103.5 - Google Chrome and Tabcloud Setup Details
Tabcloud is a Google Chrome Browser Extension.
Basically you can create your own Office Production suite with tabs and then save the set for easy redeployment/access from the same device or any other device (once you log into chrome).
Do NOT underestimate the power of this system. This is what converts a bunch of otherwise independent google services and non-google web based services (websites) into an enterprise type solution for your business.
Basically you can create your own Office Production suite with tabs and then save the set for easy redeployment/access from the same device or any other device (once you log into chrome).
Do NOT underestimate the power of this system. This is what converts a bunch of otherwise independent google services and non-google web based services (websites) into an enterprise type solution for your business.
Installing Tab Cloud
To install the Tab Cloud extension:
- Open Chrome
- Makes sure you are logged in to the your Google User Account in Chrome
- Hamburger > Settings
- In the window that opens, and then on left side change to "Extensions" --
- Search for Tabcloud
- Install the extension
- Upon first use it will ask you to grant permission from your gmail account.
Once installed:
Using Tab Cloud
Tabcloud stores sets of tabs so you can relaunch them at a later time.
When you look down the list of tab sets in the drop down on the right...
== Top Three Rows ==
The top three rows of tab sets are labeled "click to name". These sets are open in three different windows (only one window is shown in my image).
THIS NEEDS MORE WORK...add more notes to image regarding the icons and the menu...
The tab set currently open is the first set of tabs in the memorized list. Look at the open tabs, and see they end with a G. The first tab set ends with the G tab. Another set off screen must have the same tabs open PLUS Wikipedia(that's that that W represents at end of second tab set. All three of these top tab sets can be saved by clicking the Blue Disk. If you were to click the red close icon next to the blue disk, it would be like clicking the X in the upper corner of the browser.
== Divider Line ==
You can't see it well in this picture because the top line of my red box is over top of it, but there is a thin black line that separates the open window tabs (the top three) from the stored tab sets (the lower 5). Notice the bottom 5 stored tab sets only have the red close icon and a green open icon (vs the red close icon and the blue disk for save)
=== Bottom 5 tab sets ===
You can only open and delete tab sets. You can not update a saved set. If you want to update a saved set, the proper way to do that is to in fact save the new set and then delete the one it was to replace.
If I click on the green '+' on the right edge of the BC-Primary group, I would be opening a new browser with that set of tabs open (so in this case, it would look identical to this one that is already open).
When you look down the list of tab sets in the drop down on the right...
== Top Three Rows ==
The top three rows of tab sets are labeled "click to name". These sets are open in three different windows (only one window is shown in my image).
THIS NEEDS MORE WORK...add more notes to image regarding the icons and the menu...
The tab set currently open is the first set of tabs in the memorized list. Look at the open tabs, and see they end with a G. The first tab set ends with the G tab. Another set off screen must have the same tabs open PLUS Wikipedia(that's that that W represents at end of second tab set. All three of these top tab sets can be saved by clicking the Blue Disk. If you were to click the red close icon next to the blue disk, it would be like clicking the X in the upper corner of the browser.
== Divider Line ==
You can't see it well in this picture because the top line of my red box is over top of it, but there is a thin black line that separates the open window tabs (the top three) from the stored tab sets (the lower 5). Notice the bottom 5 stored tab sets only have the red close icon and a green open icon (vs the red close icon and the blue disk for save)
=== Bottom 5 tab sets ===
You can only open and delete tab sets. You can not update a saved set. If you want to update a saved set, the proper way to do that is to in fact save the new set and then delete the one it was to replace.
If I click on the green '+' on the right edge of the BC-Primary group, I would be opening a new browser with that set of tabs open (so in this case, it would look identical to this one that is already open).
Accessing Tab Cloud after a reboot
When you open Chrome from different computers or after a reboot, often times when you click on tab cloud, it will ask you to grant permission again. When you do that, a new tab pops open and confirms the grant. Close that tab and click on the tab cloud icon again and your tab sets should be available.
Known Problems/Issues/Hiccups
Non-computer users have trouble remembering where the tab cloud icon is or that it exists the second or third time they use their computer after it is installed. It is not natural for them to open a browser and then click on an icon to select from a list of tab sets to open their enterprise system.
The tab cloud interface is little confusing for many until they get use to it and rightfully so.
When opening a memorized set, occasionally all tabs in the set don't show up in the new window. So for example if you are expecting 6 tabs to open, only 5 may open and no error message comes with it. This can be very confusing, as you may not realize your missing something important. If/when you see this happen, I suggest opening another new window to get all the tabs open and then closing the bad window, otherwise it may catch you mid flow later on and really throw you off.
The tab cloud interface is little confusing for many until they get use to it and rightfully so.
- The subtle line that separates open sets from memorized sets does not register with many
- The close/save icons for the open sets are a little confusing. It is not natural to think of closing a browser window from an extension.
- The delete/open icons for the memorized sets are a little confusing. They used the same icon to close a window for open sets as they did for deleting a memorized set... and the green plus sign inspires the idea of "adding" not opening...
When opening a memorized set, occasionally all tabs in the set don't show up in the new window. So for example if you are expecting 6 tabs to open, only 5 may open and no error message comes with it. This can be very confusing, as you may not realize your missing something important. If/when you see this happen, I suggest opening another new window to get all the tabs open and then closing the bad window, otherwise it may catch you mid flow later on and really throw you off.