diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8c10e59c..8aa56079 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -179,4 +179,19 @@ firebase deploy --only database:prod # For production
 - **Version Control**: Use version control to track changes and collaborate on rule development.
 - **Testing**: Thoroughly test your rules in a development or staging environment before deploying to production.
 
-Review the [Firebase CLI documentation](https://firebase.google.com/docs/cli) for more details on managing project resources.
\ No newline at end of file
+Review the [Firebase CLI documentation](https://firebase.google.com/docs/cli) for more details on managing project resources.
+
+
+## Hosting on github and Authentication
+
+When hosting the application in a new place there are a couple of things to update. 
+
+- You must add your new domain to the allowed list for authenication in firebase.
+  https://console.firebase.google.com/u/0/project/cioos-metadata-form/authentication/settings
+  https://console.firebase.google.com/u/0/project/cioos-metadata-form-dev/authentication/settings
+
+- You have to allow your domain under Website restrictions for the firebase browser key
+  https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials/key/405d637a-efd4-48f5-95c6-f0af1d7f4889?project=cioos-metadata-form
+  https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/credentials/key/23d360a3-4b55-43f2-bc1c-b485371c0e07?project=cioos-metadata-form-dev
+
+  
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cioos-records-update/README.md b/cioos-records-update/README.md
index 89bd9e7a..a5d9b1b0 100644
--- a/cioos-records-update/README.md
+++ b/cioos-records-update/README.md
@@ -2,4 +2,7 @@
 
 This is a basic Flask app to create XML from the metadata form
 
-Requires `key.json`
+Requires `key.json` which contains a service account key json
+specifically one from [here](https://console.cloud.google.com/iam-admin/serviceaccounts/details/108735728189650899572/keys?authuser=0&hl=en&project=cioos-metadata-form) you can also generate one [here](https://console.firebase.google.com/u/0/project/cioos-metadata-form/settings/serviceaccounts/adminsdk)
+
+Alternatively the same service account key json string can be specified in the FIREBASE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY environment variable. The app will look for the environment variable first and fall back to the key.json file if ot found.
diff --git a/firebase-functions/functions/updates.js b/firebase-functions/functions/updates.js
index 3d3d2e96..3d6c2256 100644
--- a/firebase-functions/functions/updates.js
+++ b/firebase-functions/functions/updates.js
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 const functions = require("firebase-functions");
+const { defineString } = require('firebase-functions/params');
 const https = require("https");
 const axios = require("axios");
 
-const urlBase = "https://pac-dev1.cioos.org/cioos-xml/";
+const generatorURL = defineString('RECORD_GENERATOR_URL');
+const urlBase = process.env.RECORD_GENERATOR_URL || generatorURL.value() || "https://pac-dev1.cioos.org/cioos-xml/";
+
 
 function getRecordFilename(record) {
   return `${record.title[record.language].slice(