I am looking to integrate a gmail widget - web

Question

This is for a internal portal , and I am looking for a widget that allows user to login to their gmail account and view their account. I tried the Google gadget but it shows the following error
"this is a builtin module, so the UserPrefs and Content are ignored."
also since gadgets are gonna be discontinued I am uncomfortable using that as a long term solution.
Even widget from widgetbox, netvibes etc. don't seem to be working.
Is it because there has been some policy change by Google preventing these widgets from working ? or am i doing something wrong.

Answer 1

I also tried to use the Google widgets in a my site, but unfortunalitly it doesn't work.
It gives the Content are ignored.
No widgets haven't work for my code.
I think there is a policy change in it. But i didn't have any clew about it.

Answer 2

When you say 'login to their account' and what you want to do. You can use OAuth where a user grants your application permission to access their account.
Google have their own library written in a number of languages - some examples using Java, Python and PHP can be found here: https://developers.google.com/google-apps/gmail/xoauth2_libraries
When you use OAuth you register with Google and they give you a ConsumerKey and ConsumerSecret - this is what identifies you application to Google.
Once you do that provide a link to allow them to login - this will take them to a Google login, they login with their account - then they grant permission.
I've had problems using OAuth with GMail but successfully managed it with say their Contacts. For example this is the code I am using to retrieve all a users contacts
public List<Person> GetContacts()
{
OAuthParameters parameters = null;
GOAuthRequestFactory requestFactory = null;
ContactsService service = null;
ContactsQuery feedQuery = null;
ContactsFeed feed = null;
List<Person> contacts = null;
try
{
if (ConsumerKey == String.Empty) throw new ValueIsEmptyOrNullException("ConsumerKey");
if (ConsumerSecret == String.Empty) throw new ValueIsEmptyOrNullException("ConsumerSecret");
if (OAuthCallback == String.Empty) throw new ValueIsEmptyOrNullException("OAuthCallback");
if (SignatureMethod == String.Empty) throw new ValueIsEmptyOrNullException("SignatureMethod");
if (ApplicationName == String.Empty) throw new ValueIsEmptyOrNullException("ApplicationName");
if (Token == String.Empty) throw new ValueIsEmptyOrNullException("Token");
if (Nonce == String.Empty) throw new ValueIsEmptyOrNullException("Nonce");
if (Verifier == String.Empty) throw new ValueIsEmptyOrNullException("Verifier");
if (Scope == String.Empty)
Scope = "https://www.google.com/m8/feeds";
parameters = new OAuthParameters();
parameters.ConsumerKey = ConsumerKey;
parameters.ConsumerSecret = ConsumerSecret;
parameters.Scope = Scope;
parameters.Callback = OAuthCallback;
parameters.SignatureMethod = SignatureMethod;
parameters.Timestamp = Toolbox.GenerateTimeStamp();
parameters.Token = Token;
parameters.TokenSecret = TokenSecret;
parameters.Nonce = Nonce;
parameters.Verifier = Verifier;
requestFactory = new GOAuthRequestFactory("c1", ApplicationName, parameters);
service = new ContactsService(ApplicationName);
service.RequestFactory = requestFactory;
feedQuery = new ContactsQuery(ContactsQuery.CreateContactsUri("default"));
feed = service.Query(feedQuery);
if (feed.Entries.Count > 0)
{
contacts = new List<Person>();
foreach (ContactEntry contact in feed.Entries)
{
try
{
if (contact.Name != null)
{
Person person = new Person();
int idStart = contact.Id.Uri.ToString().LastIndexOf('/');
if (idStart > 0)
{
person.PersonId = contact.Id.Uri.ToString().Substring(contact.Id.Uri.ToString().LastIndexOf('/') + 1);
}
else
{
person.PersonId = contact.Id.Uri.ToString();
}
person.GivenName = contact.Name.GivenName;
person.Surname = contact.Name.FamilyName;
person.Birthday = contact.Birthday;
person.Initials = contact.Initials;
person.Location = contact.Location;
person.MaidenName = contact.MaidenName;
person.Occupation = contact.Occupation;
person.Photograph = contact.PhotoUri.ToString();
person.Surname = contact.Name.FamilyName;
if (contact.Emails.Count > 0)
person.Email = contact.Emails[0].Address;
contacts.Add(person);
}
}
catch (System.Exception ex)
{
throw ex;
}
finally
{
}
}
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
throw ex;
}
return contacts;
}