How To Use Google Apps To Solve "Another blog ..."

The Google domain services database lets one or more Blogger blogs, and / or various Google services, be packaged as part of a domain - giving your organisation its own virtual web server.

Google Apps is used to manage this virtual web server, as you install and un install various domain services. Sometimes a domain, newly setup in Google after the domain has been purchased from a registrar, will have one or more addresses unexpectedly mapped to various Google services. This will be inconvenient to the blog owner, who may wish to use a given URL for a Blogger blog.

The most common cause of the error "Another blog or Google Site is already using this address." involves unexpected mappings, in the Google domain database.

When your domain has unwanted mappings, you'll need to use the Google Apps domain administrator desktop, and various utilities there, to remove the mappings and reset the services. To start, you'll need access to the Google Apps desktop for the domain administrator. For domains recently purchased using Blogger or Google wizards, you'll have a limited function domain administrator desktop.

You'll use two Apps desktop wizards - "Organization & users" and "Settings".

• Use "Organization & users", to install and activate a service.
• Use "Settings" to disable / remove mappings, and to disable / uninstall a service.

Install And Activate Services

Use "Organization & users" - "Services", to activate the various services.

• To install a service, click on "Dashboard", find "Common tasks" at the bottom left, and click on "Get more apps and services". Click on "Add it now", for the needed service.
• To activate a service, go to "Organization & users" - "Services", and look under "Core Google Services" or "Additional Services", for the service in question - and click on the coloured toggle switch as necessary. Then click on "Save changes".

Remove Mappings

Use the Settings wizard, for the service in question - to add and remove address mappings, and to deactivate services. Each different service, listed in Settings, has a different set of menus, and different options.

We currently know of 5 services which can be mapped to a domain, which may interfere with publication of a Blogger blog to a domain address. Any problem service, currently mapped to the default (top) address, will need to be changed to map to the custom (bottom) address.

1. Calendar.
2. Drive and Docs.
3. Email.
4. Sites.
5. Start Page.

To remove address mappings for Calendar:

1. Click on "Calendar", then the "General" tab, then "Change URL" for "Web address".
2. If necessary, select the custom mapping (bottom) address, and click "Continue".
3. If you change the Calender mapping, remember to uninstall Calender.

To remove address mappings for Drive and Docs:

1. Click on "Drive and Docs", then the "General" tab, then "Change URL" for "Web address".
2. If necessary, select the custom mapping (bottom) address, and click "Continue".
3. If you change the Drive and Docs mapping, remember to uninstall Drive and Docs.

To remove address mappings for Email:

1. Click on "Email", then the "General Settings" tab, then "Change URL" for "Web address".
2. If necessary, select the custom mapping (bottom) address, and click "Continue".
3. If you change the Email mapping, remember to uninstall Email.

To remove address mappings for Sites, some extra effort may be required:

1. Click on "Sites", then the "General" tab, then "Change URL" for "Web address".
2. If necessary, select the custom mapping (bottom) address, and click "Continue".
3. Select the "Web Address Mapping" tab.
4. Select all addresses mapped, and click on "Delete Mapping(s)".
5. Some Sites mappings can only be diagnosed, and reset, outside Google Apps.
6. If you change any Sites mapping, remember to uninstall Sites.

To remove address mappings for Start Page:

1. Click on "Start Page", then "Change URL" for "Web address".
2. If necessary, select the custom mapping (bottom) address, and click "Continue".
3. If you change the Start Page mapping, remember to uninstall Start Page.

The CustomURL Wizard

Besides the multiple Sites mappings (in "Web Address Mapping"), it may be possible to use the "CustomURL" wizard, which will list all active services and current mappings. The CustomURL wizard is accessed from any "Change URL" wizard.

1. Click on "Change URLs for all domain services".
2. Examine the "Change URLs for multiple services" display, and disable any references to the default mapping. Select the custom mapping (bottom) address, for any service with the default mapping (top) address selected. If any service entry was changed, click "Continue".
3. For each service with mapping which was changed:
   • If necessary, install and activate the service.
   • Uninstall the service.

Disable / Uninstall Services After Changing Mapping

If you did change or delete any mappings, whether using CustomURL ("Change URLs for multiple services") or an individual service wizard ("Change URL" / "Web Address Mapping"), the final step is to disable or uninstall each service for which you changed or deleted mappings. If you do intend to use any named service, re install it later - after you get your custom domain working.

To uninstall Calendar, click on "Calendar", then the "General" tab. Click on "Uninstall Calendar", next to "Uninstall service".

To uninstall Drive and Docs, click on "Drive and Docs", then the "General" tab. Click on "Uninstall Drive and Docs", next to "Uninstall service".

To uninstall Email, click on "Email", then the "General Settings" tab. Click on "Uninstall Email", next to "Uninstall service".

To uninstall Sites, click on "Sites", then the "General" tab. Click on "Uninstall Sites", next to "Uninstall service".

To disable Start Page, click on "Start Page", then on "Disable Start Page", next to "Disable service".