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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

How to do simultaneous logins in Google Talk


Most of our users are using Google Talk. Before they started using Google Apps they had a Google account and were using Google Talk. Now after starting on Google Apps they have two Google Talk accounts and switching between two is making life difficult.

By following this hack you can have two simultaneous logins in Google Talk from one machine / PC. Or may be you have more than two if you want to operate Google Talk with multiple Gmail identities. If you have many Google Gmail accounts you also may want to run as many multiple instances of Google Talk. So there is no need to sign out and sign in. Use the following steps: You can use a Google switch /nomutex, to run Google Talk in multiple mode. Using this switch Google Talk operates in something called "Polygamy":


Step 1: Right-click on the desktop

Step 2: Select New

Step 3: Select Shortcut

Step 4: Paste this into the text box: "c:\program files\google\google talk\googletalk.exe" /nomutex

Step 5: Click Next and choose a shortcut name such as My Account 1, My Account 2, or anything which related to your Gmail account for easy remembering which account is which.

Step 6: Click OK / OK

This will enable you for using multiple Google Talk from one PC

Create PDF files using Google Docs


Here is one more useful tip for Google Apps users

Google Docs can be used to create PDF files. So if you want to convert your word doucyment to PDF you can use Google Apps (this is similar to Open Office functionality). Google Docs however doesn’t open up a PDF file for editing directly but a PDF file can be generated using a different approach.


To create a PDF file from a document use the following steps:

1. Create your document in MS Word OR using Google Docs
2. Upload the file to Google Docs (this step not required if created in Google Docs).
3. In the Google Docs Main screen, select the file (click on checkbox) and click ’Save as PDF' under the ’More Actions’ menu.

The PDF file will be downloaded to your computer. This is the original Word document which is converted to PDF format.

This is a really easy way to create a PDF file. So there is no need to search for free PDF converters on the internet. Just use Google docs to convert your MS Word files into PDF 9for free).


Thursday, August 7, 2008

Now have custom URL (in your domain) for your site created using Google Sites


Now Google Apps domain administrators can map public sites hosted on Google Sites to their own domains. Sites can be mapped individually to a specific URL, like http://www.example.com, and as a group under a specific URL, like http://sites.example.com/[name of site].

So in your company if you have a site each for HR, Marketing, etc you can now have URLs like:

http://hr.example.com
http://marketing.example.com

and these URL will be diverted to site created using Google Sites. However to do this you will need admin access. So only your domains admin can set these URLs from admin control panel.

Read more on Google blog
Google Sites Blog: Google Sites on your domain

Gmail Creates 'Never Send it to Spam' Filter


Google Apps' Gmail, which lets users filter emails based on certain criteria (all email from a certain address, or featuring given keywords, can be automatically archived, labeled, or deleted, for example), have now added a new option to its filtering system called Never Send it to Spam.

Ticking this will ensure that an email with matching filter criteria will not b accidentally sorted into the spam folder.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Using Templates in Google Docs


One of the fastest and easy way to create a document using Google docs is to use templates/ Google has over 300 templates - business documents, spreadsheets, and presentations - ready for use. You want an invoice, want to write a resume or a business letter - you have all templates available here and that too free

The templates are a very good new resource by Google Apps. This is going to make life simple for those using Google Apps and sure increase tha adaptability of Google Apps among user community. Release for English language only at present but soon coming in other languages too.

So now you have one more reason for dictching MS Office.

Read more:
https://documents.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=99064


Monday, August 4, 2008

SuccessFactors Announces Delivery of Integration with Google Apps

SuccessFactors, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFSF), the global leader in on-demand performance and talent management solutions, today announced the delivery of five new capabilities integrated with the Google Apps(TM) suite of communication and collaboration products and other tools. The integration of SuccessFactors Performance and Talent Management suite with the products from Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) enables companies of any and all sizes to reap the benefits of cloud computing (no hardware or software to download, install or maintain), and extends SuccessFactors' mission to help companies better manage, motivate and engage their people to drive better business results.

Google Integrations for SuccessFactors

SuccessFactors designed, developed and integrated the following five solutions with Google products. The first three are with Google Apps and the other two are integrations with other Google products. The integrations include:

  • SuccessFactors and Google Talk(TM) - to instantly communicate with a manager, members of a team, or others to discuss specific goals, performance reviews, and development/project plans
  • SuccessFactors and Google Calendar(TM) - to keep track of key events, deadlines against a goal plan, or key dates in the performance review process
  • SuccessFactors and Google Docs(TM) - for sharing knowledge and promoting collaboration by posting relevant, recommended documents, spreadsheets, and presentations from the SuccessFactors system, making them available to the internal and external audiences through Google Docs
  • SuccessFactors and Google Book Search(TM)- gives employees the tools to control their career development by providing clear visibility into the competencies they need to work on to prepare for future roles, along with relevant, suggested reading through Google Book Search
  • SuccessFactors and Google Maps(TM) - helps understand where individuals and teams are located, and to coordinate activities and make informed decisions on deploying talent
So now SuccessFactors users need not switch applications, or even browser tabs, to find information and collaborate with their colleagues. The Google Apps integration makes SuccessFactors customers more productive in one place and is a compelling example of the possibilities of cloud computing (aka SaaS - Software as a Service).

For more information, visit: http://www.succesfactors.com/google

Templates bring Docs to life

Update from Official Google Docs Blog:

What do wedding planners, gas mileage calculators and photo albums have in common? They're all examples of templates available in the Google Docs Template Gallery that Sarah Beth Eisinger (Docs Templates engineer), Grant Dasher (intern), and I built and (happily!) released today. Read more

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Forgot to log out? Now Close your active gmail sessions remotely

In my earlier post I have written about how Google has recently release some new security features in Gmail. Here is one of the advantage of such feature:

One of the greatest benefits of cloud based applications (like Google e-mail) is the advantage of being able to sign in from anywhere -- your PC at home, from laptop while traveling, PC at work, or a mobile device, and may be some times you even log in from a public area such as an internet kiosk or cybercafe.

But what if you forget to log off from the gmail? In such scenario someone may see your active session - can not only can read your email, but they also can use your account to retrieve your passwords of not only gmail but all other services signed up using this account.

Google's new feature release has addressed this by enabling you to know if you're still logged on elsewhere and also gives you a chance to disconnect remotely.

To access this at the bottom of your (Google Apps Mail) Gmail inbox is a small notifier of other active sessions. The new feature, being rolled out to users in phases (so some of you may see it now and some will see it after few days). The feature shows information on the time and location of your recent activities.

Enterprise customers - your one more objection to use Google Apps is resolved. Better start using it now and have early mover advantage.

Google Page Creator is no longer accepting new sign-ups - What happens to Google Apps Page creator?

Here is what Google says about this:

We are no longer accepting new sign-ups for Page Creator because we have shifted our focus to developing Google Sites, which offers many of the capabilities of Page Creator along with new features like site-level navigation, site-level headers, control over who can see and edit your site, and rich embeddings like calendars, videos, and Google docs.

If you are currently a Page Creator user, you can continue to use Page Creator and your pages will automatically be transitioned to Google Sites later this year. We are committed to making this transition as smooth and easy as possible, and we will post more details as we get closer to the transition time. You can also manually move your web pages from Page Creator to Google Sites or other service providers at any time.

http://pages.google.com/
http://pages.google.com/-/about.html#faq

I do not like Google sites as it does not looks like a website. So what happens to our websites created in Google Page Creator within Google Apps?

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Addons may conflict with Google Services

Some of the addons seems to be having a conflict with Google services. I came across following during last few weeks:

Skype addons was aborting the Google Start Page - "cannot connect with the server -- operation will be aborted."

We have found that some addons installed along with IE. like one of the addon called - "Skype (Mastermind)" is the culprit and is known to create issues with IE (see following link in skype forum): http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=113145

To avoid the issue disable this addon from you IE (Manage Addons option).


Friday, August 1, 2008

Google walks away with a large Microsoft Customer?

Here is the latest word around:

There are rumors of high treason at the court of King Microsoft as the New South Wales Department of Education has turned to Google for its email needs. Said to be the biggest single customer around, with over 1.3 million users under its 'control' the department has ended its 5 year contract with Microsoft and signed a three year deal which will see it use Google's Gmail.

According to the agreement, before the end of the year Google will have set up email accounts for 1.3 million students and teaches and provide them with "a world-class package of services." Snatching the NSW Department of Education from Microsoft's was probably a tough job but represents a big win for the search and ad giant. Still, this victory didn't come cheap as Google is charging $9.5 million for its services while Microsoft got $30 million and for offering some 100 times less storage space per account.

Looks like Google is betting big on "Low Cost" to win new customers

How to Submit your site (created using Google sites) to Google Webmaster Tools?

How do I verify my site created using Google Sites to Google Webmaster Tools?

You can verify your site via the meta tag verification in Google Webmaster tools. Follow the instructions (in webmaster tools) and paste the meta tag into the field labeled "Google Webmaster Tools verification" on Site settings -> Other stuff. Please note: your site must be marked as a public site in order for it to be verified.

How do I submit my site created using Google Sites to Google Webmaster Tools?

Once you have verified your site with Google Webmaster tools, Google Sites will auto-generate a sitemap xml file. Your sitemap will be generated at:

* http://sites.google.com/a/(your domain)/(site name)/system/feeds/sitemap for Google Apps.
* http://sites.google.com/site/(site name)/system/feeds/sitemap for sites under sites.google.com/site

Once these Sitemaps have been created, you can submit them to Google using Webmaster Tools.

Please note: your site must be marked as a public site in order for it to be verified.

New features in Google sites released

Yesterday Google has released some new features that will give you some more control over your site as well as enabling you to take advantage of our Webmaster Tools. Here are key improvements"

(1) The first notable release is the ability to change the width of your sidebar and header, or turn them off entirely. You now have complete control over your site's width, including the width of the text boxes.

(2) The second part of this release I would like to point out is the integration with Webmaster Tools. With Google Webmaster tools, it is easier to see how Google indexes your content and if you enable the integration, you can also auto-generate a sitemap to submit to Google.

(3) Google has also made it easier to embed a doc and spreadsheet into Sites.When you want to embed one of your Google Docs documents, spreadsheets or presentations, you can now conveniently select it from a list rather than pasting the URL into the document.

(4) Google has also implemented the ability to "preview" as a vviewer, enabling the owner to see how the site will look before it's published.
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