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A lot of you will have most likely heard of Google Docs at this level, even for those who’re not utilizing Google. Google Docs service has been round for a very long time as a part of Google’s suite of productiveness instruments. Many individuals understand it as a direct alternative for Microsoft Phrase, truly. On this article we’ll discuss extra about Google Docs as a way to get you extra acquainted with the software, beginning with what precisely is it. If you happen to’ve been questioning, otherwise you’re merely trying to step away from Microsoft Phrase, this might be an incredible possibility for you. It additionally has some advantages, after all, particularly for those who’re a Google consumer. So, let’s get to it.
What are Google Docs?
Google Docs is a web-based phrase processor. That’s the perfect rationalization of the software. It’s part of Google’s web-based suite of productiveness instruments. That suite additionally contains Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Drawings, Google Types, Google Websites, and Google Maintain. Contemplating that this suite is commonly checked out as a direct alternative for Microsoft Workplace, you’ll seemingly hear Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides talked about most ceaselessly.
Google Docs have been round for a very long time, truly. Google launched it again in March 2006, so we’re 18 years in on the time of writing this text. The service is obtainable in 100 languages at this time limit, and has come a great distance since its inception. It additionally comes with direct integration with Google apps, and most significantly Google Drive. Google Drive is the corporate’s cloud storage which is related to your Google account. You may launch Google Docs from there immediately if you would like, although it’s out there as a separate app too.
What platforms are Google Docs out there on?
Google Docs software is available in each app and internet codecs. So you’ll be able to principally entry it from any internet browser, so long as you log into Google Drive, the place the service is docked. It actually doesn’t matter what platform you’re utilizing at that time, whether or not be it Home windows, macOS, or some form of a Linux-based OS. Alternatively, you can too entry Google Docs in an app format. Google Docs app is obtainable on Android, iOS, and ChromeOS. For sure, Android and iOS are the world’s largest cellular OS’ which maintain nearly your complete market, so… you’re well-covered in that regard.
Are Google Docs free to make use of?
Google Docs are free to make use of, sure, so long as you will have free storage on Google Drive. As talked about earlier, Google Docs comes together with your Google account, and it’s a web-based service. Something you do in Google Docs will get saved to the cloud just about instantly so that you simply don’t lose any of your work. That does take free on-line area out of your Google account. Once you open your Google account, you do get 15GB of free space for storing. Each Google service that you simply use will take chunks of that area, together with Google Docs, Sheets, Maintain, Photographs, Gmail, and so forth. So, the underside line is, sure, it’s free… however you must have free area on Google Drive.
What are Google Docs’ opponents/alternate options?
The perfect-known Google Docs different is Microsoft Phrase. These are arguably the 2 hottest word-processing instruments on the market. They even open the identical kinds of recordsdata, .doc and .docx, amongst others. Microsoft Phrase just isn’t the one competitor to Google Docs, although. There are a selection of different word-processing suites on the market, however let’s persist with direct opponents that open the identical kinds of recordsdata. A lot of you will have most likely heard of LibreOffice and WPS Workplace.
LibreOffice is an open-source workplace software program suite that got here to life in 2010. It’s very talked-about for Linux customers, truly. WPS workplace is manner older, because it got here to life manner again in 1988. It’s cross-platform, and it truly has a wider availability than Microsoft Phrase and Google Docs. WPS Workplace just isn’t solely out there on Android and iOS but additionally on Hearth OS and HarmonyOS, so far as cellular platforms are involved. You can too entry it from desktop working programs, although.
One other competitor that involves thoughts is the Zoho Author. It’s part of Zoho’s wealthy suite, and you may hyperlink it to your Google and Yahoo accounts. It is usually web-based and saves paperwork for you routinely. It’s feature-rich, and a strong different to Google Docs.
Can I exploit Google Docs if I’m not related to the Web?
Is it doable to make use of Google Docs for those who’re not related to the Web? Nicely, sure, it’s. You are able to do that for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, truly. Do be aware that it’s not out there outright, although. You’ll must activate offline entry for particular recordsdata you will have created through Google Docs, effectively, until the doc we’re speaking about is already saved in your telephone or one thing. Let’s assume it’s not, although. You’ll must have an Web connection and navigate to the doc you’d like to make use of offline. As soon as you discover it, both through desktop PC or your smartphone, you’ll must make it out there offline or obtain it.
On desktop PCs, you’ll must find the file, right-click on it, and also you’ll see the ‘Make out there offline’ possibility. When you allow that, you’ll be capable to edit it when you’re not related to the Web. The second you get an Web connection, nevertheless, your modifications will probably be saved. You can too obtain the doc for offline use, although that’s one thing else completely, as you’ll principally disconnect that file from Google Drive. Do be aware that you simply’ll must long-press on a selected file out of your smartphone as a way to get the identical choices menu because the right-click delivers on desktop PCs.
Do Google Docs require any sort of configuration earlier than you begin utilizing it?
You’ll be glad to know that you simply don’t actually must configure Google Docs earlier than you begin utilizing it. Simply be sure to have a Google account, and also you’re able to go. You may all the time go in the Google Docs app and set your most popular theme, although, or one thing like that, however that’s fully optionally available. The app will work as supposed with none configuration in any respect. The identical goes for the net shopper too.
What are the perfect options of Google Docs?
Google Docs is a really succesful text-processing software. If you happen to’ve ever used Microsoft Phrase, Google Docs principally delivers that performance in a distinct packaging… plus some added ones. The characteristic lists usually are not the identical, however they do share plenty of the identical performance. That being mentioned, we gained’t actually discuss all of the instruments out there within the app and stuff like that, as that will take up an eternity. We are going to, nevertheless, spotlight a few of the most attention-grabbing Google Docs options, and those we use probably the most.
Steady auto-saving
This was one among my private favourite options after I began utilizing Google Docs. Your phrases will get saved as you write them, so even for those who lose energy or one thing, just about all the pieces will probably be saved. You by no means must manually click on the ‘save’ or ‘save as’ choices, or something like that. This characteristic all the time labored seamlessly for me, and it’s most likely nonetheless my favourite factor about Google Docs.
Pageless view
By default, Google Docs does separate your paperwork into pages. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to change that. You may activate the pageless view for those who’d like to only write on an infinite piece of paper, principally. You gained’t see any web page breaks or something of the kind. That is seemingly not best for those who’re writing a guide, or collaborating with somebody on one thing like that. Nonetheless, it’s handy in lots of different conditions, particularly for those who’ll be utilizing photographs, tables, and so forth. You are able to do that by going to ‘File’, after which ‘Web page Setup’. There you’ll see the ‘Pageless’ tab and wish to verify your alternative. If you happen to go for the ‘Set to default’ possibility, you’ll get a pageless view of all of your future paperwork.
Sending emails straight from Google Docs
That is extra of an attention-grabbing and funky characteristic than one thing I’m utilizing recurrently, however nonetheless, it’s price noting. You may truly ship emails immediately from Google Docs if you would like. This lets you place tables, dropdowns, and extra in your emails. Merely click on the ‘Insert’ menu, and hover over the ‘Constructing blocks possibility’. There, you’ll want to pick out ‘E mail draft’, and set all the pieces the best way you prefer it. When you’re achieved, click on the ‘Gmail’ icon as a way to export it. You’ll get a preview of your e mail earlier than you ship it.
Model Historical past
The ‘Model Historical past’ characteristic can be one among my favorites. You may entry it from the ‘File’ menu. It’s nice to have generally, particularly for those who’re collaborating with somebody. Because of this characteristic, you’ll get entry to an in depth log of all doc variations. You’ll additionally see the modifications made, the one that made them, and once they had been made. That manner, you’ll know precisely what’s what, with out surprises.
Sharing paperwork
As is the case with recordsdata in Google Drive generally, you’ll be able to simply share your Google Docs recordsdata with different folks. You might have the choice to ship them a hyperlink to have the ability to learn a doc or enable somebody to co-edit a file with you. All of it is determined by what your plans are for that particular file, after all. Moreover, you’ll be able to create a hyperlink for the doc that anybody with the hyperlink can entry, or you’ll be able to add Google customers on to the sharing menu, it’s all as much as you. Google does offer you choices.
Suggesting edits
If you happen to’re collaborating with somebody on a selected doc, you’ll be able to recommend edits for mentioned doc. You may simply choose any portion of the textual content you need, and you then’ll see a pill-shaped pop-up menu on the precise. The third and final possibility there’s ‘Counsel edits’. When you do this, the opposite facet will see {that a} particular portion of the textual content is highlighted, they usually’ll see what you mentioned about it. It is a nice strategy to proofread one thing for somebody, or typically collaborate on a challenge.
Voice typing
A few of you might be seemingly utilizing voice typing wherever you’ll be able to. Nicely, you’ll be glad to know that it’s constructed straight into Google Docs. That software is positioned within the ‘Instruments’ menu. You’ll see the ‘Voice Typing’ possibility there. For sure, this software could be very correct, as we’ve come to count on from Google. If you happen to’re unwilling to manually sort, you’ll be able to all the time use this feature and dictate your textual content. You may, after all, proofread and alter what wants altering in a while.
Customized keyboard shortcuts
One other extraordinarily helpful characteristic to have in Google Docs is customized shortcuts. This isn’t one thing many individuals will use, however you probably have the time to set it up, it may be actually helpful. It will possibly improve your workflow fairly a bit. Google Docs does help your customary shortcuts, akin to CTRL+C for copying and CTRL+V for pasting, for instance. Because of the customized shortcuts possibility, nevertheless, you may make a ton of different choices. The probabilities are infinite. Merely open the ‘Instruments’ menu, and click on on ‘Preferences’. You’ll determine it out from there.