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Google have included a great new feature to the GAPPS scripting capability. You are now able to manage and add/remove users with Google Apps Script.

Manage Google Apps Domains and access information about user accounts.This service provides access to the Google Apps Domain Management APIs and can only be used by accounts with administrative privileges on the domain.

Recently we used Google Apps script to automate the collation of information across multiple spreadsheets, simple javascript. Here is an example of a section of code used:

function importNewUsers()
{
  var ss = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet();
  var contacts = ss.getSheets()[0];
  var survey = ss.getSheets()[2];
  var collate = ss.getSheets()[3];

  var survey_results = ss.getSheets()[2].getLastRow();
  var collate_rows = ss.getSheets()[3].getLastRow();

  if(survey_results > collate_rows)
  {
      var number_rows_needed = (survey_results - collate_rows);
      collate.insertRowsAfter(collate_rows,number_rows_needed);
  }

  survey.getRange("F3:F"+survey_results)
      .copyTo(collate.getRange(2, getColIndexByName("Email")), {contentsOnly:true});
  survey.getRange("G3:G"+survey_results)
      .copyTo(collate.getRange(2, getColIndexByName("FirstName")), {contentsOnly:true});
  survey.getRange("H3:H"+survey_results)
      .copyTo(collate.getRange(2, getColIndexByName("LastName")), {contentsOnly:true});
  survey.getRange("T3:T"+survey_results)
      .copyTo(collate.getRange(2, getColIndexByName("userComment")), {contentsOnly:true});
}

Filed under: Cloud Assist, Google, Google Apps, Google Apps for Business by Google Apps Guru

Google updated the Google Cloud Print website today with all new documentation, code samples and other goodies to help get up and running using Google Cloud Print.

The restructured site pulls together months of learning from behind the scenes by Google, partners and developers on the GCP platform.

The new site starts with a introduction to Google Cloud Print and walks you through each of the components of the Google Cloud Print architecture:

• Applications – Any type of application that enable users to print via Google Cloud Print such as web apps, desktop or mobile applications.
• Google Cloud Print Services – Google’s API allowing registering of printers, sharing of printers and sending of print jobs to these printers via applications.
• User Interface - A set of common web interfaces developed by Google that allow users to manage their Google Cloud Print services.
• Printers – Currently defined by cloud ready and non-cloud printing devices.
  • Cloud Ready Printers – A new generation of printers with native support for connecting to cloud print services.
  • Non-Cloud Printers – All other legacy printers that still connect to devices via PCs and network connections.
• Google Chrome OS Printing – Google’s new web operating system where cloud printing is the default print interface, and there is no option for local printing.

The new Google Cloud Print site provides two main areas for integration with the Google Cloud Print Services:

• Submitting Print Jobs
  • GCP Web Elements - A JavaScript widget enable simple printing of a PDF file using Google Cloud Print
  • Android Integration - Tools for submitting print jobs via Android mobile and tablet platforms
  • Services Interface - API documentation for the /submit, /jobs, /deletejob, /printer, /search interfaces, allowing seamless print integration
• Receiving Print Jobs
  • Developer Guide – A guide that covers registering printers, handling printers and print jobs on the Google Cloud Print platform.
  • XMPP Handshake Flow – Details on the XMPP print job notification system used for notifying “printers” of of new print jobs in real time.
  • Services Interface - API documentation for the /control, /delete, /fetch, /list, /register, and /update interfaces, allowing seamless print integration

The new Google Cloud Print update provides much more complete documentation on submitting print jobs and the XMPP integration for print job notification.

They also provide python code samples for integrating with GCP. You can also use the Mimeo PHP Google Cloud Print samples that I wrote earlier this year, and I will be working on a set of C# samples also, and publish when ready.

Filed under: Google, Google Apps for Business by Google Apps Guru

Filed under: Cloud Assist, Google, Google Apps, Google Apps Tips, Total Training by Google Apps Guru

This December, we have a special treat in store for all you Google Apps administrators! We will be running a Q&A hangout on Google+ where you can join and ask us any of the technical questions you may have, in relation to your Google Apps setup, or current rollout. Visit our Google+ page to let us know you are interested, we will be deciding on the date shortly. Two of our certified deployment specialists will be involved, so be ready with your questions.

Follow us on twitter, or Google+ to ensure you don’t miss out.

Filed under: Cloud Assist, Cloud Computing, Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Google Apps for Education, Innovative Innovation, Technology by Google Apps Guru

The team have been very busy this week, feels like the end, but its only Wednesday!

The guys are rolling out a +/- 400 seat organisation (which sometimes feels like a 7000 seater), with all users being remote, and the entire thing being done client side it has its challenges. Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook is the tool of choice, as it allows the users to remain in Outlook, and also handles the migration of their current profiles.

The guys have been having fun dealing with all the issues that arise from 400 independent computer users, installing Windows service packs, and handling migration problems, like internet connection drop outs. Go To Assist has been pretty reliable in providing the access we need, along with Teamviewer, for those obscure ones.

All in all, a great opportunity for the new starters to learn about the tools, and get some hands on time supporting customers, which is what we do best.

Filed under: Cloud Assist, Cloud Strategy, Google Apps for Business, Managed Migration, Superior Support by Google Apps Guru

Google Commerce Search is a fantastic product, and one we are willing and able to help you get installed on your website. It will turbo charge your e-commerce website, and help you target a much wider audience. We have a strong background in web development and Google Search Appliances, and are exceptionally well placed to be able to help you maximise the potential of your website. Watch the video, to get an idea of what it is about, then pick up a phone and give us a call on 1300 501 890 !

Google Commerce Search (GCS) is a hosted search solution for your e-commerce store that leverages Google’s tremendous search expertise and computing infrastructure to deliver a superior online shopping experience at the most effective total cost of ownership. GCS works seamlessly on both desktop e-commerce sites as well as mobile sites and apps.

Filed under: Cloud Assist, Google, Google Commerce Search, Innovative Innovation, Maximising Mobility, Technology by Google Apps Guru

We’re happy to say we finally released a new design / layout to our site. As a small team, its often hard to deliver on all fronts, as a result we have been focusing heavily on clients and very little on ourselves. Hopefully we’ll be able to maintin the site and keep it fresh with content, and a couple new features will be released in the next few months, which should make the ordering process of Google products, like Google Apps for Business, a whole lot easier.

Stay Tuned!

Filed under: Cloud Assist, Google Apps for Business, Innovative Innovation by Google Apps Guru

Hopefully we don’t have this in Australia, but its pretty terrible if we do!

So, this has been causing a bit of a major dungstorm – and rightly so. As it turns out, many carriers are installing a piece of non-removable privacy-invading spyware on their smartphones called CarrierIQ. It doesn’t matter whether you have a webOS, Android, BlackBerry or iOS device – carriers install it on all of them. Luckily though, it would appear it really depends on your carrier – smartphones in The Netherlands, for instance, are not infested with CarrierIQ.

So, what is CarrierIQ? It’s a rootkit carriers and some handset makers in some markets install on their devices to track just how you use these devices. They record keystrokes, usage patterns, and all manner of other information, on your device. Many versions of the rootkit even send this information to your carrier where they can pinpoint your exact device, what you’ve been up to, what you’ve been typing, and so on.

The exact purpose of the rootkit was uncovered by Trevor Eckhart – he was then served a cease & desist notice from CarrierIQ demanding he remove the information. Eckhart immediately received support from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, after which CarrierIQ did a 180 and retracted the legal threat.

So far, CarrierIQ’s rootkit has been found on devices running BlackBerryOS, Android, and webOS.It’s been found on iOS as well, but on iOS it stores less information, and it doesn’t seem to be sending anything as long as ‘Diagnostics and Usage’ (iOS 5) is turned off – which is the default (you are asked to enable it during the iOS5 setup). So far, Windows Phone 7 and Bada appear to be not infected with the rootkit. In addition, Nokia has stated none of their phones have ever had CarrierIQ installed.

This is pretty bad, but luckily, it would appear this is very much a carrier-specific thing, and not a device-specific thing (except for iOS, where it’s always installed, but as said, turned off). For instance, carriers in The Netherlands do not install it at all, so it’s very well possible that it’s mostly a US-thing. On top of that, smartphones from Google’s Nexus programme do not contain the rootkit either. In the US, Verizon has come out as well, stating their devices do not include CarrierIQ.

You can easily check whether your Android device has CarrierIQ installed. All you need to do is install TrevE’s Logging Test App, and hit the CIQ Checks button. My Dutch T-Mobile-branded Samsung Galaxy SII does not have CarrierIQ installed.

This is a pretty big deal, and a serious privacy violation by any standard, and I’m pretty sure this is going to lead to some serious lawsuits.

As a sidenote, it amuses me to no end how someone like John Gruber has mysteriously and quite suddenly adopted the “it’s the carrier’s fault!”-mantra now that iOS has also been found to include CarrierIQ. Which is ironic, since it appears that Apple is the only one including CarrierIQ (slightly butchered, but still) within the operating system itself, whereas on Android, it’s a carrier thing.

In any case, I’m going to play with my Galaxy SII some more – without my carrier peeking over my shoulder. And in case T-Mobile NL uses some other method, I just typed in “I SENSE YOUR PRESENCE” exactly 17 times, just to mess with some heads.

 

Filed under: Cloud Assist, Cloud Computing, Cloud Strategy, Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Innovative Innovation, Managed Migration, Maximising Mobility, Mobile, Tech News, Technology by Neil Rutherfoord