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Overview

Google Workspace add-ons are customized applications that integrate with Google apps like Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Add-ons are accessible from the side panel and help staff work more efficiently with less context switching, making it easy to quickly access relevant information without searching their emails or visiting another platform. 

The IT Division Web Services team developed a custom add-on for internal use at Berkeley Lab. Tentatively referred to as, “Quick Links,” the add-on integrates Lab services like updates from Elements and the News Center, search results from Lab websites, and upcoming Lab calendar events.


Access the Add-On

1. The side panel is hidden by default, but can be opened by clicking the Show side panel < arrow in the bottom right corner of the screen.

2. Click on the Berkeley Lab icon to open the add-on.

3. Click on the More actions icon to view the navigation menu.



Content

Homepage 

  • Search: Search Berkeley Lab sites and the A-Z Index at the same time!
  • Popular Apps: A handful of the Lab’s most popular apps are listed on the homepage for convenience.
  • What's Happening at the Lab/Calendar: Check out upcoming events from the Berkeley Lab calendar.
  • Elements: Fetches the latest updates from Elements, which includes news and information for the Lab community.
  • News Center: Fetches the latest articles from the Berkeley Lab News Center.

What's Happening at the Lab/Calendar 

  • Fetches events from the Berkeley Lab Calendar
  • The next upcoming 50 events are displayed
  • Events are separated in sections by date
  • Click on “View event details” to open the event in Google Calendar in a new tab

Elements 

  • Fetches the latest stories from Elements
  • Will display the current articles if there are any published on today’s date
  • Otherwise will display the last 10 articles
  • Currently does NOT include images or the full text of the articles
  • Click on “Read more” to navigate to a new page 
  • Click on the “Full Article” button to open the Elements article in a new tab

News

  • Fetches the latest stories from the Berkeley Lab News Center.
  • Will display the current article if there are any published on today’s date
  • Otherwise will display the last 10 articles
  • Currently includes the primary featured image and all of the text in the add-on
  • Click on “Read more” to view the full text of the article within the add-on
  • Click on the “Full Article” button to open the News Center article in a new tab


Privacy

The authorization scopes required to run this add-on are described below. Note: The Berkeley Lab add-on can't tell what a user does outside the add-on itself, e.g., detect when the user clicks on the host application toolbar. 

  1. Connect to an external service - Interact with APIs to extract content from the custom Google search for Lab websites, Elements, and the News Center
  2. See your Google Sheets spreadsheets - Check if you have permission to read the source spreadsheet for the A-Z Index.  
  3. Run as a Gmail add-on - Required to use the add-on in the side panel while using Gmail on desktop.
  4. Run as a Calendar add-on - Required to use the add-on in the side panel while using Google Calendar on desktop. 
  5. See and download any calendar you can access using your Google Calendar - Check if you have permission to fetch data from the Berkeley Lab Calendar.


Feedback

Report bugs and share feedback with the IT Web Services team by completing this form: Berkeley Lab Side Panel Add-On - Feedback. 


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