google domain name change

alter domain records for google apps pointing to your own URL:

In the dns section of your hosting services control panel create cname files thus:

docs	CNAME	3600	ghs.google.com.
mail	CNAME	3600	ghs.google.com.

etc.

note the final period at end...

so now:
http://docs.thecrossing.co.uk

points to google docs app for The Crossing, etc

Sharing Address Book in Google Apps

One issue which at present is prohibiting a move away from egroupware is the addressbook. The MySQL backend of eGw allows address info to be shared with considerable granularity and control, it is arguably onw of the best aspect of the app.

Having now replicated all eGw users in The Crossing's google apps domain, we are on the brink of migrating email from eGw, but there is one issue - there at present would be no shared address book.

It is possible to export the entire eGw addressbook (in vcard format) and import it into a users google account, (this works nicely, including import of eGw categories as google groups). The addresses don't show in other domain users accounts. one short term owrkaround would be to invite all users to import said addressbook. How are ammnedments and additions then dealt with? They wouldn't be...

Possible solutions?
1. Google Shared Contacts API, according to this, by using the aforementioned, users outside of the apps domain, can become shared. Not sure how this works...

2. LDAP backend for google apps? see here.
This wouldn't have to be iphone compatable as an iphone can also (read only) an LDAP address book. see here.

Google calendar setup

There are some things to note when setting up the calendars using google apps, especially if you're trying to work with more than one domain as I am.

Sharing calendars

Viewing another users' original calendar can be added in the 'Add a friend's calendar' box, but it's possible to share secondary calendars that users create by sending out a link with the calendar's address.

There's also the question of whether such shared calednars show as 'my calendars' or in the 'other calendars' pane. I think the issue is determined by whether you give permissions for the other user to manage the sharing on that calendar, not whether the users happens to be an apps admin as some suggest (eg here). I'll report back on this after more experience.