Useful Gmail Labs Features

Most people who use Gmail find its interface improves their workflow over other email solutions.  But the folks at Google are constantly fiddling with Gmail to add improvements and customizations that might make the interface work even better for the user.  Many of these add-ons are experimental, so they are tucked away in the Gmail Labs section of Gmail.  You can access Gmail Labs by logging on to Gmail and choosing Settings > Labs. Once you have installed any Labs feature, you can access Gmail Labs by clicking on this icon () which will appear in the upper, right-hand corner of your Gmail window (to the left of "Settings.")

I asked my Elearning  colleagues to share some of the Labs features that they have found useful and compiled that with my own list.  Here are the results.  It's quite an extensive list, so we've placed asterisks beside the ones we believe are most indispensable.

• * Send and Archive button - adds a button to the reply window which enables the user to send his/her reply and archive the message thread in one click.
• * Undo Send - allows the user to specify a certain grace period during which he/she can cancel the sending of a message.  Useful for those, "Oh, crap, I forgot to say ..." moments
• * Mark as Read button - does what it says.  It's just easier to click on a button that's visible rather than select an item from a drop-down menu.
• * Default Reply-to-all - This one is most useful for those of us who frequently use or participate in mail lists.  It ensures that when you begin to type in the reply window that the message is sent to all the original recipients.  Be careful, though, when replying to messages sent to chinookstf@chinooksd.ca or other large mail lists that you don't broadcast your replies to everyone in the Division.
• * Inserting Images - allows you to embed images in your email. Otherwise, Gmail is limited only to attaching images.
• * Navbar Drag and Drop - allows the user to drag and arrange sidebar items (left to right, up and down) to suit his/her personal preferences.
• Reminders:
• * Forgotten Attachment Detector - If you make reference to an attachment in a message but then don't actually attach anything, this plug-in will jog your memory.
• * Don't Forget Bob - If you frequently send a message to persons W, X, Y, & Z, but then compose a message to only W, X, & Y, this plug-in will ask if you want to include Z.
• * Got the Wrong Bob? - If you frequently send a message to persons W, X, Y, &; Z, but then compose a message to W, X, Y & Q instead, this plug-in will ask if you didn't really mean to send to Z and not Q.
• * Signature Tweaks - Within replies, the plug-in keeps your signature with your message rather than placing it at the bottom of the entire message (after quoted text).
• * Custom Label Colors - If you use labels a lot, the default colour selection may prove inadequate.  This plug-in overcomes that limitation.
• In-Mail Previews:
• * Youtube Previews in Mail - This plug-in places previews of any Youtube videos mentioned in a message.  Previews appear at the bottom of the message.
• Google Docs Previews in Mail - Ditto for Google Docs
• Picasa Previews in Mail - Ditto for Picasa images.
• Extra Emoji - In case the world just doesn't have enough smileys.
• Default Text Styling - Allows you to specify font and style choice defaults for composing messages.
• Google Search - Places a Google search sidebar within Gmail.
• Superstars - Expands you choice of stars for tagging email.

Some of these changes may seem trivial, but to those who handle a lot of email in a day, any little tweak that improves workflow is significant.