Support #23897
openissues with embedding Google files
0%
Description
Our very own Anthony Wheeler writes:
"I specifically ran into issues with embedding Google files (slides and docs) and a KnightLab Timeline example. The KnightLab timeline was just not embedding, no matter which way I tried. Then, the slide deck I was trying to embed was showing up blank on the page (it was creating space on the page for the slides, but it was just white upon loading). I tried updating multiple settings and taking different embed/plugin approaches, but was not successful. Would you be able to take a look and see what the issue might be? Is it possible that there’s a conflict amongst the embed plugins? I tried to troubleshoot but hit a wall. Here is the class site: https://teachingofmlls.commons.gc.cuny.edu/"
Files
Updated by Boone Gorges 14 days ago
I'm not seeing any embedded items on https://teachingofmlls.commons.gc.cuny.edu/. Perhaps these embeddings are on a subpage? Could I get a specific URL?
Updated by Marilyn Weber 14 days ago
- File Screenshot_2025-11-11_at_12.42.54_PM.png Screenshot_2025-11-11_at_12.42.54_PM.png added
- File Screenshot_2025-11-11_at_12.42.41_PM.png Screenshot_2025-11-11_at_12.42.41_PM.png added
He replies:
I had ended up deleting the failed embeds after trying different plugins. Students will eventually be embedding within posts, but the page I was working with was here: https://teachingofmlls.commons.gc.cuny.edu/site-tool-support/
I’m including a couple of screenshots to show the slides not appearing. And whenever I try to embed the iframe from the published timeline template, it does not generate on the page.
Updated by Boone Gorges 14 days ago
- Assignee set to Raymond Hoh
I tried embedding using the native WP embed, but the AJAX request to the /proxy/ URL failed with a 404.
Ray, you have more experience with Google embeds than I do - could you have a look?
Updated by Raymond Hoh 14 days ago
I grabbed the Google Slides URL from the failed EmbedPress embed and it doesn't resolve correctly in a new tab.
Has Anthony tried our Google Docs Shortcode plugin with the following instructions - https://github.com/cuny-academic-commons/google-docs-shortcode/wiki#1-block-method ?
Updated by Boone Gorges 14 days ago
Ah, thanks for that, Ray.
Here's the URL I got out of one of the requests, which does load: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQKMYSgAsfpKar_hNtnvfYg3pKedqfUPhLLv-BatJSPlEBWWXW60sc6wKs7tGoYb1eskJtlRsoNagx8/embed?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000
I put this into Anthony's post using the Google Drive block, and the embed is now loading.
I don't have any thoughts about the KnightLab Timeline. I did once write an embedder that should recognize URLs of the format https://uploads.knightlab.com/storymapjs/*, but perhaps the Timelines have a different URL format. If Anthony could share a URL, perhaps I could have a deeper look.
Updated by Marilyn Weber 13 days ago
He replies :"Thank you for this, I got the slides to embed! The other more important piece is how to fix the KnightLab Timeline embed. I’m pasting the published links to the test timeline I’ve been trying to embed. Let me know what the team says!
Published Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRFpo-fSalu4FxIlPl2vI_lyfashQAEZ339jK2AiGCEBN5_14KF2Bs8vZJVaizaqNH2SjvGJy8uZQg3/pubhtml
Iframe:
<iframe src=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRFpo-fSalu4FxIlPl2vI_lyfashQAEZ339jK2AiGCEBN5_14KF2Bs8vZJVaizaqNH2SjvGJy8uZQg3/pubhtml?widget=true&headers=false></iframe>"
Updated by Boone Gorges 13 days ago
Glad the Google embed is working.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRFpo-fSalu4FxIlPl2vI_lyfashQAEZ339jK2AiGCEBN5_14KF2Bs8vZJVaizaqNH2SjvGJy8uZQg3/pubhtml is a Google Docs link, not a KnightLab Timeline link. It appears that the Google Spreadsheet is the data source for the Timeline (if I understand it correctly, which is far from assured!), but not the Timeline itself. What, exactly, are we trying to embed? Can I get a URL for the timeline object?
Updated by Marilyn Weber 12 days ago
His reply "Sorry for any confusion– I was following the Commons KnightLab help page (https://help.commons.gc.cuny.edu/knight-lab-timeline-js/), which indicates that the Google Spreadsheet link was needed to include in the shortcode (this is how it appears on the help page):
[timeline src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oVnTNKW2a6dqf05BeLKCgjYJy-9q-Fv_EJbLJ4XJxXw/edit#gid=0" width="100%" height="650" font="Default" lang="en" version="timeline3" ]
Updated by Boone Gorges 12 days ago
Thanks for the details. I created a test page on the site:
https://teachingofmlls.commons.gc.cuny.edu/?page_id=1085&preview=true
https://teachingofmlls.commons.gc.cuny.edu/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=1085
and the timeline is appearing as expected. If Anthony is seeing something different, perhaps he could share complete details, including a URL to the page that's demonstrating the problem?
Updated by Marilyn Weber 4 days ago
He replies "Thank you for sharing– I went in and used your spreadsheet link, and the timeline populated. That said, mine is still displaying the error message attached. Also attached is a screenshot of your shortcode (top) and my shortcode (bottom), can you help me identify the discrepancy (I’ve already tinkered with the link, but with no success)? I’m including a link to my test spreadsheet below–
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gtAglZGHbtg_7-pnyS5af58ICzNxR2tHOPp4iUONmWk/edit?gid=0#gid=0
This is the page I’m trying to include it on: https://teachingofmlls.commons.gc.cuny.edu/site-tool-support/
I was able to add the Commons timeline, but not another timeline. I really appreciate all of the help!!"
Updated by Boone Gorges 4 days ago
I did a bit more digging and found that this error has been happening for other Timeline users. See https://github.com/NUKnightLab/TimelineJS3/issues/890
Based on the discussion there, I went through the steps to 'Share > Publish to the Web' for this sheet, and then I used that URL to embed. It seemed to work: https://teachingofmlls.commons.gc.cuny.edu/site-tool-support/
I've CCed Scott here in case he'd like to do some testing, and perhaps update the Help page accordingly.