Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Google Docs Revamped, Drawing App Added

Many folks are aware of the benefits of Google Docs as a collaboration and sharing platform.  Recently Google announced a number of enhancements which make it an even more powerful tool for collaboration. You can catch up on the enhancements by reading my overview below, or you can view this video summary.



New additions include:
  • Improved import of documents created in MS Word and other stand-alone word processors.
  • Ruler, margins, tabs, and floating images in text documents
  • A full-featured comment system for co-editing documents
  • Improved "real-time" updating of co-editors changes
  • The spreadsheet application now displays the formula bar by default and allows autofill and drag-and-drop column moving
  • A new drawing application has been added to the suite.  While you're probably not going to use it to draw the blueprints for your new house, it is quite capable for charts, simple drawings, schematics and flowcharts
  • In all applications, a collaboration sidebar now allows you to chat with co-editors while working on the document.

Posted by Mistuh_D at 10:14 AM

2 comments:

  1. AnonymousApril 20, 2010 at 2:58 PM

    Are these enhancements already available, or will they be coming yet? I don't see them when I open Docs. Is my browser needing to be updated?

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  2. Mistuh_DApril 20, 2010 at 5:25 PM

    Google sometimes rolls things out over a period of time. You can check, though by clicking on "Settings" in the upper, right-hand corner of your Docs window. Then click on the edit tab. Check the following:
    * Create new text documents using the latest version of the document editor
    * Turn on experimental features (these may change, break or disappear at any time)
    Then click on "Save"

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