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Google Sites How-tos


Google Sites - FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Please check the Google Sites FAQ first, then my how-tos below.

Further Help

If none of these articles help you there are other resources that may:

Feel free to suggest a how-to from me to write: go to Google Sites How To Suggestions to do so.

Updates

You can now subscribe to an RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos

If you can't find what you need then use the search below to search for help from Google and user of Google Sites (search results open in a new window or tab):

 

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Google Sites - Site Templates - Template Tips

posted 30 Nov 2009 04:49 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 31 Jan 2010 13:38 ]

Google Sites now offers Site Templates to get you started with a structure and a good looking theme.  Google Have also provided Template Tips site to help you change your site to how you want, as there may be some elements of the Templates that you do not know how to edit.

Site Template Logos

If you want to be able to change the logo at the top of the page (the area that has "Name" followed by "your tagline goes here") in the header you can download the logos, in JPEG and Photoshop PSD format, from the Template Assets page.

Site Template Content Editing

The Template Tips page gives comprehensive instructions on each area of the site so you know which part of the template is which.  The Tips also include a set of instructions on how to change the content on the site so you can remove the default content and add your own - see the Topics list on the right.



RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos

| Attachments: google-sites-site-template-tips-assets.png

Google Sites - Site Templates - GeThemes.com / Steegle.com Mash-up

posted 26 Nov 2009 15:00 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 28 Nov 2009 15:20 ]

Google has released Site Templates which means when you make a new site you can pick a template with a custom theme and structure ready for use.  Steegle.com has teamed up with GeThemes.com to use the themes made by GeThemes.com to make templates with the themes ready for use.


Instructions

  1. Use one of the links or images on the right to choose the template you want to use.
  2. Once opened use the Create a site from this template link.
  3. Don't forget to Name your Site and Your site will be located at this URL.
  4. Use the Create site button and you're done.

At the minute we have only created one template (Steegle / GeThemes Clouds) but there will be more to come.  The Steegle / GeThemes Clouds has a structure but future templates will have no structure, just the theme applied with the correct sizes.

More Templates

If you want a template made for your website please get in touch and we'll see what we can do.



Google Sites - Page Templates

posted 8 Oct 2009 13:08 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 4 Nov 2009 16:04 ]

You can now make custom Page Templates in Google Sites.  This means you can make pages with a default layout and content, like certain text and images or a particular arrangement of gadgets and tables.

Page Template Creation Instructions

  1. Create a page with the layout and content you would like to use as a template
  2. Use the More Actions button then Save as page template
  3. Enter a Template name, Description and upload an Icon (if required) and use the Save button
  4. Make any further edits you need then use the Save button.

Page Template Editing Instructions

  1. Use the More Actions button, then Manage Site and then Page templates
  2. Use the name of the template link to open the template
  3. Use the Edit page template button and start editing
  4. Once you have made the edits you need use the Save button.

Page Template Usage Instructions

  1. Use the Create page button
  2. Chose the Page Template you created
  3. Add the content you want and use the Save button.
If you cannot see the page template on the Create Page page then:
  1. Use the More Actions button, then Manage Site and then Page templates
  2. Tick the box next to the template you want to display on the Create Page page and use the Show button.

Change a Page's Template

  1. Go to the page you want to change the template of (e.g. from a Web Page to a List Page or your own custom template)
  2. Use the More Action button then Change page template
  3. Select the page template you now want and choose whether you want the default content (careful: it will overwrite your pages current content) and use the Change page template button.

Notes

Revision History

If you revert to a previous version of the page you will get back the previous template used and the content.

Pages that Cannot Become Templates

You cannot create a page template from an Announcement page's Post.

More Actions - Save as page template



Save as page template - Dialogue Box



Page Template Listing



RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos

| Attachments: google-sites-page-template-listing.png

Google Sites - Copy Site - Import Personal Site to Google Apps

posted 12 Sep 2009 07:40 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 12 Sep 2009 07:54 ]

If you have ran out of space for your personal Google Site you can move your site to Google Apps, to take advantage of the 10GB available!


Instructions

  1. Invite a Google Apps account as owner

    Go to your personal Google Site and use the More Actions button and then Share this site: then add the Google Apps Account e-mail address as owner and use the Invite these people button.

  2. Sign in to the personal Google Site with your Google Apps Account

    Once you have invited the Google Apps Account make sure you sign out of your personal Google Account and sign in to your personal Google Site using your Google Apps account.

  3. Copy the Site

    Use the More Actions button then Manage Site and go to General: use the Copy Site link and complete the form (Site Name, URL and whether you want to keep revisions and sharing) and use the Copy Site button.

This then copies the site in its entirety to a new site in your Google Apps domain, meaning you can take advantage of the 10GB of space offered.

This also works the other way around so you can copy a site out of a domain: just invite a non-Google Apps domain user (an ordinary Google Account) as owner and then that owner can copy it out to a http://sites.google.com/sites/somewhere site.

Video How To

This video is best watched in high definition and in full-screen: to do this make sure you have clicked the HD button next to the time line below the video and use the Full-screen button to the right of that.



RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos

Google Sites - Picasa Web Album Integration

posted 11 Sep 2009 17:35 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 12 Sep 2009 07:57 ]

You can now add pictures from a Picasa Web Album to a Google Site from the Insert menu and upload them to a Picasa Web Album too, without leaving your Google Site!


Insert a Picasa Photo

Instructions

  1. Use the Insert menu then choose Picasa Photo;

  2. Choose the album that contains the image you want to add to your site;

  3. Once the album has opened choose the picture you want to insert;

  4. Choose the alignment, size and wrapping you want for the photo and use the Save button.

Upload a Photo to a Picasa Web Album

Instructions

  1. Use the Insert menu then choose Picasa Photo;

  2. Choose Upload photos under Photos in the All items section on the left;

  3. Select an album to upload to from the Select an upload album drop-down box;

  4. Use the Browse button to select your image;

  5. Use the Select button to upload the picture to the Picasa Web Album;

  6. To insert the photo you have just uploaded follow the Insert Picasa Photo Instructions above.

Important Notes

  • Compatibility

    You can only use the Picasa Web Album integrated features if you sign in to your site using a Google Account.  Google Apps does not support Picasa Web Albums yet, so you cannot use a Google Apps Account to insert pictures from a Picasa Web Album.

  • Page Layout

    If you use any page layout other than One Column (Simple) the inserted image will appear at the top of the page and you need to move it to the position you want.  If you use the One Column (Simple) then the inserted image will appear where you place the cursor.

Insert a Picasa Photo


Upload Photo

Video How To

This video is best watched in high definition and in full-screen: to do this make sure you have clicked the HD button next to the time line below the video and use the Full-screen button to the right of that.



RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos

Google Sites - Copy Site - Change the URL of your Site

posted 28 Aug 2009 02:39 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 28 Aug 2009 06:22 ]

Google have just released a new feature that allows you to make copy of your site to a new location, which means you can now use this to change the URL of your site (provided the URL you want to use is not already in use, deleted or reserved).


Instructions

  1. Sign in to your site and use the More actions button and then Manage site.

  2. Go to the General tab and scroll to the bottom of the page.

  3. Use the Copy this Site link

  4. Enter the site name, your new URL, choose if you want to keep the revisions and sharing, enter the captcha code and use the  Copy site button.

Note

  • This will not redirect your previous site's URL to your new site: you will need to put a link on your old site to your new site to direct visitors to the right place.


Video Overview

This video is best watched in high definition and in full-screen: to do this make sure you have clicked the HD button next to the time line below the video and use the Full-screen button to the right of that.


RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos

| Attachments: google-sites-copy-site-form-personal-site.png

Google Sites - Start Page Template - Google Apps

posted 8 Aug 2009 19:03 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 25 Sep 2009 10:36 ]

If you use Google Apps then you can create a Start Page on Google Sites, similar to the iGoogle page.  Please bare in mind this is only available to Google Sites made in a Google Apps domain, not a personal Google Site.


Instructions

  1. Sign in to your site where you want the Start Page (you may wish to make a dedicated site for this) and use the Create Page button.

  2. Choose the Start Page type from the list of page types, give your page a name and use the Create Page button.

  3. The page is now ready for individual users add their own gadgets by using the Add personal gadgets link.  The users only need to be invited as viewers to add gadgets to the page.


Video Overview

This video is best watched in high definition and in full-screen: to do this make sure you have clicked the HD button next to the time line below the video and use the Full-screen button to the right of that.


RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos

Google Sites - Embed Multiple Calendars (and other things)!

posted 31 Jul 2009 15:00 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 3 Aug 2009 04:14 ]

Google have just released several new features, two of which allow for easy embedding so you can now embed multiple Google Calendars that appear all in one.


Instructions

  1. Go to your Google Calendar and go to its settings - see screen shot
    Google Calendar Settings Menu.
  2. Use the Customise the colour, size and other options link in the Embed Calendar section to choose which calendars you want to display - see screen shot
    Google Calendar Embed Calendar
  3. Choose the various settings you want and the calendars you want to display and copy the HTML code from the box (use the keyboard shortcut to copy [Ctrl+C in Windows and Linux and cmd+C on a Mac] as using the context [right-click] menu does not work).
  4. Go to your Google Site, use the Edit Page button on the page you want the calendar on, then use the Insert button, then choose More Gadgets.
  5. From the list of categories on the the left choose Featured and then choose Embed Gadget (you may need to scroll to find it) and use the Add button.
  6. Paste the code you copied into the Embedding snippet box  (use the keyboard shortcut to copy [Ctrl+V in Windows and Linux and cmd+V on a Mac] as using the context [right-click] menu does not work) and make sure you enter the width and height the same as you set in the Embed Calendar tool, then use the Add button, then the Save button and view the inserted Google Calendar.

See the video how to below for more detailed instructions



Screen Shots

Google Calendar Settings Menu

Google Calendar drop-down menu showing the Settings option.

Google Calendar Embed Calendar



Google Calendar Calendars to Display


Video How To

This video is best watched in high definition and in full-screen: to do this make sure you have clicked the HD button next to the time line below the video and use the Full-screen button to the right of that.

Note: The above video was also embedded using the new Embed Gadget


| Attachments: google-calendar-calendars-to-display.png google-calendar-embed-calendar-link.png

Google Sites - Using Picasa Web Albums for Image Storage

posted 6 Jul 2009 16:06 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 29 Sep 2009 07:51 ]

This article is now obsolete as Google Sites no provides Picasa Web Albums Integration.  Please see my new article instead: Google Sites - Picasa Web Album Integration

Uploading photos, images and pictures to your Google Site takes precious space out of your 100MB or 10GB limit, so why not use Picasa Web Albums instead to store your images and just embed the image in your site.

These instructions do not include how to upload to Picasa Web Albums or how to upload from Picasa.


Instructions

  1. Navigate to the image you want to use in Picasa Web Albums
  2. On the right-hand side use the Link to this photo link (drop-down)
  3. Choose the size and whether you want to hide the link and copy the contents of the Embed Image box
  4. Go to the Google Sites page and edit and then either:
    1. Edit the HTML of the page and paste the code you copied
      or
    2. Go to add the image and extract the images URL from the code you copied (see example below - the image's URL is highlighted)
      <a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/9mkQE1M9sbgEqrCCJONkcw?feat=embedwebsite">
      <img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ebSSGV9r9K8/SYb328Wpp0I/AAAAAAAAFpI/cfolg8zFbvc/s800/img_4786.jpg" /></a>
  5. Save the page.

That's it you're done!

Video How To

This video is best watched in high definition and in full-screen: to do this watch Google Sites - Using Picasa Web Albums for Image Storage at YouTube

Google Sites - Use Picasa Web Albums as Image Storage


RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos


Google Sites - Content Countdown Gadget

posted 6 Jul 2009 07:03 by Stephen Hind   [ updated 6 Jul 2009 07:30 ]

The Countdown Gadget you can use in the sidebar of a Google Site can sometimes be out by a day, so I have created this gadget so you can embed it on your page (at present you cannot embed gadgets in the site sidebar).


Instructions

  1. Navigate to the page you want to have the countdown on

  2. Use the Insert button and choose More Gadgets...

  3. Use the Add gadget by URL link

  4. Use the URL below for the gadget and use the Add button:
    http://hosting.gmodules.com/ig/gadgets/file/110509162544058635853/steegle_countdown_gadget_v1.xml

  5. Set any of the settings you like and use the OK button to add it to the page.

That's it you're done.

Settings Available

  • Background Colour - specify anyway allowed in CSS, e.g. hex (#000000), words (black) or RGB.

  • Text Colour - specify anyway allowed in CSS, e.g. hex (#000000), words (black) or RGB.

  • Border Width - in pixels.

  • Font Size - in pixles (for cross-browser compatibility).

Requirements

This gadget is JavaScript-based so it requires JavaScript to be enabled on the user's browser.

RSS Feed of my Google Sites How-Tos


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