Edit me: Uploading an HTML file Help Center article - Google Apps Discussion Group

UPDATE (5/12/2008) : We've integrated some of your comments and feedback, check it out: http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=63026

WOW! Thanks everyone for your feedback. We're locking editing on this wiki. The Support team will be taking a look at all these great edits and suggestions. We'll circle back with everyone once we've had a chance to determine if we'll be making any edits to the live article.

Cheers,

The Google Apps Advisors

Hi admins. We'd like your advice for this Help Center article. We've noticed that this article receives a lot of pageviews (we're using Google Analytics to keep track), but that admins aren't finding it as helpful as we'd like. We're dedicated to improving the Google Apps experience, and we want to know your opinions. Please feel free to edit away!

*** I hope I'm doing this correctly...this is a different approach but cool. Less is more, and there is too many long sentences starting with prepositional phrases. Here's a suggestion. NOTE: I don't recall the initial steps (#1 below) for getting to the verification options. This should be mentioned.*** Dana

******Dana, I think your changes are great but I still think that there is a very strong possibility that people who go to this help page after reading the really clear instructions available in Google Apps are not experienced enough to know some of the things we are assuming. So, I'm going to suggest a few bonehead tweaks. But I guess that's what this process is for...Cindy***

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Going along the lines of Cindy. If these instructions aren't straightforward enough, why don't you just create a form textarea box with the actual HTML code (all of it, including the "key") so that the user can simply copy and paste it to Notepad or some other text editor. The instructions will then simply be limited to how to properly save an HTML file using notepad. So the steps can be further shortened to:

1) Copy and paste this (the stuff in the text area box) into Notepad

2) Click Save As...and use the following information

- Filename: googlehostedservice.html

- Save as Type: All files (from the drop down)

3) Upload the file you saved in Step 2 to your website

- Make sure it's in the "root" of your web site

- "root directory" is usually where your "index.htm", "default.htm" or "home.htm" files are

Just like other Google apps (i.e AdSense, Analytics, etc.)....I actually don't use this method so if I'm missing something, I apologize. Hope this helps..

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Verification by Uploading an HTML File

This article covers how to verify domain ownership by uploading an HTML file in order to activate your Google Apps account. NOTE: You may also verify ownership by adding a CNAME record to your domain settings.

This method is often the easiest and only requires that you have the level of privileges required to make changes to your website files (HTML files) and know how to put new files on you website (FTP). CNAME verification requires access to your domain records and knowledge of how to change DNS information.

You must be the Administrator of your Google Apps account and logged into your account control panel. You will be given a choice of two verifications methods.

1) Choose HTML upload. Google will generate a string of text that is unique to your account. You will be instructed to place this string of characters into a blank HTML file on your domain.

2) Copy the string of text from your Google Apps control panel.

3) Open your HTML editor (the application or service you usually use for editing web pages).

4) Create a new blank HTML file.

5) Paste the string of text you just copied into your HTML file.

6) Save the file with the name: googlehostedservice.html

7) Upload googlehostedservice.html to the root directory of your website. (Don't put this file in a sub-folder, it has to be on the main level of your site) IMPORTANT: You must upload this file to the same domain you wish to associate with your Google Apps account.

How to make sure it worked:

1) Open a new browser window.

2) Go to your website address and include the new file name: http://your_domain_name.com/googlehostedservice.html

You will see the string of characters that you uploaded on your page displayed in your browser.

IMPORTANT: You must put your actual website (domain name) in that address.

How to verify:

1) Return to your Google Apps account control panel.

2) Click 'verify', which tells Google to go check for this HTML file on your domain.

Don't know HTML or FTP?

Find the person that created your website and ask for their help. Or ask a more experienced friend or colleague to help you. Make sure you have the passwords to access your website. You probably receive an FTP login when you signed up for your hosting service.

Don't have an active website?

If you have purchased a domain but have never set up a website for your domain, you may not have a hosting service for your website. If your site is not on a hosting plan or has never been created, it does not have HTML files associated with it. It's probably better for you to use the other method of verification for Google Apps. You can verify domain ownership by creating a CNAME record where your domain is registered.

Unable to upload files or have a content management system?

Content management systems may not have features to upload files or allow you to have control over the file names of new pages. Some systems that allow you to edit directly while you are online will not allow you to change the names of new pages. If there is a person in your organization that controls your web content, discuss this issue with them. You may decide it's easier to verify ownership by creating a CNAME record where your domain is registered or in your hosting settings.

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