Using Google Sites as a Wiki
Recently I’ve spent some time with Google Sites which was once called JotSpot. It was originally described as a wiki but Google dropped the term when it was renamed and relaunched.
You can also find the text below on my demo site
On this page I’ll compare Google Sites to other wikis such as WikiPedia (uses MediaWiki)
The main characteristics of a wiki are:
- Fast page edits e.g. double click page to edit
- Versioning – see and compare previous page revisions
- Create links as you type using capitalised words and/or surrounding text with square brackets
- Auto-link creation to ext urls and existing pages
- Auto display links to images
- Limit page access
- Each page holds an idea
- Pages can be organised in categories or a hierarchy
- Backlinks – see what links to this page
- List pages that haven’t been created yet (i.e. one needing to be written)
- Built-in search
So how does Google Sites fare?
Fast page edits
No double-click to edit page but its fast enough.
Versioning
This is standard. You can revert and compare versions.
Create links as you type
Auto-link creation to ext urls and existing pages
Auto display links to images
No, but GS makes it easy to add images from your disk or via a link. You can also drag-and-drop images in to you page from other web pages.
Limit page access
This is standard.
Each page holds an idea
This is up to you but GS makes it easy as page are part of a hierarchy.
Pages can be organised in categories or a hierarchy
See above. You can navigate pages easily with the “breadcrumb trail” at the top of each page. You can choose which pages go in the sidebar.
Backlinks
No but you can search for the page’s link or a keyword(s) e.g.
Making a link to http://sites.google.com/site/paulmyattcom/system/app/pages/search?q=wiki will search this site for the word wiki
To add additional keywords replace any spaces with the + symbol e.g.
http://sites.google.com/site/paulmyattcom/system/app/pages/search?q=wiki+notes
List pages that haven’t been created yet
No.
Built-in search
Yes, its basic but it’s fast and works well.
Other wiki-like features of Google Sites
Each page has these options:
- Show this in “Navigation” in the sidebar
- Show page title
- Show links to sub-pages
- Allow attachments
- Allow comments
- Set the page’s “slug” – i.e. how the link ends, this page’s slug is wiki so the page link ends with it: http://sites.google.com/site/paulmyattcom/wiki
Conclusion
Although not a true wiki Google Sites has many attractive features for small groups who need to share information.
