various Project Members. In Time Sheet and Travel Expenses Record we inserted Google Spreadsheet Forms. On Discussion Board, Feedback Room pages instructions were written about how to use those features. In Feedback Room sub-pages were made i.e. one each for a member of the Project Team.
Then the Project Manager wrote a brief about the launch of the site on Announcement page.
I inserted 'Recent Posts' Gadget on the Home Page for Announcement and same Gadget on News page for Discussion Board. I also added Recent Site Activity in the Left Side Bar.
Finally the Project Manager sent the invitation to all Project Members as Collaborators and some other company personnel as Viewers.
Two members of the Project Team were outside the company's domain. Instructions were sent to them about how to access the site through their Google Accounts.
When the users began using the site we found that the timestamps on their post did not indicate our time. After searching on Google Sites Help Forums I found that users have to set their time-zone in their Google Sites account through 'My sites/User_settings.
Below the table I copied the Objectives.
Then we created following pages under Home:
| Name of the Page | Template used |
| Announcements | Announcements |
| Discussion Board | Announcements |
| Feedback Room | Web Page |
| File Cabinet | File cabinet |
| News | Announcements |
| Planner | Web Page |
| Task Monitor | Web Page |
| Time Sheet | Web Page |
| Travel Expense Record | Web Page |
In the Planner page we inserted the Project Calendar made in Google Calendar. In File Cabinet we uploaded the project related file. In Task Monitor a Task List was created for various Project Members. In Time Sheet and Travel Expenses Record we inserted Google Spreadsheet Forms. On Discussion Board, Feedback Room pages instructions were written about how to use those features. In Feedback Room sub-pages were made i.e. one each for a member of the Project Team.
Then the Project Manager wrote a brief about the launch of the site on Announcement page.
I inserted 'Recent Posts' Gadget on the Home Page for Announcement and same Gadget on News page for Discussion Board. I also added Recent Site Activity in the Left Side Bar.
Finally the Project Manager sent the invitation to all Project Members as Collaborators and some other company personnel as Viewers.
Two members of the Project Team were outside the company's domain. Instructions were sent to them about how to access the site through their Google Accounts.
When the users began using the site we found that the timestamps on their post did not indicate our time. After searching on Google Sites Help Forums I found that users have to set their time-zone in their Google Sites account through 'My sites/User_settings.
21 August 2009
Using Gantt Chart Template.
Yesterday I received an enquiry about how Google Spreadsheets could be used to prepare Gantt Chart for a project.
I searched for 'gantt' on Google Docs Templates Gallery and found 3 templates. I decided to use the simplest one:
On clicking 'Use this template' a copy was saved on my Google Docs and it opened before me. There were 15 activities on the Template which I modified for my project. Since there were more than 15 I inserted more rows and put all the activities. I maintained the format of the template and used 2.00, 3.00 etc. in WBS column for main activities and 2.11, 2.12 for sub-activities of 2.0 and so on.
After finishing with activity sheet I clicked on the second sheet to see the Gantt Chart. The chart was having 15 activities only whereas I had 26 on the activity sheet. Then I clicked on 'Edit Settings' tab on the chart and changed the range to 'A1:G27' and applied. The Gantt chart started showing all 26 activities.
I searched for 'gantt' on Google Docs Templates Gallery and found 3 templates. I decided to use the simplest one:
On clicking 'Use this template' a copy was saved on my Google Docs and it opened before me. There were 15 activities on the Template which I modified for my project. Since there were more than 15 I inserted more rows and put all the activities. I maintained the format of the template and used 2.00, 3.00 etc. in WBS column for main activities and 2.11, 2.12 for sub-activities of 2.0 and so on.
After finishing with activity sheet I clicked on the second sheet to see the Gantt Chart. The chart was having 15 activities only whereas I had 26 on the activity sheet. Then I clicked on 'Edit Settings' tab on the chart and changed the range to 'A1:G27' and applied. The Gantt chart started showing all 26 activities.
18 August 2009
Working with Google Sites.
I had already set-up 'www' CNAME record to point to ghs.google.com in GoDaddy account the next step was to put something on Google Sites.
My son-in-law had prepared a presentation in Microsoft Power Point regarding the new company. I decided to use the presentation.
I uploaded the presentation to Google Docs, then created a site and inserted the presentation, so simple.
Next step was to map the site to www.yourdomain.com again very simple. I set the sharing permission to 'Anyone in the world may view this site'.
The presentation was available to the public on www.yourdomain.com
Now I am setting up a site for the first project awarded to the new company.
My son-in-law had prepared a presentation in Microsoft Power Point regarding the new company. I decided to use the presentation.
I uploaded the presentation to Google Docs, then created a site and inserted the presentation, so simple.
Next step was to map the site to www.yourdomain.com again very simple. I set the sharing permission to 'Anyone in the world may view this site'.
The presentation was available to the public on www.yourdomain.com
Now I am setting up a site for the first project awarded to the new company.
15 August 2009
Importing contacts from gmail account, setting up mail URL to mail.yourdomain.com
Importing Contacts from gmail account
The first lesson I sent to the users was "How to import contacts from gmail account".
Click on contacts Tab in gmail account
Select the contacts you would like to export
Click on Groups and select New Group
Name the group mydomain
Click on Export tab (in right hand corner)
In who do you want to export select the group mydomain
Select Google CSV Format
Click on Export
Save the file on your PC.
In your domain mail account
Click on Contacts Tab
Click on import
Click on browse and select the file from your PC
Click on import
Setting up mail URL to mail.yourdomain.com
I had sent the URL for login to the mail account which was mail.google.com/a/yourdomain.com For setting up simple URL mail.yourdomain.com I had to change the CNAME record of 'mail' to point to 'ghs.google.com' in our Godaddy account. At the same time I created CNAME records for 'calender' 'sites' 'www' and set them to point to 'ghs.google.com'
Then I logged in to my administrator Dashboard for Google Applications for the domain and changed the URL to mail.yourdomain.com sites.yourdomain.com etc.
The first lesson I sent to the users was "How to import contacts from gmail account".
Click on contacts Tab in gmail account
Select the contacts you would like to export
Click on Groups and select New Group
Name the group mydomain
Click on Export tab (in right hand corner)
In who do you want to export select the group mydomain
Select Google CSV Format
Click on Export
Save the file on your PC.
In your domain mail account
Click on Contacts Tab
Click on import
Click on browse and select the file from your PC
Click on import
Setting up mail URL to mail.yourdomain.com
I had sent the URL for login to the mail account which was mail.google.com/a/yourdomain.com For setting up simple URL mail.yourdomain.com I had to change the CNAME record of 'mail' to point to 'ghs.google.com' in our Godaddy account. At the same time I created CNAME records for 'calender' 'sites' 'www' and set them to point to 'ghs.google.com'
Then I logged in to my administrator Dashboard for Google Applications for the domain and changed the URL to mail.yourdomain.com sites.yourdomain.com etc.
12 August 2009
Simplify your life with Google Forms.
Suppose you want to collect the data regarding the Birthdays of your friends and relatives. One option is to collect the data and enter it into spreadsheet.
Wait! Google has simplified this matter. Click on New/Form in Google Docs and create fields for last name, first name and date of birth, save the form and click on "email this form" and chose contacts from your gmail account and send. Your friends will fill the data themselves and it gets collected in the spreadsheet on your Google Docs account as soon as they fill it.
If you don't want to create a form yourself you can use my template:
If you are not logged into your Google Account you may have to create one or login to an existing account.
The form will open in front of you and it will be automatically saved in your Google Docs. You can click on 'Save' button on top right corner if its status is not showing as 'saved'.
You can edit the form if you wish like adding more fields or you can click on 'Theme Pink Flowers' and select another theme e.g. "Birthday Baloons". For changing theme you have to click on 'Apply' button.
After editing the form and/or changing theme if necessary you can click on "Email this form'. If you have a gmail account and a contact list in it you can click on 'choose from contacts' otherwise, you can enter the email addresses of your friends and relatives in the 'to' box and click on send.
You can click on 'More actions/Edit confirmations' and see what the responders are going to see after they fill up the form and click on 'Submit' button.
The responses get collected automatically in a spreadsheet 'Copy of Birthday' in your Google Docs and you can view them any time by opening it.
You can edit the form from the spreadsheet by Form/Edit_Form. You can input the Data yourself by clicking on Form/Go_To_Live_Form.
Wait! Google has simplified this matter. Click on New/Form in Google Docs and create fields for last name, first name and date of birth, save the form and click on "email this form" and chose contacts from your gmail account and send. Your friends will fill the data themselves and it gets collected in the spreadsheet on your Google Docs account as soon as they fill it.
If you don't want to create a form yourself you can use my template:
If you are not logged into your Google Account you may have to create one or login to an existing account.
The form will open in front of you and it will be automatically saved in your Google Docs. You can click on 'Save' button on top right corner if its status is not showing as 'saved'.
You can edit the form if you wish like adding more fields or you can click on 'Theme Pink Flowers' and select another theme e.g. "Birthday Baloons". For changing theme you have to click on 'Apply' button.
After editing the form and/or changing theme if necessary you can click on "Email this form'. If you have a gmail account and a contact list in it you can click on 'choose from contacts' otherwise, you can enter the email addresses of your friends and relatives in the 'to' box and click on send.
You can click on 'More actions/Edit confirmations' and see what the responders are going to see after they fill up the form and click on 'Submit' button.
The responses get collected automatically in a spreadsheet 'Copy of Birthday' in your Google Docs and you can view them any time by opening it.
You can edit the form from the spreadsheet by Form/Edit_Form. You can input the Data yourself by clicking on Form/Go_To_Live_Form.
09 August 2009
First Post on a new Blog.
I am blogger since July 2005 starting with My Tryst with Linux I am starting this new blog since the experience with Google Applications does not relate to Linux except Google Applications are also free to use and may be open source to some extent.
I learned about gmail in 2005 and managed an invitation when all users were given 100 invitations in Sep 2005. I learnt about Google Docs soon after its launch in Oct 2006 and loved the convenience of creating/uploading the Docs online. I have been using it for online Doc storage and sharing.
In last 3 years gmail has grown immensely and almost everyone is having a gmail account therefore when you talk about Google Applications for the organisations no training is required for using the mail account.
Till last month I did not know that for small groups of people using Google Applications is free if you have registered a domain. In fact I learnt about it when I saw an email address user@archlinux.us and the user told me that he got it free. Suddenly I was interested since this was like Ubuntu for Human Beings free with all meanings of the word 'free'.
I digged a little more on Google and found that you can buy the domain through Google which is registered at Godaddy or eNom If you go through Google then your account at the Domain Registrar is configured automatically to use Google Applications and if you register it you have to configure it yourself but lot of help is available.
Meanwhile my son-in-law launched a private limited company in July 2009 and was looking for low cost email and document sharing solution. He was thrilled to know that he could use gmail @his_domain
His business associate registered the domain of their choice on GoDaddy and signed up for Google Applications and I made the gmail available for 5 people in his company in less than one hour, thanks to GoDaddy.
I learned about gmail in 2005 and managed an invitation when all users were given 100 invitations in Sep 2005. I learnt about Google Docs soon after its launch in Oct 2006 and loved the convenience of creating/uploading the Docs online. I have been using it for online Doc storage and sharing.
In last 3 years gmail has grown immensely and almost everyone is having a gmail account therefore when you talk about Google Applications for the organisations no training is required for using the mail account.
Till last month I did not know that for small groups of people using Google Applications is free if you have registered a domain. In fact I learnt about it when I saw an email address user@archlinux.us and the user told me that he got it free. Suddenly I was interested since this was like Ubuntu for Human Beings free with all meanings of the word 'free'.
I digged a little more on Google and found that you can buy the domain through Google which is registered at Godaddy or eNom If you go through Google then your account at the Domain Registrar is configured automatically to use Google Applications and if you register it you have to configure it yourself but lot of help is available.
Meanwhile my son-in-law launched a private limited company in July 2009 and was looking for low cost email and document sharing solution. He was thrilled to know that he could use gmail @his_domain
His business associate registered the domain of their choice on GoDaddy and signed up for Google Applications and I made the gmail available for 5 people in his company in less than one hour, thanks to GoDaddy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)