Google Docs is a free-to-use word processor. All you need is a Google account and an internet connection. Are you just switching? Then you can also use the tips below.
Despite the fact that Google Docs is completely free to use, that doesn’t mean it’s a meager option. Docs offers a lot of features that you don’t immediately think of or expect, so it’s always good to check what else such an alternative can offer.
Use the templates
When you go to the main page of Google Docs, you may already find a number of templates there. This will give you a solid foundation to get started with. There are templates for resumes, letters and project proposals. Don’t see the templates? Then press the plus sign at the bottom right and select Choose template. You can also go within a created document to File > New > Based on template to go.
Make a table of contents
For larger documents it can be useful to add a table of contents. Go to Insert > Table of contents and choose one of the styles from there. Google Docs then searches the file for lines of text using the heading style as format. Those headings are automatically included in the table of contents. You create headings by selecting a line and going to Styles (you will probably see Normal text on the button now). Click the button and select Heading 1, Heading 2 or Heading 3.
More fonts
Google Docs supports quite a few fonts, but you won’t see them all right away. In the menu where you see the font you have chosen (default is Arial) you can select the option More fonts. In the pop-up you can search for specific fonts, otherwise you can scroll through the list.
Edit files offline
Google Docs is an online word processor, but there is also an offline option. You go to File > Make available offline (you’ll probably need to download an extension too, but Docs will let you know). The most recent version of the file can therefore still be edited if you do not have access to the internet for a while. When you do have internet again, all changes are automatically synchronized. Press Make available offline again to make the file unavailable offline.
View version history
When you edit a file with several people, you can lose the overview of all edits. You can repack that overview within the version history. To do this, click on the last edited moment (at the top) or on File > Version history > View version history. Here you will find all times when the document has been modified by someone.
Search from Google Docs
It is possible to google from Google Docs. There is a button at the bottom right. When you hover over it with your mouse, you will see the text Explore. An extra menu will appear on the right where you can perform a search. You can search in your document, but also directly on the internet. This way you don’t have to open an extra window looking for valuable information. You can also quickly add images and footnotes to your document from this menu.
Share a link
At the top right you will find the blue share button. Click on that, add the email address of the person you want to share this file with and press send. You can also copy the link to the document in the pop-up window. Anyone who has the link can then view the file. If you choose the Restricted option (in the same menu), only the people with access to the document can use the link. But those people must be added as candidates with their e-mail address.
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